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味甘、辛，气温。气味俱轻，可升可降。阳也，阳中微阴。无毒。生秦蜀两邦，（秦
属陕西，蜀属四川。）有大小二种。大叶者名马尾当归，黄白气香肥润；（此为上品，
市多以
低假酒晒润充卖，不可不察。）小叶者名蚕头当归，质黑气薄坚枯。（此为下品，不堪
入药。
）一说∶川归力刚可攻，秦归力柔堪补。凡觅拯病，优劣当分。畏姜藻蒲蒙，（生姜、海藻、
菖蒲、牡蒙。）恶 茹湿面。芦苗去净，醇酒制精。行表洗片时，行上渍一宿。体肥痰盛，
姜汁渍宜。曝干 咀，治血必用。东垣云∶头止血上行，身养血中守，尾破血下流，全活血
不走。易老云∶入手少阴，以心主血也。入足太阴，以脾裹血也。入足厥阴，以肝藏血也。
若和剂在人参、黄耆皆能补血，在牵牛、大黄皆能破血。从桂附茱萸则热，从芒硝大
黄则寒。《别说》又云∶能使气血各有所归，故因名曰当归。逐跌打血凝，并热痢刮疼滞住
肠胃内；主咳逆气上，及温疟寒热泥在皮肤中；女人胎产诸虚，男子劳伤不足；眼疾齿疾痛
难忍，痈疮金疮肌不生；中风挛蜷，中恶昏乱；崩带湛漏，燥涩焦枯；并急用之，不可缺也
。又同芎 上治头痛，以其诸头痛皆属肝木，故亦血药主之。甚滑大便，泻者须忌。
（谟）按∶《正传》云∶当归能逐瘀血、生新血，使血脉通畅与气并行，周流不息，因
以为号。然而中半以上，气脉
上行，天气主之；中半以下，气脉下行，地气主之；身则独守乎中而不行也。人身之法象亦
犹是焉。故瘀血在上焦，与
上焦之血少，则用上截之头；瘀血在下焦，与下焦之血少，则用下截之尾；若欲行中焦瘀血，
与补中焦血虚，则用中截
之身。匪独当归为然，他如黄芩、防风、桔梗、柴胡亦皆然也。观此一说，较前东垣虽殊，
思亦近理不妄。采附篇末，
凭人所宗。
又按∶经云∶主咳逆上气。议者以当归血药，如何治胸中气也？殊不知当归非独主血，
味兼
辛散，乃为血中气药。况咳逆上气，非止一端，亦有阴虚，阳无所附，以致然者。今用血药
补阴，与阳齐等，则血和而气降矣。《本经》所谓义或由斯。
味甘、辛，气温。气味都轻清，既能上升又能下降。属性为阳，但阳中带有微阴。无毒。产于秦地（陕西）和蜀地（四川），有大小两种。叶片大的名叫马尾当归，颜色黄白，气味芳香，质地肥润；（这是上品，市场上常以低档货用酒浸泡后晒干弄湿来冒充售卖，不可不仔细辨别。）叶片小的名叫蚕头当归，质地黑硬，气味淡薄，干枯。（这是下品，不能入药。）
有一种说法：川归药力刚猛，可以攻邪；秦归药力柔和，适合补益。凡是寻找药物救治疾病时，必须区分优劣。畏忌生姜、海藻、菖蒲、牡蒙；厌恶茹菜和湿面。芦头和苗叶需去除干净，用纯酒炮制精细。若要发挥其走表的作用，需清洗片刻；若要发挥其走上焦的作用，需浸泡一夜。身体肥胖且痰多者，宜用姜汁浸泡。晒干后咬碎或切碎，治疗血证时必须使用。
李东垣说：当归头止血，药势上行；当归身养血，药势居中守位；当归尾破血，药势下行；全当归活血，药势不走偏。张元素（易老）说：当归入手少阴心经，因为心主血脉；入足太阴脾经，因为脾统摄血液；入足厥阴肝经，因为肝贮藏血液。如果在方剂中与人参、黄芪配伍，都能补血；与牵牛子、大黄配伍，都能破血。配合肉桂、附子、吴茱萸则性热，配合芒硝、大黄则性寒。《别说》又说：能使气血各有所归，所以取名为当归。用于驱逐跌打损伤导致的瘀血凝结，以及热痢引起的肠胃内疼痛阻滞；主治咳嗽气逆上冲，以及温疟寒热之邪滞留于皮肤中；主治妇女胎产诸虚损，男子劳伤不足；眼疾齿痛难以忍受，痈疮金疮肌肉不生；中风痉挛蜷缩，中恶昏乱；崩漏带下淋漓，燥涩焦枯；这些急症都需要用到它，不可缺漏。又与川芎同用，可治疗头痛，因为各种头痛大多属于肝木病变，所以也作为血分药来主治。当归滑肠通便，腹泻者须忌用。
（陈嘉谟）按语：《正传》说：当归能逐除瘀血、生成新血，使血脉通畅并与气并行，周流不息，因此得名。然而，当归中段以上，气脉上行，由天气主导；中段以下，气脉下行，由地气主导；中段则独自守在中部而不偏行。人体的法象也是如此。所以瘀血在上焦，或者上焦血少，就使用上截的当归头；瘀血在下焦，或者下焦血少，就使用下截的当归尾；如果想要运行中焦的瘀血，或者补益中焦的血虚，就使用中截的当归身。不仅仅是当归如此，其他如黄芩、防风、桔梗、柴胡也都是这样。看这一种说法，虽然与李东垣不同，但思考起来也合乎情理，并非妄言。附录在篇末，任凭人们宗奉。
又按：经文说：主治咳逆上气。议论者认为当归是血药，如何能治疗胸中的气病呢？殊不知当归不仅主治血病，味道兼有辛散之性，乃是血中的气药。况且咳逆上气，不止一种原因，也有阴虚，阳气无所依附，从而导致这种情况的。现在用血药补阴，使阴与阳齐等，那么血调和而气自然降下。《本经》所说的义理或许就是由此而来。
Danggui from Wenzhou
Danggui from Chuzhou
Taste: Sweet, Pungent. Temperature: Warm. The aroma and flavor are both light; it can ascend and descend. It is Yang in nature, with a slight Yin quality within Yang. Non-toxic. Grows in the regions of Qin (Shaanxi) and Shu (Sichuan), coming in two sizes. The variety with large leaves is named *Mawei Danggui* (Horse-tail Tail Danggui); it is yellowish-white, fragrant, plump, and moist. (This is the superior grade; the market often substitutes inferior goods soaked in wine and sun-dried then moistened to pass them off, so one must be careful.) The variety with small leaves is named *Chantou Danggui* (Silkworm-head Danggui); it is dark, hard, thin in aroma, and dry. (This is the inferior grade and unsuitable for medicinal use.)
Another view states: *Chuangui* (Danggui from Sichuan) has a strong force suitable for attacking pathogens, while *Qinguai* (Danggui from Shaanxi) has a gentle force suitable for tonification. When seeking medicine to save lives, one must distinguish between superior and inferior qualities. It is incompatible with Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger Rhizome), Haizao (Sargassum Herba), Changpu (Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma), and Mumeng. It dislikes Ru (likely referring to specific vegetables or herbs like 茹菜) and damp flour. The rhizome base and sprouts must be removed completely; it should be refinedly processed with pure wine. To promote its action on the exterior, wash it for a moment; to promote its action on the upper jiao, soak it overnight. For patients with a fat body and abundant phlegm, soaking in Jiangzhi (Ginger Juice) is appropriate. Sun-dry and chew/crush it; it must be used for treating blood disorders.
Li Dongyuan said: The head stops bleeding and moves upward; the body nourishes blood and stays central; the tail breaks blood stasis and moves downward; the whole root invigorates blood without moving excessively. Zhang Yishuo (Yilao) said: It enters the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian because the Heart governs blood; it enters the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian because the Spleen manages blood; it enters the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian because the Liver stores blood. If combined with Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) and Huangqi (Astragali Radix) in a formula, it can tonify blood; if combined with Qianniuzi (Pharbitidis Semen) and Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma), it can break blood stasis. Following Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex), Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata), and Zhuyu (Evodiae Fructus) makes it hot; following Mangxiao (Natrii Sulfas) and Dahuang makes it cold. *Bieshuo* further states: It allows qi and blood to return to their proper places, hence the name "Danggui" (Returning to the Proper Place). It expels blood stasis from bruises and falls, and clears pain and stagnation in the intestines and stomach caused by dysentery with heat; it treats cough and rebellious qi ascending, as well as warm malaria with chills and fever stuck in the skin; it addresses various deficiencies in women's pregnancy and postpartum conditions, and insufficiency due to overwork in men; it treats unbearable pain from eye and tooth diseases, prevents muscle growth in carbuncles and traumatic wounds; it treats wind-stroke with spasms and curling, sudden collapse from evil invasion, metrorrhagia and leukorrhea dripping, dryness and withering; these urgent conditions require its use, and it cannot be omitted. Also, when used together with Xiongqiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), it treats headache, because most headaches belong to Liver Wood pathology, thus it serves as a blood herb to treat them. It causes slippery bowels; those with diarrhea must avoid it.
(Chen Jiamo) Commentary: *Zhengzhuan* states: Danggui can expel blood stasis and generate new blood, making the blood vessels smooth and allowing it to circulate continuously with qi, hence the name. However, the upper half ascends in qi and blood flow, governed by Heaven Qi; the lower half descends, governed by Earth Qi; the middle part remains central and does not move excessively. The human body follows this same principle. Therefore, for blood stasis in the Upper Jiao or deficiency of blood in the Upper Jiao, use the upper section (head); for blood stasis in the Lower Jiao or deficiency of blood in the Lower Jiao, use the lower section (tail); to move blood stasis in the Middle Jiao or tonify blood deficiency in the Middle Jiao, use the middle section (body). This applies not only to Danggui but also to Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix), and Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix). Considering this view, although different from Li Dongyuan's, it is reasonable and not baseless. I append it at the end of the chapter for people to follow as they see fit.
Furthermore: The Classic states it treats cough and rebellious qi ascending. Critics argue that since Danggui is a blood herb, how can it treat qi disorders in the chest? They do not realize that Danggui not only treats blood but, having a pungent and dispersing taste, is an "Qi herb within Blood." Moreover, cough and rebellious qi arise from various causes; some result from Yin deficiency where Yang has no anchor. By using blood herbs to tonify Yin, balancing it with Yang, the blood harmonizes and the qi descends. The meaning in the *Benjing* likely stems from this.