宣、解表、泻下气、治风痰。
辛以畅肺。解风寒。甘以入脾。理胸腹。（气香。）苦泄厥阴（肝）之热。寒散太阳（膀
胱）之邪
。性阴而降。功颛下气。气下则火降而痰消。（气有余便是火、火则生痰。）能除实（热。）
治痰热哮喘。咳嗽呕逆。痞膈霍乱。（乃手足太阴、阳明之药、与柴胡纯阳上升、入少
阳、厥阴者不同。）无实热与外感者忌用。（柴胡前胡、均是风药、但柴胡性升、前胡性降为
异、
之。）味甘气香。性软。冬月采者良。内有硬者。名雄前胡。须拣去
勿用。半夏为使。恶皂角。忌火。
宣、理伏风、去湿。
辛苦微温。气缓善搜。入足少阴气分。（肾）以理伏风。治本经伤风头痛。头晕目眩。（宜
与
细辛同用。）风热齿痛。（文潞公药准、用独活地黄等分为末、每服三钱。）痉痫湿痹。（项背
强直、手足反张曰痉、湿流关节、痛而烦、曰湿痹、风胜湿、故二活兼能去湿。）奔豚疝瘕
。（肾积曰奔豚、风寒湿客于肾家所致、疝瘕亦然。）古方唯用独活。后人分二种。以形虚大
。有臼如鬼眼。节疏色黄者。为独活。色紫节密。气猛烈者。为羌活。并出蜀汉。又云∶自
西羌来者。为羌活。（故又名胡王使者。喻嘉言曰∶羌活之独本者、即真独活。）
宣通、解表、泻下气机，治疗风痰。
辛味能通畅肺气，解除风寒；甘味能入脾经，调理胸腹。（气味芳香。）苦味能泄厥阴（肝）之热，寒性能散太阳（膀胱）之邪。
其性质属阴而主降，功效专于下气。气机下行则火降而痰消。（气有余便是火，火盛则生痰。）能除去实热，治疗痰热引起的哮喘、咳嗽、呕吐逆气、痞满膈塞及霍乱。（它是手足太阴、阳明经的药物，与柴胡纯阳上升、入少阳、厥阴经的特性不同。）没有实热和外感症状者忌用。（柴胡和前胡都是风药，但柴胡性升，前胡性降，这是它们的区别。）
味甘气香，质地柔软。冬季采挖的为好。内部有硬块的，称为“雄前胡”，必须拣去不要使用。以半夏为引药。厌恶皂角。忌用火制。
宣通、理伏风、祛湿。
辛苦微温，气缓善于搜剔。入足少阴气分。（肾）用来调理伏风，治疗本经伤风引起的头痛、头晕目眩。（宜与细辛同用。）风热齿痛。（文潞公《药准》中，用独活和地黄等分为末，每次服用三钱。）痉挛癫痫、湿痹。（项背强直、手足反张称为痉；湿气流注关节，疼痛且烦躁，称为湿痹；风胜湿，所以羌活和独活兼能祛湿。）奔豚疝瘕。（肾积气称为奔豚，由风寒湿邪客居于肾脏所致，疝瘕也是如此。）古方只用独活一种，后人将其分为两种。形体虚大、有孔如鬼眼、节疏色黄的，称为独活；色紫节密、气味猛烈者，称为羌活。都产于蜀汉地区。又说：从西羌来的，称为羌活。（所以又名胡王使者。喻嘉言说：羌活中独本的，就是真正的独活。）
To disperse, release the exterior, direct rebellious Qi downward, and treat wind-phlegm.
The pungent flavor unblocks Lung Qi and resolves wind-cold; the sweet flavor enters the Spleen and regulates the chest and abdomen. (Aromatic odor.) The bitter flavor drains heat from the Jueyin (Liver); the cold nature disperses pathogenic factors from the Taiyang (Bladder).
Its nature is Yin and descending, with efficacy dedicated to directing Qi downward. When Qi descends, Fire subsides and phlegm dissipates. (Excess Qi becomes Fire; Fire generates phlegm.) It can eliminate excess heat, treating asthma, cough, vomiting, and regurgitation caused by phlegm-heat, as well as epigastric fullness, diaphragmatic obstruction, and cholera-like disorders. (It is a herb for the Hand-Taiyin, Foot-Taiyin, and Foot-Yangming meridians, differing from Chaihu [Bupleuri Radix], which is purely Yang and ascending, entering the Shaoyang and Jueyin meridians.) It is contraindicated in cases without excess heat or exterior contraction. (Both Chaihu and Qianhu are wind-dispelling herbs, but Chaihu has an ascending nature while Qianhu has a descending nature, which is their difference.)
It has a sweet taste and aromatic odor, and a soft texture. Those harvested in winter are superior. Those with hard interiors are called "Xiong Qianhu" (Male Peucedani Radix) and must be discarded. Banxia [Pinelliae Rhizoma] serves as its guide drug. It is incompatible with Zaojiao [Gleditsiae Spina]. It should not be processed with fire.
To disperse, regulate latent wind, and remove dampness.
Pungent, bitter, and slightly warm; its action is slow yet effective at searching out pathogens. It enters the Qi aspect of the Foot-Shaoyin meridian (Kidney) to regulate latent wind, treating headache, dizziness, and vertigo caused by wind-cold affecting this meridian. (Should be used together with Xixin [Asari Radix et Rhizoma].) Toothache due to wind-heat. (In Wen Lugong's *Yao Zhun*, equal parts of Duhuo [Angelicae Pubescentis Radix] and Dihuang [Rehmanniae Radix] were ground into powder, taken three qian per dose.) Spasms, epilepsy, and damp-bi syndrome. (Stiffness of the neck and back with opisthotonos of the limbs is termed spasm; pain and irritability due to dampness flowing into joints is termed damp-bi; since wind overcomes dampness, both Qianghuo and Duhuo can remove dampness.) Ben tun (fleeing pig) and hernia masses. (Renal accumulation of Qi is termed Ben tun, caused by wind-cold-dampness lodging in the Kidney; hernia masses are similar.) Ancient formulas used only Duhhuo. Later generations divided it into two types. Those that are hollow, large, with pores like ghost eyes, sparse nodes, and yellow color are called Duhhuo [Angelicae Pubescentis Radix]; those with purple color, dense nodes, and intense aroma are called Qianghuo [Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix]. Both originate from Shu and Han regions. It is also said that those coming from Western Qiang are called Qianghuo. (Thus also known as Huwang Shizhe [King of Hu's Envoy]. Yu Jiayan stated: The single-stemmed Qianghuo is the true Duhhuo.)