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It is found everywhere near the roads. Its root is yellowish-white, resembling *Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae* (Niuxi, 牛膝) but shorter and smaller. It is harvested in August.

The flavor is bitter, cold, and neutral; it enters the Yangming Meridian (Yangming Jing, 阳明经). It mainly treats sudden onset of wind-stroke, fever of the body, fullness of the limbs, mental confusion with loss of consciousness, mania, delirium, pathogenic qi invasion, alternating chills and fever, and soreness and pain.

It treats warm malaria (Wen Nue, 温疟), which occurs at regular intervals; and wind-warmth disease causing burning heat of the body and somnolence. It treats damage to the middle jiao, dripping and leakage, descends water qi, and benefits yin qi. Medical texts record its treatment for convulsions, deficiency vexation, and involuntary urination. For warm malaria and dan malaria (Dan Nue, 瘅疟 - a type of malaria with only fever and no chills) that persist for a long time without resolution, it must belong to yin deficiency. When adding herbs to treat malaria, adding much Baiwei (Cortex Cynanchi Atrati) as the main agent makes recovery easier. Generally, when human yin qi is insufficient, one can endure winter but not summer, and is more easily injured by summer-heat pathogen, leading to malaria in autumn. Fever first followed by chills is called warm malaria; or only fever without chills is called dan malaria. None arise without the failure of yin essence to guard internally. If yin essence truly guards internally, summer-heat cannot invade, and how could malaria arise spontaneously? In treating conditions resembling wind-stroke, it is also appropriate to add it to clearing-heat formulas. After recovery from epidemic heat diseases, or if yin deficiency with internal heat remains after recovery, or if residual heat has not been cleared, it should be added to formulas according to syndrome and meridian. After sweating for wind-warmth disease, if the body is burning hot, there is spontaneous sweating, and the constitution is robust, take Weirui Tang (Reed Rhizome Decoction) [which contains Baiwei]. If wind-warmth disease presents with spontaneous sweating, pulse floating in all three positions (cun, guan, chi), heavy body, excessive somnolence, snoring breath, and difficulty speaking, this is exactly the syndrome of wind-deficiency. Fangji Tang (Stephania Root Decoction) is suitable, using Fangji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix) as the sovereign herb, assisted by Renshen (Ginseng), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Gancao (Licorice), and Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger) to treat it. Wind-deficiency causing dizziness and confusion, unawareness of self, convulsions of hands and feet, or alternating chills and fever: this syndrome involves blood deficiency and cannot tolerate diaphoretic drugs; Duhuo Tang (Angelicae Pubescentis Root Decoction) governs it. Baiwei (Cortex Cynanchi Atrati), Renshen (Ginseng), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Fushen (Poria with Hostwood), Yuanzhi (Polygalae Radix), Guixin (Cinnamomi Ramulus), Shichangpu (Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), and Gancao (Licorice) are used to treat wind-deficiency and blood-deficiency. Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma), Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix), Duhuo (Angelicae Pubescentis Radix), and Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix) are used concurrently to dispel deficient wind. Lung excess causing nasal congestion and loss of smell of fragrances and odors: use Baiwei (Cortex Cynanchi Atrati), Beimu (Fritillariae Bulbus), Kuandonghua (Farfarae Flos) each 1 liang, and Baibu (Stemonae Radix) 2 liang, grind into powder, take 1 qian per dose, washed down with rice drink. Women experiencing deficiency during childbirth, with vexation, restlessness, nausea, and vomiting, to calm the middle and boost qi: Zhupi Wan (Bamboo Peel Pill) governs it. Zhupi (Bambusae Caulis in Taenia), Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum) each 3 fen; Baiwei (Cortex Cynanchi Atrati), Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus) each 1 fen; Gancao (Licorice) 7 fen; made into large pills with date flesh. Dissolve one pill in water and take per dose. Increase Baiwei if there is heat. This uses Gancao (Licorice) as the primary agent, and forms pills with date flesh to seek the root. Increasing Baiwei for heat aims precisely to guide yang back to yin, to transform pathogens in the yang portion, and serve as a turning point. Postpartum weak stomach with anorexia, faint pulse, excessive sweating and blood loss, syncope, and depression/dizziness syndromes: Baiwei Tang (Baiwei Decoction) is used. Baiwei (Cortex Cynanchi Atrati) and Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) each 6 qian; Renshen (Ginseng) half that amount; Gancao (Licorice) half of Renshen's amount. Women's blood syncope: usually free of illness, suddenly appearing like a corpse, eyes closed, jaw clenched, or slightly conscious, dizzy and depressed for a while before waking up (also called Yu Mao, 郁冒). This is due to excessive sweating, low blood volume, and yang qi rising alone, blocking qi flow (thus body appears dead). After qi passes and blood returns, yin and yang reconnect (thus waking after a while). Taking Baiwei Tang is suitable. To regulate menstruation and promote conception, use Baiwei (Cortex Cynanchi Atrati) as the sovereign herb, assisted by Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix), Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Rongrong (Cynomorii Herba), Shanzhuyu (Corni Fructus), Duzhong (Eucommiae Cortex), Ejiao (Asini Corii Colla), Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex), Tiandong (Asparagi Radix), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Danshen (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), honey-made pills. Long-term use facilitates pregnancy. Generally, infertility stemming from blood deficiency and blood heat originates from true yin insufficiency, yang excess generating internal heat. Internal heat causes Ying blood to wither daily, hence infertility. Tonifying yin and clearing heat allows blood to naturally thrive. Premature urinary incontinence during pregnancy: Baiwei San (Baiwei Powder) is used, consisting of equal parts Baiwei (Cortex Cynanchi Atrati) and Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba). Cold uterus causing infertility in women: there are two formulas of Baiwei Wan (Baiwei Pills). They are also used in Shengjin Wan (Shengjin Pill) and Qin Gui Wan (Qingui Pill) [known these days as Qingpi Wan] (indicating that the statement in *Ben Cao Bie Lu* about its being extremely cold is unreliable).

[Discussion] Baiwei flowers in late summer and fruits in mid-autumn, while roots are harvested in August. The flavor is bitter, salty, and neutral. It likely takes advantage of its property and flavor of guiding yang back to yin for its application. *Ben Jing* stating its qi is neutral is sufficient evidence. The phrase "benefits yin qi" in *Bie Lu* serves as a commentary on the main indications in *Ben Jing*. It treats wind syndromes, suitable for both wind-pathogenic excess and wind-deficiency. Similar to using Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix), Duhuo (Angelicae Pubescentis Radix), Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), and Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum) to treat wind-excess, that is Weirui Tang (Reed Rhizome Decoction). Similar to using Renshen (Ginseng), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), and Gancao (Licorice) to treat wind-deficiency, that is Fangji Tang (Stephania Root Decoction). Generally, it can guide yang back to yin to transform pathogens in the yang portion and act as a pivotal turning point. Observing blood syncope and depression/dizziness, where the cause is excessive sweating, yang qi rising alone, and blocked qi flow, making Baiwei the main herb confirms that the meaning of "guiding yang" is not baseless.

[Processing] Wash with wine before use.