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Huangqi (Astragali Radix)

Taste is sweet, nature is slightly warm. The qi is light and the taste is heavy; it can ascend and descend, belonging to yang within yin. It is non-toxic. There are three grades of origin, but their therapeutic effects are essentially the same.

Mùqí (Wood Astragalus) has short stems and horizontal texture, with particularly inferior efficacy; (this is the lower grade.) In years of poor harvest, double the dosage is used, and decoction for oral administration is also suitable. (The *Shennong Bencao Jing* does not record its origin; it must come from humble places like Luzhou, grown in grain fields, where abundant yields in famine years can serve as food.) Shuǐqí (Water Astragalus) grows in Baishui and Chishui townships. (To the west,) that produced in Baishui is quite superior; (this is the middle grade.)

Miánqí (Cotton Astragalus) originates from Mianshang, Qinzhou, Shanxi Province (the township name includes a Patrol Office). This variety is excellent. (This is the upper grade.) All are named according to their place of production and harvested in autumn for medicinal use. If stored for a long time, they are prone to insect damage; diligent sun-drying prevents this. One must select single roots without branching, straight like arrow shafts, with brown and lustrous skin, white flesh and yellow center, flexible like cotton when broken, and sweet like honey when chewed. Such herbs respond to diseases with miraculous efficacy. The market often uses Alfalfa root (*Medicago sativa* root) to counterfeit them, called "Tu Huangqi" (Earth Astragalus) for profit. Little do people know that this substitute is hard and brittle (pronounced 'cui'), bitter in taste, and causes emaciation; whereas Huangqi is soft, sweet in taste, and promotes weight gain. It is easily confused with the genuine article, so careful identification is essential.

Huangqi is inhibited by Baixianpi (Dictamni Cortex) and Guijia (Testudinis et Carapacis Sclerum), and processing requires removing the head and scraping off the skin. Raw usage treats carbuncles and ulcers; honey-fried usage tonifies deficiency and injury. It enters the Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian and the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian. It primarily treats five labors and seven injuries in men and children, bone-steaming fever with emaciation, Xiao Ke (wasting-thirst syndrome) with abdominal pain, dysentery and intestinal wind; it treats irregular menstruation in women, metrorrhagia and leukorrhea, conditions before and after childbirth, qi consumption and blood deficiency. It benefits Yuan Yang (Primordial Yang), drains Yin Fire. It supports critical weakness, slightly inferior to Renshen (Ginseng). It warms the muscles and fills the skin, thickens the Couli (pores and interstices) to regulate opening and closing. It consolidates spontaneous and night sweats; induces sweating when absent, stops sweating when present; expels toxins from yin sores and leprosy-like ulcers, discharges pus and relieves pain, promotes flesh regeneration and tissue healing. It acts externally on the skin and hair, internally tonifies the Spleen and Stomach. It treats below for Shanghan (Cold Damage) with an inaccessible Chi pulse. It is a herb for the upper, middle, and lower Jiao, internal and external aspects. Its nature fears Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), yet Fangfeng can control Huangqi; when Huangqi obtains Fangfeng, its efficacy increases greatly. This is because they are mutually inhibiting yet mutually enhancing, so these two herbs are often used together. *Yan Zhi* attributes merit to it, calling it "mutton" among herbs. Long-term continuous use delays aging and prolongs life.

(Chen Jiamo) Commentary: Renshen and Huangqi are sweet and warm, both capable of tonification. For deficiency syndromes, both can achieve results. However, Renshen only tonifies Yuan Qi and regulates the Middle Jiao, while Huangqi additionally tonifies Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) and secures the exterior. Since what they tonify differs slightly, how can equal doses be used in combination! One must respect their specific strengths and employ them as Jun (Emperor/Monarch) herbs. The Jun herb should be used in heavy dosage, while Chen (Minister/Assistant) herbs are reduced. When the Jun herb surpasses the Chen herb, the world is governed well. When the Chen herb dominates the Jun herb, the state's fortune gradually declines. This is natural law; herbal prescriptions follow this principle and require attention. For example, in cases of internal injury with Spleen and Stomach weakness, aversion to food intake, lethargy and drowsiness, fever and aversion to cold, vomiting and diarrhea, distension and fullness, fatigue and emaciation, deficient and faint pulses, and lack of spirit, treatment should suit Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction). Renshen should be increased as the Jun herb, and Huangqi reduced as the Chen herb. If it is exterior deficiency with insecure Couli, spontaneous and night sweats, gradually leading to collapse of Yang, or various ulcers consuming much pus and blood, infant chickenpox not fully filled with fluid, or all diseases of Yin toxicity failing to rise, treatment should suit Shi Wei Hu Ying (Secure the Defensive and Protect the Nutritive). Huangqi should be doubled as the main herb, and Renshen added in small amounts as the assistant. Therefore, treating disease depends on herbs, using herbs depends on the physician. Do not mechanically follow diagrams; one must be flexible and dynamic. Ancients said: Medicine has no fixed form; apply according to changes. Herbs do not adhere to fixed formulas; use them appropriately. It is also said: When there are many Qi-tonifying herbs, Blood-tonifying herbs will also tonify Qi; when there are many Blood-tonifying herbs, Qi-tonifying herbs will also tonify Blood. Assisted by hot herbs, the effect becomes hot; assisted by cold herbs, the effect becomes cold. For instance, in Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang, although Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) is added, and Danggui is a Blood herb, due to its weak influence, it is dominated by Renshen and Huangqi, thus being named for tonifying Qi alone. Conversely, in Danggui Buxue Tang, even if Huangqi is doubled, as Huangqi is a Qi herb with mild nature, it follows the guidance of Danggui, primarily serving to tonify Blood. Adding small amounts of Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex) and Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata) adds heat, as seen in Ba Wei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill); adding Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) and Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma) adds slight cold, as seen in Bu Yin Wan (Tonify Yin Pill). Draw inferences from these examples. Thus, formulas adapt to pathogenesis, and pathogenesis conforms to formulas. This relies entirely on the proper arrangement of Jun, Chen, Zuo, and Shi (Monarch, Minister, Assistant, Courier) to achieve appropriate balance of weight, urgency, and slowness. Contemporary physicians who do not study Bencao (Materia Medica) deeply yet expect to formulate prescriptions... To achieve such flexibility and appropriateness is like learning archery without holding a bow and arrows; failure is certain.