Slender cylindrical, slightly curved, the upper part slightly thicker than the lower part, usually 15-50 cm long and up to 90 cm, 0.4-1 cm in diameter. Externally greyish-yellow or pale brown, with slightly twisted and fine longitudinal wrinkles, transverse lenticels and sparse rootlet scars.Texture hard and fracture even, yellowish-brown, slightly horny and oily.Xylem of vascular bundles in the centre relatively large, yellowish-white, the outside scattered with many spotted vascular bundles arranged in 2-4 whorls. Odour, slight; taste, slightly sweet, somewhat bitter and astringent.

Soreness of the lumber and knee joints with weakness in the legs; amenorrhea with mass formation in the abdomen; dizziness due to hyperactivity of the liver.

1.Activating blood circulation to restore menstrual flow

This drug can be used to treat amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, retarded menstrual cycle, abdominal masses, difficult labour, etc. which are due to stasis of blood. It is often used in combination with Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Semen Persicae, Radix Paeoniae Rubra, Cortex Moutan Radicis, etc. When combined with Fructus Malvae Verticilltae, the drug can be used to treat retention of placenta.

2.Relaxing tendons and muscles to treat arthralgia

This drug can bie used to treat aching pain of the low back and knee joints and arthralgia of the lower limbs due to wind-dampness. If the diseases are due to damp-heat, the drug is often used in combination with Rhizoma Atractylodis, Cortex Phellodendri in treatment; if the diseases are due to cold, the drug is often used in combination with Radix Angelicae Pubescentis, Fructus Chaenomelis, etc.;if the diseases are due to deficiency of the kidney, the drug is often used in conbination with Cortex Eucommiae, Radix Dipsaci, etc.

3.Ensuring proper downward flow of blood

In treating pain and swelling of the gum, hematemesis, hemoptysis, epistaxis, etc. caused by hyperactivity of fire due to deficiency of Yin, the drug is often used in combination with drugs for nourishing Yin and purging fire such as Rhizoma Rehmaniae Praeparatae, Radix Ophiopogonis, Gypsum Fibrosum, Rhizoma Anemarrhenae, etc. In treating hypertension due to hyperactivity of the liver yang and headache due to spasm of the cerebral blood vessels,the drug can be used in combination with Ochra, Os Draconis, Concha Ostreae, Radix Scrophulariae,

4.Inducing diuresis to treat stranguria

This drug can be used to treat stranguria due to heat and hematuria, and is often used in combination with Herba Dianthi, Talcum, Medulla Tetrapanacis, etc.