辛苦微温，无毒。香而紫黑者真。
《本经》主风寒所击，金疮止痛，奔豚痫痉，女子疝瘕。
发明 独活不摇风而治风，浮萍不沉水而治水，因其所胜而为制也。《本经》治金疮为
风寒所击而痛，及贲豚痫痉，女子疝瘕，皆邪气内贼之候。独活生益州，较羌活其气稍细。
升中有降，能通达周身，而散风胜湿。与细辛同用治厥阴头痛目眩，又足少阴经伏风头痛，
两足湿痹不能动止者，非此不治。甄权以独活治诸风湿冷、奔喘逆气，皮肤苦痒，手足挛痛
，劳损风毒，齿痛，皆风湿相搏之病也。但气血虚而遍身痛，及阴虚下体痿弱者禁用。南方
无刚猛之风，一切虚风类中，咸非独活所宜。
苦辛温，无毒。香而色紫者良。
发明 羌活生于羌胡雍州，陇西西川皆有之。治足太阳风湿相搏，一身尽痛，头痛，肢
节痛，目赤，肤痒，乃却乱反正之主帅。督脉为病，脊强而厥者，非此不能除。甄权以羌活
治贼风，失音不语，多痒，手足不遂，口面 斜， 痹血癞，皆风中血脉之病也。苏恭曰∶
疗风宜用独活，兼水宜用羌活，风能胜湿，故羌活能治水湿。与芎 同用治太阳、厥阴头痛
，发汗散表，透关利节，非时感冒之仙药也。但内伤元气，血虚头痛及遍身肢节痛，皆非所
宜。昔人治劳力感寒，于补中益气汤中用之。深得补中寓泻之意。
【独活】
味苦、辛，性微温，无毒。香气浓郁且颜色紫黑的为真品。
《神农本草经》记载其主治：风寒邪气侵袭人体，金创（金属利器造成的伤口）疼痛，奔豚病（气从少腹上冲心胸）、癫痫、痉挛，以及女子疝瘕（腹中结块）。
【发明】
独活并不摇动风气却能治疗风病，浮萍不沉入水底却能治理水病，这是顺应其特性而加以利用的结果。《神农本草经》记载独活治疗因风寒侵袭金创引起的疼痛，以及奔豚、癫痫、痉挛、女子疝瘕等症，这些都是邪气在体内侵害的征候。独活产于益州，与羌活相比，其药气较为细微柔和。它兼具升散与下降的作用，能够通达全身，疏散风邪并胜除湿气。与细辛配合使用，可治疗厥阴经头痛及目眩；对于足少阴经伏风引起的头痛，以及双足湿痹导致无法行动的症状，非用此药不能治愈。甄权认为独活能治疗各种风湿冷邪、奔喘逆气、皮肤剧烈瘙痒、手足挛缩疼痛、劳损风毒及牙齿疼痛，这些都属于风湿相互搏结的病证。但是，气血虚弱导致的遍身疼痛，以及阴虚导致下体痿弱无力的患者，禁用此药。南方没有刚猛之风，一切虚风类中风证，都不适宜使用独活。
【羌活】
味苦、辛，性温，无毒。香气浓郁且颜色紫的为佳品。
【发明】
羌活产于羌胡雍州之地，陇西、西川等地均有出产。它能治疗足太阳经风湿相互搏结引起的一身尽痛、头痛、肢节疼痛、眼睛发红、皮肤瘙痒等症状，是拨乱反正的主帅药物。督脉发生病变，出现脊背强直和厥逆症状的，非用此药不能消除。甄权认为羌活能治疗贼风（不正之风）、失音不语、多痒、手足不遂、口眼歪斜、瘀血癞疾等症，这些都属于风邪侵入血脉的病证。苏恭说：治疗风病宜用独活，兼治水湿宜用羌活，风能胜湿，所以羌活能治疗水湿之病。与川芎配合使用，可治疗太阳经、厥阴经头痛，具有发汗解表、透达关节的作用，是非时感冒（季节性外感）的仙药。但是，内伤元气、血虚引起的头痛以及遍身肢节疼痛，都不适宜使用。过去有人治疗劳累后感寒，在补中益气汤中加入羌活，这深得“补中寓泻”的意旨。
[Duhuo (Radix Angelicae Pubescentis)]
Bitter, pungent, slightly warm, non-toxic. The authentic material is characterized by a strong fragrance and purple-black color.
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states that it treats: strikes by wind-cold pathogens, pain from metal wounds (Jinchuang), Ben Tun disease (a condition where Qi rushes upward from the lower abdomen to the chest and heart), epilepsy, spasms, and women's Shan Jia (abdominal masses).
[Invention]
Duhuo treats wind disorders without stirring the wind itself; floating duckweed governs water disorders without sinking into the water. This is achieved by utilizing their inherent properties. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* records Duhuo for treating pain caused by wind-cold invading metal wounds, as well as Ben Tun, epilepsy, spasms, and women's Shan Jia. These are all manifestations of pathogenic factors attacking internally. Duhuo grows in Yizhou. Compared to Qianghuo, its qi is slightly finer and milder. It possesses both ascending and descending actions, capable of penetrating the entire body to disperse wind and overcome dampness. When used together with Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma), it treats Jueyin channel headaches and dizziness. For headaches caused by latent wind in the Foot Shaoyin channel, and for wet-bi obstruction in both legs resulting in immobility, this herb is indispensable. Zhen Quan stated that Duhuo treats various rheumatic cold conditions, rushing panting and counterflow qi, severe skin itching, hand and foot contracture and pain, labor-induced wind toxicity, and toothache. All these are diseases where wind and dampness contend with each other. However, it is contraindicated in cases of generalized body pain due to deficiency of qi and blood, and in cases of flaccidity in the lower body due to yin deficiency. In the south, there are no fierce winds; therefore, all stroke-like syndromes caused by deficient wind are not suitable for treatment with Duhuo.
[Qianghuo (Rhizoma Notopterygii)]
Bitter, pungent, warm, non-toxic. The superior quality is characterized by a strong fragrance and purple color.
[Invention]
Qianghuo originates from the Yongzhou region of the Qiang and Hu peoples and is also found in Longxi and Xichuan. It treats rheumatic contention in the Foot Taiyang channel, causing generalized body pain, headache, joint pain, red eyes, and skin itching. It serves as the chief commander for restoring order. For diseases of the Du Mai (Governing Vessel) presenting with rigidity of the spine and厥逆 (jue ni - reversal cold/loss of consciousness), only this herb can eliminate them. Zhen Quan stated that Qianghuo treats thief wind (pathogenic wind), aphonia, excessive itching, hemiplegia, facial paralysis, blood stasis, and leprosy-like conditions. These are all diseases where wind enters the blood vessels. Su Gong said: "For treating wind, use Duhuo; for treating water-dampness, use Qianghuo." Since wind can overcome dampness, Qianghuo is effective in treating water-dampness. When used together with Xiongqiong (Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizoma), it treats Taiyang and Jueyin headaches. It induces sweating to release the exterior and penetrates the joints. It is considered an immortal medicine for atypical common colds. However, it is not suitable for headaches due to internal injury of yuan qi (original qi) or blood deficiency, nor for generalized body and joint pain. In the past, when treating cold contraction induced by overexertion, physicians added Qianghuo to Buzhong Yiqi Tang. This deeply embodies the principle of "incorporating draining within tonification."