Medical Qiyuan" records that atractylodes macrocephala "removes dampness and benefits dryness, and in the benefit of qi, warming the middle, remove dampness in the spleen and stomach, remove gastric heat, strengthen the spleen and stomach, enter the diet, quench thirst, and stabilise the foetus"; Shennong Ben Cao Jing records that atractylodes macrocephala "smells of sweet and warm, non-toxic, treatment of wind-cold-dampness paralysis, death of the muscle, spasm and jaundice, to stop sweating, to remove heat, elimination of food. ";" Pharmacognosy Fugue "recorded atractylodes macrocephala "taste sweet, warm, non-toxic. Can be ascending or descending, Yang. Its use has four: watercourse, the dehumidification function; strong spleen and stomach, the effect of eating, with Scutellaria baicalensis has the ability to stabilise the foetus, Jun Hedera has the wonderful anti-planking".

　　Atractylodes macrocephala is used for treating spleen deficiency with little food, abdominal distension and diarrhoea, phlegm, palpitations, oedema, spontaneous sweating, and restlessness of the foetus. It can be used with Codonopsis pilosula and licorice to replenish the spleen and stomach; it can be used with Citrus aurantium dulcis to eliminate lumps and fullness; it can be used with Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae and Poria to strengthen the spleen and dry dampness to stop diarrhoea; it can be used with Poria cocos and Gui Zhi to treat cold drinks; it can be used with Poria Poria bark and Poria dulcis bark to treat oedema; it can be used with Astragalus Membranaceus and Fructus Pelargonicus to treat sweating in the surface of deficiency; it can be used with Scutellaria Baicalensis for those who are disturbed in foetal qi and have internal heat; it can be used with Cortex Eucommiae and Mulberry Sambucus for those who have waist soreness.

　　Modern pharmacological research has found that Atractylodes macrocephala has a variety of pharmacological effects such as anti-ulcer, hepatoprotection, enhancement of immune function, anti-stress, enhancement of haematopoietic function, diuretic, inhibition of uterine contraction, antioxidant, aging, hypoglycaemic, anti-coagulant, anti-tumour and so on. Its pharmacological effects related to atractylodes macrocephala's spleen-enhancing and qi-benefiting effects are adjusting gastrointestinal motility, antiulcer, hepatoprotection, enhancing immune function, anti-stress, enhancing haematopoietic function, etc.; its drying dampness and water-inducing efficacy is related to diuresis; and its foetal-restoring efficacy is related to the inhibition of uterine contraction. It is not suitable for people with deficiency of yin, dryness and thirst, and those with stagnation of qi and distension. The usual amount of 6-12 grams into the decoction.

　　The efficacy of Atractylodes macrocephala varies with different preparations. Clinically used atractylodes macrocephala concoction methods are:

　　1. Raw Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, i.e. picking the impurities, soaking in water to moisten and then fishing out, slicing and drying in the sun. Atractylodes macrocephala is good at strengthening the spleen and laxative. Raw Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae used for laxative, into the decoction can be used up to 30 grams per day, often used with Citrus aurantium.

　　2. Fried Atractylodes macrocephala, also known as roasted atractylodes macrocephala, the first part of the bran sprinkled in a hot pan, such as smoke, and then ten parts of atractylodes macrocephala slices poured into the micro-frying until light yellow, remove, sieve off the bran and then cooled. Fried atractylodes is good at drying dampness.

　　3. Jiao atractylodes, also known as coke atractylodes, atractylodes charcoal, that is, atractylodes slices placed in the pot with a fire frying until charred yellow, sprayed with water, removed to dry. Atractylodes macrocephala is good at warming cold and dampness, astringent and stopping diarrhoea.

　　4. earth fried atractylodes macrocephala: take a stove heart soil (volvulus liver) research for fine powder, put the pan fried hot, add five atractylodes macrocephala slices, fried to the outside of the hanging soil colour when taken out, sieve off the soil, let cool. Atractylodes macrocephala is known for strengthening the spleen and stomach, stopping diarrhoea and vomiting.