气味甘、微温，无毒。主痈疽，久败疮，排脓止痛，大风癞疾，五痔鼠 ，补虚
，小儿百病。生用、盐水炒、酒炒、醋炒、蜜炙、白水炒。
陈修园曰∶黄 气微温，禀少阳之气入胆与三焦；味甘无毒，禀太阴之味入肺与脾。其
主痈疽者，甘能解毒也。久败之疮，肌肉皮毛溃烂，必脓多而痛甚，黄 入脾而主肌肉，入
肺而主皮毛也。大风者，杀人之邪风也。黄 入胆而助中正之气，俾神明不为风邪乱；入三
焦而助决渎之用，俾窍道不为风所壅；入脾而救受克之伤；入肺而制风木之动，所以主之。
癞疾，又名大麻风，即风毒之甚也。五痔者，五种之痔疮，乃少阳与太阴之火陷于下，而此
能
举其陷。鼠 者，瘰 之别名，乃胆经与三焦之火郁于上，而此能散其郁也。其曰补虚者，
是总结上文诸证，久而致虚，此能补之。非泛言补益之品也。
叶天士云∶小儿稚阳也。稚阳为少阳，少阳生气条达则不病，所以概主小儿百疾也。余
细味经文
汗止；玉
屏风散之散以驱风，风平则汗止。诸方皆借黄 走表之力，领诸药而速达于表而止汗，非黄
自能止汗也。诸家固表及生用发汗、炒用止汗等说，贻误千古，兹特正之。
气味甘、温，无毒。主风寒湿痹，死肌、痉、疸，止汗，除热，消食。作煎饵，
久服轻身延年不饥。（仲景有赤术，即苍术也。功用略同，偏长于消导。汗多者大忌之。）
陈修园曰∶此为脾之正药。其曰∶风寒湿痹者，以风寒湿三气合而为痹也。三气杂至，
以湿气为主。死肌者，湿浸肌肉也；痉者，湿流关节也；疸者，湿郁而为热，热则发黄也；
湿与热交蒸，则自汗而发热也；脾受湿则失其健运之常，斯食不能消也；白术功在除湿，所
以主之。“作药饵”三字另提。先圣大费苦心，以白术之功用在燥，而所以妙处，在于多脂
。（张隐庵云∶土有湿气，始能灌溉四旁，如地得雨露，始能发生万物。）
今以生术削去皮，急火炙令熟，则味甘温而质滋润，久服有延年不饥之效。可见今人炒
燥、炒黑、土蒸、水漂等制，大失经旨。
[Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma)]
Taste and Nature: Sweet, slightly warm; non-toxic.
Indications: Primarily treats carbuncles and sores (Yong Ju), chronic ulcerated wounds that fail to heal, expels pus and relieves pain, treats severe wind-related leprosy (Da Feng Lai Ji), five types of hemorrhoids (Wu Zhi), scrofula (Shu Lue / neck lymph node tuberculosis), tonifies deficiency, and addresses various diseases in children.
Processing Methods: Used raw, stir-fried with salt water, wine, vinegar, honey, or plain water.
Chen Xiuyuan states: Bai Zhu has a slightly warm nature, inheriting the Qi of Shaoyang to enter the Gallbladder and Sanjiao (Triple Burner); its sweet and non-toxic taste inherits the flavor of Taiyin to enter the Lung and Spleen. Its ability to treat carbuncles is due to the sweet flavor's capacity to detoxify. For chronic ulcers where muscles and skin are ulcerated, there is typically excessive pus and severe pain. Bai Zhu enters the Spleen to govern muscles and the Lung to govern skin and hair. "Severe Wind" refers to pathogenic wind that can be fatal. Bai Zhu enters the Gallbladder to assist the upright Qi of justice, preventing the Spirit from being disturbed by wind pathogens; it enters the Sanjiao to assist the function of dredging water passages, preventing orifices from being blocked by wind; it enters the Spleen to rescue injuries caused by over-restriction; and it enters the Lung to restrain the movement of Wind-Wood. Thus, it treats these conditions. Leprosy (Lai Ji), also known as Hansen's disease (Da Ma Feng), is extreme wind toxicity. The five types of hemorrhoids (Wu Zhi) result from Fire of Shaoyang and Taiyin sinking to the lower body, while Bai Zhu can lift this sinking Qi. Scrofula (Shu Lue), an alias for Ling Li, results from Fire stagnation in the Gallbladder and Sanjiao channels at the upper body, which Bai Zhu can dissipate. The term "tonifying deficiency" summarizes the above conditions: prolonged illness leads to deficiency, which Bai Zhu can tonify. It is not a general tonic.
Ye Tianshi says: Children possess "Zhi Yang" (tender Yang). Zhi Yang is Shaoyang; when the generating Qi of Shaoyang flows smoothly, disease does not occur. Hence, Bai Zhu generally treats various pediatric diseases. I carefully reflect on the classic text... [Note: The provided text contains a section discussing Huang Qi (Astragalus) regarding sweating and Yu Ping Feng San, likely inserted for contrast or due to textual compilation issues in the source. Translating as per source.] ...sweating stops. Yu Ping Feng San disperses wind; when wind calms, sweating stops. Various formulas borrow the surface-penetrating power of Huang Qi (Astragalus) to lead other herbs quickly to the exterior to stop sweating; it is not that Huang Qi itself stops sweating directly. Theories among various schools regarding consolidating the exterior, raw use inducing sweating, and stir-fried use stopping sweating have misled people for millennia; this is hereby corrected.
[Continuation/Alternative Description]
Taste and Nature: Sweet, warm; non-toxic.
Indications: Primarily treats Bi syndrome caused by wind-cold-dampness, necrotic muscle (Si Ji), tetanus/spasms (Jing), jaundice (Dan), stops sweating, clears heat, and aids digestion. Made into decoctions or pastes, long-term consumption lightens the body, extends life, and prevents hunger. (Zhang Zhongjing used Chi Zhu, i.e., Cang Zhu/Atractylodis Lanceae Rhizoma. Functions are similar but stronger in guiding digestion. Greatly contraindicated in cases of profuse sweating.)
Chen Xiuyuan states: This is the principal herb for the Spleen. "Wind-cold-damp Bi" occurs because wind, cold, and dampness combine to form Bi syndrome. Among these three pathogens, dampness is primary. "Necrotic muscle" refers to dampness soaking the muscles; "Spasms" refer to dampness flowing into joints; "Jaundice" refers to dampness stagnating and transforming into heat, causing yellowing; when dampness and heat steam each other, spontaneous sweating and fever occur; when the Spleen is affected by dampness, it loses its normal healthy transportation function, leading to indigestion. Bai Zhu's efficacy lies in drying dampness, hence it treats these conditions. The phrase "made into medicinal paste" introduces a separate point. The ancient sages took great care to point out that Bai Zhu's function is drying, but its subtlety lies in being rich in moisture/resin. (Zhang Yin'an says: Earth needs dampness to irrigate the four directions, just as land needs rain and dew to generate all things.) Currently, using raw Bai Zhu, peeling it, and roasting it quickly over high heat makes it sweet, warm, and moist in texture. Long-term consumption yields effects of longevity and satiety. Thus, modern processing methods such as dry stir-frying, charring, earth-steaming, and water-leaching greatly deviate from the original intent of the classics.