Stephania Tetrandra Root … Classic Formulas
Fen Fang Ji · Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae
Primary Actions
- Dispels wind-damp and alleviates painful obstruction ... authentic Fang Ji is especially valued for red, swollen, heavy, painful joints when damp-heat predominates.
- Promotes urination and reduces edema ... it is used for lower-body swelling, difficult urination, and damp accumulation in the lower burner.
- Clears damp-heat from the skin and limbs ... traditional use extends to eczema, damp sores, and painful swelling of the feet and legs.
Classic Formulas
- Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang ... classic edema and wind-damp formula in which Fang Ji promotes urination while relieving painful heaviness.
- Fang Ji Fu Ling Tang ... water-damp formula lineage that uses Fang Ji for edema and difficult urination.
- Xuan Bi Tang ... damp-heat bi formula that highlights Fang Ji for hot, swollen, painful joints.
Classical Text References
- Traditional herbology consistently places Fang Ji in both edema formulas and damp-heat painful-obstruction formulas, especially when swelling and heaviness are prominent.
- Identity is safety-critical because the Fang Ji name has historically been shared across multiple plant lineages, not all of them safe.