白术∶性温而燥，气香不窜，味苦微甘微辛。善健脾胃，消痰水，止泄泻。治脾虚作胀，脾湿作渴，脾弱
四肢运动无力，甚或作疼。与凉润药同用，又善补肺；与升散药同用，又善调肝；与镇安药同用，又善养心；
与滋阴药同用，又善补肾，为后天资生之要药。故能于肺、肝、肾、心四脏皆能有所补益也。
【附案】一妇人年三十许，泄泻半载，百药不效，脉象濡弱，右关尤甚，知其脾胃虚也，俾用生白术轧细
焙熟，再用熟枣肉
六两，和为小饼，炉上炙干，当点心服之，细细嚼咽，未尽剂而愈。
一妇人因行经下血不止，服药旬余无效，势极危殆。诊其脉象浮缓，按之即无，问其饮食不消，大便滑泻。
知其脾胃虚甚，中焦之气化不能健运统摄，下焦之气化因之不固也。遂于治下血药中加白术一两，生鸡内金一
两，服一剂血即止，又服数剂以善其后。
一人年二十二，喘逆甚剧，脉数至七至，投以滋阴兼纳气降气之剂，不效。后于方中加白术数钱，将药煎
出，其喘促亦至极点，不能服药，将药重温三次，始强服下，一剂喘即见轻，连服数剂全愈。后屡用其方以治
喘证之剧者，多有效验。
一少年咽喉常常发干，饮水连连不能解渴。诊其脉微弱迟濡，当系脾胃湿寒，不能健运，以致气化不升也。
投以四君子汤加干姜、桂枝尖，方中白术重用两许，一剂其渴即止。
白术：药性温和而燥，气味芳香但不辛散走窜，味道苦中带微甘、微辛。善于强健脾胃，消除痰饮和水湿，止住泄泻。治疗因脾虚引起的腹胀，因脾湿引起的口渴，因脾弱导致四肢运动无力，甚至疼痛。与凉润药物同用，又善于补益肺气；与升散药物同用，又善于调理肝脏；与镇心安神药物同用，又善于滋养心脏；与滋阴药物同用，又善于补肾，是后天之本（指脾胃）赖以生存的重要药物。因此，它能对肺、肝、肾、心四脏都有补益作用。
【附案】有一位三十岁左右的妇女，腹泻持续半年，服用各种药物均无效，脉象濡软而弱，右关部尤为明显，判断为脾胃虚弱。让她将生白术碾成细粉，焙熟后，再用熟枣肉六两，混合制成小饼，在炉上烤干，作为点心服用，细细咀嚼咽下，未服完一剂便痊愈了。
另一位妇女因月经期间出血不止，服药十余天无效，病情极其危急。诊察其脉象浮缓，重按则无，询问得知饮食不化，大便滑脱泄泻。判断为脾胃极度虚弱，中焦的气化功能不能健运和统摄血液，导致下焦的气化功能也不固摄。于是在治疗下血的方药中加入白术一两，生鸡内金一两，服用一剂血即停止，又服用几剂以巩固疗效。
还有一位二十二岁的男子，喘息逆气非常严重，脉率快至每息七至（约每分钟140次以上），投以滋阴兼纳气降气的药剂，无效。后来在方中加入白术数钱，将药煎出后，患者喘息急促到了极点，无法服药，将药液重新加热三次，才勉强服下，服用一剂后喘息即见减轻，连续服用几剂后完全痊愈。此后多次用此方治疗严重的喘证，大多有效。
还有一位少年咽喉经常发干，喝水连连也不能解渴。诊察其脉象微弱、迟而濡，应当是脾胃有湿寒，不能健运，导致气化功能不能上升。投以四君子汤（由人参、白术、茯苓、甘草组成，具有益气健脾功效的方剂）加干姜、桂枝尖，方中重用白术约一两，服用一剂后口渴即止。
Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu): Its nature is warm and drying, its aroma is fragrant but not pungent or dispersing, and its taste is bitter with slight sweetness and slight acridity. It excels at strengthening the Spleen and Stomach, eliminating phlegm-fluids, and stopping diarrhea. It treats abdominal distension caused by Spleen deficiency, thirst caused by Spleen dampness, weakness in limb movement due to Spleen weakness, and even pain. When used together with cooling and moistening herbs, it also excels at tonifying Lung Qi; when used with ascending and dispersing herbs, it excels at regulating the Liver; when used with sedating and calming herbs, it excels at nourishing the Heart; and when used with yin-nourishing herbs, it excels at tonifying the Kidney. It is a crucial herb for the generation of post-heaven Qi (referring to the digestive function). Therefore, it can benefit the four Zang organs: Lung, Liver, Kidney, and Heart.
[Attached Cases] A woman, approximately thirty years old, suffered from diarrhea for half a year without effect from various medicines. Her pulse was soggy and weak, especially at the right Guan position, indicating Spleen and Stomach deficiency. She was instructed to grind raw Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma into fine powder, roast it thoroughly, mix it with six taels of cooked jujube flesh, form small cakes, dry them on a stove, and take them as snacks, chewing slowly and swallowing. She recovered before finishing one dose.
Another woman suffered from continuous bleeding during menstruation for over ten days despite medication, her condition being extremely critical. Her pulse was floating and moderate, disappearing upon heavy pressure. Upon inquiry, she reported indigestion and loose stools. This indicated severe Spleen and Stomach deficiency, where the transformation and transportation functions of the Middle Jiao failed to govern and control, leading to instability in the Lower Jiao's Qi transformation. One tael of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and one tael of raw Endothelium Corneum Gigeriae Galli (Jineijin) were added to the formula for treating bleeding. After one dose, the bleeding stopped; several more doses were taken to consolidate the recovery.
A twenty-two-year-old man suffered from severe wheezing and rebellious Qi, with a rapid pulse rate of seven beats per respiration (approx. 140+ bpm). Treatment with formulas for nourishing Yin and grasping/descending Qi was ineffective. Later, a few qian of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma were added to the prescription. After decoction, the patient’s wheezing reached its peak, making it impossible to swallow the medicine. The decoction was reheated three times before he could force himself to drink it. After one dose, the wheezing alleviated; after several consecutive doses, he fully recovered. This formula has since been used frequently for severe asthma cases with good results.
A young man constantly experienced dryness in the throat, unable to quench his thirst despite frequent drinking. His pulse was weak, slow, and soggy, suggesting Cold-Dampness in the Spleen and Stomach impairing transformation and preventing the ascent of Qi. He was prescribed Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) supplemented with Dried Ginger (Ganjiang) and the tips of Cinnamon Twig (Guizhi Jian), with a heavy dose of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (approximately one tael). After one dose, his thirst ceased.