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The root tastes bitter, pungent, and sweet. Its qi is slightly cold. Bitterness drains downward. Pungency disperses outward. Sweetness moderates urgency. Coldness eliminates heat.
It primarily treats carbuncles, sores, ulcers, and wounds. It dissipates nodules and relieves pain. It clears heat from the blood level. It treats redness in the eyes. It addresses swelling and pain in the female genitalia. It kills fire toxins. It treats knife and arrow wounds, as well as traumatic injuries, promoting tissue regeneration and relieving pain. Bai Lian (Bai Lian Radix) receives Metal qi and acts synergistically with Bai Ji (Bai Ji Rhizoma). When added to Bai Ji (Bai Ji Rhizoma), Hong Yao Zi (Hong Yao Zi Root), Cinnabaris (Zhu Sha), Realgar (Xiong Huang), Boswelliae Resina (Ru Xiang), Myrrhae Resina (Mo Yao), Borneolum Syntheticum (Bing Pian), and Moschus (She Xiang), it becomes a crucial herb for applying to carbuncles and ulcers to stop and disperse toxins. For all kinds of carbuncles and swellings, powder Bai Lian (Bai Lian Radix) and Chi Xiao Dou (Adzuki Bean) together, mix with egg white, and apply topically. For wind-bi (Wind-Bi Syndrome) with tendon stiffness, swelling, and pain, where joint flexion and extension are abnormal, take two parts Bai Lian (Bai Lian Radix) and one part Shu Fu Zi (Prepared Aconite Lateralis Radix), powder them, and take half a Dao Gui measure with wine each time, twice daily. The indicator of efficacy is the sensation of heat moving within the body; after ten days, improvement will be felt.

In Shaanxi, Sichuan, Qinzhou, and Wen River regions, these are widely cultivated for commerce. Those from Qin产地 with round heads and tails, purple color, fragrant aroma, and plump moisture are called Ma Wei Gui (Horse-Tail Dang Gui) and are superior to those from other places. Those with large heads, thick tails, white color, hardness, and dryness are called Tou Gui (Head Dang Gui) and are only suitable for dispersing formulas. Roots are harvested in the second and eighth months. (Li Shizhen) Those from Sichuan have strong potency and excel at attacking pathogens. Those from Qin have mild potency and excel at tonifying. (Han Zhihe) The head stops bleeding. The tail breaks blood stasis. (Generally, herbs' roots ascend while tips descend because roots are upper and tips are lower. Thus, for blood sinking/depletion, the root can guide blood upward to stop bleeding. For blood coagulation/stagnation, the tip can guide blood downward to break stagnation.) The body harmonizes blood. If used whole, breaking and stopping simultaneously also harmonizes blood. "Shi Tou" refers to the hard section of the root. "Shi Wei" refers to the pointed tip. (Generally, qi and pulses in the upper half of the root-body ascend, while those in the lower half descend. Therefore, treat upper disorders with the head, middle disorders with the body, lower disorders with the tail, and general disorders with the whole. This applies not only to Dang Gui but also to Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix), Fang Feng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix), Jie Geng (Platycodonis Radix). (Zhang Yuansu)
The root tastes sweet, bitter, and pungent, with a warm and moist nature. Its qi is stronger than its taste. It can ascend and descend. It is Yang with slight Yin. It enters the Blood level of the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian, Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian, and Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. According to various Materia Medica texts, it has three main functions: First, it nourishes blood. Examples include warming the middle and supplementing deficiencies, moistening intestines, stomach, bones, tendons, skin, treating leukorrhea and infertility in women, emergency obstetric care, and stabilizing blood deficiency and chaotic Qi-blood (also applicable to men). Second, it harmonizes blood. Examples include stopping dysentery with abdominal pain, treating leukorrhea with lower back pain in women, relieving stabbing blood pain and toothache, and treating warm malaria with alternating chills and fever. Third, it invigorates and moves blood. Examples include treating malignant sores and ulcers, blood stasis from falls/trauma, damp-bi with wind causing spasms and curling, internal obstruction by guest blood, old evil blood, and masses/fixed lumps. Treatment cannot be generalized; it depends on appropriate guidance/adjuvants. Dang Gui tastes bitter, has warm temperature, fragrant odor, and purple color. It should enter the Heart, acting as the envoy herb for the Heart. It enters both Blood and Qi levels. Judging it solely as entering Blood loses its true nature. Since blood without Qi's warmth cannot circulate through meridians and irrigate the body, this herb aids Qi's function and benefits Blood's substance. It promotes and leads Qi, enabling Qi, Blood, and pathogenic factors to return to their proper places, hence the name. (This paragraph discusses Qi within Blood - Li Dongyuan) All blood belongs to the Heart. To unblock vessels, one must first tonify the Heart and benefit Blood. Thus, Zhang Zhongjing used Dang Gui's bitter-warm property to assist Heart Blood in treating cold extremities and faint pulse. (Wang Haogu) This herb is decisive for treating blood disorders and deficiency, yielding rapid results. Ancient formulas use it for postpartum evil blood rushing upward, with no faster-acting remedy. For chaotic Qi-blood, it stabilizes immediately upon ingestion. (Chen Cheng - Above two paragraphs discuss nourishing blood)
When blood is obstructed and does not flow, pain occurs. Dang Gui's sweet-warm nature harmonizes blood; its pungent-warm nature disperses internal cold; its bitter-warm nature assists the Heart in dispersing cold, allowing Qi and Blood to find their归宿 (return). (Zhang Yuansu) It expels blood stasis, generates new blood, unblocks vessels, moves with Qi, and circulates endlessly. (Yu Tun - Above two paragraphs discuss harmonizing and moving blood) Used whole, combined with Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix) and Huang Qi (Astragali Radix), it tonifies Qi and generates Blood. Combined with Niu Bang Zi (Arctii Fructus) or Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma), it moves Qi and breaks Blood. With Gui Zhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus), Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata), and Zhu Yu (Evodiae Fructus), it becomes hot. With Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) and Mang Xiao (Natrii Sulfas), it becomes cold. (Li Haogu - Combined with below three paragraphs discussing returning blood via guidance) For blood deficiency, use Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix) and Shi Zhi Yu (Kaolinite) as adjuvants. For blood heat, use Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix) and Tiao Qin (Scutellariae Radix) as adjuvants, preserving the source of generation. (Han Zhihe) Its qi is free-flowing and indefinite, functioning according to the guiding herb. Combined with Chuan Xiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma) and Xi Xin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma), it treats blood-deficiency headache, eye pain, and toothache. Combined with blood herbs and Yi Yi Ren (Coicis Semen), Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix) descending, it treats malnourished tendons, lower back pain, and leg weakness. Combined with Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix), Chuan Wu (Aconiti Radix), Wu Yao (Linderae Radix), and Yi Yi Ren (Coicis Semen), it nourishes the exterior, treating systemic tendon cold-damp-toxin. Combined with Shao Yao (Paeoniae Radix), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), and Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix), it nourishes blood, yin, and tonifies Kidney. Combined with Shao Yao (Paeoniae Radix) and Mu Xiang (Aucklandiae Radix), it harmonizes Liver and relieves pain, treating dysentery. Combined with Bie Jia (Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum) and Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix), it stabilizes chills/fever and removes warm malaria. Combined with Yuan Zhi (Polygalae Radix) and Suan Zao Ren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen), it nourishes Heart and calms palpitations. (Disciple records) Combined with alcohol-processed Huang Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma), it treats Heart blood-deficiency heat. In Si Wu Tang (Four Substances Decoction), it governs hundred diseases of the female blood level. Added with Chao Gan Jiang (Fried Zingiberis Rhizoma), Chao Hei Dou (Fried Soybean), Ze Lan (Leonuri Herba), Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix), Yi Mu Cao (Leonuri Herba), and Pu Huang (Typhae Pollen), it treats hundred postpartum diseases. Combined with Chuan Xiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma) and Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix), it treats difficult labor and breech presentation. Combined with Hong Hua (Carthami Flos), Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix), Yi Mu Cao (Leonuri Herba), and Pu Huang (Typhae Pollen), it treats postpartum blood rushing to the Heart. Combined with Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix), Shao Yao (Paeoniae Radix), Bai Jiao (Colla Corii Asini), Xu Duan (Dipsaci Radix), and Du Zhong (Eucommiae Cortex), it treats amenorrhea due to blood obstruction. Combined with Gui Zhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Ju Hua (Chrysanthemi Flos), and Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix), it treats Bi syndrome. Combined with Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix), Bie Jia (Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum), Ju Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), and Sheng Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens), it treats malaria in the Yin level persisting long-term. Combined with Suan Zao Ren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen), Yuan Zhi (Polygalae Radix), Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix), and Fu Shen (Poria Cum Rosa), it treats Heart blood deficiency causing insomnia. Combined with Huang Qi (Astragali Radix), Er Di (Two Rehmannias), Qin Lian (Scutellaria & Coptis), and Huang Bo (Phellodendri Cortex), it treats night sweats. Combined with Jing Jie (Schizonepetae Herba), Bai Zhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix), Chuan Xiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), and Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix), it treats tetanus. Combined with Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix), Du Zhong (Eucommiae Cortex), Xu Duan (Dipsaci Radix), Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix), Lu Jiao Xie (Deer Antler Powder), and Gui (Cinnamon), it treats all fractures, falls, sprains, and pains. Combined with Di Yu (Sanguisorbae Radix), Yin Hua (Lonicerae Japonicae Flos), Hua Shi (Talcum), and Hong Qu (Monascus Ruber), it treats bloody dysentery with tenesmus. For placental injury with blood loss, postpartum metrorrhagia, surgical wounds, tooth extraction, or any excessive blood loss causing vexation, dizziness, syncope, and unconsciousness: Dang Gui (Dang Gui Radix) 2 liang, Chuan Xiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma) 1 liang. Use 5 qian per dose, simmer 7 parts water and 3 parts wine until 7 parts remain, drink hot, twice daily. For internal deficiency and dim vision, tonifying Qi and Blood: Raw-shai Dang Gui (Dang Gui Radix) 6 liang, Fire-processed Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) 1 liang, powder, honey pills size of wu zi, take 30 pills with warm wine, named Liu Yi Wan (Six-One Pill). For constipation: Equal parts Dang Gui (Dang Gui Radix) and Bai Zhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix), powder, take 2 qian with rice soup. For unmarried women's amenorrhea: Gui Wei (Tail of Dang Gui) and Mo Yao (Myrrhae Resina) 1 qian each, powder, steep Hong Hua (Carthami Flos) in wine, face north and drink, once daily. For miscarriage with continuous bleeding: Roasted Dang Gui (Dang Gui Radix) 1 liang, Cong Bai (Allii Fistulosi Bulbus) one handful, take 5 qian per dose, simmer in 1.5 cups wine until 0.8 cup remains, drink warm. For dystocia, dead fetus, or transverse/breech presentation: Dang Gui (Dang Gui Radix) 3 liang, Chuan Xiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma) 1 liang, powder. First stir-fry large black soybeans until charred, add 1 cup running water and 1 cup child's urine, simmer until half remains, divide into two doses, repeat if ineffective. For postpartum wind-stroke with unconsciousness, salivation, and convulsions: Equal parts Dang Gui (Dang Gui Radix) and Jing Jie Sui (Schizonepetae Spica), powder, take 3 qian, simmer 1 cup water with small amounts of wine and child's urine until 0.7 cup remains, administer orally, life returns immediately upon swallowing.
[Discussion] Dang Gui's taste begins sweet, then bitter, then pungent, and returns to sweet. Pungency is intense, while sweetness has a beginning and end that complement each other. Sweetness is the Earth flavor, the source of Qi and Blood generation. Sweetness returns to bitterness; bitterness/Fire belongs to the Heart, governing Blood. Bitterness with pungency corresponds to Metal/Lung; since Lung connects to Heart vessels to regulate respiration, it serves Blood. Blood originates from Water and forms via Fire, moving from Kidney to Lung, then to Heart; thus Metal combines with Fire to conceive Water. Fire harmonizes with Water via Metal, leading to Qi transformation; Metal conceives Water and亲近s Fire, leading to Blood generation. This pungency follows bitterness with the most intense flavor. The initial sweetness corresponds to "Humans receive Qi from Grain; Grain enters Stomach, transmits to Lung." The final sweetness corresponds to "Middle Jiao and Stomach, emerging after Upper Jiao," where received Qi steams essence, transforms fine nutrients, ascends to Lung vessels, and transforms into Blood. Synthesizing this: Lung combines with Heart for Qi transformation, starting blood vessels; Lung combines with Spleen for Blood transformation, opening meridians. Hai Zang judged it an "Qi herb within Blood" because where Blood is deficient, its generating Qi enriches and moistens it; where Blood is obstructed, its transforming Qi harmonizes and moves it. (e.g., Wine-steamed for headaches suits upper body; wine-decocted for hematuria suits lower body; wine-mixed powder for heart/abdominal stabbing pain suits middle body. Also, treating Intestines/Stomach targets hot dysentery/colic; treating Meridians targets wind-stroke spasms; treating Tendons/Bones targets pain; treating Skin targets wind-scabies. Whatever the target, it finds its归宿.) Human Qi originates from Kidney, Blood from Heart; this is Yin born from Yang. Only Qin Gui receives dense Metal qi, fully obtaining the transformation of Yin born from Yang, originally being an Qi herb within Blood. Combined with Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmanniae Radix), it tonifies Marrow. Si Wu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) has seasonal modifications: Double Dang Gui to welcome Spring Qi; double Chuan Xiong to welcome Summer Qi; double Shao Yao to welcome Autumn; double Di Huang to welcome Winter. Using Dang Gui generates one Yang; using Shao Yao generates one Yin. Thus, Dang Gui's sweet, bitter, pungent, and warm nature resembles Spring's generative harmony, surely the beginning of Blood? Know that Blood originates from Water and forms via Fire; Fire is Heart Qi, the true Qi formed by Yin-Yang harmony, not biased toward Yang. Bias toward Yang causes blood deficiency with blazing Yang, and Blood fails to find its归宿. Understanding this allows maximizing Dang Gui's benefits.
Miao said: Pungent and warm, it moves and walks; nature lubricates intestines. Its qi is unsuitable for Stomach, so those with thin Stomach and loose stools should avoid it. Not suitable for blood heat. Even postpartum and antenatal periods require caution.
[Processing] Select plump, moist, non-dry roots. For ascending effects, soak in wine overnight. For exterior treatments, wash briefly in wine. For blood disorders, steam in wine. For phlegm, process with Ginger. If included in formulas for vomiting, epistaxis, or metrorrhagia, stir-fry with vinegar, use sparingly; excessive use may move blood adversely.