Stephania Root and Astragalus Decoction

Stephania Root and Astragalus Decoction

Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix (Fang Ji) 1 liang (12g), Astragali Radix (Huang Qi) 1.1 liang (15g), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gan Cao) 0.5 liang (6g), Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Bai Zhu) 7.5 qian (9g)

Prepare as a decoction with 4 pieces of sheng jiang and 1 piece of da zao.

Boosts qi and dispels wind, fortifies the spleen and promotes urination.

Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang is indicated for patterns of wind-water and wind-damp caused by an insecurity exterior due to exterior deficiency. The symptoms are sweating, aversion to wind, heavy body, slight swelling, pain of the limbs and joints, as well as dysuria. The tongue is pale with a white coating, and the pulse is floating.

Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang is indicated for patterns of either wind-water or wind-dampness caused by wind-damp contraction in the exterior and water-damp accumulation in striae and interstitial space due to exterior deficiency and insecurity of wei qi. The nature of wind is open and dispersing. Therefore, when the exterior is deficient, ying-yin might be discharged causing sweating and wei qi might be insecure leading to aversion to wind. Dampness is sticky and turbid. Thus water-damp accumulation in striae and interstitial space causes the body to feel heavy and develop mild swelling. Water-damp accumulation in the muscles, tendons, and bones results in pain of the limbs and joints. A pale tongue with a white coating and a floating pulse are signs of wind in the exterior. The therapeutic method is to induce sweating. Furthermore, methods to boost qi, consolidate the exterior, and dispel wind might be applied because of exterior deficiency.

1. Essential pattern differentiation Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang is the common formula for wind-dampness and wind-water due to exterior deficiency. This clinical pattern is marked by dysuria, white coating, floating pulse. 2. Modern applications This formula may be used in the following biomedically defined disorders when the patient shows signs of a wind-water or wind-dampness with exterior deficiency pattern: chronic glomerulonephritis, cardiac edema, rheumatic arthritis. 3. Cautions and contraindications This formula is not applicable for patients with severe swelling due to retention of water and dampness.