Source: Shanghan Lun (Treatise on Exogenous Febrile Diseases).

Ingredients:
No. 1 Fuling (Poria) 9 g
No. 2 Shaoyao (Radix Paeoniae) 9 g;
No. 3 Baizhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae) 6 g;
No. 4 Shengjiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens) 9 g;
No. 5 Paofuzi (Radix Aconiti Praeparatae) 9 g.
 
Administration: Decoct the above drugs in water for oral application.
  
Actions: Warming yang and inducing diuresis.
  
Clinical Application:
This recipe is indicated for retention of water-dampness in the interior due to yang deficiency of the spleen and kidney, marked by edema of limbs, dysuria, or abdominal pain and diarrhea, whitish and glossy fur, deep pulse; or excessive diaphoresis of taiyang diseases, unrelieved fever after perspiration, palpitation, vertigo, twitching of the body and restlessness. It is applicable to chronic glomerulonephritis, cardiac edema, hypothyroidism, chronic bronchitis, chronic enteritis, Meniere’s syndrome and others, which chiefly manifest dysuria, heaviness or edema of the limbs, whitish fur and deep pulse and pertain to excessive water-dampness due to yang deficiency of the spleen and kidney.

Clinically Baishaoyao (Radix Paeoniae Alba) is often used. If concomitant with cough, add Ganjiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis), Xixin (Herba Asari) and Wuweizi ( Fructus Schisandrae) to warm the lung and remove phlegm. In case of severe diarrhea, subtract No. 2 and add, instead, Ganjiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis) and Yizhiren (Fructus Alpiniae Oxyphyllae) to warm the middle-energizer and relieve diarrhea. If concomitant with vomiting, add Wuzhuyu (Fructus Evodiae) and Banxia (Rhizoma Pinelliae) to warm the stomach and relieve vomiting.

Elucidation:
The syndrome is caused by retention of water-dampness in the interior due to yang-deficiency of the spleen and kidney, which fail to promote flow of qi and induce diuresis. Or it may also result from yang impairment due to excessive diaphoresis, and fluid-retention due to yang deficiency. It should be treated by warming yang and inducing diuresis. No. 4 acts as monarch drug, which can warm the kidney-yang, promote the flow of qi and induce diuresis on the one hand, and warm the spleen-yang on the other so as to promote the transportation and transformation of water-dampness.

No. 1 and No. 3 function as minister drugs with the action of reinforcing the spleen and inducing diuresis to subdue edema. Pungent and warm in nature and with dispersing action, No. 4 can promote the effect of No. 5 in warming yang and dispelling cold and assist No. 1 and No. 3 in eliminating water-dampness. No. 2 possesses the functions of promoting diuresis, nourishing the liver to relieve abdominal pain and preserving yin and relaxing the tendons so as to relieve muscular twitching and cramp. These two ingredients serve as adjuvant drugs.