禀天之阳气，地之冲气以生，故味甘微温，无毒。气浓于味，可升可降阳也，入手
阳明太阴经。甘乃土之正味，故能解毒；阳能达表，故能运毒走表。甘能益血，脾主肌
肉，主久败疮疡排脓止痛，定择绵软色嫩者佳。生用则托表排脓，蜜炙则调补虚损。
黄 ，生治痈疽，炙补虚损，五劳七伤气耗血虚，益元阳泻阴火，温肉分充皮肤，
密腠理，固盗汗自汗，排脓托毒止痛。长肉生肌，外行皮毛，中补脾胃，功专实表，性
畏防风，得之其功愈大，盖相畏而相使也。但阳盛阴虚者，上焦热甚；下焦虚寒者，病
人多怒；肝气不和及肺脉洪大者，并戒之。
主治（痘疹合参）专主益肺气，补托排脓，实腠理补气虚，善治脾胃虚弱，疮疡
血脉不行，阴毒不起，泄利消渴，腹痛虚汗，宜灌浆时用。但血热痘症，外有红紫斑
点者，并肺热咽痛喘嗽者，及血滞血枯，痘色燥槁不润者，禁用。若浆足后，不可过
多，恐胖甚难于收靥。过补则生痈毒。且人参、黄 ，皆补气助火之剂，凡痘色白陷者
最宜，若痘色红紫壮实者，轻用之则血愈热，而毒愈炽，红紫者转为黑枯，不救之症矣。
按∶黄 为补表要药，肺主皮毛，脾主肌肉，故入此二经，得防风其功愈大，为其
助达表分，有邪气力实者勿用。
禀受天地的阳气与地之冲气而生成，因此味甘、性微温，无毒。其气味浓烈重于味道，作用趋势可升可降，属阳，归入手阳明大肠经和手太阴肺经。甘味是土的正味，所以能解毒；阳性能通达体表，所以能运化毒邪至体表排出。甘味能益血，脾主肌肉，（黄芪）主治久败疮疡排脓止痛，选择绵软、颜色嫩者为佳。生用则能托毒外出、排脓，蜜炙后则能调理补益虚损。
黄芪，生用治疗痈疽，炙用补益虚损，适用于五劳七伤、气耗血虚，能益元阳、泻阴火，温暖肉分、充实皮肤，致密腠理，固摄盗汗和自汗，排脓、托毒、止痛，促进肌肉生长。其作用外行皮毛，中补脾胃，功效专于实表。其药性畏防风，遇到防风则功效更大，这是因为二者相畏而相使（互相制约又互相促进）。但是，阳盛阴虚者，上焦热甚；下焦虚寒者，病人多易怒；肝气不和及肺脉洪大者，均须忌用。
主治（痘疹合参）：专主益肺气，补托排脓，实腠理，补气虚，善于治疗脾胃虚弱，疮疡血脉不通，阴毒不起，泄利消渴，腹痛虚汗，适宜在痘疹灌浆期使用。但是，血热痘症，外有红紫斑点者，以及肺热咽痛喘嗽者，还有血滞血枯，痘色干燥枯槁不润泽者，禁用。如果浆液充足后，不可过量使用，恐怕导致肿胀过甚难以收靥。过度补益则会生痈毒。且人参、黄芪，都是补气助火的药剂，凡是痘色白陷者最适宜，如果痘色红紫壮实者，轻用则血更热，毒更炽盛，红紫色转为黑枯，成为不治之症。
按语：黄芪为补表要药，肺主皮毛，脾主肌肉，所以进入这两条经络，得到防风配合则功效更大，因为它能帮助通达表分，如果有邪气力量强盛者勿用。
It is generated by inheriting the Yang Qi of Heaven and the Chong Qi (Surging Qi) of Earth; therefore, its taste is sweet, nature is slightly warm, and it is non-toxic. Its aroma is denser than its taste, its action can ascend and descend, belonging to Yang, and it enters the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Channel and Hand-Taiyin Lung Channel. Sweet is the true flavor of Earth, thus it can detoxify; Yang can reach the exterior, thus it can transport toxins to the exterior for expulsion. Sweet can benefit blood; Spleen governs muscles and flesh, and [Huangqi] treats chronic ulcerative sores by discharging pus and relieving pain. The soft, tender, and light-colored varieties are preferred. Raw use expels pus and pushes out toxins from the surface; honey-fried use regulates and tonifies deficiency.
Huangqi (Astragali Radix), when raw, treats carbuncles and ulcers; when fried with honey, it tonifies deficiency. It is indicated for Five Exhaustions and Seven Injuries, Qi consumption, and Blood deficiency; it benefits Yuan Yang (Primal Yang), drains Yin Fire, warms the flesh layer, fills the skin, consolidates Cou Li (pores and interstitial spaces), secures against nocturnal sweating and spontaneous sweating, discharges pus, pushes out toxins, and relieves pain. It promotes flesh regeneration and muscle growth, acting externally on the skin and hair follicles, and internally tonifying the Spleen and Stomach. Its function specializes in solidifying the Exterior. Its property fears Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix); when combined with Fangfeng, its efficacy increases significantly, as they mutually restrain and mutually enhance each other. However, it is contraindicated in cases of Excess Yang and Yin Deficiency with severe Upper Jiao Heat; in cases of Lower Jiao Deficiency-Cold where patients are prone to anger; and in cases of Disharmonious Liver Qi or a Surging Lung Pulse.
Main Indications (Integrating Smallpox and Rash): Specifically benefits Lung Qi, tonifies and pushes out pus, solidifies Cou Li, tonifies Qi deficiency, and effectively treats Spleen-Stomach Weakness, obstruction of collateral vessels in sores, failure of Yin Toxins to rise, diarrhea, thirst, abdominal pain, and deficiency-type sweating. It is suitable for use during the pustule-filling stage of smallpox/rash. However, it is strictly contraindicated in Blood-Heat rash conditions presenting with red-purple macules/papules externally, in cases of Lung Heat with sore throat, cough, and wheezing, and in cases of Blood stasis or Blood exhaustion where the rash color is dry, withered, and lacks moisture. After the pustules are sufficiently filled, excessive dosage should be avoided, lest severe swelling occur, making crusting difficult. Over-tonification may generate carbuncles and toxins. Both Renshen (Ginseng Radix) and Huangqi are agents that tonify Qi and assist Fire. They are most suitable for rashes that are white and depressed. If used lightly in cases where the rash is red, purple, and robust, it will cause the Blood to become hotter and the Toxin more intense, turning the red-purple color into black and withered, resulting in an incurable condition.
Commentary: Huangqi is a crucial herb for tonifying the Exterior. Since the Lung governs the skin and hair, and the Spleen governs the muscles and flesh, it enters these two channels. When combined with Fangfeng, its efficacy increases because it assists in reaching the Exterior level. It should not be used when pathogenic factors are strong and substantial.