Stephania and Astragalus Powder
Chinese Prescription: Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang
English Translation: Stephania and Astragalus Powder
Formula Type: Promote Urination and Leach Out Dampness
Actions: Augments the qi, dispels wind, strengthens the Spleen, promotes urination, & reduces edema.
Indications: Sweating, a heavy sensation in the body, superficial edema, urinary difficulty, a pale tongue with a white coating, & a floating pulse.
Contraindications: Contraindicated for excess-type edema manifesting as nausea, abdominal distention, loose stools, or other Stomach & Intestinal symptoms. Should not be used in cases of water dampness constraining the protective yang in the exterior, characterized by an absence of sweating, even though the pulse is superficial & the patient has an aversion to wind. Administration of the formula should lead only to slight sweating. A strong sweat would not only be ineffective in removing dampness (a yin pathogen), it would also further weaken the yang qi in the exterior. The souce text states that, "it is best to readminister the formula after a lengthy [interval]."
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Huang Qi / Astragalus |
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Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Slightly Warm • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Qi |
Dosage9-30g, 30-60g exceptional cases |
Actions1. Tonifies the Spleen & augments the qi: for Spleen deficiency presenting with lack of appetite, fatigue, & diarrhea.
2. Raises the yang qi of the Spleen & Stomach: for prolapse disorders such as prolapsed uterus, stomach, or rectum; also for uterine bleeding.
3. Augments the protective qi & stabilizes the exterior: for deficiency with spontaneous sweating, as the herb stabilizes the protective qi. It also tonifies the Lungs & is used for frequent colds or shortness of breath. Depending on the combination of herbs, it may be used for excessive sweating associated with qi, yang, or yin deficiency. Its action in stabilizing the exterior may be used to produce a therapeutic sweat when diaphoretics do not work.
4. Tonifies the qi & blood: for post partum fever due to qi & blood deficiency. Also used in the recovery stage from severe loss of blood.
5. Promotes urination & reduces edema: for edema from deficiency.
6. Promotes the discharge of pus & generates flesh: for chronic ulceration & sores due to deficiency that have formed pus but have not drained or healed well.
7. In appropriate circumstances, for wasting & thirsting disorder, numbness of the limbs, paralysis, & painful obstruction. |
MeridiansLung, Spleen |
CautionsSince this herb raises the yang, tonifies the qi, & stabilizes the exterior, it should no be used in cases of exterior excess, qi stagnation, damp obstruction, food stagnation, yin deficiency with heat signs, or skin lesions neither in their early stages nor where there is heat toxin. |
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Fang Ji (Han) / Stephania Tetrandra Root |
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Taste: Bitter, Acrid • Temperature: Cold • Category: Drain Damp • Sub Category: |
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Promotes urination & reduces edema: for edema (especially in lower parts of the body), damp leg qi, gurgling sounds in the intestines, abdominal distention, or ascites due to dampness accumulating in the lower burner.
2. Expels wind-dampness & alleviates pain: for wind-damp-heat collecting in the channels with such symptoms as fever & red, swollen, hot, & painful joints. |
MeridiansBladder, Spleen, Kidney |
CautionsUse with caution in cases of yin deficiency. Contraindicated in cases with interior dampness. |
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Bai Zhu / Atractylodes (White) Rhizome |
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Taste: Bitter, Sweet • Temperature: Warm • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Qi |
Dosage4.5-9g |
Actions1. Tonifies the Spleen & augments the qi: for Spleen or Stomach deficiency with such symptoms as diarrhea, fatigue, lack of appetite, & vomiting.
2. Strengthens the Spleen & dries dampness: for digestive disorders due to Spleen yang failing to rise, with loss of its ability to transform & subsequent accumulation of dampness. Also for edema & reduced urination associated with Spleen deficiency. Used as an auxiliary herb for damp painful obstruction.
3. Stabilizes the exterior & stops sweating: for spontaneous sweating due to qi deficiency.
4. Strengthens the Spleen & calms the fetus: for restless fetus disorder, especially when due to Spleen deficiency. Also for other types of this disorder when combined with appropriate herbs. |
MeridiansSpleen, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of yin deficiency with heat signs, or injured fluids. |
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Zhi Gan Cao / Licorice Root, honey-baked |
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Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Warm • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Qi |
Dosage2-12g |
Actions1. Tonifies the Spleen & augments the qi: commonly used for Spleen deficiency with shortness of breath, lassitude, & loose stools. Also for qi or blood deficiency patterns with an irregular or intermittent pulse & /or palpitations.
2. Moistens the Lungs & stops coughing: for coughing & wheezing. Because of its neutral properties, it can be used for either heat or cold in the Lungs.
3. Clears heat & relieves fire toxicity: used raw for carbuncles, sores, or sore throat due to fire toxin. For this purpose, it can be taken internally or applied topically.
4. Moderates spasms & alleviates pain: for painful spasms of the abdomen or legs.
5. Moderates & harmonizes the characteristics of other herbs: by virtue of its sweet, neutral, & moderating properties, this herb moderates hot & cold herbs, & mitigates the violent properties of other herbs. Since it is said to enter all 12 primary channels, it can lead & conduct other herbs into the channels.
6. Used as an antidote for a variety of toxic substances, both internally & topically.
7. The raw root clears heat & relieves toxicity, the honey-fried tonifies the middle & moderates spasms. |
MeridiansAll 12 channels (principally the Heart, Lung, Spleen, & Stomach) |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of excess dampness, nausea, or vomiting. May be in compatible with jing da ji, yuan hua, gan sui, & hai zao, & may antagonize yuan zhi. The toxicity of gan cao is very low, but if taken long-term it may cause hypertension &/or edema. Glycyrrhetinic acid has been reported to cause a reduction in the activity of the thyroid & a reducation in the basal metabolic rate. |
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Sheng Jiang / Ginger (market fresh) Rhizome |
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Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Warm • Category: Exterior Releasing - Warm • Sub Category: |
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Releases the exterior & disperses cold: for exterior cold patterns.
2. Warms the middle burner & alleviates vomiting: for cold in the Stomach, especially where there is vomiting.
3. Disperses cold & stops coughing: for coughing due to both acute wind-cold cough patterns & chronic Lung disorders with phlegm.
4. Reduces the toxicty of other herbs: for detoxifying or treating overdoses from other herbs such as fu zi or ban xia.
5. Adjusts the nutritive & protective qi: for patients suffering from exterior deficiency who sweat without an improvement in their condition. |
MeridiansLung, Spleen, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of Lung heat, or Stomach heat with vomiting. |
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Da Zao (Hong / Hei) / Red or Black Jujube Date |
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Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Neutral • Category: Tonic / Harmonize • Sub Category: Tonify Qi |
Dosage3-12 pieces (10-30 grams) |
Actions1. Tonifies the Spleen & augments the qi: for weakness, shortness of breath, lassitude, reduced appetite, & loose stools due to Spleen & Stomach deficiency.
2. Nourishes the blood & calms the spirit: for wan appearance, irritability, & severe emotional lability due to restless organ disorder.
3. Moderates & harmonizes the harsh properties of other herbs. |
MeridiansSpleen, Stomach |
CautionsSince hong zao aids dampness, generates heat, & may readily induce fullness in the middle burner, it is contraindicated in cases of excess dampness, food stagnation, intestinal parasites, or damp-phlegm disorders with such symptoms as epigastric distention & bloating. |