出齐州龙山者最胜。青兖淄州者亦佳。九月采用。（不止用根。故通身采。）味辛而甘
。气温而浮。气浓味薄。升也。阳也。手足太阳经本药。又行足阳明太阴二经。为肝经气分
药。（洁古更言治上焦风邪。泻肺实。其义可合为一欤。盖肺统气者也。气者水火之所合化
也。气所合化之经。手足太阳是也。至于行足阳明太阴。即以经言伤肺之义参之。经曰。夫
伤肺者。脾气不守。胃气不清。经气不为使。真脏坏决。经脉傍绝。五脏漏泄。不衄则呕。
即此数语。可以明于合一。且了然于诸上焦见血之义矣。）本经主大风头眩痛。恶风。风邪
目瞀盲。并风行周身。骨节疼痛。治上焦风邪。泻肺实。除烦满胁痛。四肢挛急。搜肝气。
通利关脉。散经络中留湿。头目中滞气。上部见血。（诸本草）身半以上用身。身半以下用
梢。为治风去湿之仙药。除上焦在表。风邪为最。兼治下焦风湿。（洁古 嵩）。风药中润剂。
治一身尽痛。乃卒伍卑贱之职。随所引而辄至。若补脾胃。非此引用不行。钱乙泻黄散。倍
用防风。乃于土中泻木也。（盖风木之邪不化。便侮其所胜而病于土。能升阳以达中土之气。
则土木各正其所司之位矣。）凡脊痛项强不可回顾。腰似折。项似拔者。乃手足太阳证。正
当用防风。凡疮在胸膈以上。虽无手足太阳证。亦当用之。（为能散结去上部风也）病患身
体拘倦者。风也。诸疮见此证。亦须用之。（东垣）
亦入治风痹药用。若入大风疠风药中。须加杀虫活血药。不可纯任风剂。同黄 芍药。
能实表止汗。同荆芥穗白芷生地地榆黄 。治破伤风有神。同桔梗甘草紫苏杏仁桑白皮细辛。
解利伤风。以薄荷换紫苏。加石膏。兼除风热。用麻黄易紫苏。治风寒郁于腠理。皮肤致密
无汗。
附方 破伤中风。牙关紧急。天南星防风等分。为末。每服二三匙。用童便五升。煎至
四升。分二服即止。妇人崩中。用防风去芦头。炙赤为末。每服一钱。以面糊酒调下。更以
面糊酒投之。累验。一方。加炒黑蒲黄等分。
〔论〕 防风先辛而后甘。辛又胜于甘。谓其防上焦风邪泻肺实者。确论也。何以为手
足太阳本经药。盖风木即继寒水之后。经曰。卫出下焦。本阴中之阳气。以际于极上。而肺
统之。此所谓风升之气。即元气也。主肺表之风剂。岂得不本于首出之根蒂哉。其行足阳明
太阴者。亦缘升阳之剂。即以达中土之气。东垣谓风升之气。元气。胃气。当作一体而论。
故补脾胃药非此引用不行。（盖风木藉土以为用。而即能使土木不相侵者。惟此味独擅其长。）
惟其由肺以合于脾胃。故能通利五脏关脉。散经络中留湿。（以脾胃行气于三阴三阳故也）
夫肝主经络。
防风气味。皆属风升。又为肝经气分药。故风行周身。本于善行数变。而此亦随其所行
以为治也。羌活防风。通行经络。有不能不少为区别者。羌活味辛苦。苦多而辛少。防风味
辛甘。辛多而甘少。本乎地者亲下。非苦无以至地。本乎天者亲上。非辛无以至天。盖手足
太阳相表里。一水一火攸分。羌活达其气于水中。散其阴之结。防风则畅其气于火中。而散
其阳之结。（故谓除上焦风邪而泻肺实）阳结即肺实。所谓肺阳盛而肺阴虚是也。（以风邪而
云结者。阳不得阴以化也。第四时之风。因于四时之气。故必因其气以为施治。惟类中风证。
止从阳不得阴以化。更不得阴以守之治法耳。）要知羌活非不除风。然其所治之风是湿化风。
本于阴也。防风非不行湿。然其所治之湿是风化湿。本于阳也。惟二经原表里相须。而风湿
亦相因为病。故羌活散湿以化风。时与防风合而奏散风之功。防风祛风以行湿。时与羌活协
而为除湿之助。所以用之概为风剂耳。凡人病于风。则元气即因之以病。元气病而元阴亦因
之以病。（风木为化阴之地。而风淫还以蚀阴。）故人身血之为病。类先病于元气以及元阴。
是即风化湿之证也。如本经所主大风头眩痛恶风风邪目盲无见等证。是非风化湿之证欤。至
于通利五脏关脉及散经络中留滞。不与本经所主相发明欤。更如洁古主治上部见血。亦可以
前义推求之矣。（参观下羌活论自明）
缪氏云。凡南方中风及头痛。不因风寒。溏泄不因寒湿。或气升作呕。火升发嗽。盗汗
自汗。二便闭涩等病。犯之增剧。诸病血虚痉急。小儿脾虚发搐。慢惊慢脾风。咸在所忌。
〔辨治〕 质实而润头节坚者良。去芦并叉头叉尾及形弯者弗用。能令人吐。
出自齐州龙山的药材品质最佳。青兖淄州出产的也较好。九月采收。（不仅用根，所以全株采收。）味道辛而甘。气温而浮。气浓味薄。具有升散作用。属阳。是手足太阳经的本药。又能通行足阳明、足太阴二经。是肝经气分的药物。（洁古还说要治疗上焦风邪，泻肺实，其义可以合为一谈吗？大概肺统摄气。气是水与火化合生成的。气所化合的经脉，就是手足太阳经。至于通行足阳明、足太阴，可以用《内经》中关于伤肺的道理来参悟。经文说：伤害肺脏的，脾气不守，胃气不清，经气不能为用，真脏败坏决裂，经脉旁绝，五脏漏泄，不出血就呕吐。仅这几句话，就可以明白合一的道理，并且清楚地了解诸上焦见血的含义了。）《本经》主治大风头眩痛，恶风，风邪引起的目盲视物不清，以及风邪流行周身，骨节疼痛。治疗上焦风邪，泻肺实，消除烦闷胁痛，四肢挛急。搜剔肝气，通利关脉，疏散经络中的留湿，头目中的滞气，上部出血。（各本草著作）身体上半部患病用防风身（主茎），下半部患病用防风梢（根梢）。是治疗风去湿的仙药。对于除上焦在表的风邪最为擅长，兼治下焦风湿。（洁古 嵩注）。是风药中的润剂。治疗全身疼痛，地位如同卒伍卑贱之职，随引经药引导而到达病所。如果要补脾胃，没有这种引经药是不行的。钱乙的泻黄散，加倍使用防风，这是在土中泻木。（大概风木之邪不化，就会克制它所胜的脾土而致病。能升阳以通达中土之气，那么土木就能各自端正其所司之位了。）凡是脊痛项强不能回顾，腰像折断，颈像被拔出的，这是手足太阳证，正当使用防风。凡是疮疡在胸膈以上，即使没有手足太阳证，也应当使用。（因为能疏散结聚，去除上部风邪）病患身体拘谨疲倦的，是风邪所致。各种疮疡见此证，也必须使用。（东垣注）
也入治疗风痹的药方中。如果加入治疗大风疠风的药中，必须加杀虫活血药，不可单纯依赖风剂。同黄芩、芍药配合，能固表止汗。同荆芥穗、白芷、生地、地榆、黄柏配合，治疗破伤风有神奇效果。同桔梗、甘草、紫苏、杏仁、桑白皮、细辛配合，解除伤风。如果用薄荷替换紫苏，再加石膏，兼除风热。用麻黄替换紫苏，治疗风寒郁积于腠理，皮肤致密无汗。
附方 破伤中风，牙关紧急。天南星、防风等分，研为末。每次服二三匙，用童便五升，煎至四升，分两次服用即止。妇人崩中（非经期大量出血），用防风去芦头，炙红研为末。每次服一钱，用面糊酒调下。再喝面糊酒送服，屡试有效。另一方，加炒黑蒲黄等分。
〔论〕 防风先辛后甘，辛又胜于甘。说它能防上焦风邪、泻肺实，确实是确论。为什么说是手足太阳本经药呢？大概风木继寒水之后而生。经文说：卫气出于下焦，本是阴中之阳气，运行至极上，由肺统摄。这就是所谓的风升之气，也就是元气。作为主肺表之风剂，怎能不以最初生发的根本为根基呢？它通行足阳明、足太阴，也是因为它是升阳之剂，借此通达中土之气。东垣认为风升之气、元气、胃气，应当作为一个整体来论述。所以补脾胃的药如果没有这种引经药是不行的。（大概风木借土以为用，而能使土木不相侵犯的，只有这味药独擅其长。）正因为通过肺而与脾胃相合，所以能通利五脏关脉，疏散经络中的留湿。（因为脾胃将气行于三阴三阳的缘故）肝主经络。
防风的气味，都属于风升，又是肝经气分药，所以风行周身，本性善于行走变化，此药也随着它所行的部位来发挥治疗作用。羌活与防风，通行经络，有不少需要区别的地方。羌活味辛苦，苦多辛少；防风味辛甘，辛多甘少。属于地的亲向下，没有苦味不能到达地下；属于天的亲向上，没有辛味不能到达天上。手足太阳相表里，一水一火有所区分。羌活将其气达于水中，消散阴的结聚；防风则使其气畅达于火中，消散阳的结聚。（所以说能除上焦风邪而泻肺实）阳结就是肺实，所谓肺阳盛而肺阴虚是也。（因为风邪而称为“结”，是因为阳得不到阴的化育。四季之风，因于四时之气，所以必须根据其气来施治。只有类中风证，只从阳不得阴以化育，更不得阴以固守的角度来治法罢了。）要知道羌活并非不除风，然而它所治的风是湿化之风，本于阴。防风并非不行湿，然而它所治的湿是风化之湿，本于阳。只有这两经原本表里相须，而风湿也互为因果致病，所以羌活散湿以化风，时常与防风合用奏散风之功；防风祛风以行湿，时常与羌活协同起除湿之助。所以用药概归为风剂。大凡人病于风，元气就因此生病。元气生病，元阴也就因此生病。（风木是化阴之地，而风淫反而蚀伤阴液。）所以人身血的病变，大多先病于元气及元阴。这就是风化湿的证候。如《本经》所主的大风头眩痛、恶风、风邪目盲无见等证，难道不是风化湿的证候吗？至于通利五脏关脉及疏散经络中留滞，不与《本经》所主相互发明吗？又如洁古主治上部见血，也可以从前面的道理推求。（参考下文羌活论自明）
缪氏说：凡南方中风及头痛，不因风寒引起；溏泄不因寒湿引起；或气升作呕，火升发嗽；盗汗自汗；二便闭涩等疾病，误用防风会加重病情。各种病血虚痉急，小儿脾虚发搐，慢惊慢脾风，都在禁忌之列。
〔辨治〕 质地坚实而润泽，头节坚硬的为佳。去掉芦头和叉头、叉尾及形状弯曲者不用。误用能令人呕吐。
The medicinal material produced in Longshan, Qizhou, is of the best quality. Those from Qingyan and Zhizhou are also good. Harvested in the ninth lunar month. (Not only the root is used, so the whole plant is harvested.) Flavor: pungent and sweet. Nature: warm and floating. Qi is dense, flavor is thin. Ascending. Yang. It is the principal herb for the Hand-Taiyang and Foot-Taiyang meridians. It also circulates through the Foot-Yangming and Foot-Taiyin meridians. It is an herb for the Qi aspect of the Liver meridian. (Jiegu further stated it treats Wind pathogen in the Upper Jiao and drains Lung excess; can these meanings be combined? Roughly, the Lung governs Qi. Qi is the harmonious transformation of Water and Fire. The meridions where Qi transforms are the Hand-Taiyang and Foot-Taiyang. As for circulating through the Foot-Yangming and Foot-Taiyin, this can be understood by referencing the *Neijing* regarding injury to the Lung. The classic states: Injury to the Lung results in Spleen Qi failing to maintain, Stomach Qi becoming turbid, Meridian Qi failing to function, True Zang organs deteriorating, Collaterals cutting off, Five Zang leaking, leading to epistaxis or vomiting. From these few sentences, one can understand the unity and clearly comprehend the meaning of bleeding manifestations in the Upper Jiao.) The *Shennong Bencao Jing* primarily treats severe Wind causing dizziness and headache, aversion to wind, blindness due to Wind pathogen, Wind pathogen circulating throughout the body, joint pain. It treats Wind pathogen in the Upper Jiao, drains Lung excess, removes irritability and fullness with hypochondriac pain, tetany of the four limbs. It searches out Liver Qi, unblocks the joints and pulses, disperses retained dampness in the collaterals, stagnation of Qi in the head and eyes, and bleeding from the upper body. (Various Materia Medica texts) For diseases above the waist, use the stem (body); for diseases below the waist, use the tip (root end). It is a divine herb for treating Wind and removing Dampness. It is most effective for expelling Wind pathogen on the exterior of the Upper Jiao, and also treats Lower Jiao Wind-Dampness. (Jiegu Song note). It is a moistening agent among Wind-dispersing herbs. It treats generalized body pain, acting like a low-ranking soldier who goes wherever guided. If tonifying the Spleen and Stomach, this guiding action is indispensable. In Qian Yi's *Xiehuang San*, Fangfeng is used in double dosage, which represents draining Wood within Earth. (Roughly, if Wind-Wood pathogen does not transform, it will overact upon its conquered element, Earth, causing disease. By ascending Yang to reach Middle Earth Qi, Wood and Earth can each occupy their proper positions.) For stiff neck and back pain preventing turning of the head, sensation of waist breaking, sensation of neck being pulled, these are Hand-Taiyang and Foot-Taiyang syndromes, where Fangfeng is indicated. For sores above the chest and diaphragm, even without Hand-Taiyang and Foot-Taiyang symptoms, it should be used. (Because it can dissipate nodules and remove Wind from the upper part.) When a patient's body feels constrained and fatigued, it is due to Wind. Sores presenting with this symptom must also use it. (Dongyuan note).
It also enters formulas treating Wind-Bi. If added to formulas for severe Leprosy-type Wind, insecticidal and blood-invigorating herbs must be added; one cannot rely solely on Wind-dispersing agents. Combined with Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) and Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix), it solidifies the exterior and stops sweating. Combined with Jingjie Sui (Schizonepetae Spica), Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix), Shengdi Huang (Rehmanniae Radix), Diyu (Sanguisorbae Radix), and Huangbo (Phellodendri Cortex), it has miraculous effects for treating Tetanus (Po Shang Feng). Combined with Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix), Zisu Ye (Perillae Folium), Xingren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum), Sangbaipi (Mori Cortex), and Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma), it resolves common cold. Replacing Zisu with Bohe (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba) and adding Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum) additionally clears Wind-Heat. Replacing Zisu with Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) treats Cold-Dampness stagnant in the interstices, with dense skin and no sweat.
Attached Formula: For Tetanus with jaw stiffness. Tian Nanxing (Arisaematis Rhizoma Preparatum) and Fangfeng in equal parts, powdered. Take two or three spoons per dose. Decoct in five sheng of child's urine until reduced to four sheng. Divide into two doses to stop immediately. For Metrorrhagia in women: Use Fangfeng, remove rhizome, roast red, powder. Take one qian per dose, mixed with flour paste and wine. Follow with more flour paste and wine. Proven effective repeatedly. Another formula: Add Chao Hei Puhuang (Typhae Pollinis Preparatum) in equal parts.
[Discussion] Fangfeng is first pungent then sweet, with pungency surpassing sweetness. Saying it prevents Wind pathogen in the Upper Jiao and drains Lung excess is indeed a correct statement. Why is it the principal herb for the Hand-Taiyang and Foot-Taiyang meridians? Roughly, Wind-Wood follows Cold-Water. The classic states: Wei Qi originates from the Lower Jiao, originally Yang Qi within Yin, reaching the highest point, governed by the Lung. This is the so-called Wind-ascending Qi, which is Yuan Qi. As a Wind-dispersing agent governing the Lung exterior, how can it not be rooted in its initial origin? Its circulation through the Foot-Yangming and Foot-Taiyin is because it is an Yang-ascending agent, thereby reaching Middle Earth Qi. Dongyuan stated that Wind-ascending Qi, Yuan Qi, and Stomach Qi should be discussed as one entity. Therefore, Spleen-Stomach tonifying herbs require this guiding agent. (Roughly, Wind-Wood relies on Earth for its function, and only this herb excels at preventing mutual invasion between Wood and Earth.) Precisely because it connects via the Lung to the Spleen and Stomach, it can unblock the five Zang organ gates and disperse retained dampness in the collaterals. (Because the Spleen and Stomach distribute Qi through the Three Yin and Three Yang meridians). The Liver governs the collaterals.
Fangfeng's flavor and nature belong to Wind-ascending, and it is an herb for the Qi aspect of the Liver meridian. Thus, Wind circulates throughout the body, characterized by agility and changeability, and this herb treats according to the areas it travels. Qianghuo and Fangfeng both circulate through the collaterals, but there are distinctions. Qianghuo is pungent and bitter, with more bitter than pungent; Fangfeng is pungent and sweet, with more pungent than sweet. What belongs to Earth tends downward; without bitterness, one cannot reach the ground. What belongs to Heaven tends upward; without pungency, one cannot reach the sky. The Hand-Taiyang and Foot-Taiyang are interior-exterior pairs, distinguished by Water and Fire. Qianghuo directs its Qi into Water, dissipating Yin knots; Fangfeng directs its Qi into Fire, dissipating Yang knots. (Thus it is said to remove Upper Jiao Wind pathogen and drain Lung excess). Yang knot is Lung excess, described as Lung Yang hyperactivity and Lung Yin deficiency. (The term "knot" due to Wind pathogen implies Yang cannot transform without Yin. Winds of the four seasons arise from seasonal Qi, so treatment must follow this Qi. Only in apoplexy-like syndromes is the treatment focused on Yang lacking Yin for transformation and retention.) One must know that Qianghuo does not fail to dispel Wind, but the Wind it treats is Wind transformed from Dampness, originating from Yin. Fangfeng does not fail to move Dampness, but the Dampness it treats is Dampness transformed from Wind, originating from Yang. Since these two meridians are naturally interior-exterior partners, and Wind and Dampness often cause disease together, Qianghuo disperses Dampness to transform Wind, often working with Fangfeng to achieve Wind-dispersion; Fangfeng expels Wind to move Dampness, often cooperating with Qianghuo to assist in Dampness removal. Hence, they are generally classified as Wind agents. When humans suffer from Wind, Yuan Qi becomes diseased. When Yuan Qi is diseased, Yuan Yin also becomes diseased. (Wind-Wood is the place where Yin transforms, yet Wind pathogen damages Yin.) Therefore, Blood disorders usually begin with Yuan Qi and Yuan Yin. This is the syndrome of Wind transforming into Dampness. Are the symptoms mentioned in the *Bencao Jing* such as severe Wind causing dizziness, headache, aversion to wind, and blindness due to Wind pathogen not examples of Wind transforming into Dampness? Do the unblocking of five Zang gates and dispersion of retained dampness in collaterals not elucidate the primary indications? Furthermore, Jiegu's indication for bleeding in the upper body can also be deduced from this principle. (Refer to the discussion on Qianghuo below for clarity).
Mu Shi stated: For stroke and headache in the South not caused by Wind-Cold; loose stools not caused by Cold-Dampness; vomiting due to rising Qi; cough due to rising Fire; night sweats and spontaneous sweating; constipation and dysuria; using Fangfeng will aggravate these conditions. It is contraindicated in all cases of Blood deficiency with spasms and rigidity, pediatric convulsions due to Spleen deficiency, slow convulsion, and slow spleen-wind.
[Differentiation and Treatment] Material that is solid and moist, with firm nodes, is superior. Remove the rhizome, forked heads, forked tails, and curved pieces; do not use them. Misuse can induce vomiting.