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. |