Traditional Chinese Medicine for Refractory Nephrotic Syndrome: Strategies and Promising Treatments

Table 1

Traditional herb formulas and ingredients for treating edema.

Indications	Formulas	Herbs
Mild edema	Stephania & Astragalus Decoction (Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang)	Stephania tetrandra (Fang Ji), Astragalus membranaceus (Huang Qi), Atractylodes macrocephala (Bai Zhu), Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Gan Cao)
Moderate edema	Stephania & Poria decoction (Fang Ji Fu Ling Tang)	Stephania tetrandra (Fang Ji), Astragalus membranaceus (Huang Qi), Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Gan Cao), Poria cocus (Fu Ling), Cinnamomum cassia (Gui Zhi)
Severe edema	Cocculus decoction (Mu Fang Ji Tang)	Cocculus orbiculatus (Mu Fang Ji), Panax ginseng (Ren Shen), Cinnamomum cassia (Gui Zhi), Gypsum (Shi Gao)
Recurrent edema	Cocculus minus Gypsum plus Poria plus Mirabilite decoction (Mu Fang Ji Qu Shi Gao Jia Fu Ling Mang Xiao Tang)	Stephania tetrandra (Fang Ji), Panax ginseng (Ren Shen), Cinnamomum cassia (Gui Zhi), Mirabilite (Mang Xiao), Poria cocos (Fu Ling)
Severe edema with constipation and urinary retention	Stephania Zanthoxylum Descurainia Rhubarb Pill (Ji Jiao Li Huang Wan)	Stephania tetrandra (Fang Ji), Zanthoxylum bungeanum (Jiao Mu), Descurainia sophia (Ting Li Zi), Rheum officinale (Da Huang)