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Fangji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix)
Acrid, bitter, neutral, warm, non-toxic. Mainly treats wind-cold, warm malaria, heat qi, various epilepsy cases; eliminates pathogenic factors, promotes urination and defecation, treats edema and wind-swelling, clears heat from the Bladder, treats cold damage (Shanghan), alternating chills and fever, hemiplegia with limb spasms, stops diarrhea, dissipates abscesses and malignant accumulations, treats various scabies, tinea, insect sores, opens interstices (Couli), and benefits the nine orifices. Also known as Jieli. Those with a texture resembling chariot spokes and solid quality are superior. Grows in valleys of Hanzhong. Roots are harvested in February and August and dried in the shade. (Yinie serves as an assistant drug, neutralizes the toxicity of Realgar; incompatible with Asari Radix; fears Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma.)

Tao Hongjing states: Currently produced in Yidu and Jianping, those that are large, greenish-white, and spongy/soft are good; those that are dark black and hard are poor. It is also required for elixir preparation. It is an essential medicine for treating Fengshui disease (edema caused by wind-water interaction). The *Tang Bencao* annotation notes: Fangji originally produced in Hanzhong has a cross-section pattern like chariot spokes, is yellow and solid, and fragrant; those that are greenish-white and spongy are named Mu Fangji (Wood Fangji) and should not be used at all. Tao considered them good probably because he had not seen the Hanzhong variety. Ministers Yu Xi et al. carefully note according to *Yaoxing Lun*: Han Fangji is the Sovereign drug, bitter in taste, slightly toxic. It can treat damp-wind, facial paralysis, pain in hands and feet, dissipate retained phlegm, and main lung qi cough and asthma. It also states that Mu Fangji is the Assistant drug, fears Nuan and Luxian, acrid and bitter in taste. It can treat wind-stroke in limbs and joints of men, aphasia due to toxic wind, mainly dissipates stagnant qi, abscesses, warm malaria, wind-water edema, and treats Bladder diseases. Xiao Bing states: Mu Fangji is produced in Huazhou.

*Tujing* states: Fangji grows in valleys of Hanzhong, and is now also found in Qianzhong. However, those from Hanzhong, when broken, show a chariot-spoke pattern, are yellow and solid, and fragrant; the stems are very tender, and the seedlings and leaves are small and resemble Ipomoea. If you break its stem and blow into one end, air passes through completely, similar to Akebiae Caulis. Those from other places are greenish-white and spongy, have a fishy odor, wrinkled skin, and have "Dingzuzi" (nipple-like protrusions) on top, named Mu Fangji. Harvested in February and August, dried in the shade for use. Although Mu Fangji is no longer used in modern prescriptions, it was commonly used in ancient formulas. Zhang Zhongjing treated cold damage with Modified Mu Fangji Decoction, as well as Fangji Dihuang Decoction, Wuwu Fangji Decoction, and Huangqi Liuwu Decoction. Shenshi treated fullness and distension in the epigastrium/chest, wheezing and fullness, hardness below the heart, darkened complexion, and a deep-tight pulse; after dozens of days, if vomiting and purging methods were applied and then cured, Mu Fangji Decoction is the primary treatment. Mu Fangji 2 liang, Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum) two pieces the size of a chicken egg, crushed and wrapped in silk, Guixin (Cinnamomi Cortex) 2 liang, Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) 4 liang. These four ingredients are boiled in 6 sheng of water to obtain 2 sheng, divided into two doses. For deficient patients, recovery occurs immediately; for excess patients, relapse occurs after three days requiring sweating therapy; if still uncured after three more days, remove Shi Gao and add Mangxiao (Natrii Sulfas) 3 he. Boil the remaining three ingredients in 6 sheng of water to obtain 2 sheng, strain. Add Mangxiao, divide into two doses. Mild diarrhea indicates cure. Raw green onion is prohibited. Sun Simiao treated enuresis and dysuria using Sanwu Mu Fangji Decoction.

Chen Cangqi states: As annotated by Tao, this is Mu Fangji, with similar medicinal parts. According to the naming based on root vs. sprout, Han Fangji mainly treats Water Qi (water pathology), while Mu Fangji mainly treats Wind Qi, possessing dispersing and unblocking properties. It is a vine growing on trees, air passes through from one end to the other like Tongcao (Akebiae Caulis). Lei Gong states: When using Fangji, do not use woody strips, as they are already yellow, fishy-smelling, wrinkled, and have Dingzuzi, making them unusable. To use Fangji, select those with yellow center patterns, finely chop, then chop Cheqiancao Gen (Plantaginis Radix) and steam them together. After half a day, take out and dry, remove Cheqiancao Gen, and finely chop for use. *Zhouhou Fang*: Juice of Fangji detoxifies Realgar poisoning. Dried and powdered Fangji fruit is decocted like tea; folk usage treats rectal prolapse. Chu Yushi's Formula: Treats Fei Wei (Lung Withering) with hemoptysis and excessive phlegm. Fangji and Tinglizi (Descurainiae Semen seu Lepidii Semen) in equal parts, made into powder. Take 1 qian mixed with glutinous rice drink.