Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang, Stephania and Astragalus Decoction, is Huang Qi, Han Fang Ji, Bai Zhu, Zhi Gan Cao, Sheng Jiang and Da Zao. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that promote urination and leach out Dampness.

Herb

Amount

3.8 g

3 g

2.3 g

1.5 g

4 g

1 g

Actions and indications

Augments Qi, strengthens the Spleen and secures the Exterior

Deficient Wei Qi (Lung and Spleen Qi deficiency) that has let Wind-Damp settle at the surface
Sweating that is heavy and spontaneous, worse on exertion, with marked aversion to wind or drafts
Fatigue
Edema in women of deficient constitution

Promotes urination, reduces edema and dispels Wind-Damp

Wind-Damp edema (wind-water), or Wind-Damp without edema
Superficial edema, most marked below the waist and in the lower legs, worse after long sitting or standing
Heavy feeling in the body, difficult urination and abdominal bloating
Wind-Damp Bi with swollen, aching joints and knee pain
Tongue pale with a white coat, or swollen and moist; pulse floating and weak, or floating yet soft, or soft and thin

Modern uses

Edema
Idiopathic edema
Edema of the legs
Cardiac edema
Nephritic edema
Nephrotic syndrome with edema
Chronic kidney disease with edema
Ascites
Acute glomerulonephritis
Chronic nephritis
Hydronephrosis
Oliguria
Dysuria
Strangury
Hydrocele, including testicular hydrocele
Rheumatic heart disease
Excessive sweating (ephidrosis)
Hircismus (axillary body odour)
Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatism
Arthralgia, including of the knees
Knee pain
Knee osteoarthritis with swelling
Periarthritis of the shoulder
Muscle pain
Low back pain
Lumbar disc disease
Bone fractures
Fatigue
Obesity
Irregular menstruation

Modifications

Abdominal pain: + bai shao

Wheezing and dyspnea: + ma huang

Pronounced Cold: + xi xin

Severe Damp with heavy low back and legs: + fu ling, + cang zhu

Painful fullness of chest and abdomen: + chen pi, + zhi ke, + zi su ye

Stronger Damp, alternative: + fu ling, + yi yi ren

Abdominal distention: + chen pi, + zhi ke

Qi deficiency: + dang shen

Heavier edema (combined with Wu Ling San): + fu ling, + gui zhi

Hypertension: + dan shen

Scanty or painful urination: + hua shi

Arthritis: + fang feng, + du huo, + fu ling

Show all 44 modifications

Upward-surging sensation: + gui zhi
Edema with wind aversion and no sweating from an exterior Wind attack: + ma huang, + cang zhu, + fu ling, + yi yi ren
Damp edema and swelling (combined with Wu Ling San)
Distended, full chest and abdomen: + chen pi, + hou po
Rapid breathing with dyspnea: + ting li zi, + hou po, + xing ren
Heavy, painful joints: + cang zhu, + yi yi ren, + wei ling xian, + mu gua
Bi syndrome: + dang gui, + gui zhi
Limbs very heavy and numb: + cang zhu, + qiang huo
Marked aversion to wind: + fang feng, + qiang huo
Edema of the limbs: + chao gui zhi, + fu ling
Inhibited urination: + fu ling, + ze xie
Yang deficiency spontaneous sweating: + huang qi
Profuse sweating: + ma huang (gen), + fu xiao mai, + mu li
Sweating from Yin deficiency Fire: + dang gui, + shu di huang, + sheng di huang
Sweating with tidal fever: + di gu pi, + zhi mu, + bie jia
Emotional instability in idiopathic edema: + chai hu, + da zao, + yuan zhi
Marked puffiness around the eyes: + nu zhen zi, + yi mu cao, + che qian zi
Edema with the period: + xiang fu, + yu jin, + zhu ling
Idiopathic edema with low blood pressure: + ren shen
Hydronephrosis: + che qian zi, + jin qian cao
Damp-Heat arthritis: + jin yin hua, + ye ju hua, + lei gong teng, + mu dan pi
Cold-Damp arthritis: + xi xin, + gui zhi, + zhi fu zi, + zhi chuan wu
Periarthritis of the shoulder: + tao ren, + hong hua, + chuan xiong
Fractures of the arm: + gui zhi, + ting li zi
Fractures of the leg: + fu ling, + ze xie
Axillary body odour with excess Damp: + bai mao gen, + che qian zi, + che qian cao
Axillary body odour with Spleen Qi deficiency: + fu ling pi, + ze xie
Axillary body odour with obesity: + yin chen hao, + shan zha
Acute glomerulonephritis: + fu ling, + gui zhi
Mild edema in chronic nephritis: + dang shen, + fu ling, + zhu ling, + ze xie, + chen pi
More edema, as an alternative: + chi xiao dou
Signs of Cold: + rou gui, + zhi fu zi

Cautions

contraindication Acute edema of an excess type

contraindication Protective Yang blocked by Damp

contraindication Edema or exterior conditions driven by excess or Heat with no underlying Wei Qi deficiency; this is a milder, slower formula for deficiency

caution Herb identity: use only verified Han Fang Ji (Stephania tetrandra). Guang Fang Ji and other Aristolochia species, confused with it or mislabelled in the past, contain aristolochic acid, which damages the kidneys and causes cancer; such mix-ups have led to kidney failure and urinary tract cancers

caution Too much of it can cause nausea and loss of appetite

caution Use short-term at normal formula doses and avoid long, high-dose self-medication; leave a long gap before giving a further course

pregnancy Use in pregnancy only under professional guidance, because of its diuretic and exterior-regulating action

Pinyin

fang ji huang qi tang

English Name

Stephania and Astragalus Decoction

fang ji huang qi tang

About fang ji huang qi tang

Ingredients

Actions and indications

Augments Qi, strengthens the Spleen and secures the Exterior

Promotes urination, reduces edema and dispels Wind-Damp

Modern uses

Symptoms

Modifications

Cautions

Preparation

Names

Classification

Support