《水热穴论》曰∶少阴何以主肾，肾何以主水？肾者，至阴也。至阴者，盛水也。肺者，太阴也。
少阴者，冬脉也。故其本在肾，其未在肺，皆积水也。（阴者，谓寒也。冬曰至寒，肾起合阴，故
云肾者，至阴也。水旺于冬，故云至阴者，盛水也。少阴脉从肾上贯肝膈，入肺中，故云∶其本在肾，
其末在肺也。肾气上逆，则水气客于肺中，故云∶皆积水也。）肾何以能聚水能生病？肾者，胃之
关也。关门不利，故聚水而从其类也。关者，所以司出入也。肾主下焦，膀胱为腑，主下分注，关窍二
阴。故肾气化则二阴通，二阴闭则胃填满，故云肾者，胃之关也。关闭则水积，水积则气停，水积气
溢，气水同类，故云关闭不利，聚水而从其类也。）上下溢于皮肤，故为 肿。 肿者，聚水而生病也。
上，谓肺。下，谓肾。肺肾俱溢，故聚水于腹中而生病也。）帝曰∶诸水皆生于肾乎？伯曰∶肾者，
牝脏也。（牝，阴也。主阴位，故云牝脏。）地气上者，属于肾，而生水液也，故曰至阴。勇而劳甚
则肾汗出，肾汗出逢于风，内不得入于脏腑，外不得越于皮肤，客于玄府，行于皮里，传于 肿，本
之于肾，名曰风水。（勇而劳甚，谓力房也。劳勇汗出，则玄府开，汗出逢风，则玄府复闭，闭则余
汗未出，内伏皮肤，转化为水，从风而水，故名风水。）所谓玄府者，汗孔也。（汗液色玄，从孔而出，
以汗聚于里，故谓之玄府。此言风水之病，本之于肾，传之于肺也。）水俞五十七处者，是何主也？
肾俞五十七穴，积阴之所聚也。水所从出入也。尻上五行，行五者，此肾俞，（背部之俞，凡有五行，
当其中者，督脉气所发，次两旁四行皆太阳脉气也。）故水病，下为跗肿大腹，上为喘呼，（水下居于
肾，则腹至足而浮肿。上入于肺则喘息贲急，而大呼也。）不得卧者，标本俱病，（标本者，肺为标，
肾为本，是肺肾俱水为病也。）分为相输，俱受者，水气之所留也。（分其居处以名之，则是气相
输应，本其俱受气病则皆水所留也。）伏兔上各二行，行五者，此肾之街也。（街，谓道也。腹部
正俞，凡有五行，夹脐两旁，则肾脏足少阴脉，及冲脉气所发，次两旁则胃府足阳明脉气所发，此四
行穴则伏兔之上也。）三阴之所交结于脚也。踝上各一行，行六者，此肾脉之下行也，名曰太冲。
凡五十七穴者，皆藏之阴络，水之所客也。（《经》所谓五十七者，尻上计有五行，每行计有五穴，
此肾之俞也。其中行系督脉一经，旁四行，系足太阳膀胱经，以肾于膀胱为表里也。伏兔上各二行，
每行有五穴者，此肾脉所通之街，谓夹中行任脉，两旁冲脉也。且足经三阴之交者，必结于脚内踝上
三寸，有穴名三阴交。肾肝脾三经之所交也。其踝上各一行，每行六穴者，此肾脉之所行，名曰太
冲，以肾于冲脉并皆下行于足，合而盛大，故曰太冲。其穴在内踝之上。凡此五十七穴者，皆阴脏之
阴络，水之所客也。故治水者，治此诸穴耳。）
According to the "Treatise on Water and Heat Acupoints" (Shui Re Xue Lun): Why does the Shaoyin meridian govern the Kidney, and why does the Kidney govern water metabolism? The Kidney is the organ of Supreme Yin (Zhi Yin). "Supreme Yin" refers to its abundance in storing water. The Lung belongs to the Taiyin meridian.
The Shaoyin meridian corresponds to the pulse of Winter. Therefore, the root of edema lies in the Kidney, while its branch manifests in the Lung; both involve the accumulation of water. (Note: Here, "Yin" refers to Cold pathogenic factors. Winter is called "Extreme Cold," and Kidney Qi harmonizes with the Yin of winter, hence it is said that the Kidney is "Supreme Yin." Water qi is most prosperous in winter, thus it is said that "Supreme Yin means abundant water." The Shaoyin meridian ascends from the Kidney, passes through the Liver and diaphragm, and enters the Lung, hence it is said: "Its root is in the Kidney, its branch is in the Lung." If Kidney Qi rebels upward, water qi lodges in the Lung, hence it is said: "Both accumulate water.")
Why can the Kidney gather water and cause disease? The Kidney is the gate of the Stomach. If this gate functions improperly, water accumulates and attracts similar elements (i.e., water-dampness binds together). The term "gate" refers to regulating entry and exit. The Kidney governs the Lower Jiao, and the Bladder, as a Fu organ, primarily directs flow downward through the two orifices (anterior and posterior). Thus, when Kidney Qi is unobstructed, the two orifices function normally; if the two orifices are blocked, the Stomach becomes distended. Hence, it is said that "the Kidney is the gate of the Stomach." If the gate closes improperly, water accumulates; water accumulation leads to stagnation of Qi; when water accumulates and Qi overflows, since Qi and Water share similar natures, it is said that "improper closure causes water to accumulate following its kind."
When water overflows up and down into the skin, it forms edema. Edema is a disease caused by the aggregation of water. "Up" refers to the Lung, and "Down" refers to the Kidney. When water qi overflows from both the Lung and the Kidney, it accumulates in the abdomen, causing disease.
The Yellow Emperor asked: Do all types of swelling originate from the Kidney? The Yellow Emperor's minister, Bo (Qibo), answered: The Kidney is a Yin organ (Pin Zang). ("Pin" means Yin. Since the Kidney governs the Yin position, it is called the Pin Zang.) Earthly Qi rising upwards belongs to the Kidney and generates fluid, hence it is referred to as Supreme Yin. If one exerts oneself vigorously and works excessively, Kidney sweat may occur. If Kidney sweat occurs and encounters Wind pathogen, it cannot enter the Zang-Fu organs internally nor vent onto the skin externally. Instead, it lodges in the Xuancuo (pores), travels within the subcutaneous tissue, and transforms into edema. This condition originates in the Kidney and is named Fengshui (Wind Edema). ("Vigorous exertion and excessive labor" refers to sexual excess or strenuous physical effort. During vigorous sweating, the Xuancuo open; upon encountering wind after sweating, the Xuancuo close. With the closure, residual sweat remains trapped inside the skin, transforming into water-dampness, which follows the Wind pathogen to cause disease, hence named Fengshui.)
The so-called "Xuancuo" refers to the sweat pores. (Because sweat has a dark hue and exits through the pores, and because sweat gathers deeply within the interior, it is called Xuancuo. This explains that the pathology of Fengshui originates in the Kidney and transmits to the Lung.)
There are five regions of acupoints for water diseases, totaling fifty-seven points. What is their primary function? These fifty-seven acupoints are the gathering place of Yin Qi and the pathways for the entry and exit of water.
Above the sacrum, there are five rows, each containing five acupoints; these are the Shu points of the Kidney. (The Shu points on the back consist of five rows. The central row is where the Qi of the Du Meridian emerges, while the four adjacent rows are where the Qi of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian emerges.) Therefore, in patients with water disease, the lower body presents with swelling of the dorsum of the foot and abdominal distension, while the upper body presents with panting and loud calling. (When water evil descends to the Kidney, edema occurs from the abdomen to the feet. When it ascends to the Lung, it causes rapid breathing and loud exhalations.) If the patient cannot lie flat, it indicates that both the Root (Ben) and Branch (Biao) are diseased. (The "Branch" refers to the Lung, and the "Root" refers to the Kidney; this signifies that both the Lung and Kidney are afflicted by water pathology.)
These acupoints are divided into corresponding transmission relationships. If both the Root and Branch simultaneously suffer from Qi disorders, it is due to the retention of Water Qi. (Named according to their locations, this implies mutual transmission of Qi. If both Root and Branch are affected by Qi disorders, it results from the stagnation of Water Qi.)
Above the Futu point, there are two rows on each side, each containing five acupoints; these constitute the "streets" (channels) of Kidney Qi. ("Street" means pathway. The acupoints along the anterior midline consist of five rows. Flanking the umbilicus are the Kidney Foot-Shaoyin Meridian and the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel). Adjacent to these are the Stomach Foot-Yangming Meridian. These four rows of acupoints are located above the Futu point.) This is where the three Yin meridians intersect at the feet.
Above each ankle, there is one row containing six acupoints; this is the descending pathway of the Kidney Meridian, named Taichong. (The three Yin meridians converge at the feet. At Sanjinyao (Sanyinjiao, SP6), three cun above the medial malleolus, the Liver, Spleen, and Kidney meridians intersect. The row of six acupoints above the ankle represents the course of the Kidney Meridian, named Taichong, because the Kidney Meridian runs parallel with the Chong Mai down to the foot, where their Qi becomes abundant and grand, hence "Taichong." These acupoints are located above the medial malleolus.)
In total, there are fifty-seven acupoints, all of which are the Yin collaterals of the Yin Zang organs and are places where Water Qi lodges. (As stated in the *Classic*, the fifty-seven points include five rows above the sacrum, with five points per row, constituting the Shu points of the Kidney. The central row belongs to the Du Meridian, while the four lateral rows belong to the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian, as the Kidney and Bladder are exterior-interior paired organs. The two rows above Futu, with five points each, represent the streets through which Kidney Qi flows, referring to the Chong Mai flanking the Ren Mai at the midline. Furthermore, the convergence of the three Foot-Yin meridians must occur at Sanjinyao (SP6), three cun above the medial malleolus, which is the intersection of the Kidney, Liver, and Spleen meridians. The row of six points above the ankle is the pathway of the Kidney Meridian, named Taichong, because the Kidney and Chong meridians descend together to the foot, becoming盛大 (grand/prosperous), hence Taichong. These points are above the medial malleolus. All fifty-seven points are the Yin collaterals of the Yin Zang organs and are sites where Water Qi resides. Therefore, treating water diseases involves treating these various acupoints.)