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This herb originally comes from Shu Commandery and Hanzhong. Currently, the best quality is produced in Baishui, Yuanyuan, and Huayuan valleys. Those from Yizhou and Erzhou are also good. The roots are harvested in August, measuring two to three chi in length, tight and solid like arrow shafts, with yellow-brown bark. When broken, they are flexible and tough like cotton, with a yellow center and white exterior. Chewing them yields a sweet and pleasant taste. If hard, brittle, and bitter, it is the root of Medicago sativa (alfalfa), do not use it by mistake. (Another view states that those with a soft surface are superior, referring to the place of origin. If flexibility is considered softness, then fake ones are also flexible; one should distinguish them by hardness, brittleness, and bitterness.) The morphology of this woody/herbal plant is very similar to others, differing only in shorter leaves and yellow roots when growing. (Zhi Yi)

It tastes sweet and has a slightly warm nature. Its qi action is stronger than its flavor action; it can ascend and descend, belonging to yang within yin. It enters the qi aspect of the Hand and Foot Taiyin meridians, as well as the Hand Shaoyang and Foot Shaoyuan Mingmen meridians, and concurrently enters the Hand Yangming meridian. Poria (Fuling) serves as its guiding herb. It is incompatible with Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum (Guijia) and Dictamni Cortex (Baixianpi). Sweet and warm, purely yang, it primarily tonifies lung qi, warms the flesh, and consolidates the interstices between skin and hair, treating deficiency of the exterior yuan qi due to empty interstices. It harmonizes yang qi, benefits yin qi, drains fire pathogenic factors, promotes blood circulation, generates blood, and assists stomach qi. (Treats spleen and stomach weakness, wiry pulse, blocked blood vessels, emaciation, and abdominal pain.) It benefits the primordial yang of the Triple Burner, supplements deficiencies of the five zang organs, treats men's deficiency exhaustion and emaciation, shortness of breath and asthmatic panting, kidney decline with deafness, chronic diarrhea with intestinal wind, and elderly qi deficiency with intestinal rumbling. It also treats deficiency vexation and muscle heat, deficiency labor with spontaneous and night sweats. If there is exterior deficiency with pathogenic factors and sweating fails to occur, taking it induces natural sweating. It also internally supports yin abscesses, discharges pus, relieves pain, promotes flesh regeneration, and is a sacred medicine for wound practitioners. It further treats women's irregular menstruation, metrorrhagia, and leukorrhea; qi consumption and blood deficiency before and after childbirth; and various pediatric diseases. Formulary texts record its use for treating xiao-dao (wasting-thirst), wind-stroke with fixed bi-syndrome, spasms and flaccidity, crane-knee wind, hong-kang-jiao (podagra/foot qi), dizziness, palpitations, chest fullness, syncope, aversion to cold, alternating chills and fever, fever, traumatic tetanus with inability to eat, dysentery, red-white turbid strangury, urinary retention, spermatorrhea, and hernia. Huangqi grows with a single stem clustering together, leaves spreading out, with many branches crowning the top, resembling wei qi (defensive qi) exiting the eyes and traveling along the head. (Wei qi originates from the lower jiao, its course starting at Jingming BL-1.) From top to bottom, from outside to inside, all bones and pulses serve to defend the exterior and consolidate. Its movement can be slow or fast. Understanding the pathways of wei qi entry and exit allows one to comprehend the functions of Huangqi. (Lu Bu Yuan) It tonifies the Triple Burner and solidifies wei qi, functioning similarly to Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig), but differs in being sweeter and milder rather than acrid and hot. Generally, Guizhi unites blood vessels, breaks blood stasis, and solidifies wei qi, whereas Huangqi tonifies qi. (Dong Yuan) Its treatment of qi deficiency night sweats, spontaneous sweats, and skin pain indicates it is a drug acting on the skin and surface; treating hemoptysis and softening the spleen/stomach indicates it is a drug acting on the central region; treating absent Chi pulse in Shanghan (Cold Damage) and tonifying kidney yuan qi indicates it is a drug acting internally. Thus, it is a drug for the upper, middle, and lower jiao, both internal and external. (Hao Gu) Renshen (Ginseng) and Huangqi both tonify deficiency and damage, but Renshen only tonifies yuan qi and regulates the middle, while Huangqi additionally tonifies wei qi and solidifies the exterior. When used together, their primary and secondary roles must be distinguished. For internal injury to the spleen and stomach with fever and aversion to cold, lethargy and desire to lie down, vomiting and diarrhea, bloating and fullness, emaciation and weakness, faint pulse and short spirit, Renshen is the sovereign herb and Huangqi is the minister herb. For exterior deficiency with spontaneous and night sweats progressing to collapse of yang, and various ulcers consuming pus and blood, or infant vaccine rashes, Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix) can restrain Huangqi. With Fangfeng, Huangqi's efficacy increases. (Assisting true qi to circulate throughout the body, it also has wind-treating properties.) This is a relationship of mutual fear and mutual assistance. Empress Liu of the Tang Dynasty suffered from wind disease and could not speak; her pulse was deep and jaw clenched. Xu Yongzong prepared Huangqi Fangfeng Decoction in large quantities, steaming it under the bed. The medicinal vapor entered the interstices, and she recovered within a day. For children with latent fire in the spleen and stomach, resulting from overwork and insufficiency leading to slow convulsions, one should tonify the source of earth with sweet-warm herbs in the Heart meridian, drain fire with sweet-cold herbs in the spleen-earth, and tonify metal with sour-cool herbs, making metal prosperous and fire weak so that wind-wood naturally levels. Use Huangqi Tang: Roasted Huangqi 2 qian, Renshen 1 qian, Roasted Gancao 0.5 qian. It is an essential agent for treating fever. Combined with Sheng Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix), Shu Dihuang, Huangqin, Huanglian, Huangbai, Danggui, plus fried and ground Suanzaoren, it is the orthodox method for treating yin-deficiency night sweats. Removing the three yellows (Huangqin, Huanglian, Huangbai) from this formula and adding Renshen, Wuweizi, and Suanzaoren treats exterior deficiency spontaneous sweating. Combined with Guizhi, Baishao, Fangfeng, and Roasted Gancao, it solidifies the exterior, treating exterior deficiency aversion to wind and wind-cold spontaneous sweating. In equal parts with Baizhu and Shengdi, with reduced Huangbai and Niuxi, made into pills, it treats chronic damp-toxin sores ineffective to other medicines. Combined with Baizhi, Baiji, Gancao, Jinyinhua, and Zaojiaoci, it discharges pus and relieves pain. Combined with Renshen and Gancao, it is a sacred medicine for removing restlessness, heat, and muscle heat. It also treats epidemic vaccine sores with yang deficiency and no heat syndrome.

Supplementary Formula: Urinary retention, Mian Huangqi 2 qian, water 2 liang, decoct to 1 liang, take warm. Reduce dose for children. Qi deficiency with white turbidity, Salt-fried Huangqi 5 qian, Fuling 3 qian. Take 1 hemp seed measure, grind until paste-like, filter juice with water, decoct until milky foam rises, add 1 spoon of white honey, boil again, mix with medicine, take on an empty stomach. For severe cases, make pills the size of mung beans, take 30 pills each time, swallow with rice drink. Cough with pus and blood, dry throat, indicates deficiency with heat, cool herbs must not be taken. Use good Huangqi 4 liang, Gancao 1 liang, grind into powder, take 2 qian each time, brew with hot water. Restless fetus, abdominal pain, discharge of yellow fluid, Huangqi and Chuanxiong 1 liang each, Nuomi 1 he, water 1 sheng, decoct to half sheng.

[Discussion] Huangqi is sweet and warm, inheriting the flavor of central earth. Flowers bloom in July, while roots are harvested in August. Yellow inside and white outside signifies the transmission of qi from the spleen and stomach to the five zang and six fu organs. It is said that lung qi travels via the Taiyin; its movement relies on the exchange of respiration. It is also said that Zong qi (Pectoral Qi) accumulates in the chest, exits through the throat, penetrates the heart vessels, and governs respiration. Therefore, the Stomach is the source of post-heaven qi generation, and the reason organs receive qi is governed by the Lung which masters qi. The Lung masters qi based on respiratory exchange, which in turn is rooted in the ascent and descent of water and fire, penetrating heart vessels and governing respiration. The Lung governs the movement of Wei Qi, which originates from the Kidney. Classics state: Wei qi travels in yang during the day and yin at night. It once traveled among the divisions of Foot Shaoyin, moving through the five zang and six fu organs. (Wei qi originates from the lower jiao, i.e., Foot Taiyang Bladder meridian; Bladder belongs to Kidney, and Lung's respiratory exchange is rooted in Kidney.) It is also said: Shaoyang (Triple Burner) belongs to Kidney, Kidney connects upward to Lung. Thus, the distribution of Wei qi is managed by Lung, which aligns with Triple Burner qi and originates from Mingmen in Kidney. The Triple Burner is the special envoy of Yuan qi, as stated in classics. However, without the Lung mastering qi to direct the Triple Burner's enzymatic transformation, qi ascending from below would not descend from above, and qi moving inward from outside would not return outward. Classics indeed state Triple Burner belongs to Kidney, connecting upward to Lung. Thus, Huangqi's qi tonification originally combines Stomach and Triple Burner to benefit the whole body. Although yang qi defends the exterior to consolidate, Jiugui promoted its ability to transform and generate blood. Can defending yang actually generate yin? One does not know that if clouds and mist are not refined, white dew will not fall. Only between the muscles and interstices can one verify if yuan qi is sufficient. If muscles and interstices are insufficient, it means Qizhong (Pericardium) qi transformation is inadequate, i.e., clouds and mist are not refined. If true yang is insufficient, how can yin qi nourish? If yin qi does not nourish, how can yang qi spread? Consider its ability to benefit wei and thereby generate blood: blood is transformed from fluids, and fluids are transformed from qi. (Classics say: Triple Burner emits qi to warm muscles and fill skin, which is jin; flowing but not stationary is ye. Also: Wei qi first travels in skin, fills collaterals first; when collaterals are full, wei qi is balanced, ying qi fills, and main vessels become abundant. Abundant vessels merge into Wei Ren to form the Sea.) Ying qi transformation is rooted in Wei qi sufficiency. One must recognize Huangqi's benefit to exterior qi, unblocking and harmonizing yang, thereby nourishing ying qi and harmonizing vessels, storing in Wei Ren, reaching Mingmen, returning to yuan yang to treat various deficiencies. (The world only says Huangqi tonifies qi, not knowing that transforming and generating blood is to complete its qi function. Even Dong Yuan's "draining yin fire" refers to deficiency heat caused by sinking of injured yang qi, not fire of yin-phase ministerial fire. This is also the meaning of qi transforming into blood. Therefore, using Huangqi requires not just sticking to tonifying qi, but exploring its subtle functions.)

Let us discuss further using the principles of yin generating yang, yang transforming yin, and separation/combination. Classics say: Water and fire are signs of yin and yang. Metal and wood are the end and beginning of generation. Thus, combining Kidney and Spleen to ascend to Lung is Liver. Combining Heart and Stomach to reach Liver is Lung. Liver receives fire within water, thus it is shaoyang within yin and governs ascent. If water is insufficient, the root is shaken; fire within water stagnates, hindering ascent mechanism causing qi disease. Lung receives water within fire, thus it is shaoyin within yang and governs descent. If fire is insufficient, the root is shaken; water within fire stagnates, hindering descent mechanism causing qi disease. Spleen takes water as substance and fire as function; Li fire within Kan hexagram borrows Wind-Wood to ascend, so Spleen transforms qi upward, while Stomach acts as exterior to transmit it. Stomach takes fire as substance and water as function; Kan water within Li hexagram borrows Dry-Metal to descend, so Stomach transforms blood downward, while Spleen acts as interior to control it. Liver carries Kidney and Spleen to Lung because Lung is Mother of Kidney. Lung carries Heart and Stomach to Liver because Liver is Mother of Heart. Spleen and Stomach hold the pivot of ascent and descent, initiating mother-son relations. Thus, from heaven above to earth below, Huangqi's function establishes substance and executes action. Yang-Sun combines with Yang-Shaoyin, allowing yang to transform yin and descend with yin; this is why it moves from top to bottom and outside to inside. Knowing this clarifies Benluo's statement on benefiting qi and promoting yin qi, and Zhenquan's indications for deficiency asthma, kidney decline, and deafness. In summary, Huangqi tonifies Lung and benefits yin; it does not treat diseases of excess yang and deficient yin, but rather diseases of deficient yang and stagnant yin. Observing formulary treatments, although primarily tonifying qi, it has much merit in the blood aspect. Diseases of fluids, sweat, and urine require it often, because abundant lung yang generates yin, and descending lung yin follows yang, serving as the start of moving from top to bottom and outside to inside. Furthermore, Benjing first indicates treatment for carbuncles, ulcers, discharging pus, relieving pain; this is from qi to blood, to muscles. For major wind leprosy and uterine wind pathogens in women, all arise from deficient yin generating wind. Others include expelling evil blood in five zang, breaking masses, lymphadenopathy, goiter, treating intestinal wind, metrorrhagia, leukorrhea; its merits from yang to yin are manifest. Human heavenly qi arises from transformation (different from earthly qi arising from generation). For example, lung yin descends to generate blood; the site of change is Qizhong (Pericardium, governed by Lung). Middle jiao ying-blood uses this as bellows, preventing stomach yang from hyperactivity and allowing qi to descend; is this not Lung's power? Knowing Lung's power reveals Huangqi's function. Moreover, classics state Wei qi originates from lower jiao; thus, Huangqi benefiting wei qi, what goes from top to bottom must first go from bottom to top; what goes from outside to inside must first go from inside to outside. Jiugui called Huangqi a Foot Taiyang exterior-releasing drug because wei qi reaches the celestial surface via Foot Taiyang. Consider deficiency with bladder heat and continuous hematuria; adding Huangqi to Puhuang Wan tonifies lower jiao wei, then clearing heat with drugs like Diguipi and Maidong achieves success. Not only does Huangqi tonify deficiency, it relies on raising yang to reach the exterior, then water-fu heat can be removed. Understanding sinking of yang qi reveals that if yang cannot govern correctly above, yin cannot transform smoothly below.

Miu said: For those with excess qi blocking internally, chest/diaphragm oppression, gastrointestinal stagnation, and anger-induced liver qi disharmony, do not take. Contraindicated for excess yang with deficient yin, or upper jiao heat with lower jiao cold. Strictly contraindicated for vaccine sores with severe blood-heat.

[Processing] Remove head and tail, scrape bark, for carbuncles, use raw. For lung qi deficiency, use honey-fried. For lower deficiency, use salt-water fried or steamed.