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(Superior Grade in *Shennong Bencao Jing*)

**[Names]** Huangqi (in *Bencao Gangmu*); Daishen (in *Shennong Bencao Jing*); Daichen (in *Mingyi Bielu*, also known as Dushen); Jicao (in *Mingyi Bielu*, also known as Shuzhi); Baiben (in *Mingyi Bielu*); Wangsun (in *Yaoxing Lun*).

Li Shizhen stated: "Qi" means elder or chief. Huangqi has a yellow color and is the leader among tonifying herbs, hence the name. In common usage, it is often written as "Huangqi". Some write it as "Shi", which is incorrect. "Shi" refers to the yarrow plant used for divination, pronounced "shi". Wangsun and Mumeng share the same name but are different substances.

**[Collection and Explanation]** *Mingyi Bielu* records: Huangqi grows in the valleys of Shujun, Baishui, and Hanzhong. It is harvested in February and October and dried in the shade.

Tao Hongjing said: The best quality comes from Taoyang in Longxi; it is yellow-white, sweet, and now rare. Next best is that from Dangchang in Heishui; it is white, with coarse texture, yet new harvests are sweet and warming/tonic. There is also that from Bailian Baishui, which has better color and texture than that from Shuzhong but has a cold-tonic property. There is also a red variety, which can be made into plasters. It is widely used in secular prescriptions but not required by Daoists.

Gong said: Those produced in Yuanzhou and Huayuan are currently the best; those from Shu and Han are no longer adopted. Those from Yizhou and Ningzhou are also excellent.

Su Song said: It is now abundant in various prefectures of Hedong and Shaanxi. The roots are two to three chi long. They have a single stem or grow in clusters, with branches and trunks two to three cun above the ground. The leaves are sparse and fern-like, resembling the seedlings of Tribulus terrestris. It blooms with yellow-purple flowers in July. The fruit is a pod about one cun long. Roots are harvested in August. When broken, the skin resembles cotton, hence called Mianhuangqi. However, there are several types: Baishui Huangqi, Chishui Huangqi, and Muqi. Their functions are similar, but their potency does not equal that of Baishui Huangqi. Muqi is short with transverse grain. Nowadays, people often use Medicago sativa roots to fake Huangqi; when broken, the skin also looks like cotton, easily confusing the true product. The difference is that Medicago sativa roots are hard and brittle, whereas Huangqi is extremely flexible/tough, with slightly yellow-brown skin and white flesh.

Kou Zongshi said: The best Huangqi originally came from Mianshang, hence the name Mianhuangqi, not because it is soft like cotton. The *Tu Jing* depicts those from Xianzhou, whose land is adjacent to Mianshang.

Haogu said: Mianshang refers to the area producing Xi Qinzhou; Baishui is in Tongzhou, Shaanxi. Huangqi tastes sweet, is soft like cotton, and can make one fat. Medicago sativa root tastes bitter, is hard and brittle, commonly called Tu Huangqi, and can make one thin. Users should examine carefully.

Jiamo said: Mianshang is a township in Qinzhou, where an inspection station exists now; Baishui and Chishui townships both belong to Longxi.

Li Shizhen said: Huangqi leaves resemble locust leaves but are slightly smaller and pointed, or like Tribulus leaves but slightly broader, greenish-white. It opens yellow-purple flowers, large like locust flowers. It bears small pointed pods, about one cun long. Roots are two to three chi long; those tight and solid like arrow shafts are superior. Young shoots can also be washed and eaten as vegetables. Its seeds can be collected and sown in October, just like planting vegetables.

**[Processing]** Lei Xiao said: Do not use Muqi grass. It looks very similar, but its leaves are shorter when growing and its roots are horizontal. You must remove the wrinkled skin from the top, steam it for half a day, break it into fine pieces, and chop it on a locust wood cutting board.

Li Shizhen said: Nowadays, people simply flatten it by beating, coat it with honey water, and roast it several times until cooked. Others soak it thoroughly in salt water, store it in vessels, steam it over boiling water until cooked, and then slice it.

**Root**

**[Flavor and Properties]** Sweet, slightly warm, non-toxic (*Shennong Bencao Jing*). Those from Baishui are cold and tonic (*Mingyi Bielu*).

Zhang Yuansu said: Sweet flavor, warm/neutral temperature. Thin qi and strong taste, capable of ascending and descending, belonging to Yang within Yin. Enters the Qi aspect of Hand and Foot Taiyin meridians, and also enters Hand Shaoyang and Foot Shaoying Mingmen.

Xu Zhicai said: Poria cocos is its guiding herb; it is incompatible with Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum and Dictamni Cortex.

**[Indications]** Carbuncles, chronic ulcerating sores, discharging pus and relieving pain, severe leprosy, five types of hemorrhoids and fistulas, tonifying deficiency, treating various diseases in children (*Shennong Bencao Jing*).

Wind-pathogens in the uterus of women, expelling evil blood from the five zang organs, tonifying deficiency and damage in men, treating five labors and emaciation, stopping thirst, abdominal pain, diarrhea/dysentery, benefiting Qi, promoting Yin Qi (*Mingyi Bielu*). Mainly treats deficient wheezing, deafness due to kidney decline, alleviates alternating chills and fever, treats back carbuncles, internal tonification (Zhen Quan). Assists Qi, strengthens sinews and bones, promotes flesh growth and blood generation, breaks masses/stasis, treats scrofula/goiter/exostoses, intestinal wind with bloody discharge, metrorrhagia/metrostaxis, leukorrhea with red and white discharge, all diseases before and after childbirth, irregular menstruation, phlegm-cough, headache due to wind-heat, toxic red eyes (*Rihua Bencao*). Treats spontaneous sweating due to deficiency consumption, tonifies Lung Qi, drains Lung and Heart fire, consolidates skin and hair, benefits Stomach Qi, removes muscle heat and pains of various meridians (Zhang Yuansu). Mainly treats Taiyin malaria; when Yangwei vessel is diseased, suffering from alternating chills and fever; when Dubo vessel is diseased, rebellious Qi and internal urgency (Li Haogu).

**[Elucidation]**

Tao Hongjing said: Those from Longxi are warming/tonic; those from Baishui are cooling/tonic. The red variety can be made into plasters to dissipate carbuncles and swelling.

Zangqi said: For deficiency with external heat, use Baishui Huangqi; for deficiency with external cold, use Longxi Huangqi.

Daming said: Huangqi is a tonifying herb among medicines, called "Lamb Meat"; Baishui Huangqi is cool, non-toxic, discharges pus, treats blood disorders, and addresses irritability, heat toxicity, bone-stealing consumption; Chishui Huangqi is cool, non-toxic, treats blood heat and dissipates toxicity, with other functions being the same; Muqi is cool, non-toxic, its power to treat irritability and discharge pus is slightly less than Huangqi; if insufficient, double the dosage.

Zhang Yuansu said: Huangqi is sweet, warm, and purely Yang. It has five uses: 1) Tonifying various deficiencies and insufficiencies; 2) Benefiting Original Qi; 3) Strengthening Spleen and Stomach; 4) Removing muscle heat; 5) Discharging pus, relieving pain, invigorating blood, generating blood, supporting internal yong-sores, making it the sacred medicine for sore practitioners. Furthermore: It tonifies various deficiencies of the five zang organs, treats pulse-stringiness and spontaneous sweating, drains Yin fire, removes deficient heat. If there is no sweat, it induces it; if there is sweat, it stops it.

Li Haogu said: Huangqi treats qi-deficiency night sweats, spontaneous sweating, and skin pain; it is a drug for the exterior. It treats hemoptysis and softens Spleen/Stomach; it is a drug for the Middle Jiao. It treats absent Chi pulse in typhoid and tonifies Kidney Original Qi; it is a drug for the interior. It acts on the Upper, Middle, Lower, Interior, Exterior, and Three Jiao.

Gao said: *Ling Shu* states: Wei Qi warms the muscles, fills the skin, thickens the interstices, and controls opening and closing. Since Huangqi tonifies the Three Jiao and solidifies Wei Qi, it shares functions with Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction); the difference is that Guizhi is pungent and hot, while Huangqi is sweet and neutral. Guizhi unites blood vessels, breaks blood stasis, and solidifies Wei Qi; Huangqi merely benefits Qi. Additionally, Huangqi combined with Renshen (Ginseng Radix) and Gancao (Licorice Root) is a sacred medicine for clearing irritability and muscle heat. When Spleen and Stomach are deficient, Lung Qi is first exhausted; one must use Huangqi to warm muscles, benefit skin/hair, solidify interstices, prevent sweating, thereby benefiting Original Qi and tonifying the Three Jiao.

Zhenheng said: Huangqi tonifies Original Qi and is suitable for obese individuals who sweat easily. If taken by dark-faced, solid-built, thin individuals, it causes chest fullness; San'ao Tang (Three Anomalies Decoction) should be used to drain it.

Zong said: Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix) and Huangqi are often used together. During the Chen dynasty, Xu Yinzong served as Military Officer for Prince Xincai of Cai. Lady Liu suffered from wind disease and could not speak; her pulse was deep and mouth clenched. Yinzong said: Since oral medication cannot be administered, it is appropriate to use steam therapy. Medicine entering the interstices can cure within a week. He prepared several hu of Huangqi-Fangfeng Decoction, placed it under the bed, creating smoke-like vapor, and she could speak that evening.

Gao said: Fangfeng can restrain Huangqi; Huangqi gains greater efficacy with Fangfeng. This is a relationship of mutual restraint and mutual assistance.

Zhenheng said: The human mouth connects to Earth, and the nose connects to Heaven. The mouth nourishes Yin, and the nose nourishes Yang. Heaven is clear, so the nose receives formless Qi rather than solid matter; Earth is turbid, so the mouth receives solid matter along with formless Qi. Lady Liu's inability to speak meant solid decoctions were too slow. By using these two herbs, the vapor filled the room, allowing both mouth and nose to receive it. Only a wise person with divine insight could revive life thus.

Gao said: For children startled by external objects, use Huanglian Anshen Wan (Coptis Calming Heart Pill). If Spleen and Stomach have cold-dampness, with vomiting, abdominal pain, and blue-white dysentery, use Yihuang San (Benefit Yellow Powder). For cases of latent fire in Spleen/Stomach, exhaustion from labor, or slow convulsions due to Stomach deficiency after taking Crotonis Fructus (Bdellium), using Yihuang or Lizhong formulas will harm life. One should tonify the source of Earth with sweet-warm herbs in the Heart channel, drain fire with sweet-cool herbs in the Spleen channel, and tonify Metal with sour-cool herbs, causing Metal to flourish and Fire to decline, thus calming Wind-Liver naturally. Now, I establish Huangqi Tang to drain fire, tonify Metal, and benefit Earth, a divine treatment method. Use 2 qian of Zhi Huangqi (Honey-fried Astragali Radix), 1 qian of Renshen, 0.5 qian of Zhi Gancao, 0.5 qian of Baishao Yao, with one large bowl of water, decoct to half a bowl, and take warm.

Ji said: Wei Zhi of Xiaoshan wrote *Boxin Jian* (Mirror of Compassionate Heart) in three volumes, stating that pediatric smallpox has three patterns: Smooth, Reversed, and Dangerous. Smooth is auspicious and requires no medicine. Reversed is ominous and requires no medicine. Only Dangerous presents regret/regrettable signs, requiring medicine to turn danger into safety, preferably using Baoyuan Tang (Preserve Origin Decoction) with modifications. This formula originated from Dongyuan, treating slow convulsions due to Earth decline and Fire prosperity. Now borrowed to treat smallpox, as it internally secures Ying Blood, externally guards Wei Qi, nourishes Yin and Yang, and forms pus/blood. Although the manifestations differ, the principle is the same. Remove Baishao Yao, add Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger), rename to Baoyuan Tang. Use 3 qian Zhi Huangqi, 2 qian Renshen, 1 qian Zhi Gancao, 1 slice Shengjiang, decoct in water and take. Dangerous pattern features: initial eruption with dry red halo lacking moisture; pus filling with luster but sunken apex; post-eruption pale unclear color; pus flow with gray dull color; fixed pus lacking luster; mature pus moist but not drying; scabbing with weak Stomach/internal deficiency; scab falling with thirst and anorexia; abscesses forming after scabbing; abscesses ulcerating with delayed healing. All such symptoms should use this decoction. Optionally add Chuanxiong (Ligustici Rhizoma), Guanzi Gui (Cinnamomi Ramulus), or Nuomi (Oryza Sativa Glutinosa) to assist. See the book for details.

Jiamo said: Renshen tonifies the Interior; Huangqi consolidates the Exterior. For internal injury to Spleen/Stomach with fever, aversion to cold, vomiting/diarrhea, lethargy, distension, obstruction, short spirit, and faint pulse, use Renshen as Sovereign and Huangqi as Minister. For exterior deficiency with spontaneous sweating and Yang collapse, or ulcers/smallpox/yin sores, use Huangqi as Sovereign and Renshen as Minister. Do not adhere rigidly to one approach.

**[Attached Prescriptions]** Five old, nine new.

**Impediment in Urination:** 2 qian Mian Huangqi, 2 bowls of water, decoct to 1 bowl, take warm. Halve dose for children. (*Zongwei Lun*)

**Alcoholic Jaundice:** Oppression/pain below the heart, fullness in calves/shins, yellow urine, red-black-yellow spots appearing after drinking, caused by drunkenness exposed to wind and entering water. 2 liang Huangqi, 1 liang Mulan, grind to powder. Take one fangcun bi with wine, three times daily. (*Zhouhou Fang*)

**Qi Deficiency with White Turbidity:** 0.5 liang Huangqi (salt-fried), 1 liang Fuling. Grind to powder. Take 1 qian each time, wash down with plain hot water. (*Jingyan Liangfang*)

**Treating Thirst and Tonifying Deficiency:** For men and women with various deficiencies, irritability, palpitations, extreme thirst, sallow complexion, inability to eat, or thirst preceding carbuncles/furuncles, or carbuncles preceding thirst, regularly take this medicine to peacefully tonify Qi and Blood, harmonize Zang-Fu, and avoid carbuncles for life. Use 6 liang Mian Huangqi (arrow-shaft type, remove rhizome) [half raw-roasted, half moistened with salt water, steamed over rice three times, roasted, chopped], 1 liang Fen Gancao [half raw, half honey-roasted to powder]. Take 2 qian each time, mix with plain hot water, once in morning, once at noon. Can also be decocted. Named Huangqi Liuyi Tang. (*Waike Jingyao*)

**Constipation in Elderly:** 0.5 liang Mian Huangqi, 0.5 liang Chenpi (remove white pith). Grind to powder. Take 3 qian each time, with 1 he of hemp seeds ground into paste, filtered with water, decocted until milky foam rises, add one spoon of white honey, boil again, mix with medicine and take on empty stomach. Severe cases need no more than two doses. This medicine is neither cold nor hot; regular use prevents constipation with miraculous effect. (*Heji Jufang*)

**Intestinal Wind with Bloody Diarrhea:** Equal parts Huangqi and Huanglian, grind to powder. Make pills with wheat starch paste, size of mung beans. Take 30 pills each time, wash down with rice drink. (Sun Yonghe *Mibao Fang*)

**Hematuria/Sandy Strangury with Unbearable Pain:** Equal parts Huangqi and Renshen. Grind to powder. Take one large radish, cut into slices one finger thick, four to five slices, marinate with 2 liang honey, roast thoroughly without burning, dip powder, take at any meal time, wash down with salt water. (*Yonglei Fang*)

**Unceasing Hematemesis:** 2.5 qian Huangqi, 5 qian Zi Bei Fu Ping. Grind to powder. Take 1 qian each time, wash down with ginger and honey water. (*Shengji Zonglu*)

**Cough with Pus/Blood and Dry Throat:** Due to deficiency with heat, do not take cooling medicines. Use 4 liang good Huangqi, 1 liang Gancao. Grind to powder. Take 2 qian each time, mix with hot water. (Xi Yanshang Formula)

**Lung Abscess Expectoration:** 2 liang Huangqi. Grind to powder. Take 2 qian each time, with one medium bowl of water, decoct to 0.6 bowl, take warm, three to four times daily. (*Shenghui Fang*)

**Onychocryptosis/Pus:** Growing beside toenail, red flesh protruding, recurring often. 2 liang Huangqi, 1 liang Ru. Soak in vinegar overnight, fry with 0.5 he pork lard over low heat to obtain 0.2 he, strain dregs, apply to wound, three times daily, flesh will dissolve itself. (*Waitai Miyao*)

**Restless Fetus with Abdominal Pain and Yellow Discharge:** 1 liang Huangqi, 1 liang Chuanxiong, 1 he Nuomi. Decoct 1 sheng water to 0.5 sheng, divide and take. (*Furen Liangfang*)

**Scrotal Sweat and Itching:** Mian Huangqi, wine-fried to powder, eat with cooked pig heart. (Zhao Zhenren *Jiji Fang*)

**Internal Consolidation for Carbuncles:** 1 liang Huangqi, 1 liang Renshen. Grind to powder, add 1 qian real Borneolum Syntheticum, mix with fresh lotus root juice to make pills size of mung beans. Take 20 pills each time, wash down with warm water, three times daily. (*Benshi Fang*)

**Stems and Leaves**

**[Indications]** Treats thirst and tendon spasms, carbuncles and sores (*Mingyi Bielu*).