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The *Mai Jing* (Pulse Classic) states: "In edema, a floating and large pulse indicates ease of cure, while a deep and fine pulse indicates difficulty in recovery." I believe that if a physician fails to carefully examine the pulse and symptoms, it is already difficult. If the pulse is clear and the symptoms are accurate, a floating and large pulse may indeed lead to complete recovery, but a deep and fine pulse does not necessarily mean it is incurable. In my youth, I suffered from edema and was cured; to understand the profound mysteries of edema, I am willing to share my experience.

When humans ingest water, it enters the stomach. The miracle of qi transformation relies entirely on the Spleen, Lung, and Kidney meridians. The Spleen is responsible for transportation and transformation; the Lung excels in regulating water passages; and the Kidney governs steaming and vaporization. Only then can water descend like rain into the Bladder. If these three organs lose their authority, qi transformation fails, water accumulates in the central region (Middle Jiao), flows horizontally to the limbs, overflows onto the skin, and permeates the entire body.

Regarding the deep and fine pulse: a deep and fine pulse indicates that the disease has penetrated deeper and invaded the Zang organs. Even among deep and fine pulses, one must distinguish between Yin and Yang. If it is Yin Edema, caused by cold damaging the Lung, damp-cold invading the Spleen, or deficiency-cold burdening the Kidney, symptoms include loose stools and clear, profuse urination, with a deep, fine, and slow pulse. Treatment should tonify Earth to warm Metal (Spleen to Lung); one may use the *Shi Kai Si Shi Zhi Fu* Decoction (composed of Scorched Atractylodis Rhizoma, Poria, Prepared Licorice Root, Magnolia Bark, Cinnamon Twig, Cardamom Seed, Quince Fruit, Aucklandia Root, Prepared Aconite Root, Dried Ginger, and Jujube), which opens the blessings of this world. Alternatively, one may nourish Water and supplement Fire using the *Shen Qi Tang* (Kidney Qi Decoction, composed of Prepared Rehmannia Root, Poria, Chinese Yam, Moutan Cortex, Cornus Fruit, Achyranthes Bidentata Root, Plantago Seed, Aconite Root, Cinnamon Bark, and Alisma Rhizome), which can restore the limits of creation.

If it is Yang Edema, caused by excessive Fire overcoming Metal, Heat stagnation insulting Earth, or dryness excessively depleting Water, symptoms include hard stools and yellow-red urine, with a deep, fine, and rapid pulse. One may use Gypsum combined with Ophiopogon Root (Empirical Formula: Gypsum, Ophiopogon Root, Coix Seed, Prepared Licorice Root, Jujube, Fresh Ginger). In materia medica, this is sufficient to be called the "lever" for treating water (as recorded in *Records of the Grand Historian*, Yu used sleds for mud travel and wedges for mountain travel when controlling floods; the sled is a toothed footwear, imitated by modern wooden clogs). Alternatively, one may combine Coptis Rhizome with Phellodendron Bark (Empirical Formula: Coptis Rhizome, Coix Seed, Phellodendron Bark, Plantago Seed, a small amount of Cinnamon Twig, Anemarrhena Rhizome, and Prepared Licorice Root). In medical formulas, this is akin to the rhinoceros horn that parts the waters (as stated in *Baopuzi*: a rhino horn over one chi long, carved into a fish shape and held in the mouth, parts the water).

I have observed cases where both Yin and Yang Qi were reversed, which is unpredictable. The reversal in Yang Edema is ten times more severe than in Yin Edema. Treating Yin Edema with Yang methods may initially cause hoarseness leading to death; treating Yang Edema with Yin methods will certainly lead to hematemesis and death.

Regarding the floating and large pulse, the pathogen remains in the exterior, representing the shallowest stage of disease. If water accumulates in the Bladder, one may use the *Wu Pi Yin* (Five Peel Decoction, composed of Acanthopanacis Cortex, Lycii Cortex, Poria Peel, Areca Peel, and Ginger Peel) to cleanse the pure and empty organ. If water circulates in the muscle layer, one may use the *Yue Bi Tang* (Yue Bi Decoction, composed of Gypsum, Ephedra Herb, Jujube, Prepared Licorice Root, and Fresh Ginger) to open the gates of sweat (Guimen).

If swelling is mild in the morning and severe in the evening, or mild in the evening and severe in the morning, it is because water follows the ascending and descending of Qi; why attribute it to Yin deficiency and Yang insufficiency? If there is upper asthma and shortness of breath, making sleep difficult at night, it is because water invades the pores of the Lung lobes; why attribute it to the Child stealing from the Mother (Kidney-Lung relationship) or uterine issues?

Whether called Feng Shui (Wind Edema), Shi Shui (Stone Edema), or Pi Shui (Skin Edema), these are merely different names for water retention. Whether called Shi Zhong (Damp Swelling), Xue Zhong (Blood Swelling), or Feng Zhong (Wind Swelling), they all fall under the category of Edema. By analyzing pulse and symptoms and distinguishing the involved Zang-Fu organs, whether the pulse is deep/fine or floating/large, what is the difference in difficulty? Judging principles and circumstances, these are merely repetitions of previous teachings; speaking from the heart, these are words from someone who survived a disaster. Dealing with this condition requires great hardship. Worry turns hair white by three thousand zhang, enduring eighteen rapids of turbulent waves.

People generally know that floating and large pulses indicate Yang, and deep and fine pulses indicate Yin, but they do not realize that within deep and fine pulses, there are slow and rapid distinctions, which imply Yin and Yang differences. The treatment methods differ significantly. Many patients suffer due to medication errors, regretting not reading this text earlier.