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Source: Jīn Guì Yào Lüè 金匮要略

Ingredients:

• Fáng jǐ (防己 Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix, fangji [root]) 6–12g
• Huáng qí (黄芪 Astragali Radix, astragalus [root]) 9–30g
• Bái zhú (白朮 Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, white atractylodes [root]) 6–9g
• Gān cǎo (甘草 Glycyrrhizae Radix, licorice [root]) 3–6g
• Shēng jiāng (生姜 Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, fresh ginger) 2–3g
• Dà zǎo (大枣 Jujubae Fructus, jujube) 3 pieces

Action: Boosts qì and fortifies the spleen; disinhibits water and disperses swelling.

Indication: Generalized wind water swelling with sweating, aversion to wind, inhibited urination, and wind-damp impediment (fēng shī bì) with heavy cumbersome limbs and numbness and tingling of the limbs.

Category: Dampness-dispelling formulas / Water-disinhibiting dampness-percolating formulas

Method: Decoct with water.

Rationale: Huáng qí supplements qì and secures the exterior. Fáng jǐ dispels wind and moves water. These two agents together provide the qì supplementing and water-disinhibiting action, which is the main thrust of the formula. Huáng qí prevents the Fáng jǐ from damaging right qì. Bái zhú fortifies the spleen and overcomes dampness, enhancing the effect of Huáng qí. Shēng jiāng and Dà zǎo are acrid, sweet agents with an effusing action; on the one hand, they regulate the provisioning and defense to enhance the wind-dispelling action, and on the other they move the spleen and transform dampness. The Zhì gān cǎo harmonizes all the agents but can be omitted.

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