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Xiangfu (Cyperus Rotundus Rhizome), with a bitter and sweet taste, cold nature, and strong aroma, belongs to Yin within Yang, and is non-toxic. It enters the Liver and Gallbladder meridians. It specializes in resolving Qi stagnation and Qi-stagnation pain, regulating menstruation and expelling blood stasis, eliminating skin itching, stopping vomiting and regurgitation caused by Huoluan (Cholera-like syndrome), treating metrorrhagia and metrostaxis (abnormal uterine bleeding), breast swelling, and carbuncles and sores, all of which can be cured. It can digest retained food, consolidate diarrhea, promote hair growth, and guide blood-invigorating herbs into the Qi level; it is an essential herb for disorders involving both Qi and Blood. It can serve as an assistant or courier herb but cannot serve as the sovereign herb. People nowadays do not understand the reason behind this; they use Xiangfu as the sovereign herb to treat women's diseases, such as in Wujin Wan (Black Gold Pill) and Sizhi Xiangfu Wan (Four-Processed Cyperus Pill). Although temporary relief may be felt, prolonged use causes deficiency to worsen and stagnation to deepen. Why? Because Xiangfu is not a tonic. Its downward-moving action is used to eliminate the old, not to generate the new; its ability to guide blood herbs into the Qi level is used to dissipate stagnation, not to generate blood by entering the Qi level. How can one expect Yin to grow and Yang to thrive by abandoning the essence of nourishing Qi and Blood? Therefore, when Qi is deficient, tonification is required, using Ren Shen (Ginseng Root) and Huang Qi (Astragalus Root); when Blood is scant, generation is necessary, using Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis Root) and Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmannia Root). Xiangfu merely harmonizes internally, acting as a supportive ministerial aide. If lightly appointed as a general commander, failure is rare to avoid.

One might ask: "Xiangfu is the holy medicine for resolving stagnation, yet you say it cannot be the sovereign herb. Does Xiangfu fail to resolve stagnation?" I reply: "If Xiangfu does not resolve stagnation, what other herb can? However, it should not be used exclusively as the sovereign herb." Generally, stagnation syndromes invariably injure the Liver. Since Xiangfu enters the Liver and Gallbladder meridians and regulates Qi, it naturally facilitates the opening of stagnation in the Liver. But injuring the Liver inevitably injures its Blood, and Xiangfu cannot generate Blood. It must be combined with Bai Shao Yao (White Peony Root) and Dang Gui to assist it; only when Blood is sufficient will stagnation be easier to resolve. Among sovereign herbs for resolving stagnation, none is superior to Bai Shao Yao. When Bai Shao Yao is supported by ministerial and courier herbs, none are more effective for rapid resolution than Xiangfu and Chai Hu (Bupleurum Root). Thus, Bai Shao Yao is the sovereign herb for Xiangfu, while Xiangfu is the assistant herb for Bai Shao Yao. Combined to treat stagnation, what stagnation would remain unresolved?

One might ask: "Xiangfu resolves stagnation and opens the Stomach. Why is there a case where Xiangfu is used but stagnation remains unresolved and the Stomach remains closed? Is this because Bai Shao Yao and Dang Gui were not used?" I reply: "This is not entirely accurate. The stagnation resolved by Xiangfu is that which is easily relaxed; the Stomach opened by Xiangfu is that which has not yet been injured. For lovesickness, one must obtain the person of their heart for the stagnation to resolve; for heartbreak, one must experience unexpected joy for the appetite to open. A mere herb like Xiangfu inherently lacks efficacy; even adding large doses of Bai Shao Yao and rich-tasted Dang Gui, there are situations beyond remedy. One cannot solely rely on herbal medicines to resolve stagnation and open the Stomach."

One might ask: "Sir, you consider Xiangfu a herb for resolving stagnation, yet you claim resolving stagnation is useless. This implies stagnation syndromes are incurable. I am deeply concerned for those suffering from stagnation worldwide." Alas! Stagnation that cannot be resolved is not something herbal medicines can open. But for stagnation that *can* be resolved, apart from herbal medicines, what else could open it? Xiangfu precisely addresses the type of stagnation that is resolvable. To seek remedies for resolvable stagnation outside of herbs like Xiangfu is indeed confused reasoning.

Some suspect that because Xiangfu is drying in nature, it easily enters the Liver. Once Liver Qi is stagnant, Liver Wood becomes dry; applying a drying agent to a dry condition, how can it resolve stagnation? I reply: "The reason Xiangfu resolves stagnation lies precisely in its drying nature. Because it is drying, it easily penetrates into dryness; because it is drying, it must not be used alone in dry conditions. Harmonized with Bai Shao Yao and Dang Gui, moisture is introduced into dryness, allowing Liver Qi to relax, and the drying nature is mitigated, thereby resolving stagnation."