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Indications: Strengthens the stomach, calms the spleen, induces sweating, aids digestion, resolves depression, and treats cholera with vomiting, diarrhea, and hiccups. In terms of expelling wind, inducing sweating, attacking stagnation, and driving out pathogens, its efficacy surpasses that of Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba); however, in strengthening the stomach and tonifying the spleen, it is inferior to Bai Zhu. It can be said that this herb acts as a fierce general on the battlefield.

Cang Zhu Wan (Atractylodes Pill): Raw Cang Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis), separately ground, quantity not fixed; Ru Xiang (Olibanum), separately ground; Mo Yao (Myrrha), separately ground; each 2 qian. Chuan Niu Xi (Radix Cyathulae), soaked in wine; Qing Yan (Halitum), ground; each 5 qian. Shu Ai Ye (Folium Artemisiae Argyi), stir-fried with sticky rice then ground; 4 qian. Quan Xie (Scorpio), stir-fried; 1 qian. Chuan Wu (Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii), processed, skin and umbilical scar removed; 3 qian. Grind all into powder and mix uniformly with the previously ground medicines. Take one large Mu Gua (Fructus Chaenomelis), cut off the top to serve as a lid, remove the pulp, and place the powder inside. Secure the lid, place in black beans, and steam until extremely soft. Remove, peel off the skin, and grind together with the medicine into a paste. Add Cang Zhu powder again, mix well. Form pills the size of guelder-rose seeds. Take 50 pills per dose. Administer on an empty stomach with Mu Gua decoction, salt water, or wine. Three times daily. Avoid alcohol and meat. Treats dry and damp jiaogong (foot qi disease). Symptoms include spasmodic pain in tendons and vessels, inability to walk, and also tonifies the lower body.

Qiankun Shengyi Pingbu Guzhen Dan (Heaven and Earth Life-Preserving Balanced Tonification and True Essence Consolidating Pill): Jing Cang Zhu (Cleaned Rhizoma Atractylodis), 1 jin, divided into four parts. One part mixed with 1 liang of Chuan Jiao (Pericarpium Zanthoxyli) and stir-fried. One part mixed with 1 liang of Po Gu Zhi (Psoraleae Fructus) and stir-fried. One part mixed with 1 liang of Hui Xiang (Fructus Foeniculi) and 1 liang of Shi Yan (Halitum) and stir-fried. One part mixed with 1 liang of Chuan Lian Rou (Sarcotesta Meliae Toosendan) and stir-fried. Take the pure Cang Zhu, grind into powder, add 2 liang of Bai Fu Ling (Poria) powder, and 2 liang of Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) powder washed with wine. Use wine-boiled wheat flour paste to form pills the size of guelder-rose seeds. Take 30 pills on an empty stomach with salt water or wine. Treats chronic deficiency of the Yuan Zang (Primary Viscera), seminal emission, white turbidity, and in women, red and white leukorrhea, and metrorrhagia.

Cang Zhu Qiang Huo Tang (Atractylodes and Notopterygium Decoction): Zhi Cang Zhu (Processed Rhizoma Atractylodis), Qiang Huo (Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii), Huang Qin (Radix Scutellariae), Zhi Ke (Fructus Aurantii Immaturus), Ban Xia (Rhizoma Pinelliae), Chai Hu (Radix Bupleuri), Chuan Xiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong), Chen Pi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae), each in equal proportions. Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae) in half proportion. Sheng Jiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens), 3 slices. Decoct in water and take warm. Treats zhangli (miasma pestilence) with abdominal fullness, alternating chills and fever.

Cang Zhu Xiang Fu Wan (Atractylodes and Cyperi Pill): Cang Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis), Xiang Fu (Rhizoma Cyperi), San Leng (Rhizoma Sparganii), Shen Qu (Massa Medicata Fermentata), Hou Po (Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis, ginger-processed), Sheng Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae Preparata), Peng E Zhu (Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis), Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis), each 2 liang. Ming Fan (Alumen), 8 liang (stir-fried with bran until black). Grind into fine powder, make water pills the size of guelder-rose seeds. Take 20-30 pills per dose with warm water. Treats qi masses (gas accumulations) in women.