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The highest quality Qianhu (Peucedani Radix) comes from Wuxing in the Wuzhong region, while those from Yuezhou, Quzhou, Wuzhou, and Muzhou are also considered superior. They are harvested in the seventh and eighth lunar months. The exterior is black, and the interior flesh is white. Furthermore, Qianhu produced in Shouchun has a more intense aromatic fragrance and a stronger, bitter taste. It is most effective in treating phlegm and descending rebellious Qi. Qianhu from Yanlai is largely similar to Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix). (This refers to what is known as Northern Chaihu.) However, Chaihu is reddish in color and brittle, whereas Qianhu is yellowish and soft; this is their difference. The root of Qianhu tastes sweet and pungent with a hint of bitterness, has a slightly cold nature, enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian, Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian, and Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian, belongs to Yin within Yang, and has a descending action. Its main indications include breaking up stagnation, descending Qi, eliminating the old to promote the new. (When Qi descends, Fire also descends, and Phlegm is thereby resolved; hence the term "eliminating the old to promote the new." It is an essential herb for treating Phlegm-Qi disorders.) It dissipates stagnation in the heart and abdomen, clears heat-fullness above the diaphragm, treats fullness due to phlegm, chest and hypochondriac stuffiness, retrograde vomiting and regurgitation, asthma, cough, headache and wind-pain caused by Phlegm-Jue, and cold-heat alternations due to Shanghan (Cold Damage), as well as internal and external heat in seasonal epidemics, bone and joint irritability caused by pathogenic heat, and various types of childhood Ganic syndrome (malnutrition). When combined with Baiqian (Caulis Asari Radiantis), Xingren (Semen Armeniacae Amarum), Sangbaipi (Cortex Mori), Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix), and Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), it can resolve wind-heat phlegm obstruction causing wheezing and cough, and descend Qi. When combined with Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix), Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix), Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), and Gualugen (Trichosanthis Radix), it treats cold-heat alternations in seasonal epidemics. In the Mengshi Guntan Wan (Magnolia Bark and Calamine Pill for Rolling Down Phlegm), replacing Huangqin, it shows special efficacy in treating all kinds of excess phlegm.

[Discussion] Chaihu tastes bitter initially and then slightly sweet, indicating its action moves upward from below. Qianhu releases an aroma when broken, tasting sweet first, then pungent, followed by bitterness. This flavor profile suggests it obtains the Qi of Earth and Metal and responds to the autumn and winter seasons. (This is evidenced by harvesting its roots in the seventh and eighth months.) Although Chaihu acts upward and affects the Stomach and Lungs, Qianhu acts downward and also affects the Stomach and Lungs. Therefore, their therapeutic effects on conditions such as chest and hypochondriac fullness, heart and abdominal stagnation, and cold-heat pathogenic factors are generally similar, yet fundamentally different: one raises Yang upward, corresponding to the Spring-Summer phase of Yuanqi (Primal Qi); the other sinks Yang downward, corresponding to the Autumn-Winter phase of Yuanqi. Generally, Qianhu's ability to descend Qi primarily lies in dispersing stagnation. (Whenever Yin fails to descend, it is due to Yang stagnation; dispersing stagnation involves resolving it within the Yang aspect, which allows Qianhu to exert its effect on the Stomach and Lungs just like Chaihu.) Any external pathogenic invasion affecting healthy Qi can cause stagnation. If the pathogen is strong and acute, stagnation forms immediately; if mild and slow, it forms over time. Qi stagnation transforms into heat, necessitating the use of dispersing agents to eliminate the pathogen before efficacy can be achieved. Even in cases of internal injury causing excess Qi and stagnation, this principle applies. However, for conditions where stagnation arises from deficiency of Middle Qi or Yin deficiency leading to Qi stagnation, it should not be used indiscriminately.

Mr. Miao stated that Qianhu can disperse excess pathogenic heat and excess phlegm but is contraindicated in conditions of Qi deficiency and blood insufficiency. For instance, in cases where deficient fire scalds Yin, condensing phlegm and triggering cough, or...

[Differentiation and Treatment] Ye'ao Gen (Rhizoma Artemisiae Annuae) resembles Qianhu in shape but has a coarse, sour, and bitter taste. Misuse leads to retrograde vomiting and inability to eat. True Qianhu tastes sweet with a slight bitterness, has black skin and white flesh, and possesses an aromatic scent. When preparing it, wash with water, scrape off the black skin and rhizome head. Alternatively, soak in Zhuli (Bamboo Sap) and dry.