Aidus & E-Fong Herbal Solution
Herbal Formula for Eliminating Dampness and Diuretic
-  Inducing Diuresis
                                     
                            
13.3. Herbal Formula  for Eliminating Dampness- Inducing Dampness

This group of formulae is indicated for syndrome of overabundance of water dampness marked by disturbance in
urination, edema, stranguria, retention of urine and diarrhea. The spleen dominates transformation of dampness. The
urinary bladder is in charge of transformative function of qi and excreting water. Failure of the spleen in transporting
dampness may lead to flooding of water dampness, resulting in general edema and disturbance in micturition. If the
exterior evil is not relieved, it may enter the urinary bladder and impair the transformative function of qi, causing
disturbance in micturition edema, diarrhea and vomiting after drinking water. If wind evil attacks the exterior and water  
evil stagnates in the surface of the body, there will be wind dampness, wind edema. Accordance with the principle of
"Dampness has to be removed by promoting diuresis" , the method of removing dampness by diuresis should be used.
Fu Ling (Poria),Ze Xie (water plantain), Zhu Ling (Polyporw  sclerotium) and Fang Ji (tetrandra root-replaced by Tong
Cao) are often chosen as principal herbs.
If there is exterior evil accompanied by failure of the urinary bladder in transforming qi, Gui Zhi (cinnamon twig) should
be added to the formula to expel the exterior evil and to assist the urinary bladder in transforming qi. If accumulation of
water and heat creates impairment of yin, E Jiao (donkey-hide gelatin) can be added to nourish yin and moisturize
dryness. If wind edema leads to unconsolidation of superficial qi,Huang Qi (astrugalus root) and Bai Zhu (bighead
atractylodes rhizome) should be added to replenish qi, consolidate the exterior, invigorate qi and strengthen the spleen.
If stagnation of water and dampness disturbs functional activities of qi, Chen Pi (tangerine peel), Hou Pu (magnolia
bark), Mu Xiang (aucklandia root) and Da Fu Pi (shell of areca nut) are usually chosen to the formula to activate qi and
excrete dampness. The main representative formulae are Wu Ling San (Poria Powder with Five Herbs), Zhu Ling Tang
(Polyporus Sclerotium Decoction) and Wu Pi San (Five Kinds of Peels Powder) and so on.