气温，味甘。
入足阳明、太阴经。
《象》云∶主治同白术，若除上湿、发汗，功最大；若补中焦、除湿，力小，如白术也
。《衍义》云∶其长如大拇指，肥实，皮色褐，气味辛烈，须米泔浸洗，再换泔浸二日，
去上粗皮。
东垣云∶入足阳明、太阴，能健胃安脾。
《本草》但言∶术，不分苍、白。其苍术别有雄壮之气，以其经泔浸、火炒，故能出汗
，与白术止汗特异，用者不可以此代彼。
海藏云∶苍、白有止、发之异，其余主治，并见《图经》。
气温，味甘。苦而甘、温，味浓气薄，阴中阳也。无毒。
入手太阳、少阴经，足阳明、太阴、少阴、厥阴四经。
《象》云∶除湿益燥，和中益气，利腰脐间血，除胃中热，去诸经之湿，理胃。
洁古云∶温中去湿，除热，降胃气，苍术亦同，但味颇浓耳。下行则用之，甘温补阳，
健脾逐水，寒淫所胜，缓脾生津去湿，渴者用之。
《本草》∶在术条下，无苍、白之名。近多用白术治皮间风，止汗消痞，补胃和中，利
腰脐间血。通水道，上而皮毛，中而心胃，下而腰脐。在气主气，在血主血。
洁古又云∶非白术不能去湿，非枳实不能消痞。除湿利水道，如何是益津液。
气温，味辛甘而大温，气味俱轻，阳也。甘辛，阳中微阴。无毒。
入手少阴经，足太阴经、厥阴经。
《象》云∶和血补血，尾破血，身和血。先水洗去土，酒制过，或火干、日干入药，血
病须用。去芦用。
《心》云∶治血通用。能除血刺痛，以甘故能和血，辛温以润内寒，当归之苦以助心散
寒。《珍》云∶头，止血；身，和血；梢，破血。治上，酒浸；治外，酒洗。糖色，嚼之大
辛，可能溃坚。与菖蒲、海藻相反。
《本草》云∶主咳逆上气，温疟，寒热洗洗在皮肤中，妇人漏下绝子，诸恶疮疡金疮，煮汁
饮之。温中止痛及腰痛，
除客血内塞，中风 ，汗不出。湿痹中恶，客气虚冷。补五脏，
生肌肉。气血昏乱，服之即定。有各归气血之功，故名当归。
雷公云∶得酒浸过，良。若要破血，即使头节硬实处；若要止痛止血，即用尾。若一时
用，不如不使。
易老云∶用头，则破血；用尾，则止血；若全用，则一破一止，则和血也。入手少阴，
以其心主血也；入足太阴，以其脾裹血也；入足厥阴，以其肝藏血也。头能破血，身能养血，
尾能行血。用者不分，不
如不使。若全用，在参、 皆能补血；在牵牛、大黄皆能破血，佐
使定分，用者当知。从桂、附、茱萸则热；从大黄、芒硝则寒。诸经头痛，俱在细辛条下。
惟酒蒸当归，又治头痛，以其诸头痛皆属木，故以血药主之。
《药性论》云∶臣。畏生姜，恶湿面。
《经》云∶当归主咳逆上气。当归血药，如何治胸中气。
《药性论》云∶补女子诸不足。此说尽当归之用矣。
[Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma)]
The temperature is warm, and the flavor is sweet.
It enters the Foot-Yangming and Foot-Taiyin meridians.
Xiang stated: Its therapeutic indications are the same as Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma). However, if used to remove dampness from the upper body or induce sweating, its efficacy is greatest; if used to tonify the Middle Jiao and remove dampness, its strength is small, similar to that of Baizhu.
Yanyi stated: It is as thick and solid as a thumb, with brownish skin, and has a pungent and strong odor. It must be soaked and washed in rice water, then changed to fresh rice water for soaking for two days, after which the rough outer skin should be removed.
Dongyuan stated: It enters the Foot-Yangming and Foot-Taiyin meridians, and can strengthen the stomach and stabilize the spleen.
Bencao merely states "Zhu" (Atractylodes), without distinguishing between Cangzhu and Baizhu. Cangzhu possesses a unique vigorous qi. Because it undergoes soaking in rice water and fire roasting, it can induce sweating, which is specifically different from Baizhu's ability to stop sweating. Users must not substitute one for the other.
Haicang stated: There is a difference between Cangzhu and Baizhu in stopping versus inducing sweat. Their other therapeutic indications are all found in Tujing.
[Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma)]
The temperature is warm, and the flavor is sweet. Bitter and sweet, warm, with a strong flavor and thin aroma, it belongs to Yin within Yang. It is non-toxic.
It enters the Hand-Taiyang, Hand-Shaoyin, Foot-Yangming, Foot-Taiyin, Foot-Shaoyin, and Foot-Jueyin meridians.
Xiang stated: It removes dampness and increases dryness, harmonizes the middle and benefits Qi, promotes blood circulation in the waist and umbilical region, removes heat in the stomach, eliminates dampness from various meridians, and regulates the stomach.
Jiegou stated: It warms the middle and removes dampness, clears heat, and descends Stomach Qi. Cangzhu shares these properties, but its flavor is quite strong. When used for descending actions, it is employed; sweet and warm to tonify Yang, strengthen the Spleen, and drive out water. When cold pathogens prevail, it soothes the Spleen, generates fluids, and removes dampness; it is used for thirst.
Bencao states: Under the entry for "Zhu," there is no name distinction between Cangzhu and Baizhu. Recently, Baizhu is mostly used to treat wind in the skin, stop sweating, eliminate痞 (fullness/lump), tonify the Stomach, harmonize the middle, promote blood circulation in the waist and umbilical region, and unblock the water passages. It acts from the exterior hair and skin, through the Heart and Stomach in the middle, to the waist and umbilicus at the lower level. In the Qi aspect, it governs Qi disorders; in the Blood aspect, it governs Blood disorders.
Jiegou further stated: Without Baizhu, dampness cannot be removed; without Zhishi (Immature Bitter Orange), fullness cannot be eliminated. How can removing dampness and benefiting water passages be considered benefiting body fluids?
[Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix)]
The flavor is pungent and sweet, and the temperature is greatly warm. Both flavor and aroma are light, belonging to Yang. Pungent and sweet, it is slightly Yin within Yang. It is non-toxic.
It enters the Hand-Shaoyin meridian, and the Foot-Taiyin and Foot-Jueyin meridians.
Xiang stated: It harmonizes and tonifies Blood; the tail breaks Blood, while the body harmonizes Blood. First wash off the soil with water, process with wine, or dry by fire or sun before use. It is required for Blood diseases. Use it after removing the radix head (Lu).
Xin stated: It is generally used for treating Blood diseases. It can relieve stabbing pain caused by Blood stasis. Due to its sweet flavor, it can harmonize Blood; due to its pungent and warm nature, it moistens internal cold; the bitter taste of Danggui assists the Heart in dispersing cold. Zhen stated: The head stops bleeding; the body harmonizes Blood; the tip breaks Blood. For treating upper conditions, soak in wine; for treating external conditions, wash with wine. If it has a sugar-like color, chewing it is very pungent and may soften hardness. It is incompatible with Changpu (Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma) and Haizao (Sargassum).
Bencao states: It primarily treats cough with rebellious Qi, warm malaria, chills and fever felt in the skin, leukorrhea and infertility in women, various malignant sores, ulcers, and traumatic injuries. Decocted and drunk, it warms the middle, relieves pain, and treats lower back pain. It removes stagnant blood inside, treats stroke with absence of sweat, damp-bi, sudden evil invasion, and deficient-cold conditions. It tonifies the Five Zang organs and generates flesh. For chaotic Qi and Blood, taking it brings immediate stability. It has the merit of returning Qi and Blood to their respective sources, hence the name Danggui (Return to the Proper Place).
Leigong stated: Wine-soaked Danggui is superior. To break Blood, use the hard part of the head node; to stop bleeding and relieve pain, use the tail. If used together, it is better not to use it.
Yilao stated: Using the head breaks Blood; using the tail stops bleeding; using the whole root results in both breaking and stopping, thus harmonizing Blood. It enters the Hand-Shaoyin because the Heart governs Blood; it enters the Foot-Taiyin because the Spleen envelops Blood; it enters the Foot-Jueyin because the Liver stores Blood. The head can break Blood, the body can nourish Blood, and the tail can circulate Blood. Users who do not distinguish parts are better off not using it. If the whole root is used, combined with Renshen (Ginseng) etc., it can tonify Blood; combined with Qiuniu (Meconopsis) or Dahuang (Rhubarb), it can break Blood. Users should understand the role of assistant and guiding herbs. Following Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig), Fuzi (Aconite Lateral Root), and Zhuyu (Cornus Fruit) makes it hot; following Dahuang and Mangxiao (Mirabilite) makes it cold. Headaches of various meridians are discussed under the entry for Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma). Only wine-steamed Danggui also treats headaches, because all headaches belong to Wood (Liver), so Blood herbs are used to treat them.
Yaoxing Lun stated: It is a Minister herb. It fears Ginger and dislikes dampness.
Jing stated: Danggui primarily treats cough with rebellious Qi. Danggui is a Blood herb; how can it treat Qi in the chest?
Yaoxing Lun stated: It tonifies various deficiencies in women. This statement exhausts the uses of Danggui.