根味苦辛甘。气温。气浓味薄。沉而升。阴中阳也。足少阴行经气分之药。本经主风
寒所击。金疮止痛。奔豚痫痉。女子疝瘕。治一切风并气。筋骨挛拳。骨节酸痛。中风湿冷
。奔喘逆气。皮肤苦痒。手足挛痛。祛足少阴伏风。百节痛风。（此伏风深入骨节者）凡两
足寒湿痹不能动止。非此不治。与细辛同用。止少阴经头痛。疗劳损风毒齿痛。（诸本草）
独活气浊属阴。善行血分。敛而能舒。沉而能升。缓而善搜。可助表虚。故入太阴肺少阴肾
以理伏风。（士材） 独活细而低。治足少阴伏风而不治太阳。（东垣）
〔羌独活总论〕 羌浮而升。独沉而升。（主治秘诀）羌活气雄。故大无不通。小无不
入。治足太阳风湿相搏。头痛肢节痛。一身尽痛。为却乱反正之主药。独活气细。细者治足
少阴伏风头痛。两足湿痹不能动止。而不治太阳之证。（好古）羌入太阳。独入少阴。一表
一里。似气血之原已分矣。后人用治三时寒疾。以代麻黄桂枝。有孕妇初春外寒。病于足太
阳腑。为头痛骨痛。更病于足少阴脏。为腰痛。表里俱病。气血两伤。此本麻黄桂心所治病。
而药在所禁。但用羌活为君。入太阳。独活为臣。以入肾。一剂便效。同白术苍术秦艽生地
薏仁木瓜石斛黄柏。治下部一切风湿湿热。同生地赤芍甘草丹皮石膏等。治风热上攻牙肿痛。
〔论〕 羌活性温。本地中首出之气。其味始苦。次辛。苦多辛少。辛后又有甘。是首
出之气。本于味苦之入地者以上行。更辛甘合。而上行之气乃畅。所以为手足太阳行经风药。
能大畅寒水之郁而宣其化也。其治督脉为病脊强而厥者。以督为人身之真阳。此品能达真阳
以散寒郁也。又治风湿。（盖肾之真阳不畅。水郁即化湿。羌活从风化以畅水中之阳。正所
以除湿。即举外受之湿。皆能治之也。）而通经络者。以营行脉中。每患于湿以为血病。血
病则邪气恶血住留而经络伤。伤则不能行血气而营阴阳。故患为诸痹。甚且不得濡筋骨。利
关节。致骨节酸痛。屈伸不利而拘挛矣。（即病于脊痛项强。不可回顾。腰似折。项似拔。
皆其由湿以化风者。）羌活本风升之阳。从寒水中达阳以化湿。亦即畅阴以和风。而藏血之
肝。实司风化以主经络者。遂并太阳而效其用焉。（凡便秘属风者。方药中类用羌活。即此
可悟风血相关之义。盖便秘患于燥。燥者血不足。用羌活举阴以升而裕血之用。原非以燥湿
为功。要知风和则血裕。风淫则血燥。羌活不徒达阳以化湿。亦且畅阴以和风。可漫以风剂
例视乎哉。）夫风阳而寒湿阴。羌活固畅阴以达阳矣。乃如防风之冶。反以泻阳实而令阳畅
者何也。盖人身风升之气。与元气无二。畅阴以达阳者。固所以裕元气。俾阳出阴中而上际。
其升之机藉于肝。至泻阳以蓄阴者。更所以裕元气。俾阳依于阴以下蟠。其降之机举在肺。
如肺实不泻。是所谓升降不前气交有变也。至二味之能通经络。防风则自上而达于周身。羌
活则自下而上以及周身。其亦区以别矣。抑先天之元阴。水也。后天之真阴。血也。羌之达
阳以畅阴。与防之泻阳以蓄阴。总乃阳之不离于阴以为用。非泛然谓风剂便通经络也。试观
防风主上部见血。而羌活能治血癞及痈疽败血。则可知斯义之不爽矣。
独活为肾药。肾乃阴中之至阴。独活能 至阴中之阳化。以裕足太阳之气化而上际通
天。言其通经络之功。固不如羌活。第其入至阴之地。即寒水而裕风化。又就风木而达水化。
所谓不争下流者。独活有焉。即本经主治诸证
缪氏云。羌独活本祛风散寒除湿之要品。但本经别录并主中风及诸风。用者宜审。夫真
中风。惟西北高寒之地。表虚者当之。往往猝中。或口眼歪斜。或口噤不语。或手足瘫痪左
右不仁。或刚痉柔痉。（即角弓反张）此药与风药并用可也。若夫吴楚闽越百粤鬼方梁州之
域。从无刚劲之风。多有湿热之患。质脆气虚。多热多痰。其患中风如前等病。外证虽一一
相似。而其中实非。此则内伤虚邪。与外淫实邪。或攻或补。迥若天渊。若误用风药虚虚。
贻祸不小。又有血虚头痛。及遍身疼痛骨痛因而寒热者。此属内证。误用反致作剧。
〔辨治〕 羌活形细而多节。（易简方云须用紫色有蚕头鞭节者）软润。气息极猛烈。
独活色微白。形虚大。（易简云有臼如鬼眼）为用亦相似。而小不如。（陶隐居） 独活自蜀
来者。稍类羌活而极大。气亦芳烈。又有槐叶气者。用之极验。（苏颂）去皮及腐朽者用。
独活易蛀。宜密器藏之。（此亦验真伪之一端）
The root tastes bitter, acrid, and sweet. Its nature is warm. The qi is strong while the taste is light. Its action tendency is sinking with an ascending quality, belonging to yang within yin. It is a herb that circulates qi in the blood level of the Foot-Shaoyin (Kidney) channel. *Ben Jing* (Classic of Materia Medica) states it treats diseases caused by wind-cold invasion, stops pain from metal wounds (Jinchuang), Ben Tun (gas rushing from lower abdomen to chest), epilepsy, and spasms, and women's Shan Jia (abdominal masses). It treats all types of wind pathogens and qi stagnation, tendon and bone cramping, joint soreness and pain, internal contraction of wind-damp-cold, wheezing and rebellious qi, severe skin itching, and cramping pain in hands and feet. It expels latent wind from the Foot-Shaoyin channel and treats gout in all joints. (This refers to latent wind penetrating deep into the joints.) For cases where both legs are cold-damp bi syndrome causing immobility, this herb is essential for treatment. When used with Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma), it stops Shaoyin channel headaches and treats toothache due to wind-toxin from exhaustion. (Referencing various Materia Medica texts)
Duhuo has a turbid aroma and belongs to yin; it excels at circulating the blood level. It is astringent yet soothing, sinking yet ascending, slow yet good at searching out hidden pathogens. It can assist in treating exterior deficiency. Therefore, it enters the Taiyin Lung and Shaoyin Kidney channels to regulate latent wind. (Citing Shicai) Duhuo is slender and low-growing; it treats latent wind of the Foot-Shaoyin channel but does not treat the Taiyang channel. (Citing Dongyuan)
[General Discussion on Qianghuo and Duhuo]
Qianghuo is floating and ascending; Duhuo is sinking yet ascending. (Citing *Zhi Zhu Mi Jue*) Qianghuo has a vigorous aroma, thus nothing large is not unblocked, and nothing small is not entered. It treats rheumatism-wind combat in the Foot-Taiyang Bladder channel, causing headache, limb and joint pain, and whole-body pain; it is the principal herb for correcting disorder and restoring normalcy. Duhuo has a subtle aroma; subtlety treats latent wind headache of the Foot-Shaoyin channel and damp-bi immobility of both legs, but does not treat Taiyang channel syndromes. (Citing Haogu) Qianghuo enters the Taiyang channel, Duhuo enters the Shaoyin channel; one is exterior, one is interior, seemingly separating the origins of qi and blood. Later practitioners use them to treat cold ailments in three seasons, replacing Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) and Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus). For example, if a pregnant woman contracts external cold in early spring, affecting the Foot-Taiyang Fu organ with headache and bone pain, and simultaneously affecting the Foot-Shaoyin Zang organ with lower back pain, presenting as simultaneous exterior-interior disease and qi-blood injury: this was originally treated by Mahuang and Guixin (Cinnamomi Cortex), which are contraindicated for pregnancy. In such cases, use only Qianghuo as the Sovereign herb entering the Taiyang channel, and Duhuo as the Minister herb entering the Kidney. One dose brings efficacy. Combined with Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Qinjiao (Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix), Shengdi (Rehmanniae Radix), Yiren (Coicis Semen), Mugua (Chaenomelis Fructus), Shihu (Dendrobii Caulis), and Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex), it treats all lower-body wind-damp-heat syndromes. Combined with Shengdi, Chishao (Paeoniae Radix Rubra), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Danpi (Moutan Cortex), and Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum), it treats tooth swelling and pain caused by wind-heat attacking upward.
[Discussion]
Qianghuo has a warm nature, inheriting the first qi emerging from the earth. Its taste begins bitter, then acrid, with bitterness exceeding acridity, followed by sweetness after the acridity. This first-emerging qi originates from the bitter flavor entering the earth and rising upward; combined with acrid and sweet flavors, the ascending qi becomes smooth. Thus, it serves as a wind-dispelling herb for the Hand and Foot Taiyang channels. It greatly unblocks the depression of Cold-Water and promotes its transformation. It treats diseases of the Du Mai (Governing Vessel) manifesting as spinal rigidity and cold limbs, because the Du Mai is the True Yang of the body; this herb reaches the True Yang to disperse cold depression. It also treats wind-damp. (Presumably, when the True Yang of the Kidney is not smooth, water depression transforms into dampness. Qianghuo follows wind transformation to smooth the yang within water, precisely to eliminate dampness; even externally contracted dampness can be treated.) Regarding its ability to unblock collaterals: Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi) circulates within the vessels and is often afflicted by dampness leading to blood pathology. Blood pathology causes pathogenic qi and evil blood to remain, damaging the collaterals. Damage prevents the circulation of qi and blood to nourish yin and yang, resulting in various Bi syndromes. Severe cases fail to moisten tendons and bones or lubricate joints, causing joint soreness, limited flexion and extension, and cramping. (This includes spinal pain and neck rigidity preventing turning, waist feeling like breaking, and neck feeling like pulling, all arising from damp transforming into wind.) Qianghuo is essentially yang that rises with wind; it reaches yang from cold-water to transform dampness, thereby smoothing yin to harmonize wind. The Liver, which stores blood and governs wind transformation to direct collaterals, consequently shares the function of the Taiyang channel. (For constipation caused by wind, Fang Yaoguang often uses Qianghuo; this reveals the connection between wind and blood. Constipation arises from dryness, which is insufficient blood. Using Qianghuo to lift yin and ascend enriches the function of blood; its purpose is not primarily to dry dampness. Know that when wind is harmonious, blood is abundant; when wind is excessive, blood is dry. Qianghuo not only reaches yang to transform dampness but also smooths yin to harmonize wind. How can it simply be viewed as a standard wind-dispelling agent?) Wind is yang, cold-damp is yin. Qianghuo certainly smooths yin to reach yang. Why, then, does Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), after processing, instead drain excess yang to allow yang to flow smoothly? The ascending qi of wind in the human body is no different from Yuan Qi (Source Qi). Smoothing yin to reach yang enriches Yuan Qi, allowing yang to emerge from yin and reach the heavens; its ascending mechanism relies on the Liver. Draining yang to store yin further enriches Yuan Qi, allowing yang to attach to yin and descend; its descending mechanism lies entirely in the Lung. If Lung excess is not drained, it is called "ascending and descending do not proceed, qi intersection changes." Regarding their ability to unblock collaterals: Fangfeng reaches the whole body from top to bottom, while Qianghuo reaches the whole body from bottom to top; there is a distinction. Furthermore, congenital Primary Yin is Water, postnatal True Yin is Blood. Qianghuo reaching yang to smooth yin, and Fangfeng draining yang to store yin, both demonstrate that yang cannot function without yin; it is not merely that wind herbs unblock collaterals. Observe that Fangfeng mainly treats bleeding in the upper body, while Qianghuo treats blood leukoderma and carbuncles with败血 (decaying blood); thus, this principle holds true.
Duhuo is a Kidney herb. The Kidney is the extreme yin within yin. Duhuo can transform the yang within extreme yin, enriching the qi transformation of the Foot-Taiyang channel to reach heaven upwards. Regarding its merit in unblocking collaterals, it is indeed inferior to Qianghuo. However, it enters the realm of extreme yin, enriching wind transformation within cold-water, and reaching water transformation through wind-wood. It embodies the concept of "not competing with the lower flow," which Duhuo possesses. These correspond to the indications in *Ben Jing*.
Mr. Miao stated: Qianghuo and Duhuo are essential herbs for dispelling wind, scattering cold, and removing dampness. However, *Ben Jing* and *Bie Lu* also indicate they treat Zhong Feng (Wind Stroke) and various wind diseases. Practitioners should exercise caution. True Zhong Feng occurs only in the high-cold regions of the Northwest, affecting those with exterior deficiency, often striking suddenly with symptoms such as facial paralysis, locked jaw and inability to speak, hemiplegia or numbness on either side, or Gang Jing (rigid spasm) and Rou Jing (flaccid spasm) (i.e., opisthotonos). This herb can be used in combination with wind-dispelling agents. In contrast, in regions like Wu, Chu, Min, Yue, Baiyue, Guifang, and Liangzhou, there is rarely fierce wind; instead, there are many heat-damp afflictions. People here have fragile constitutions and deficient qi, prone to heat and phlegm. Their Zhong Feng-like illnesses present with similar external signs but differ fundamentally in essence. These are internal injuries with deficiency pathogens versus external invasions with excess pathogens; treatments may involve attack or tonification, differing vastly like heaven and earth. Misusing wind herbs would cause deficiency to become more deficient, leading to serious consequences. Additionally, headache due to blood deficiency and generalized body/bone pain accompanied by alternating chills and fever belong to internal conditions; misusing wind herbs will exacerbate the condition.
[Differentiation and Treatment]
Qianghuo is slender and knotty. (*Yi Jian Fang* states one must use purple varieties with silkworm-heads and whip-joints). It is soft and moist, with an extremely potent aroma. Duhuo is slightly white in color and appears hollow and large. (*Yi Jian Fang* describes nodes resembling ghost eyes). Their effects are similar, but Duhuo is slightly weaker. (Citing Tao Hongjing) Duhuo from Shu resembles Qianghuo but is much larger, with a fragrant and potent aroma. Those with the scent of Sophora leaves are extremely effective. (Citing Su Song) Use the peeled part, excluding rotten portions. Duhuo is prone to insect infestation and should be stored in sealed containers. (This is also a method to verify authenticity.)