Formulas · Tonify Qi 補氣 · Injae Jikji (仁齋直指方)

Astragalus Decoction for Wasting-Thirst

Hwanggi-tang

한글 황기탕 · Pinyin Huang Qi Tang

黃芪湯

Same name, different formula (同名異方): distinct from the Shanghan lun's Huang Qi Tang lineages and other astragalus decoctions of the tonification chapters.

Composition 構成

Saengjihwang Sheng Di Huang
生地黃 생지황 · Raw Rehmannia

8 g
Chief 君 dried (生乾)
Hwanggi Huang Qi
黃芪 황기 · Astragalus

4 g
Deputy 臣
Boksin Fu Shen
茯神 복신 · Poria with hostwood

4 g
Deputy 臣
Cheonhwabun Tian Hua Fen
天花粉 천화분 · Trichosanthes Root

4 g
Assistant 佐
Maekmundong Mai Men Dong
麥門冬 맥문동 · Liriope

4 g
Assistant 佐
Omija Wu Wei Zi
五味子 오미자 · Schisandra

2 g
Assistant 佐
Gamcho Gan Cao
甘草 감초 · Licorice

2 g
Envoy 使

Total 28 g per packet (첩) · representative dosage — verify against source texts.

Received this formula from your practitioner? Amounts shown here are classical reference values — granule and prepared products differ. Always follow your prescribed dosage and directions.

Actions 效能

Boosts Qi so that fluids may be engendered and held
Enriches Yin and quiets the spirit in chronic thirst

Indications 主治

Pattern-based

All manner of thirst (諸渴)
Qi vacuity failing to transform and distribute fluids
Thirst with fatigue and palpitations

Biomedical correlates

Chronic thirst in fatigued depleted patients
Diabetes with poor stamina and anxiety
Fluid dysregulation in Qi-deficient constitutions

Source text 原文

Donguibogam 東醫寶鑑

治諸渴. 生乾地黃二錢, 黃芪ㆍ茯神ㆍ天花粉ㆍ麥門冬各一錢, 五味子ㆍ甘草各五分. 右剉, 作一貼, 水煎服. 《直指》

Translation

Treats all manner of thirst. Dried raw rehmannia 2 don; astragalus, hostwood poria, trichosanthes root, and ophiopogon, 1 don each; schisandra and licorice, 0.5 don each. Cut the above, make one packet, decoct in water and take. — Jikji 直指 (Donguibogam · Sogal)

Clinical commentary 臨床

The quiet answer to why a thirst formula leads with astragalus — fluids are not only a substance to be poured but a cargo to be carried, and it is the qi that does the carrying. — Eui Young (Justin) Chung, L.Ac., Dipl. O.M.