Qin Jiao Subcylindrical, the upper part thick and the lower part thin, twisted, 10-30 cm long, 1-3 cm in diameter. Externally yellowish-brown or greyish-yellow, with longitudinal or twisted wrinkles. Remains of stem bases and fibrous pericladium occurring at the apex. Texture hard and fragile, easily broken, fracture soft, bark yellow or brownish-yellow, wood yellow. Odour, characteristic; taste, bitter and slightly astringent.

Ma Hua Jiao Subconical, frequently expanded by some small roots gathered, up to 7 cm in diameter. Externally dark brown, rough, with fissures, showing reticulated pits. Texture lax and fragile, easily broken, fracture frequently rotten-wood-shaped.

Xiao Qin Jiao Subconical or subcylindrical, 8-15 cm long, 0.2-1 cm in diameter. Externally brownish-yellow. Main root frequently 1, having fibrous pericladia on the remains of stem bases, often branched at the lower part. Fracture yellowish-white.

Rheumatic or rheumatoid arthritis with muscular contracture and severe joint pain; fever recurring daily in the afternoon, fever in infants with malnutrition.

1. Dispelling wind to relieving pain

To treat either arthralgia due to wind and dampness, marked by contracture of joints, disorder of the movement of the tendons and bones, or arthralgia due to invasion by wind, it is often used with Radix Angelicae Pubescentis, Radix Ledebouriellae, Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong, Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae, Cortex Erythrinae, etc.

2. Relieving asthenic heat to treat hectic fever

To treat hectic fever, it is often used with Herba Artemisiae Chinghao, Cortex Lycii Radicis, Carapax Trionycis, etc.

Besides, the drug can produce the effects of resolving damp-heat and facilitating urination and defecation, therefore it can be used in treating jaundice due to damp-heat and relieving fresh bloody stools.