气微温，味苦、甘，平；苦、辛，气味俱轻，阳也。无毒。
足太阳经、厥阴经药，太阳经本经药也。
《象》云∶治肢节痛，利诸节，手足太阳经风药也。加川芎，治足太阳、少阴头痛，透
关节。去黑皮并腐烂者用。
《心》云∶去温，湿风。
《珍》云∶骨节痛，非此不能除。
《液》云∶君药也，非无为之主，乃却乱反正之主。太阳经头痛，肢节痛，一身尽痛，
非此不治。又云∶羌治，足太阳、厥阴、少阴药也。与独活不分二种，后人用羌活，多用鞭
节者；用独活，多用鬼眼者。羌活则气雄，独活则气细，故雄者入足太阳，细者入足少阴也
。又钱氏泻青丸用此，壬乙同归一治也。或问∶治头痛者何？答曰∶巨阳从头走足，惟厥
阴与督脉会于巅，逆而上行，诸阳不得下，故令头痛也。
气味与羌活同。无毒。气浓味薄，升也，苦辛。足少阴肾经行经之药。
《本草》云∶主风寒所击，金疮止痛，贲豚痫 ，女子疝瘕。疗诸贼风，百节痛风，无
久新者。
《液》云∶独活细而低，治足少阴伏风，而不治太阳。故两足寒湿痹，不能动止，非此
不能治。
《象》云∶若与细辛同用，治少阴经头痛。一名独摇草，得风不摇，无风自摇。去皮净
用。
《心》云∶治风须用，又能燥湿。经云∶风能胜湿。
《珍》云∶头眩目晕，非此不能除。
羌活：药性微温，味苦、甘，性平；亦有苦、辛之味，气味均较轻薄，属阳。无毒。
归足太阳膀胱经和足厥阴肝经，是足太阳经的本经药物。
李东垣（《象》）说：治疗肢体关节疼痛，通利各关节，是手足太阳经的风药。加入川芎，可治疗足太阳经和足少阴经的头痛，能透达关节。使用时需去掉黑色的表皮及腐烂部分。
张元素（《心》）说：去除温邪、湿邪和风邪。
王好古（《珍》）说：骨节疼痛，不用此药不能消除。
罗天益（《液》）说：它是君药，不是无为而治的主宰，而是拨乱反正的主帅。足太阳经头痛、肢体关节疼痛、全身疼痛，不用此药无法治愈。又说：羌活是足太阳、足厥阴、足少阴经的药物。羌活与独活不分作两种，后人使用羌活，多选用有鞭节状的药材；使用独活，多选用有鬼眼状纹理的药材。羌活药气雄烈，独活药气细微，所以雄烈的入足太阳经，细微的入足少阴经。另外钱乙的泻青丸中使用此药，是因为壬（水/肾）与乙（木/肝）同归于一治法。有人问：为什么能治疗头痛？回答是：巨阳（太阳经）从头走向足，只有厥阴经与督脉交会于头顶，若逆气上行，诸阳之气不得下行，所以导致头痛。
独活：气味与羌活相同。无毒。药气浓厚而味道淡薄，主升，味苦、辛。是足少阴肾经行经的药物。
《本草》说：主治风寒侵袭，金疮止痛，奔豚痫病，女子疝瘕积聚。治疗各种贼风，百节痛风，无论久病新病皆有效。
罗天益（《液》）说：独活性细而势低，治疗足少阴经的伏风，而不治疗太阳经。所以两足寒湿痹阻，不能活动停止，不用此药无法治愈。
李东垣（《象》）说：如果与细辛同用，可治疗少阴经头痛。别名独摇草，得风不摇，无风自摇。去皮洗净使用。
张元素（《心》）说：治疗风邪必须使用，又能燥湿。经书说：风能胜湿。
王好古（《珍》）说：头晕目眩，不用此药不能消除。
Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix): The nature is slightly warm, the taste is bitter and sweet, neutral; it also has bitter and pungent tastes, with light aroma and flavor, belonging to Yang. It is non-toxic.
It enters the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian and Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian, serving as a primary herb for the Taiyang Meridian.
Li Dongyuan (*Xiang*) states: It treats pain in limbs and joints, unblocks various joints, and is a wind-dispelling herb for the Hand and Foot Taiyang Meridians. When combined with Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuanxiong), it treats headache of the Foot-Taiyang and Foot-Shaoyin Meridians, penetrating the joints. Use after removing the black skin and rotten parts.
Zhang Yuansu (*Xin*) states: It eliminates warm pathogens, dampness, and wind pathogens.
Wang Haogu (*Zhen*) states: For bone and joint pain, this herb is indispensable for elimination.
Luo Tianyi (*Ye*) states: It serves as the sovereign herb, not merely governing through non-action, but as the master who restores order from chaos. For Taiyang meridian headache, limb and joint pain, and generalized body pain, treatment without this herb is ineffective. He further states: Qianghuo acts on the Foot-Taiyang, Foot-Jueyin, and Foot-Shaoyin meridians. Qianghuo and Duhuo were not originally distinguished as two separate species; later practitioners used Qianghuo, preferring specimens with whip-like nodes; and used Duhuo, preferring specimens with "ghost eye" markings. Qianghuo has a vigorous qi, while Duhuo has a subtle qi; thus, the vigorous one enters the Foot-Taiyang meridian, and the subtle one enters the Foot-Shaoyin meridian. Additionally, Qian Yi’s Xie Qing Wan uses this herb, reflecting that Ren (Water/Kidney) and Yi (Wood/Liver) are treated together. A question was asked: Why does it treat headache? The answer is: Juyang (Taiyang Meridian) runs from head to foot. Only the Jueyin Meridian and Du Mai intersect at the vertex. If rebellious qi ascends, the Qi of all Yang meridians cannot descend, causing headache.
Duhuo (Angelicae Pubescentis Radix): Its aroma and flavor are similar to Qianghuo. It is non-toxic. Its qi is dense and its flavor is thin, ascending, with bitter and pungent tastes. It is an herb that travels through the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian.
*Bencao* states: It primarily treats strikes by wind-cold, relieves pain from metal wounds, Ben Tun (fleeing gut) epilepsy, and women’s shenjia (abdominal masses). It cures various thief winds, gout in all joints, regardless of whether the condition is chronic or acute.
Luo Tianyi (*Ye*) states: Duhuo is fine and low-acting, treating latent wind in the Foot-Shaoyin meridian, but not the Taiyang meridian. Therefore, for cold-damp bi syndrome in both legs resulting in immobility, treatment without this herb is impossible.
Li Dongyuan (*Xiang*) states: When used with Asari Radix (Xixin), it treats Shaoyin meridian headache. Also known as Duyao Cao (Swaying Grass), it does not sway when there is wind, but sways spontaneously when there is no wind. Use after cleaning and removing the peel.
Zhang Yuansu (*Xin*) states: It must be used to treat wind, and it can also dry dampness. The classics state: Wind can overcome dampness.
Wang Haogu (*Zhen*) states: For dizziness and vertigo, this herb is indispensable for elimination.