Atractylodes is a plant. People use the root to make medicine. Atractylodes is used for indigestion, stomachache, bloating, fluid retention, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss due to cancer, allergies to dust mites, and joint pain (rheumatism). Atractylodes is used with other herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for treating lung cancer (ninjin-yoei-to) and complications of dialysis, a mechanical method for “cleaning the blood” when the kidneys have failed (shenling baizhu san). How does it work? Chemicals in atractylodes might improve function of the digestive tract and reduce pain and swelling (inflammation). information from webmd