Wanbing San for Edema and Abdominal Distention from Jifeng Puji Fang

Jifeng Puji Fang (Chicken Peak Universal Relief Prescriptions) records a formula called "Wanbing San" (Myriad-Illnesses Powder). Its composition is: Qianniuzi (Pharbitidis Semen), Sangbaipi (Mori Cortex), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Huangqi (Astragali Radix), Dingxiang (Caryophylli Flos), Chenjupi (aged Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), and Buguzhi (Psoraleae Fructus), each in equal parts. At time of use, grind all the above into powder. Each time, brew 450 ml of ginger decoction: first drink 150 ml of the ginger decoction, then take 3–6 g of the above powder with another 150 ml of ginger decoction, and finally drink the remaining 150 ml of ginger decoction.

This formula boosts qi and fortifies the spleen, diffuses the lung and disinhibits water. It treats spleen-qi deficiency with water disease causing swelling and fullness and edema of the limbs. In the formula, Huangqi and Baizhu fortify the spleen and disinhibit water, both supporting the righteous qi and dispelling dampness; Buguzhi warms yang and boosts qi while also drying dampness; Dingxiang and Jupi both fortify the spleen and dispel dampness, and move qi to dispel distension; Sangbaipi drains the lung and calms panting, and disinhibits water to reduce swelling; Qianniuzi purges and expels water, freeing the bowel and bladder. Taken with ginger decoction, ginger both strengthens the stomach and is itself an excellent diuretic; thus taking the powder with ginger decoction enhances efficacy and reduces side effects.

Overall, this is a formula that combines attacking with tonifying, moving qi and disinhibiting water; it has some effect on patients with difficult urination and defecation not caused by intestinal obstruction or ureteral blockage.