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Remove all hairs, soak in water, and dry before use. *Acorus tatarinowii* (Shichangpu) serves as a guiding herb; it is adverse to cow's milk.

Bitter, pungent, non-toxic. Enters the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian, Liver Meridian, and Gallbladder Meridian. It expels wind and drives out water, unblocks and promotes urination and defecation. It stops pain in the limbs and joints, and treats spasms and cramps of the body. It is effective for hemiplegia or inability to move the limbs, and trismus (lockjaw). It treats symptoms such as toothache, mouth ulcers, intestinal wind with bleeding, jaundice, and alcohol toxicity. It dispels head wind and treats bone-steaming tidal fever. It nourishes blood and moistens sinews, most benefiting the Qi of the Liver and Gallbladder, dispels cold and resists dampness, preventing the retention of pathogenic factors causing numbness. Contraindicated in cases of loose stools.

Grows in valleys where birds fly. Harvested in the second and eighth lunar months. Those produced in Jingzhou, [Certain]zhou, and Qizhou are considered superior. Additionally, many prefectures in the Heshan region produce it. The leaves are luxuriant, and both stems and stalks are green. It blooms purple flowers in the sixth lunar month, resembling *Puerariae Flos* (Kudzu Flower), and bears fruit in the same month. The roots should be large, long, yellowish-white, and of good quality. Roots often contain soil, which should be broken off and removed during preparation. Those with left-curving fibers are superior.

For acute consumption with vexation and heat, accompanied by body aches: combine with *Bupleuri Radix* (Chaihu) and *Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle* (Zhigancao), grind into powder, and take 3 qian with warm water each time. (Verified Formula No. 1.)

For pediatric bone-steaming tidal fever, reduced appetite, emaciation, and weakness: decoct with *Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle* (Zhigancao) and administer orally. (No. 2.)

For jaundice, mental restlessness, dry mouth, and dark urine: decoct 3 liang in cow's milk and administer. (No. 3.)

For acute diarrhea with excessive thirst: decoct with *Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle* (Zhigancao) and administer. (No. 4.)

For difficult urination: decoct 1 liang in water and administer. (No. 5.)

For wounds that fail to heal: grind into powder and apply topically. (No. 6.)

For early-stage "Fa Bei" (back carbuncle): decoct in cow's milk and administer. Stop when bowel movements become smooth three times. (No. 7.)

Remove rootlets and heads. Avoid fire. *Pinelliae Rhizoma* (Banxia) serves as a guiding herb; it is incompatible with *Saposhnikoviae Radix* (Zaojiao) and adverse to *Asteris Radix* (Ziwan) and *Veratrum Nigrum* (Lilu).

Bitter, neutral, slightly cold, ascending nature. Enters the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian. Clears fire pathogens from the Gallbladder Meridian, reduces vexation and heat in the Liver, opens hardness and fullness in the chest and hypochondrium, and stops dizziness and vertigo of the head and eyes. It circulates between the exterior and interior, yin and yang, achieving efficacy during periods of alternating chills and fever. It is highly effective for bitter taste in the mouth and dry throat, and yields good results for red eyes and deafness. For heat stagnation in the Blood Chamber (Uterus), it is effective for both men and women. For epigastric and gastric痞 (fullness/pain), it is suitable regardless of whether the pain is on the left or right. It drives out the chills and fevers of various malaria types and dissipates accumulations of various pathogens. Suitable for those with a white tongue coating; contraindicated postpartum.

Grows in valleys of Hongnong and Yanzhou. Currently found near roads in Guanzhong, Shaanxi, and Jianghu regions, with those from Yinzhou being the best. Yinzhou is present-day Yan'an Prefecture. The *Bupleuri Radix* (Chaihu) produced there is over one chi long, white, and soft. The variety produced in northern regions resembles *Peucedani Radix* (Qianhu) but is soft; this is what people now call Northern Chaihu, which is also good for medicinal use. The variety produced in southern regions is hard and rigid like mugwort roots and is unsuitable for use. Its seedlings resemble leeks or bamboo leaves; the leaf-like ones are superior. Recently, there is a type with roots resembling *Platycodonis Radix* (Jiegeng) or *Adenophorae Radix* (Shashen), white and large, which merchants falsely sell as Silver Chaihu. It has no odor and must be distinguished carefully.

For deficiency-consumption with fever: decoct with *Panax Ginseng* (Renshen) and administer. (Verified Formula No. 1.)

**Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction)**: *Bupleuri Radix* (Chaihu), *Scutellariae Radix* (Huangqin), *Pinelliae Rhizoma* (Banxia), *Panax Ginseng* (Renshen), *Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle* (Zhigancao), *Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens* (Shengjiang), *Jujubae Fructus* (Dazao).
Treats Shaoyang Cold Damage, characterized by alternating chills and fever, chest and hypochondriac fullness and pain, mental restlessness, and frequent desire to vomit. Also treats acute pain in the abdomen, occurring on either the left or right side. Also treats Wind-Strike in women, where menstruation suddenly ceases, heat enters the Blood Chamber, causing chills and fever resembling malaria with regular paroxysms. (Formulas No. 1.)

**Da Chai Hu Tang (Major Bupleurum Decoction)**: *Bupleuri Radix* (Chaihu), *Scutellariae Radix* (Huangqin), *Pinelliae Rhizoma* (Banxia), *Paeoniae Radix Alba* (Baishao), *Aurantii Fructus Immaturus* (Zhishi), *Rhei Radix et Rhizoma* (Dahuang), *Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens* (Shengjiang), *Jujubae Fructus* (Dazao).
Treats Shaoyang Cold Damage with alternating chills and fever, epigastric痞 (blockage/fullness), deep pulse, vomiting, or diarrhea. (No. 2.)

**Qing Gan Tang (Liver-Clearing Decoction)**:
Used to resolve all carbuncles and sores in the temples, hypochondrium, and axillae, as well as ear bleeding, ear fungus, and carbuncles behind the ears at the Ruibao acupoint area. (No. 3.)

*Composition*: *Bupleuri Radix* (Chaihu), *Scutellariae Radix* (Huangqin), *Pinelliae Rhizoma* (Banxia), *Panax Notoginseng/Ginseng* (Taishen), *Cinnamomi Ramulus* (Guizhi), *Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma* (Gancao), *Paeoniae Radix Alba* (Baishao), *Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens* (Shengjiang), *Jujubae Fructus* (Dazao).
Treats malaria just starting, where exterior syndromes still persist. (No. 4.)

For vomiting accompanied by fever, use Xiao Chai Hu Tang. (No. 5.)