Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang防己黄芪汤

Stephania and Astragalus Decoction

Expelling Dampness 祛湿剂Promote Urination and Leach Out Damp 利水渗湿

Ingredients4 herbs

HerbDosageRoleWhat it does in this formula

防Fang Ji防己Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix12g君 ChiefMoves retained water downward and dispels wind-damp from the flesh 黄Huang Qi黄芪Astragali Radix15g君 ChiefAugments the defensive qi, closes the leaking surface and reduces swelling 甘Zhi Gan Cao甘草炒Glycyrrhizae Radix Praeparata6g佐使 Assistant–EnvoyAugments qi in the middle and harmonizes the formula 白Bai Zhu白术Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma9g臣 DeputyStrengthens Spleen transport, assisting both chief herbs at once

Indications

Augments qi and secures the exteriorPromotes urination and dispels water-dampStrengthens the Spleen and unblocks the channels

Wind-damp or wind-water with exterior-qi deficiency（ / ）: the defensive qi cannot secure the surface, so wind and damp enter and water lodges in the flesh. The sweating here is a sign of weakness, not of the pathogen leaving.

Clinical Manifestations

Puffiness of the legs and face with a heavy body
Spontaneous sweating with aversion to wind
Knee pain and swelling in a soft, easily tired person
Wind-water edema with a floating pulse and difficult urination
Fluid retention and heaviness in patients with poor muscle tone

TonguePale with a thin white coating

PulseFloating, often soft or moderate

Health Categories

Bone & Joint HealthHeart & CirculationUrinary & Bladder Health

Modern Applications

Edema Hyperhidrosis Knee osteoarthritis Fluid retention Nephrotic edema

Common adjustments

Wheezing (the classical note) — add Ma Huang 麻黄, under close supervision only
Epigastric discomfort (the classical note) — add Bai Shao 白芍 to harmonize the middle
Sensation of qi surging upward (the classical note) — add Gui Zhi 桂枝
Marked knee swelling and heaviness — add Yi Yi Ren 薏苡仁 and Ze Xie 泽泻
Cold in the lower body with joint pain — add Xu Duan 续断 and Sang Ji Sheng 桑寄生

Contraindications

Not for edema from excess heat or damp-heat, and not for an exterior excess pattern in which there is no sweating. The stephania must be the correct species, Stephania tetrandra: aristolochic-acid-containing substitutes sold historically under the same trade name are nephrotoxic and are not used. Persistent or worsening edema, especially with breathlessness, requires cardiac and renal assessment.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.

Pregnancy

Use in pregnancy only under practitioner supervision — stephania moves water strongly, and swelling in pregnancy needs obstetric assessment before it is treated as a damp pattern.

References

Source Jin Gui Yao Lue 《金匮要略》 · Eastern Han

「风湿，脉浮身重，汗出恶风者，防己黄芪汤主之。」
— 《金匮要略·痉湿暍病脉证治》(classical source, public domain)

Classical source (public domain), cited in the source-quote section.
2. Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. — composition & dosage cross-checked.
3. 《方剂学》（全国中医药行业高等教育规划教材）— pattern analysis cross-checked.

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.