本出蜀郡汉中。今惟白水原州华原山谷者最胜。宜宁二州者亦佳。八月采根
。长二三尺。紧实若箭干。皮色黄褐。折之柔韧如绵。肉理中黄外白。嚼之甘美可口。若坚
脆味苦者。即苜蓿根也。勿误用。（别说出绵上者为良。盖以地产言也。若以柔韧为绵。则
伪者亦柔韧。但当以坚脆而味苦者为别耳。）木 草形类真相似。只是生时叶短根黄耳。（之
颐）
味甘。气微温。气浓于味。可升可降。阴中阳也。入手足太阴气分。又入手少阳足少阴
命门。兼入手阳明经。茯苓为之使。恶龟甲白藓皮。甘温纯阳。主益肺气。温分肉。实皮毛
间腠理虚。大补表之元气虚弱。通和阳气。利阴气。泄火邪。能活血脉生血。助胃气。（治
脾胃虚弱。脉弦。血脉不行。羸瘦腹痛。）益三焦元阳。补五脏诸虚不足。丈夫虚损羸瘦。
短气虚喘。肾衰耳聋。泻久肠风。老人气虚肠 。更治虚烦肌热。虚劳自汗盗汗。若表虚有
邪。发汗不出。服之自汗。并内托阴疽。排脓止痛。长肉生肌。为疮家圣药。又治女子月候
不匀。血崩带下。胎前产后气耗血虚。疗小儿百病。方书。治消瘅。中风着痹挛痿。鹤膝风。
香港脚
振眩晕。惊悸痞厥恶寒。往来寒热。发热。破伤风不能食。滞下。赤白浊淋。小便不通。遗
精。疝。黄 独茎丛生。作叶扶疏。百本戴在首。如卫气出目行头。（卫出下焦。其行始于
睛明穴。）自上而下。从外而内。百骸百脉。咸卫外而固矣。其行可久可速。能知卫气出入
之道路。便能了知黄 之功用矣。（卢不远）补三焦。实卫气。与桂同功。特比桂甘平。不
辛热为异耳。盖桂则通血脉。能破血而实卫气。 则益气也。（东垣）其治气虚盗汗。并自
汗及肤痛。是皮表之药。治咯血柔脾胃。是中州之药。治伤寒尺脉不至。补肾脏元气。是里
药。乃上中下内外三焦之药也。（好古）参 俱益虚损。但人参惟补元气调中。黄 兼补卫
气实表。如共剂而用。须别主辅。凡内伤脾胃。发热恶寒。怠惰嗜卧。呕吐泄泻。及胀满痞
塞。形羸力乏。脉微神短。参为君 为臣。若表虚而自汗盗汗。渐至亡阳。诸溃疡多耗脓血。
婴儿痘疹
防风能制黄 。黄 得防风。其功愈大。（助真气以周于身。亦有治风之功。）乃相畏而相使
也。唐柳太后病风不能言。脉沉口噤。许允宗制黄 防风汤数斛。于床下蒸之。药入腠理。
周时而瘥。凡小儿脾胃伏火。劳役不足而成慢惊。当于心经中。以甘温补土之源。更于脾土
中。以甘寒泻火。以酸凉补金。使金旺火衰。风木自平。用黄 汤。炙黄 二钱。人参一钱。
炙草五分
发热之要剂。同生熟地黄芩连柏当归。加枣仁炒研。为治阴虚盗汗之正法。本方去三黄。加
人参五味枣仁。治表虚自汗。同桂枝白芍防风炙草。能实表。治表虚畏风。伤风自汗。与茅
术生地等分。黄柏牛膝减半。作丸。治积年湿毒 疮。百药不效。一同白芷白芨甘草银花皂
角刺。排脓止痛。同人参甘草。为除躁热肌热之圣药。又治天行痘疮阳虚无热证。
附方 小便不通。绵 二钱。水二盏。煎一盏温服。小儿减半。气虚白浊。黄 盐炒五
钱。茯苓
服三钱。用大麻子一合研烂。以水滤浆。煎至乳起。入白蜜一匙。再煎沸。调药。空心服。
甚者
绿豆大。每服三十丸。米饮下。咳嗽脓血咽干。乃虚中有热。不可服凉药。以好黄 四两。
甘草一两。为末。每服二钱。点汤服。胎动不安。腹痛。下黄汁。黄 川芎各一两。糯米一
合。水一升。煎半升。
〔论〕 黄 甘温。禀中土之气味。花至七月开。而根以八月采。中黄外白。是由脾胃
以至
其
五脏六腑。皆以受气。又曰。肺气从太阴而行之。其行也以息往来。又曰。宗气积于胸中。
出于喉咙。以贯心脉而行呼吸。然则胃为后天生气之原。而脏腑之所以受气者。皆统于主气
之肺。肺之所以主气者。本于息之往来。而其所由以息往来。又本于水火升降贯心脉而行呼
吸也。肺司卫气之行。而其气更原于肾。经曰。卫气昼行于阳。夜行于阴。尝从足少阴之分
间。行于五脏六腑。（卫出下焦。乃足太阳膀胱。膀胱属肾。而肺之以息往来者。又根于肾。）
又曰。少阳（三焦也）属肾。肾上连肺。是则卫气之布。皆司于肺者。岂不合于三焦之气。
而本于肾中之命门乎。夫三焦为元气之别使。经尝言之。然非主气之肺统之。则无以神三焦
为使之气化。俾气之自下而上者。复自上而下。自内而外者。复自外而内。经固谓三焦属肾。
肾上连肺也。是则黄 之补气。原合胃与三焦。以为周身之利益矣。第阳气卫外而为固。而
洁古乃推其化血生血岂卫外之阳反能生阴哉。不知云雾不精。则白露不降。惟分肉腠理之间
。可以征元气之充与否。若分肉腠理一有不充。即是膻中之气化不足。而云雾不精也。真阳
不充。则阴气何以滋。阴气不滋。而阳气何以四布乎。试就其益卫而即能生血者参之。可知
血固液所化。液即气所化也。（经曰。三焦出气以温肌肉。充皮肤。为其津。其流而不行者
为液。又曰。卫气先行皮肤。先充络脉。络脉先盛。故卫气已平。营气乃满。而经脉乃大盛
。经脉盛则并纳于卫任而为海。）营气之化。根于卫气之充。不可识 之益表气。通阳和。
即以滋营而和经。俾藏于卫任。达之命门。以归元阳而疗诸虚乎。（世止言黄 补气。讵知
化血生血。乃所以竟其气之用耳。即东垣所云泻阴火。是指内伤阳气下陷而为虚热。非阴分
相火之火也。亦是由气化血之义。然则用 不可但执补气之说。而必究其功用之精微矣。）
试更以阴生阳。阳化阴。分合之义言之。经曰。水火者。阴阳之征兆也。金木者。生成之终
始也。是则合肾与脾以上于肺者肝也。合心与胃以至于肝者肺也。肝得乎水中之火。故为阴
中之少阳而主升。如水不足。是本先拨也。即水中之火郁亦病乎升之机而气病者也。肺得乎
火中之水。故为阳中之少阴而主降。如火不足。是本先拨也。即火中之水郁亦病乎降之机而
气病者也。若脾固以水为体。以火为用。坎中之离。借风木以上交。故脾能化气于上。而胃
为表以达之。胃则以火为体。以水为用。离中之坎。借燥金以下交。故胃能化血以下。而脾
为里以统之。夫肝挟肾与脾以至于肺者。因肺为肾之母也。肺挟心与胃以至于肝者。因肝为
心之母也。若脾与胃。执升降之枢。以为子母之权舆者也。故上而至天。下而际地焉。黄
之功。正有体立而用以行者。盖阳中太阳合于阳中之少阴。使阳得化阴而随阴以降。此其所
以自上而下自外而内也。知此则别录益气。更曰利阴气。甄权所主虚喘肾衰耳聋。皆可明其
功矣。总之。黄 补肺而利阴。不治阳有余而阴不足之病。乃治阳不足而阴亦不利之病。观
方书所治。固主益气。然于血分多有功。津液汗溺为病。需之不少。则以肺阳裕而阴生。肺
阴降而阳随。为自上而下自外而内之权舆焉。又本经首主痈疽。久败疮。排脓止痛。此由气
及血。以至于分肉也。至大风癞疾。并妇人子脏风邪。皆缘阴气虚以为风也。他如逐五脏间
恶血。破症癖瘰 瘿赘。治肠风血崩带下。其由阳及阴之功。种种明着矣。人身天气。由化
而生。（与地气由生而化者不同）如肺阴下降而生血。其 变化之地在膻中。（膻中固肺所
治）中焦之营血。此为橐龠。能使胃阳不亢。而气得下行者。非肺之力欤。知肺之力。则
知之功用矣。抑经曰卫出下焦。然则黄 益卫气。其自上而下者。必先自下而上也。其自
外而内者。必先自内而外也。洁古谓 为足太阳发表药。缘卫气由足太阳而达之天表也。试
参虚损有膀胱热而尿血不止者。入黄 于蒲黄丸中以补下焦之卫。而后清热如地麦辈。始得
奏功。盖不止用 以补虚。固藉其升阳以达表。然后水腑之热可除也。明于阳气下陷之义。
则知阳不得正其治于上。阴即不能顺其化于下矣。
缪氏曰。凡气实内塞。胸膈闭闷。肠胃有积滞。及多怒肝气不和者。勿服。其阳盛阴虚。
或上焦热甚下焦虚寒者。忌之。痘疮血分热甚者。禁用。
〔修治〕 去头。刮皮。治痈疽。生用。治肺气虚。蜜炙用。治下虚。盐水或蒸或炒用。
本品原产于蜀郡汉中。如今只有白水、原州、华原山谷出产的药材品质最佳。宜州、二州出产的也较好。八月采集根部，长度二三尺，质地紧密坚实如同箭杆，外皮颜色黄褐色，折断时柔韧如棉絮，肉质纹理中间黄外部白，咀嚼起来甘美可口。如果质地坚硬脆裂且味道苦涩的，就是苜蓿根，不要误用。（另有说法认为表面绵软者为上品，这是从产地角度说的。如果把柔韧当作绵软，那么伪品也柔韧，应当以坚硬脆裂且味苦者作为区别。）木草形态类别非常相似，只是生长时叶子短、根部黄色罢了。（之颐）
味甘，气微温，气的作用强于味的表现，既能升提又能下降，属于阴中之阳。归入手足太阴经的气分，又归入手少阳经和足少阴命门经，兼入手阳明经。茯苓是它的引经药。畏忌龟甲和白鲜皮。味甘性温，纯阳之品，主要补益肺气，温暖肌肉，充实皮毛间的腠理，治疗因虚导致的腠理不固，大补体表的元气虚弱，通调阳气，利导阴气，泄除火邪，能活血脉、生新血，助养胃气。（治疗脾胃虚弱，脉象弦，血脉运行不畅，身体消瘦腹痛。）补益三焦元阳，补五脏各种虚损不足。治疗男子虚损消瘦，气短虚喘，肾衰耳聋，久泻肠风，老人气虚引起的肠鸣腹泻。还能治疗虚烦肌热，虚劳自汗盗汗。如果是表虚受邪，发不出汗，服用后能自然出汗。并能内托阴疽，排脓止痛，长肉生肌，是疮疡科医生的圣药。又治疗女子月经不调，血崩带下，产前产后气耗血虚。治疗小儿百病。方书中记载，治疗消渴，中风着痹挛痿，鹤膝风，脚气，眩晕，惊悸痞厥恶寒，往来寒热，发热，破伤风不能进食，痢疾，赤白浊淋，小便不通，遗精，疝气。黄芪独茎丛生，叶片舒展，众多枝干像帽子一样戴在顶部，如同卫气从眼睛出发行走在头部。（卫气出于下焦，其运行始于睛明穴。）自上而下，从外而内，全身骨骼经脉，都起到护卫体表并固护的作用。它的运行可快可慢，能了解卫气出入的道路，就能明白黄芪的功效了。（卢不远）补益三焦，充实卫气，功效与桂枝相同，特别之处在于比桂枝更甘平，不像桂枝那样辛热。大概桂枝能通血脉，能破血而实卫气；黄芪则是益气。（东垣）它治疗气虚盗汗、自汗及皮肤疼痛，是作用于皮表的药物；治疗咯血、柔润脾胃，是中焦的药物；治疗伤寒尺脉不至，补肾脏元气，是作用于里的药物。它是上中下内外三焦都能作用的药物。（好古）人参和黄芪都补益虚损，但人参只补元气、调和中焦，黄芪兼补卫气、充实体表。如果共同配伍使用，必须分清主辅。凡是内伤脾胃，发热恶寒，倦怠嗜卧，呕吐泄泻，以及胀满痞塞，形体消瘦乏力，脉微弱精神短少，用人参为君药，黄芪为臣药。如果是表虚导致自汗盗汗，逐渐发展到亡阳，各种溃疡多耗伤脓血，婴儿痘疹，防风能制约黄芪。黄芪得到防风，功效更大。（辅助真气遍布全身，也有治疗风邪的功效。）这是相畏而相使的关系。唐代柳太后患风病不能说话，脉沉口噤，许允宗配制黄芪防风汤数斛，在床下蒸熏，药气进入腠理，一个时辰后痊愈。凡是小儿脾胃伏火，劳役不足导致慢惊风，应当在心经中，用甘温药补土之源，再在脾土中，用甘寒药泻火，用酸凉药补金，使金旺火衰，风木自然平和。用黄芪汤：炙黄芪二钱，人参一钱，炙甘草五分。是治疗发热的重要药剂。同生地黄、熟地黄、黄芩、黄连、黄柏、当归一起，加酸枣仁炒研，是治疗阴虚盗汗的正法。本方去掉三黄（黄芩、黄连、黄柏），加人参、五味子、酸枣仁，治疗表虚自汗。同桂枝、白芍、防风、炙甘草一起，能充实体表，治疗表虚怕风，伤风自汗。与苍术、生地等量，黄柏、牛膝减半，做成丸药，治疗积年湿毒疮，百药无效。同白芷、白芨、甘草、金银花、皂角刺一起，排脓止痛。同人参、甘草一起，是清除躁热肌热的圣药。又治疗天行痘疮阳虚无热证。
附方：小便不通，绵黄芪二钱，水两盏，煎至一盏，温服。小儿减半。气虚白浊，黄芪盐炒五钱，茯苓三钱，用大麻子一合研烂，用水过滤取浆，煎至乳状泛起，加入白蜜一匙，再煮沸，调和药物，空腹服用。严重的，做成绿豆大小的丸药，每次服三十丸，米饮送下。咳嗽脓血咽干，这是虚中有热，不可服用凉药。用好黄芪四两，甘草一两，研为末，每次服二钱，开水冲服。胎动不安，腹痛，下黄汁，黄芪、川芎各一两，糯米一合，水一升，煎至半升。
〔论述〕 黄芪味甘性温，禀受中土的滋味。花朵到七月开放，而根部在八月采集，中间黄外部白，这是由脾胃之气进而通达五脏六腑的表现。又说，肺气跟随太阴经运行，它的运行依靠呼吸的往来。又说，宗气积聚在胸中，出于喉咙，贯通心脉而行呼吸。既然如此，胃是后天生成气的源头，而脏腑之所以能接受气，都统摄于主管气的肺。肺之所以能主管气，根本在于呼吸的往来，而呼吸往来的依据，又根本在于水火升降、贯通心脉而行呼吸。肺主管卫气的运行，而卫气更源于肾。经书说：卫气白天行于阳分，夜晚行于阴分。曾经从足少阴经的分野间，行于五脏六腑。（卫气出于下焦，即足太阳膀胱经，膀胱属肾，而肺通过呼吸往来，又根源于肾。）又说，少阳（即三焦）属肾，肾向上连接肺，那么卫气的布散，都由肺来司职，这难道不与三焦之气相合，而本源于肾中的命门吗？三焦是元气的别使，经书曾经说过。然而如果不是主管气的肺来统领，就无法神妙地运用三焦作为使者的气化功能，使得气从下向上的，再从上向下；从内向外的，再从外向内。经书确实说三焦属肾，肾向上连接肺。这样看来，黄芪补气，原本就结合胃与三焦，以为周身带来利益。只是阳气护卫体表从而固密，而洁古却推崇它能化血生血，难道护卫体表的阳反而能生阴吗？不知道云雾如果不精微，白露就不会降落。只有在分肉腠理之间，可以验证元气是否充盛。如果分肉腠理有一点不充盛，就是膻中的气化不足，也就是云雾不精。真阳不充盛，阴气怎么滋养？阴气不滋养，阳气怎么能四布？试着从它益卫而就能生血这一点来参考，可知血固然由津液化成，津液即由气化生。（经书说：三焦出气以温热肌肉，充实皮肤，这就是津；流动而不停留的是液。又说：卫气先行走于皮肤，先充实络脉，络脉先盛，所以卫气已平，营气乃满，而经脉乃大盛。经脉盛则并入卫任而为海。）营气的化生，根源于卫气的充盛，不可不认识黄芪益表气、通阳和的作用，以此来滋养营气而调和经脉，使其藏于卫任，达于命门，以回归元阳而治疗各种虚损。（世人只说黄芪补气，哪里知道化血生血，正是为了完成它气的作用啊。就是东垣所说的泻阴火，是指内伤阳气下陷而导致的虚热，并非阴分相火之火。这也是由气化血的道理。然而使用黄芪，不可仅仅执着于补气的说法，而必须探究其功用的精微之处。）
试着再用阴生阳、阳化阴、分合的道理来说明。经书说：水火是阴阳的征兆。金木是生成的始终。那么结合肾与脾以上达于肺的是肝。结合心与胃以至于肝的是肺。肝得水中之火，所以是阴中之少阳而主升。如果水不足，是本先动摇，那么水中的火郁结也会阻碍升发的机制而导致气病。肺得火中之水，所以是阳中之少阴而主降。如果火不足，是本先动摇，那么火中的水郁结也会阻碍下降的机制而导致气病。如果脾固然以水为体，以火为用，坎卦中的离火，借风木之气以上交，所以脾能在上面化气，而胃作为表来通达它。胃则以火为体，以水为用，离卦中的坎水，借燥金之气以下交，所以胃能在下面化血，而脾作为里来统摄它。肝挟带肾与脾以至于肺，是因为肺是肾的母亲。肺挟带心与胃以至于肝，是因为肝是心的母亲。至于脾与胃，执掌升降的枢纽，作为子母关系的开端。所以上而至天，下而际地。黄芪的功效，正是有体立而用以行的体现。大概阳中的太阳合于阳中的少阴，使阳能化阴而随阴以降，这就是它自上而下、自外而内的原因。知道了这个，就能明白《别录》说它益气，又说利阴气，《甄权》所说主治虚喘、肾衰、耳聋，都可以明了它的功效了。总之，黄芪补肺而利阴，不治阳有余而阴不足的病，而是治阳不足而阴也不利的病。看方书所治疗的，固然主要益气，然而在血分多有功效。津液、汗、溺液的疾病，需要用到它不少，这是因为肺阳充足而阴生，肺阴下降而阳随，作为自上而下、自外而内的开端。另外《本经》首先主治痈疽、久败疮、排脓止痛，这是由气及血，以至于分肉。至于大风癞疾，以及妇人子宫风邪，都是因为阴气虚而产生风邪。其他如驱逐五脏间的恶血，破除症癖瘰疬瘿赘，治疗肠风血崩带下，其由阳及阴的功效，种种明显可见了。人身天气，由化而生。（与地气由生而化不同）比如肺阴下降而生血，其变化的地方在膻中。（膻中确实是肺所治理的地方）中焦的营血，以此为橐龠（风箱），能使胃阳不亢，而气得下行，这不是肺的力量吗？知道肺的力量，就知道黄芪的功效了。再者经书说卫气出于下焦，那么黄芪益卫气，其自上而下的，必定先自下而上；其自外而内的，必定先自内而外。洁古称黄芪为足太阳发表药，因为卫气由足太阳经通达到天表。试着参考虚损伴有膀胱热而尿血不止的患者，在蒲黄丸中加入黄芪以补下焦之卫，然后清热如用地骨皮、麦冬之类，才能奏效。不仅仅用黄芪来补虚，确实借助它升阳以达表，然后水腑的热才可除去。明白了阳气下陷的道理，就知道阳不能在上方正其治，阴就不能顺其化于下方了。
缪氏说：凡是气实内塞，胸膈闭闷，肠胃有积滞，以及多怒肝气不和的人，不要服用。那些阳盛阴虚，或上焦热甚下焦虚寒的人，忌服。痘疮血分热甚者，禁用。
This herb originally comes from Shu Commandery and Hanzhong. Currently, the best quality is produced in Baishui, Yuanyuan, and Huayuan valleys. Those from Yizhou and Erzhou are also good. The roots are harvested in August, measuring two to three chi in length, tight and solid like arrow shafts, with yellow-brown bark. When broken, they are flexible and tough like cotton, with a yellow center and white exterior. Chewing them yields a sweet and pleasant taste. If hard, brittle, and bitter, it is the root of Medicago sativa (alfalfa), do not use it by mistake. (Another view states that those with a soft surface are superior, referring to the place of origin. If flexibility is considered softness, then fake ones are also flexible; one should distinguish them by hardness, brittleness, and bitterness.) The morphology of this woody/herbal plant is very similar to others, differing only in shorter leaves and yellow roots when growing. (Zhi Yi)
It tastes sweet and has a slightly warm nature. Its qi action is stronger than its flavor action; it can ascend and descend, belonging to yang within yin. It enters the qi aspect of the Hand and Foot Taiyin meridians, as well as the Hand Shaoyang and Foot Shaoyuan Mingmen meridians, and concurrently enters the Hand Yangming meridian. Poria (Fuling) serves as its guiding herb. It is incompatible with Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum (Guijia) and Dictamni Cortex (Baixianpi). Sweet and warm, purely yang, it primarily tonifies lung qi, warms the flesh, and consolidates the interstices between skin and hair, treating deficiency of the exterior yuan qi due to empty interstices. It harmonizes yang qi, benefits yin qi, drains fire pathogenic factors, promotes blood circulation, generates blood, and assists stomach qi. (Treats spleen and stomach weakness, wiry pulse, blocked blood vessels, emaciation, and abdominal pain.) It benefits the primordial yang of the Triple Burner, supplements deficiencies of the five zang organs, treats men's deficiency exhaustion and emaciation, shortness of breath and asthmatic panting, kidney decline with deafness, chronic diarrhea with intestinal wind, and elderly qi deficiency with intestinal rumbling. It also treats deficiency vexation and muscle heat, deficiency labor with spontaneous and night sweats. If there is exterior deficiency with pathogenic factors and sweating fails to occur, taking it induces natural sweating. It also internally supports yin abscesses, discharges pus, relieves pain, promotes flesh regeneration, and is a sacred medicine for wound practitioners. It further treats women's irregular menstruation, metrorrhagia, and leukorrhea; qi consumption and blood deficiency before and after childbirth; and various pediatric diseases. Formulary texts record its use for treating xiao-dao (wasting-thirst), wind-stroke with fixed bi-syndrome, spasms and flaccidity, crane-knee wind, hong-kang-jiao (podagra/foot qi), dizziness, palpitations, chest fullness, syncope, aversion to cold, alternating chills and fever, fever, traumatic tetanus with inability to eat, dysentery, red-white turbid strangury, urinary retention, spermatorrhea, and hernia. Huangqi grows with a single stem clustering together, leaves spreading out, with many branches crowning the top, resembling wei qi (defensive qi) exiting the eyes and traveling along the head. (Wei qi originates from the lower jiao, its course starting at Jingming BL-1.) From top to bottom, from outside to inside, all bones and pulses serve to defend the exterior and consolidate. Its movement can be slow or fast. Understanding the pathways of wei qi entry and exit allows one to comprehend the functions of Huangqi. (Lu Bu Yuan) It tonifies the Triple Burner and solidifies wei qi, functioning similarly to Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig), but differs in being sweeter and milder rather than acrid and hot. Generally, Guizhi unites blood vessels, breaks blood stasis, and solidifies wei qi, whereas Huangqi tonifies qi. (Dong Yuan) Its treatment of qi deficiency night sweats, spontaneous sweats, and skin pain indicates it is a drug acting on the skin and surface; treating hemoptysis and softening the spleen/stomach indicates it is a drug acting on the central region; treating absent Chi pulse in Shanghan (Cold Damage) and tonifying kidney yuan qi indicates it is a drug acting internally. Thus, it is a drug for the upper, middle, and lower jiao, both internal and external. (Hao Gu) Renshen (Ginseng) and Huangqi both tonify deficiency and damage, but Renshen only tonifies yuan qi and regulates the middle, while Huangqi additionally tonifies wei qi and solidifies the exterior. When used together, their primary and secondary roles must be distinguished. For internal injury to the spleen and stomach with fever and aversion to cold, lethargy and desire to lie down, vomiting and diarrhea, bloating and fullness, emaciation and weakness, faint pulse and short spirit, Renshen is the sovereign herb and Huangqi is the minister herb. For exterior deficiency with spontaneous and night sweats progressing to collapse of yang, and various ulcers consuming pus and blood, or infant vaccine rashes, Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix) can restrain Huangqi. With Fangfeng, Huangqi's efficacy increases. (Assisting true qi to circulate throughout the body, it also has wind-treating properties.) This is a relationship of mutual fear and mutual assistance. Empress Liu of the Tang Dynasty suffered from wind disease and could not speak; her pulse was deep and jaw clenched. Xu Yongzong prepared Huangqi Fangfeng Decoction in large quantities, steaming it under the bed. The medicinal vapor entered the interstices, and she recovered within a day. For children with latent fire in the spleen and stomach, resulting from overwork and insufficiency leading to slow convulsions, one should tonify the source of earth with sweet-warm herbs in the Heart meridian, drain fire with sweet-cold herbs in the spleen-earth, and tonify metal with sour-cool herbs, making metal prosperous and fire weak so that wind-wood naturally levels. Use Huangqi Tang: Roasted Huangqi 2 qian, Renshen 1 qian, Roasted Gancao 0.5 qian. It is an essential agent for treating fever. Combined with Sheng Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix), Shu Dihuang, Huangqin, Huanglian, Huangbai, Danggui, plus fried and ground Suanzaoren, it is the orthodox method for treating yin-deficiency night sweats. Removing the three yellows (Huangqin, Huanglian, Huangbai) from this formula and adding Renshen, Wuweizi, and Suanzaoren treats exterior deficiency spontaneous sweating. Combined with Guizhi, Baishao, Fangfeng, and Roasted Gancao, it solidifies the exterior, treating exterior deficiency aversion to wind and wind-cold spontaneous sweating. In equal parts with Baizhu and Shengdi, with reduced Huangbai and Niuxi, made into pills, it treats chronic damp-toxin sores ineffective to other medicines. Combined with Baizhi, Baiji, Gancao, Jinyinhua, and Zaojiaoci, it discharges pus and relieves pain. Combined with Renshen and Gancao, it is a sacred medicine for removing restlessness, heat, and muscle heat. It also treats epidemic vaccine sores with yang deficiency and no heat syndrome.
Supplementary Formula: Urinary retention, Mian Huangqi 2 qian, water 2 liang, decoct to 1 liang, take warm. Reduce dose for children. Qi deficiency with white turbidity, Salt-fried Huangqi 5 qian, Fuling 3 qian. Take 1 hemp seed measure, grind until paste-like, filter juice with water, decoct until milky foam rises, add 1 spoon of white honey, boil again, mix with medicine, take on an empty stomach. For severe cases, make pills the size of mung beans, take 30 pills each time, swallow with rice drink. Cough with pus and blood, dry throat, indicates deficiency with heat, cool herbs must not be taken. Use good Huangqi 4 liang, Gancao 1 liang, grind into powder, take 2 qian each time, brew with hot water. Restless fetus, abdominal pain, discharge of yellow fluid, Huangqi and Chuanxiong 1 liang each, Nuomi 1 he, water 1 sheng, decoct to half sheng.
[Discussion] Huangqi is sweet and warm, inheriting the flavor of central earth. Flowers bloom in July, while roots are harvested in August. Yellow inside and white outside signifies the transmission of qi from the spleen and stomach to the five zang and six fu organs. It is said that lung qi travels via the Taiyin; its movement relies on the exchange of respiration. It is also said that Zong qi (Pectoral Qi) accumulates in the chest, exits through the throat, penetrates the heart vessels, and governs respiration. Therefore, the Stomach is the source of post-heaven qi generation, and the reason organs receive qi is governed by the Lung which masters qi. The Lung masters qi based on respiratory exchange, which in turn is rooted in the ascent and descent of water and fire, penetrating heart vessels and governing respiration. The Lung governs the movement of Wei Qi, which originates from the Kidney. Classics state: Wei qi travels in yang during the day and yin at night. It once traveled among the divisions of Foot Shaoyin, moving through the five zang and six fu organs. (Wei qi originates from the lower jiao, i.e., Foot Taiyang Bladder meridian; Bladder belongs to Kidney, and Lung's respiratory exchange is rooted in Kidney.) It is also said: Shaoyang (Triple Burner) belongs to Kidney, Kidney connects upward to Lung. Thus, the distribution of Wei qi is managed by Lung, which aligns with Triple Burner qi and originates from Mingmen in Kidney. The Triple Burner is the special envoy of Yuan qi, as stated in classics. However, without the Lung mastering qi to direct the Triple Burner's enzymatic transformation, qi ascending from below would not descend from above, and qi moving inward from outside would not return outward. Classics indeed state Triple Burner belongs to Kidney, connecting upward to Lung. Thus, Huangqi's qi tonification originally combines Stomach and Triple Burner to benefit the whole body. Although yang qi defends the exterior to consolidate, Jiugui promoted its ability to transform and generate blood. Can defending yang actually generate yin? One does not know that if clouds and mist are not refined, white dew will not fall. Only between the muscles and interstices can one verify if yuan qi is sufficient. If muscles and interstices are insufficient, it means Qizhong (Pericardium) qi transformation is inadequate, i.e., clouds and mist are not refined. If true yang is insufficient, how can yin qi nourish? If yin qi does not nourish, how can yang qi spread? Consider its ability to benefit wei and thereby generate blood: blood is transformed from fluids, and fluids are transformed from qi. (Classics say: Triple Burner emits qi to warm muscles and fill skin, which is jin; flowing but not stationary is ye. Also: Wei qi first travels in skin, fills collaterals first; when collaterals are full, wei qi is balanced, ying qi fills, and main vessels become abundant. Abundant vessels merge into Wei Ren to form the Sea.) Ying qi transformation is rooted in Wei qi sufficiency. One must recognize Huangqi's benefit to exterior qi, unblocking and harmonizing yang, thereby nourishing ying qi and harmonizing vessels, storing in Wei Ren, reaching Mingmen, returning to yuan yang to treat various deficiencies. (The world only says Huangqi tonifies qi, not knowing that transforming and generating blood is to complete its qi function. Even Dong Yuan's "draining yin fire" refers to deficiency heat caused by sinking of injured yang qi, not fire of yin-phase ministerial fire. This is also the meaning of qi transforming into blood. Therefore, using Huangqi requires not just sticking to tonifying qi, but exploring its subtle functions.)
Let us discuss further using the principles of yin generating yang, yang transforming yin, and separation/combination. Classics say: Water and fire are signs of yin and yang. Metal and wood are the end and beginning of generation. Thus, combining Kidney and Spleen to ascend to Lung is Liver. Combining Heart and Stomach to reach Liver is Lung. Liver receives fire within water, thus it is shaoyang within yin and governs ascent. If water is insufficient, the root is shaken; fire within water stagnates, hindering ascent mechanism causing qi disease. Lung receives water within fire, thus it is shaoyin within yang and governs descent. If fire is insufficient, the root is shaken; water within fire stagnates, hindering descent mechanism causing qi disease. Spleen takes water as substance and fire as function; Li fire within Kan hexagram borrows Wind-Wood to ascend, so Spleen transforms qi upward, while Stomach acts as exterior to transmit it. Stomach takes fire as substance and water as function; Kan water within Li hexagram borrows Dry-Metal to descend, so Stomach transforms blood downward, while Spleen acts as interior to control it. Liver carries Kidney and Spleen to Lung because Lung is Mother of Kidney. Lung carries Heart and Stomach to Liver because Liver is Mother of Heart. Spleen and Stomach hold the pivot of ascent and descent, initiating mother-son relations. Thus, from heaven above to earth below, Huangqi's function establishes substance and executes action. Yang-Sun combines with Yang-Shaoyin, allowing yang to transform yin and descend with yin; this is why it moves from top to bottom and outside to inside. Knowing this clarifies Benluo's statement on benefiting qi and promoting yin qi, and Zhenquan's indications for deficiency asthma, kidney decline, and deafness. In summary, Huangqi tonifies Lung and benefits yin; it does not treat diseases of excess yang and deficient yin, but rather diseases of deficient yang and stagnant yin. Observing formulary treatments, although primarily tonifying qi, it has much merit in the blood aspect. Diseases of fluids, sweat, and urine require it often, because abundant lung yang generates yin, and descending lung yin follows yang, serving as the start of moving from top to bottom and outside to inside. Furthermore, Benjing first indicates treatment for carbuncles, ulcers, discharging pus, relieving pain; this is from qi to blood, to muscles. For major wind leprosy and uterine wind pathogens in women, all arise from deficient yin generating wind. Others include expelling evil blood in five zang, breaking masses, lymphadenopathy, goiter, treating intestinal wind, metrorrhagia, leukorrhea; its merits from yang to yin are manifest. Human heavenly qi arises from transformation (different from earthly qi arising from generation). For example, lung yin descends to generate blood; the site of change is Qizhong (Pericardium, governed by Lung). Middle jiao ying-blood uses this as bellows, preventing stomach yang from hyperactivity and allowing qi to descend; is this not Lung's power? Knowing Lung's power reveals Huangqi's function. Moreover, classics state Wei qi originates from lower jiao; thus, Huangqi benefiting wei qi, what goes from top to bottom must first go from bottom to top; what goes from outside to inside must first go from inside to outside. Jiugui called Huangqi a Foot Taiyang exterior-releasing drug because wei qi reaches the celestial surface via Foot Taiyang. Consider deficiency with bladder heat and continuous hematuria; adding Huangqi to Puhuang Wan tonifies lower jiao wei, then clearing heat with drugs like Diguipi and Maidong achieves success. Not only does Huangqi tonify deficiency, it relies on raising yang to reach the exterior, then water-fu heat can be removed. Understanding sinking of yang qi reveals that if yang cannot govern correctly above, yin cannot transform smoothly below.
Miu said: For those with excess qi blocking internally, chest/diaphragm oppression, gastrointestinal stagnation, and anger-induced liver qi disharmony, do not take. Contraindicated for excess yang with deficient yin, or upper jiao heat with lower jiao cold. Strictly contraindicated for vaccine sores with severe blood-heat.
[Processing] Remove head and tail, scrape bark, for carbuncles, use raw. For lung qi deficiency, use honey-fried. For lower deficiency, use salt-water fried or steamed.