Fangji Huangqi Tang should not be used for severe edema caused by water-dampness congestion.
Fangji Huangqi Tang consists of Fangji, Astragalus, Licorice and Atractylodes macrocephala.
Among them, Fangji can dispel wind and move water, Astragalus can benefit qi and consolidate the surface, both as the king’s medicine; Atractylodes macrocephala can tonify qi, strengthen the spleen and dispel dampness, as the minister’s medicine; Licorice can harmonize with the middle, as well as all the medicines (harmonize the medicinal properties of different Chinese medicines), as the adjuvant medicine.
The combination of these herbs makes Fangji Huangqi Tang beneficial to qi and wind, strengthens the spleen and induces diuresis. Clinically, it is often used to treat wind-water (sudden edema of the head, face and limbs) or rheumatism caused by deficiency of the surface (weakness of the muscular surface leading to abnormal outflow of sweat).
Symptoms include malignant wind, heaviness of the body, edema, pain in the limbs and joints, and dysuria (unruly urination). It should not be used in severe cases of edema caused by congestion of water-dampness.
It is recommended that patients in need of treatment should consult a doctor in time and take the medicine under the doctor’s guidance of identification and treatment.