If Zhen Wu Tang is used to treat Yang deficiency with water flooding (Yang deficiency causing obstruction of water flow in the body) and Qi deficiency, Astragalus can be added and should be used according to the doctor’s instructions.
Zhenwu Tang is composed of Poria, ginger, peony, atractylodes, and epiphyllum, which can warm yang and benefit water (increase yang qi in the body and promote the circulation of water), and is used for treating the symptoms of yang deficiency and water flooding, which can be characterized by cold and limb coldness, palpitations and restlessness, dizziness, heaviness and pain of the limbs, swelling below the waist, and dysuria (unruly urine), etc. Astragalus has the ability to tonify qi, improve water retention, and reduce swelling, and increase qi.
Astragalus has the efficacy of tonifying qi, inducing diuresis, eliminating swelling, and elevating yang, and can be used to treat qi deficiency and weakness, qi deficiency and edema, hemiplegia (one side of the limbs can not move at will), paralysis and numbness, and other conditions.
If it belongs to the evidence of Yang deficiency and edema with Qi deficiency, add Astragalus on the basis of Zhenwu Tang to warm Yang, tonify Qi, promote water retention and eliminate edema.
The contraindications of Zhen Wu Tang are not clear, and Astragalus is contraindicated in people with solid evidence of superficial evil (evil qi on the surface of the muscle). It should be noted that the Chinese medicine prescription should be strictly in the traditional Chinese medicine practitioner to identify the evidence before adding or subtracting drugs, not unauthorized additions or subtractions.