【Source】
《Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang (1110 AD)》, 《Zheng Shi Jia Chuan Nv Ke Wan Jin Fang》Volume 4, 《Ma Ke Huo Ren》Volume 1.
【Ingredients】
Acanthopanax bark, Lycium bark, Ginger peel, Areca peel, Poria peel
(5)
【Category】
<Acrid, Warm, Exterior-Releasing>：Ginger peel
<Tonifying Spleen, Promoting Water Metabolism>：Poria peel
<Dispelling Wind-Dampness>：Acanthopanax bark
<Promoting Water, Draining Dampness>：Areca peel
<Clearing Deficiency Heat>：Lycium bark
【Formula Explanation】
《Yi Fang》: Medicine for the Foot Taiyang and Taiyin meridians. (1)Acanthopanax bark: dispels wind and overcomes dampness. (2)Lycium bark: reduces heat and tonifies deficiency. (3)Ginger peel: acrid, disperses, and assists yang. (4)Areca peel: descends qi and promotes water circulation. (5)Poria peel: seeps dampness and strengthens the spleen, embodying the intention of regulating and supplementing within dispersing and draining. (6) The use of peels is because water overflows the skin, and peels treat peels.
【Function】
Strengthens the spleen, transforms dampness, regulates qi, promotes urination, and reduces swelling.
【Indications】
Edema of the limbs, abdominal distension, difficulty in urination, pregnancy edema, etc. 《Yi Fang》: (1) Swelling and fullness due to water retention, shortness of breath, or swelling below the waist. (2) Spleen and lung deficiency, qi deficiency, leading to swelling and fullness after illness.
【Adaptation】
Edema, nephritis, cirrhosis ascites, etc.
【Mnemonic】
Grandpa Father ordered him to tell old stories (Jia Fu Ling Jiang Gu – 加腹苓薑骨, where Jia = 五加皮(Acanthopanax), Fu = 大腹皮(Areca), Ling = 茯苓(Poria), Jiang = 生薑(Ginger), Gu = 地骨皮(Lycium)).
【Modifications】
(1) If the swelling is more pronounced above the waist and accompanied by wind, add Qiang Huo and Fang Feng to dispel wind and eliminate dampness. (2) If the swelling is more pronounced below the waist and due to downward flow of water-dampness, add Fang Ji and Yi Ren to promote water and reduce swelling, or combine with Wu Ling San to promote water and reduce swelling. (3) If there is also cold, add Fu Zi and Dried Ginger to warm yang and promote water circulation. (4) If there is also heat, add Mu Tong and Hua Shi to promote dampness and clear heat. (5) If there is abdominal distension, add Lai Fu Zi, Hou Po, and Mai Ya to eliminate stagnation and promote qi circulation. (6) Removing Sang Bai Pi and Chen Pi, and adding Acanthopanax bark and Lycium bark to this formula, results in Five-Peel Decoction《Yi Fang Ji Jie》, which treats swelling and fullness due to water retention, shortness of breath, or swelling below the waist.
【Pharmacology】
Diuretic effect.