guang fang ji

广防己·Radix Aristolochiae Fangchi

kwangfangchi root

Contains aristolochic acid

About guang fang ji

Guang Fang Ji (广防己) is the root of an aristolochia, recorded as Radix Aristolochiae Fangchi. It is acrid and bitter in flavour and cold in temperature, entering the Spleen, Kidney and Bladder channels. The catalogue files it under obsolete substances.

Names

Pinyin	guang fang ji
Chinese	广防己
Latin Name	Radix Aristolochiae Fangchi
English Name	kwangfangchi root·westlandi aristolochia·westlandi aristolochia; kwangfangchi root
Japanese	mokuboi
Korean	kwangbanggi

Classification

Category: Obsolete Substances
Channels: Spleen, Bladder, Kidney
Flavour: Acrid, Bitter
Temperature: Cold

Actions and indications

Expels Wind-Damp, clears Heat and relieves pain

Wind-Damp-Heat Bi
Best suited to diffuse aches and pains with thirst and a greasy yellow tongue coat
Aching, painful joints from Wind-Damp

Promotes urination and reduces edema

Floating or generalised edema accompanied by wheezing, pain or leg Qi
Difficult urination

Combinations

wei ling xian
Wind-Dampness causing pain in the back, shoulders and joints
yi yi ren
Pain in the limbs from Damp-Heat
huang qi
Joint pain and edema.
dang shen + gui zhi
Edema, a heavy body, dyspnea and wheezing

Dosage

Age	Raw	Granule	Tincture	Concentrate	Frequency
Any 4-12g; Tincture: 1-4ml	4-12 g	—	1-4 ml	—	—

Cautions

contraindication Should not be taken at all: it contains aristolochic acid, and the harm lies in the herb itself, not in what it is combined with
caution Total cumulative intake is a significant risk factor for urothelial (urinary tract) cancer, the risk climbing as exposure rises
caution When it was substituted for Stephania tetrandra in a slimming preparation, it caused irreversible kidney failure with interstitial fibrosis; close to half of those who later had their kidneys and ureters removed had urothelial carcinoma, and cases have since been reported worldwide
caution Banned: China has prohibited it since 2004, and UK law has excluded all Aristolochia species from medicines since 2001
caution Products labelled fang ji may contain this plant in place of Stephania tetrandra; people with kidney impairment or a past urinary tract cancer should check any such product with their own clinician
caution Yin deficiency
caution Deficiency Cold of the Spleen and Stomach

Interactions

Drug interactions

Other substances toxic to the kidneys or liver: historically not to be combined, though avoiding them does not make the herb safe to use