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Shanggu period called it "Que Tou Xiang" (Sparrow Head Fragrance). It can be used to compound incense. It grows beneath the root of Cyperus rotundus (Cyperaceae root). Its root has fibrils, and one or two tubers form below the fibrils, reproducing continuously. It is surrounded by bristles; after harvesting, the bristles are singed off, and it is sun-dried for storage. (Li Shizhen) Although it grows under the Cyperus root, the presence of the tuber on the root varies, so one cannot simply assume its flavor is sweet with acrid and slightly bitter notes, its qi is neutral and fragrant, its nature is drying, its qi is stronger than its flavor, belonging to Yin within Yang, being a Qi medicine in Blood, possessing descending properties, entering the Qi aspect of Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian, and also Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian and Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian, circulating through the Qi aspect of the Twelve Regular Meridians and Eight Extraordinary Vessels. Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuanxiong) serves as its guiding herb. Raw use ascends to the chest and diaphragm, reaching externally to the skin; cooked use descends to the Liver and Kidney, penetrating externally to the waist and feet; charred black, it can stop bleeding. (Li Shizhen) It treats all types of Qi stagnation, benefits the Triple Burner, resolves the Six Stagnations (Qi, Blood, Phlegm, Fire, Dampness, Food), disperses cold from epidemic pathogens causing sorrow and unhappiness, palpitations with shortness of breath, cholera with vomiting and regurgitation, epigastric fullness and abdominal distension, eliminates food accumulation and phlegm-fluids, generates Blood, regulates uterine bleeding and leukorrhea in women, irregular menstruation, and various diseases before and after childbirth. (Various Materia Medica texts) The statement "generates Blood" refers to the principle that Yang generation leads to Yin growth. (Zhu Danxi)

Processed with vinegar, it transforms Phlegm-Fluids. (Li Shizhen) Combined with Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen) and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu), it tonifies Qi; combined with Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui) and Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata (Dihuang), it tonifies Blood; combined with Aucklandiae Radix (Muxiang), it awakens the Spleen; combined with Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum (Chenxiang), it regulates the ascending and descending of Qi; combined with Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuanxiong) and Atractylodis Rhizoma (Cangzhu), it generally resolves various stagnations; combined with Gardeniae Fructus (Zhizi) and Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian), it reduces Fire and Heat; combined with Pinelliae Tuber (Banxia), it resolves obstruction and reduces distension; combined with Perilla Folium (Zisu) and Allii Fistulosi Bulbus (Congbai), it disperses pathogenic factors; combined with [Herb], it promotes the elimination of turbidity and generation of freshness, benefiting Qi. There is a common saying that it consumes Qi, suggesting it is suitable for women but not men, which is incorrect. Women rely on Blood for their physiological functions; when Qi moves, Blood moves, and when Qi closes, Blood closes, relying on Qi for nourishment. Children's Qi fills daily, and their physical form becomes solid daily. Generally, illness causes Qi stagnation and deficiency, so Xiangfu acts rapidly on Qi stagnation. (Han Zhide) Xiangfu is an essential herb for Qi stagnation and Blood stasis. However, improper use causes harm. Jiaogan Decoction: For those suffering from [illness/stroke], caused by insufficient Heart Blood, failing Fire not descending, exhausted Kidney Qi, rising Water not ascending, separation of Heart and Kidney, and disharmony of Ying and Wei. Upper body manifests as frequent fright; middle body [epigastric fullness]; lower body manifests as deficiency-cold and spermatorrhea. Ignorant physicians only know how to tonify the Lower Jiao, which fails to generate Water and nourish Yin, instead leading to emaciation and decline. Taking this formula alone can consolidate the source and flow, with effects hard to fully describe. Take 500g of Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiangfu), soak overnight in fresh water, [decoct/steam]. Take 15g of Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiangfu), 2 [qian/liang] of Poria (Fushen), and 45g of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata (Zhigancao), grind into powder, take with boiling water prior to other medicines. Secret recipe for uterine bleeding: Take 500g of Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiangfu), soak thoroughly in child's urine, stir-fry in a clay pot, sprinkle child's urine when stopping fire, do not use excessive heat, stir-fry [until black/preserved nature], lasting three days and nights. Take 120g of Tremella Fuciformis (Chuan Mu'er), wrap in paper, sandwich between two new tiles, bind with rope and seal with mud, calcine [over fire] preserving nature, remove fire quickly when smoke rises for a long time, place on cold ground, wait until cool, take out, grind extremely fine like flour together with Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiangfu). Take on an empty stomach [with warm wine] to produce efficacy.

Xiao Wuchen Tang: Take 600g of Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiangfu), remove bristles and roast dry, 300g of Linderae Radix (Wuyao), 30g of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata (Zhigancao), grind into powder. Take [9g] per dose, treat chest and diaphragm discomfort. Soak Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiangfu) and Gleditsiae Sinensis Spina (Jiaozhao) in water, each 30g of Pinelliae Tuber (Banxia), Bai [Poria?], Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiangfu) and Arisaematis Rhizoma (Nanxing), make pills with Ginger Juice paste, size of Sophora Seed (Wuzi), take 20-30 pills with Ginger Decoction. Treat hernia swelling pain and Small Intestine Qi: Take 6g of Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiangfu) powder, mix with Sea [Powder/Salt] on an empty stomach, and eat Sargassum (Haizao). Qi stagnation headache: Roast 120g of Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiangfu) and 60g of Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuanxiong), grind into powder, take 6g per dose, send down with Tea [Clear Decoction] Powder. Take 30g of Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiangfu) and 15g of Prunellae Spica (Xiakucao), grind into powder, take 3g per dose, steep in Tea Leaves. Spring 3, Summer 1, Autumn 5, Winter [7], wash clean, sun-dry and pound, lightly roast into powder, make pills with Vinegar paste, size of Sophora Seed (Wuzi), take 70 pills with Wine. Treat irregular menstruation in women and various diseases. Take 60g of Shou [Fat?] Lan Chi Ling Powder, add Si Jun Zi Tang ingredients for Qi deficiency, add Si Wu Tang ingredients for Blood deficiency. Note: When using Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiangfu), one must examine the cause and which organ is diseased, assist with [formula], then other formulas can be inferred by analogy.

[Discussion] The sweet taste of Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiangfu) is the origin of generating Qi and Blood. It also has acridity; Acrid Metal returns to Lung and governs Qi. Later it has bitterness; Bitter Fire returns to [Heart]. Mostly accompanied by acridity, meaning Yang resides in excess. Bitterness is Yin; Sweet is more abundant than Bitter, meaning Yin resides in deficiency. Subsequently accompanied by bitterness, originally excess Yang enters Yin to exert its effect. Like Lung Qi descending into Heart to generate [Yin]. Hand Shaoyang herb. Is Hand Shaoyang not specifically governing Qi? The Qi within exerts [effect]. On what Qi does Qi exert effect? Qi and Blood each have Yin and Yang divisions, which is what is called Yin Qi. (Diseases generated by the Pericardium in the Upper Jiao, such as emotional depression, can be opened, as the Pericardium governs Blood. Diseases generated by Spleen and Stomach in the Middle Jiao, such as cholera, food accumulation, and phlegm-fullness, can be unblocked, as Stomach generates Blood and Spleen controls Blood. Diseases generated by Liver and Kidney in the Lower Jiao, such as bladder connecting to hypochondriac Qi obstruction, lower blood, hematuria, irregular menstruation, metrorrhagia, and leukorrhea, can be regulated, as Liver is the storehouse of Blood and Kidney is the sea of Blood.) Zhiyi stated it opens the Upper Jiao, yet the Middle Jiao also relies on it for transformation, and the Lower Jiao relies on it for drainage, which is close to the truth. When Qi moves within Blood, Blood harmonizes and generates. When Blood generates through harmony, Qi has reliance and operates vigorously without end. This is called generating Blood, this is called benefiting Qi. Even for those with Qi deficiency seeking tonification, they rely on [this] to guide away stagnation in deficiency. As Han said, removing deficiency-cold is very rapid. However, its fragrance and dryness are often said to damage cooling Blood flavors. Generally, Cold-Damp injuring Qi actually injures Blood. This flavor is indeed appropriate, thus harmonizing it. (Zhiyi called it the envoy of all herbs) Such as [Herb] according to [Herb] used with tonifying agents. There are cases where Fire damages Yuan Qi causing stagnation, treatment requires reducing Fire, assisted by this. If [misuse warming tonification?] Fire, then Qi becomes weaker and more stagnant.

[Processing] Fine ones are best. Remove bristles, wash with water, pound in stone mortar to remove skin. (Avoid iron). Soak thoroughly in child's urine, sun-dry and pound for use. Stir-fry, or soak in Wine, Vinegar, Butter, Salt Water, Ginger Juice, all roasted dry on tiles. Stir-fry until black, contraindicated for uterine bleeding [use?], used for regulating Qi pain, vinegar-stir-fried is especially excellent.