（山草）搜足少阴肾伏风头痛并两足湿痹
独活（专入肾）。辛苦微温。比之羌活。其性稍缓。凡因风干足少阴肾经。伏而不出。
发为头
痛。（痛在脑齿。）则能善搜而治矣。以故两足湿痹不能动履。非此莫痊。（风胜湿。故二活
兼胜湿。）风毒齿痛。（肾主骨。齿者骨之余。）头眩目晕。非此莫攻。（肘后方用独活煮酒。
热漱之。）缘此有风不动。无风反摇。故名独摇草。（摇者动活之意。故名独活。）因其所胜
而为制也。且有风自必有湿。故羌则疗水湿游风。而独则疗水湿伏风也。羌之气清。行气而
发散营卫之邪。独之气浊。行血而温养营卫之气。羌有发表之功。（表之表。）独有助表之力
。（表之里。）羌行上焦而上理。（土属气。故云羌活入气。）则游风头痛风湿骨节疼痛可治。
独
行下焦而下理。（下属血。故云独活入血。）则伏风头痛两足湿痹可治。二活虽属治风。而用
各有别。不可不细审耳。去皮焙用。蠡实为使。
（山草）有膀胱上焦筋骨风邪仍为风药通用
防风（专入膀胱。兼入脾胃）。味甘微温。虽入足太阳膀胱。以治上焦风邪。头痛目眩。
脊痛
项强。周身尽痛。（之才曰。得葱白能行周身。）然亦能入脾胃二经。（杲曰。若补胃。非此
引用不能行。）以为去风除湿。（凡风药皆能胜湿。）盖此等于卑贱卒伍。任主使唤。能循诸
经之药以为追随。故同解毒药。则能除湿扫疮。同补气药。则能取汗升举。（或同黄 芍药
以止汗。或合黄 固表为玉屏风散。）实为风药润剂。比之二活。则质稍轻。气亦稍平。
凡属风药。皆可通用。但血虚 急。头痛不因风寒。泄泻不因寒湿。阴虚盗汗。阳虚自汗。
火升发嗽者。则并当知所禁矣。（凡表药多有损于脏腑气血。）出北地黄润者佳。泗风车风
。不堪入药。上部用身。下部用梢。畏萆 。恶干姜白蔹芫花。杀附子毒。
（山草类）搜剔足少阴肾经潜伏之风邪，治疗头痛及双下肢湿痹
独活（专入肾经）。味辛、苦，性微温。与羌活相比，其药性较为缓和。凡是因风邪侵袭足少阴肾经，潜伏在内而不能外达，从而引发头痛（疼痛部位在脑部和牙齿），独活能够善于搜剔并治愈此病。因此，对于双下肢湿痹导致无法行走的情况，非用此药不能痊愈。（因为风能胜湿，所以羌活和独活都具有胜湿的功效。）对于风毒引起的牙齿疼痛（肾主骨，牙齿是骨骼的余气），以及头晕目眩，非此药不能攻治。（《肘后方》用独活煮酒，热时含漱。）因为它在有风的时候不动，无风的时候反而摇动，所以名叫“独摇草”。（“摇”就是动、活的意思，所以命名为“独活”。）这是顺应其特性而制定的名称。况且有风必然伴随湿气，所以羌活治疗水湿游风，而独活治疗水湿伏风。羌活的性质清轻，行气而发散营卫之邪；独活的性质重浊，行血而温养营卫之气。羌活有发表的功效（表中之表），独活有助表的力量（表中之里）。羌活走上焦而上理（土属气，所以说羌活入气分），则游风头痛、风湿骨节疼痛可以治疗；独活走下焦而下理（下属血，所以说独活入血分），则伏风头痛、双下肢湿痹可以治疗。这两种药虽然都属于治风药，但用法各有区别，不可不仔细审察。使用时需去皮焙干。以蠡实为使药。
（山草类）具有膀胱上焦筋骨风邪，仍作为风药的通用药物
防风（专入膀胱经，兼入脾胃经）。味甘，性微温。虽然入足太阳膀胱经，用于治疗上焦风邪，如头痛、目眩、脊痛、项强、周身疼痛。（徐之才说：得到葱白配合能通行周身。）但它也能进入脾胃二经。（张元素说：如果要补胃，不用此药引导就不能运行。）用来祛风除湿。（凡是风药都能胜湿。）大概这类药如同卑贱的士卒，任凭主人差遣，能跟随各种经络的药物作为追随者。所以同解毒药配合，就能除湿扫疮；同补气药配合，就能取汗升举。（或者同黄芪、芍药配合以止汗，或者合黄芪固表组成玉屏风散。）实在是风药中的润剂。与羌活、独活相比，它的质地稍轻，药气也较平和。凡是属于风药，都可以通用。但是血虚导致的筋脉拘急、头痛不是由风寒引起、泄泻不是由寒湿引起、阴虚盗汗、阳虚自汗、火升发咳嗽的患者，则都应当知道禁忌了。（凡是解表药大多损伤脏腑气血。）产于北地黄润者为佳。泗州的“风车风”，不堪入药。上部病症用根身，下部病症用根梢。畏萆薢，恶干姜、白蔹、芫花，能杀附子毒。
(Shancao category) Explores latent wind in the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney meridian, treating headache and damp-bi of both lower limbs.
Duhuo (Radix Angelicae Pubescentis) (Specializes in entering the Kidney meridian). Pungent, bitter, slightly warm. Compared to Qianghuo (Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii), its nature is slightly milder. Whenever wind pathogen invades the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney meridian, lies latent within without emerging, causing headache (pain located in the brain and teeth), Duhuo can effectively explore and treat it. Therefore, for damp-bi of both lower limbs rendering movement impossible, no other herb can cure it better. (Since wind overcomes dampness, both Qianghuo and Duhuo possess the ability to overcome dampness.) For toothache caused by wind-toxin (The Kidney governs bones; teeth are the surplus of bones), as well as dizziness and vertigo, no other herb can attack it better. (The *Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies* uses Duhuo boiled in wine, rinsed hot.) Because it does not move when there is wind, but sways when there is no wind, it is named "Duyao Cao" (Unique Swaying Grass). ("Swaying" implies moving and living, hence named Duhuo/Du Huo). This name is formulated according to its characteristics. Moreover, where there is wind, there must be dampness; thus, Qianghuo treats wandering wind-damp, while Duhuo treats latent wind-damp. The qi of Qianghuo is clear and light, moving qi and dispersing pathogens of Ying and Wei; the qi of Duhuo is heavy and turbid, moving blood and warming/nourishing the Qi of Ying and Wei. Qianghuo has the function of releasing the exterior (exterior of the exterior); Duhuo has the power to assist the exterior (interior of the exterior). Qianghuo travels to the Upper Jiao and regulates the upper aspect (Earth belongs to Qi, hence it is said that Qianghuo enters the Qi level); thus, wandering wind headache and rheumatic joint pain can be treated. Duhuo travels to the Lower Jiao and regulates the lower aspect (Lower belongs to Blood, hence it is said that Duhuo enters the Blood level); thus, latent wind headache and damp-bi of both lower limbs can be treated. Although both herbs belong to wind-dispelling agents, their applications differ, and one must examine them carefully. Use after peeling and roasting. Litse Semen (Fructus Tribuli) serves as an guiding herb.
(Shancao category) Addresses wind-pathogens in the Bladder and Upper Jiao tendons and bones, still serving as a general wind-dispelling agent.
Fangfeng (Radix Saposhnikoviae) (Specializes in entering the Bladder meridian, concurrently entering the Spleen and Stomach meridians). Sweet, slightly warm. Although it enters the Foot-Taiyang Bladder meridian to treat wind-pathogens in the Upper Jiao, such as headache, dizziness, back pain, neck stiffness, and generalized body pain. (Xu Zhicai stated: When combined with white parts of green onion, it can circulate throughout the body.) However, it can also enter the Spleen and Stomach meridians. (Zhang Yuansu stated: If one wishes to tonify the Stomach, this herb must be used as a guide to facilitate movement.) It is used to dispel wind and remove dampness. (All wind-dispelling herbs can overcome dampness.) Generally, these herbs are like low-ranking soldiers, subject to the master's command, able to follow various meridian-specific herbs as followers. Thus, when combined with detoxifying herbs, they can remove dampness and clear sores; when combined with Qi-tonifying herbs, they can induce sweating and lift Yang. (Or combined with Huangqi [Astragali Radix] and Shaoyao [Paeoniae Radix] to stop sweating, or combined with Huangqi to consolidate the exterior forming Yupingfeng San [Jade Windscreen Powder]). They are truly moistening agents among wind-dispelling herbs. Compared to Qianghuo and Duhuo, their texture is slightly lighter, and their qi is milder. All wind-dispelling herbs can be generally used. However, for cases of tendon spasm due to Blood deficiency, headache not caused by wind-cold, diarrhea not caused by cold-damp, night sweats due to Yin deficiency, spontaneous sweating due to Yang deficiency, and cough due to rising fire, one must know these contraindications. (Most exterior-releasing herbs damage Zang-Fu organs and Qi-Blood.) Those from northern regions that are plump and moist are superior. "Fengche Feng" from Si Prefecture is unsuitable for medicinal use. Use the root body for upper part disorders, and the root tips for lower part disorders. It fears Bibi (Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma), is adverse to Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma), Bailian (Lilii Bulbus), and Yuanhua (Genkwa Flos), and can neutralize the toxicity of Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata).