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There are diseases that resemble edema, namely skin distension (Fu Zhang), drum distension (Gu Zhang), intestinal polyp (Chang Qin), stone fibroma (Shi Xia), and spleen qi horizontal leakage (Pi Qi Heng Xie). Their treatment methods also differ. Drum distension is discussed in the "Distension" section, while intestinal polyp and stone fibroma are discussed in the "Women's Diseases" section. Hereinafter, the treatments for skin distension and spleen qi horizontal leakage are detailed.

For skin distension caused by cold pathogens lodging in the skin, symptoms include skin that is hard like a shell, abdominal enlargement, and whole-body swelling. Pressing the area leaves an indentation that does not rise immediately, with no change in skin color. This condition is named skin distension. If one dose yields no significant improvement, prepare and administer another dose.
Prescription: Large Aconite Root (one raw Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata weighing seven qian, peeled of skin and navel, half-broken); Mung Bean (two liang).
Administration: Slice one liang of fresh ginger, add two bowls of water, and decoct until one bowl remains. Strain to remove dregs, divide into three doses, and take warm on an empty stomach. On the second day, break the previously used Aconite root into four pieces, use two liang of mung beans and one liang of ginger, and decoct as before. On the third day, break the Aconite root into eight pieces and decoct as before.

For spleen qi horizontal leakage, characterized by swelling of the four limbs, fullness and distension in the heart and abdomen, and asthma preventing lying down.
Prescription: Curcuma Zedoaria Rhizome (roasted) [Curcumae Zedoariae Rhizoma]; Burreed Tuber (roasted) [Sparganii Rhizoma] (each one liang); Areca Peel (fried) [Arecae Pericarpium]; Aucklandia Root (processed) [Aucklandiae Radix]; Betel Nut (one fen, raw) [Arecae Semen].
Administration: Grind the above herbs into powder. Use fried wheat ground into flour as a binder to make pills the size of wu zi (seeds of Cercis chinensis). Take twenty pills per dose, washed down with ginger soup.
Xiao San Leng Jian treats the same condition as above. (See the "Fibroma" section for this formula.)

For disharmony between the spleen and stomach, characterized by a choking sensation in the chest and diaphragm, pain in the abdomen and hypochondrium, shortness of breath and rapid asthma, fullness below the heart, inability to eat, and incessant vomiting; accompanied by spleen qi horizontal leakage and swelling of the four limbs.
Prescription: Schisandra Fruit (Wuweizi); Platycodon Root (Jiegeng); Poria (Fuling); Licorice Root (fried) [Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma]; Tangerine Peel (Chenpi); Mulberry Root Bark (Sangbaipi); Black Cardamom (Caoguo); Areca Peel (Dafupi) (each two and a half liang); Perilla Leaf (Zisuye).
Administration: Process the above herbs into coarse powder. Take four qian per dose, add one bowl of water, three slices of ginger, and a little salt. Decoct until seven-tenths remain, strain, and take before meals.

For rapid asthma that persists for a long time without recovery, eventually leading to edema, which is a common occurrence. When floating edema affects the face, eyes, and body due to water retention, specifically swelling above the waist, this decoction should be used to induce sweating.
Prescription: Ephedra Stem (two liang, nodes removed, soaked in boiling water) [Ephedrae Herba]; Licorice Root (one liang) [Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma].
Administration: Cut the above herbs into a coarse powder. Take four qian per dose, add one and a half bowls of water, decoct until seven-tenths remain, strain, and take warm on an empty stomach.