Taste: acrid, sweet. Nature: warm, neutral, slightly cold. Toxicity: non-toxic. Indications: treats pathogenic factors in the five zang organs; cold-heat pain in the vagina of women; zheng jia (abdominal masses), blood obstruction, and infertility.
Stops cough with counterflow qi, treats rectal prolapse, dissipates strangury accumulation,
wind-dizziness of the head, ataxia and weakness, strengthens yin and benefits essence. Long-term use lightens the body, harmonizes complexion, and makes one look healthy and vigorous. Also known as Wansui (Ten Thousand Years), Baozu (Leopard Foot), Qiugu (Seeking Thigh), Jiaoshi (Intertwined Time). Grows among rocks in valleys of Changshan. Harvested in May and July, dried in shade.
Currently sourced from nearby regions. It grows in clusters on rocky soil, with fine leaves resembling cypress, curled like a chicken's foot, greenish-yellow in color. When used, remove the sandy soil near the base close to the rock.

Taste: acrid. Nature: warm. Toxicity: non-toxic. Indications: treats cough with counterflow qi, headache, brain throbbing, spasms and contractures of all joints, bi-syndrome pain due to wind-dampness, dead muscle tissue. Warms the middle jiao, directs qi downward, breaks up phlegm, promotes water passages, opens the chest, relieves throat obstruction, nasal congestion, wind-type epilepsy and mania, resolves breast lumps, induces sweating when absent, promotes blood circulation when stagnant, calms the five zang organs, benefits the liver and gallbladder, and unites essential qi and spirit. Long-term use brightens the eyes, benefits the nine orifices, lightens the body, and prolongs life. Also known as Xiaoxin (Little Acrid). Grows in valleys of Huayin. Roots harvested in February and August, dried in shade.
Zengqing (Malachite) and Sanggen (Mulberry Root) serve as guides. When combined with Danggui (Angelica Sinensis), Shaoyao (Peony Root), Baizhi (Angelica Dahurica), Xiongsu (Ligusticum Chuanxiong), Mudanpi (Moutan Cortex), Bencao (Ligusticum Wallichii), and Gancao (Licorice Root), it effectively treats women's diseases. When combined with Juemingzi (Cassia Seed), Liyu (Carp), Yelangdu (Aconitum Coreanum var. Neoleucanthum), Shanzhuyu (Cornus Officinalis), and Huangbo (Phellodendron Bark), it is effective. It is incompatible with Xiaoshi (Niter), Huashi (Talc), and contradicts Lilu (Veratrum). Currently, the variety from Linhai, Dongyang is used; its segments are good, but its acrid potency is not as strong as that from Huayin or Korea. When used, remove the head and nodes. For people suffering from bad breath, holding it in the mouth is highly effective; it is best at resolving phlegm and brightening the eyes.

Taste: bitter, sweet. Nature: neutral, slightly warm. Toxicity: non-toxic. Indications: treats attacks by wind-cold, alleviates pain from metal wounds, gan tun (hernial disorder), epilepsy, and shan jia (hernia-like masses) in women. Treats various erratic winds and wind-pain in all joints, regardless of duration. Long-term use lightens the body and enhances resistance to aging. Also known as Qianghuo (Notopterygium Root), Qiangqing, Huqiang Shizhe (Guardian of Qiang Envoy), Huwang Shizhe (Hu King's Envoy), Duyao Cao (Swaying Grass). This herb does not sway when there is wind, but moves spontaneously when there is no wind. Grows in river valleys of Yongzhou, or Longnan, Nan'an. Roots harvested in February and August, sun-dried.
Tunshi (Seeds of Trichosanthes) serves as a guide. The materia medica name "Tunshi" is likely a mistake for Lishi (Seeds of Plantago). These prefectures and counties were all lands of the Qiang people. Qianghuo is slender with many nodes, soft and moist, with an extremely potent aroma. The variety from northern Yizhou and Western Sichuan is called Duhuo (Angelica Pubescens), which is slightly white in color, hollow and large in shape. Its medicinal use is similar but slightly inferior. Each stem grows straight upward. It is prone to insect damage and should be stored in sealed containers.
[Note]
To treat wind syndromes, Duhuo is appropriate; when water retention is involved, Qianghuo is preferred.