Tetrandra Root (Fangji)

Tetrandra Root (Fangji)

Pharmaceutical Name: Radix Stephaniae Ttetrandrae
Botanical Name: Stephania tetrandra S. Moore
Cocculus trilobus (Thunb.) DC.
Aristolochia fangchi Wu et L. D. Chou et S. M. Hwang
Common Name:Stephania Root
Tetrandra Root
Source of Earliest Record: Shennong Bencao Jing
Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The roots are dug in autumn. After the root bark has been removed, the roots are cleaned, dried in the sun and cut into pieces or slices.
Properties and Taste: Bitter, pungent and cold
Meridian: Urinary bladder, kidney and spleen
Functions: To dispel wind and dampness
To stop pain
To relieve edema
Indications and Combinations: 1.     Wind-damp obstruction syndrome or damp-heat obstruction syndrome.
*Use with Coix seed (Yiyiren), Talc (Huashi), Silkworm excrement (Cansha) and Chaenomeles fruit (Mugua) .

2.  Cold-damp obstruction syndrome.
*Use with Cinnamon twigs (Guizhi) and Prepared aconite root (Fuzi).

3.     Edema:

a) Edema with heat signs.
*Use with Lepidium seed (Tinglizi) and Zanthoxylum (Jiaomu) in the formula Ji Jiao Li Huang Wan .

b) Edema with signs of weakness of the spleen .
*Use with Astragulus root (Huangqi) and White Atractylodes (Baizhu) in the formula Fangji Huangqi Tang.
Dosage: 5-10 g
Cautions: This herb is contraindicated in cases with deficient yin.