Sojutsu

Chinese: cang zhu

English: atractylodes rhizome

Pharmaceutical: Atractylodis Rhizoma

Properties: Acrid, bitter, warm

Standard Species: Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC,  Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) Koidz.

Note:  Sojutsu (cang zhu) and Byakujutsu (bai zhu) are not differentiated in Classical Chinese medicine (authoritative Classics such as Shennnonbencaojing, Shanghanlun, and Jinguiyaolue simply describe the two herbs as zhu).  While the herbs are often interchangeably used in Japanese Kampo, the usage of each herb is clearly differentiated in the current practice of traditional Chinese medicine.