As a top-grade medicinal herb, atractylodes rhizome was first recorded in Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Agriculture God's Canon of Materia Medica). Apparently it didn't draw a distinction between the white atractylodes macrocephala (Bai Zhu) and the red atractylodes lancea (Cang Zhu) yet. According to the delicate difference in healing properties, later they were subdivided by Zhang Zhongjing, one of the most regarded ancient herbal doctors in China.

WHAT'S IT USED FOR?
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it is acrid, bitter, and warm in nature and covers meridians of spleen, stomach, and liver. Main functions are to dry damp and strengthen spleen, expel pathogenic wind and cold, and improve eye sight. Main uses and indications are abdominal fullness and distention, excessive sweating, diarrhea, Edema, beriberi, atrophy and flaccidity, arthralgia due to wind and dampness, common cold due to wind-cold, night blindness, dampness obstructing spleen-stomach, lassitude, loss of appetite, vomiting, and phlegm and retained fluid, etc. Usual dosage is 3 to 9 grams in decoction.

Atractylodes rhizome

RELATED HERBAL FORMULAS
(1). In Qu Zhu Wan from Imperial Grace Formulary of the Tai Ping (Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang), it combines with Shen Qu (Medicated Leaven) to treat a sudden onset of diarrhea during summer, dyspepsia caused by excessive eating or improper diet, and fullness and tightness in chest and diaphragm;

(2). In Bai Hu Jia Cang Zhu Tang from Lei Zheng Huo Ren Shu (Book to Safeguard Life Arranged According to Pattern), it works with Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena Rhizome), Gan Cao (Licorice Root), Shi Gao (Gypsum), and Jing Mi (japonica rice) in herbal remedies for dampness prevalent diseases with excessive sweating;

(3). In Ping Wei San from Ju Fang (Prescription of peaceful benevolent dispensary), it joins Hou Po (Magnolia Bark), Chen Pi (Tangerine Peel), licorice, Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger Rhizome), and Da Zao (Chinese Date) for treatments of incoordination between the spleen and the stomach, no appetite, full and stabbing pain in abdomen, flanks and chest, bitter taste in mouth, nausea and vomiting, and often accompanied with spontaneous Diarrhea;