Stephania and Astragalus Decoction

金匱要略

For wind-damp with floating pulse, heavy body, sweating, and aversion to wind, Fangji Huangqi Decoction governs it. (Jin Gui Yao Lue (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet)) -- In Waitai, Fangji Huangqi Decoction treats wind edema with floating pulse, which is in the exterior. The patient may have head sweating; there is no other exterior disease. The patient only has heaviness below; from above the waist there is harmony, and below the waist there should be swelling extending to the genitals, with difficulty in flexion and extension. (Jin Gui Yao Lue (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet))

Fangji 1 liang, Gancao half liang (stir-fried), Baizhu 7.5 qian, Huangqi 1 liang 1 fen (remove reed). The above is chopped to the size of hemp beans. Each dose is 5 qian-spoons, with 4 slices of fresh ginger, 1 jujube, and 1.5 cups of water; decoct to 8 fen, remove dregs, take warm. After a long while, take again. For panting, add Mahuang half liang; for disharmony in the stomach, add Shaoyao 3 fen; for qi rushing upward, add Guizhi 3 fen; for old cold below, add Xixin 3 fen. After taking it, there should be a sensation like insects moving in the skin; below the waist feels like ice. Afterwards sit on a quilt, and wrap another quilt around below the waist, warming to induce slight sweating; then it is cured. (Shanghan Zabing Lun)

The above is chopped to the size of hemp beans. Each dose is 5 qian-spoons (15 g), with 4 slices of fresh ginger, 1 jujube, and 1.5 cups of water; decoct to 8 fen, remove dregs, take warm. After a long while, take again. After taking it, there should be a sensation like insects moving in the skin, and below the waist feels like ice. Afterwards sit in a quilt, and wrap another quilt around below the waist, warming to induce slight sweating; then it is cured (Modern usage: used as a Decoction, add fresh ginger and jujube, decoct in water and take; the dosage is determined according to the proportions of the original formula).

湯劑

Benefit qi and fortify the spleen; dispel wind and promote urination.

Wind-damp, wind edema. Symptoms include sweating and aversion to wind, heavy body and edema, difficult urination, pale tongue with white coating, and floating pulse.

Chronic nephritis edema, or diarrhea: combine with Wuling San. -- Water-dampness predominant, swelling of the waist and knees: add Fuling:10, Cangzhu:10, Zexie:15. -- Qi rushing upward: add Guizhi:10. -- Yang deficiency, aversion to cold, diarrhea: add Prepared Fuzi:10. -- Chronic cold in the lower burner: add Xixin:10. -- Hyperlipidemia: add Zexie:30. -- Dizziness, headache, waist and leg pain, or accompanied by elevated blood pressure: add Gegen:30. -- Coronary heart disease, chest pain: add Chuanxiong:15, Danshen:30. -- Nasal congestion, prone to common cold, allergic rhinitis: add Fangfeng:10.

This formula is suitable for edema due to Qi deficiency. If the edema is of excess type, it should not be used.