水统于肾，而根于肺，肺阴不降，则水不化气，而泛滥于上，是为水胀。水胀者，脐以上肿是
也。盖肺不降，由于胃逆，胃逆由于土湿，土湿乃由水寒，水寒而肾失封蛰之性，则相火不得秘藏，
土湿乃令木郁，木郁而肝失疏泄之权，则水道不能清利，是以膀胱癃闭，水不归壑而逆行于胸腹，浸淫
于经络，则肿胀之病作矣。其本之在脏者，宜泄之于膀胱。其标之在经者，宜泄之于汗孔。汗溺之行
，总以燥土疏木为主。盖水病虽在肺肾，而土湿木郁乃其根本也。如初起宜发汗者，以苓桂麻
黄汤主之。宜利水者，以苓桂阿胶汤主之。如水在太阳之经，宜发汗以驱水者，以小青龙汤主之。如水在
少阴之经，宜化气以导水者，以真武汤主之，如风水脉浮、身重汗出恶风者，以防己黄 汤主之。如皮水
四肢肿，水在皮中，聂聂动者，以防己茯苓汤主之。如治正水者。以桂枝去芍药加麻黄细辛附子汤主之。
如治石水者，以麻黄附子汤主之。
苓桂麻黄汤
茯苓（三钱） 泽泻（三钱） 半夏（三钱） 杏仁（三钱） 甘草（二钱） 麻黄（二钱）
桂枝（三钱） 水煎大半杯，热服，覆衣取汗。中气虚加人参，寒加干姜，肺热加麦冬、贝母。用五
苓散加茵陈亦妙。
苓桂阿胶汤
茯苓（三钱） 泽泻（三钱） 甘草（二钱） 桂枝（三钱） 阿胶（三钱） 猪苓（三钱）
水煎大半杯，热服。小便不清加西瓜浆，热加栀子，中虚加人参，寒加干姜。乙木遏陷，疏泄不行，阳
败土湿，不能制伏水邪，故病肿胀。泄湿燥土，疏木行水，是定法也。后世八味加减之方，地黄助脾之湿
，附子益肝之热，肝脾未至极败，服之可效，肝脾病深，则不效，而反益其害，最误人也。
小青龙汤
（方见咳嗽）
桂枝去芍药加麻黄细辛附子汤 麻黄附子汤（二方，均见金匮。）
真武汤
（方见痰饮）
防己黄 汤
防己（三钱） 甘草（一钱半炙） 白术（二钱） 黄 （二钱） 生姜（一钱）
大枣（一枚） 水煎大半杯，温服。服后如虫行皮中，从腰下如冰，后坐被上，又以一被绕腰下，温令微
汗瘥。喘者加麻黄。胃中不和者，加芍药。气上冲者，加桂枝。
防己茯苓汤
防己（三钱） 桂枝（三钱） 黄 （三钱） 茯苓（六钱） 甘草（一钱炙） 水煎大半
杯，温服，日夜作三服。
桂枝苓泽汤
此方统治鼓胀 桂枝（三钱） 茯苓（六钱） 泽泻（三钱） 杏仁（三钱） 半夏（三钱）
甘草（二钱） 防己（三钱） 桑叶（三钱） 生姜（三钱） 水煎大半杯，温服。
Water metabolism is governed by the Kidney (Shen) and rooted in the Lung (Fei). If Lung Yin fails to descend, water cannot transform into Qi, leading to flooding in the upper jiao, which constitutes Water Distension (Shui Zhang). Water Distension refers to swelling above the umbilicus.
The failure of Lung Qi to descend is due to Stomach Qi rebelling upward; Stomach Qi rebellion is caused by Dampness in the Spleen Earth; Spleen Earth dampness stems from Cold in the Kidney Water. When Kidney Water is cold, the Kidney loses its sealing and storing nature, causing Ministerial Fire (Xiang Huo) to fail in being securely stored. Excessive Spleen Earth dampness leads to Liver Wood stagnation; Liver Wood stagnation causes the Liver to lose its power of free flow and drainage, resulting in the inability of the water passages to clear and benefit. Consequently, the Bladder suffers from strangury (long bi), water fails to return to its proper reservoir, and reverses to flow into the chest and abdomen, infiltrating the meridians and collaterals, thus giving rise to swelling diseases.
For the root located in the Zang-Fu organs, it is appropriate to drain via the Bladder. For the branch located in the meridians, it is appropriate to drain via the sweat pores. The execution of sweating and urination primarily relies on drying dampness and soothing Liver Wood. Although water disease manifests in the Lung and Kidney, Spleen Earth dampness and Liver Wood stagnation are the fundamental causes.
If at the initial stage sweating is indicated, Ling Gui Ma Huang Tang (Poria, Cinnamon Twig, and Ephedra Decoction) should be used. If diuresis is indicated, Ling Gui E Jiao Tang (Poria, Cinnamon Twig, and Donkey-Hide Gelatin Decoction) should be used. If water resides in the Taiyang Meridian and sweating is indicated to drive out water, Xiao Qing Long Tang (Minor Green Dragon Decoction) should be used. If water resides in the Shaoyin Meridian and transforming Qi to guide water is indicated, Zhen Wu Tang (True Warrior Decoction) should be used. If it is Feng Shui (Wind Water) presenting with floating pulse, heavy body, sweating, and aversion to wind, Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang (Stephania and Astragalus Decoction) should be used. If it is Pi Shui (Skin Water) presenting with edema of the four limbs and water in the skin with slight tremors, Fang Ji Fu Ling Tang (Stephania and Poria Decoction) should be used. To treat Zheng Shui (Correct Water), Gui Zhi Qu Shao Yao Jia Ma Huang Xi Xin Fu Zi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction without Peony plus Ephedra, Asarum, and Aconite) should be used. To treat Shi Shui (Stone Water), Ma Huang Fu Zi Tang (Ephedra and Aconite Decoction) should be used.
Ling Gui Ma Huang Tang: Fu Ling (Poria cocos, 3 qian), Ze Xie (Alisma rhizome, 3 qian), Ban Xia (Pinellia tuber, 3 qian), Xing Ren (Apricot seed, 3 qian), Gan Cao (Licorice root, 2 qian), Ma Huang (Ephedrae Herba, 2 qian), Gui Zhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus, 3 qian). Decoct in water to obtain half a cup, take hot, cover with clothing to induce sweating. Add Ren Shen (Ginseng radix) if Middle Qi is deficient; add Gan Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) if there is cold; add Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Radix) and Bei Mu (Fritillariae Bulbus) if there is Lung heat. Using Wu Ling San (Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria) plus Yin Chen (Artemisiae Scopariae Herba) is also excellent.
Ling Gui E Jiao Tang: Fu Ling (Poria cocos, 3 qian), Ze Xie (Alisma rhizome, 3 qian), Gan Cao (Licorice root, 2 qian), Gui Zhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus, 3 qian), E Jiao (Donkey-hide gelatin, 3 qian), Zhu Ling (Polyporus, 3 qian). Decoct in water to obtain half a cup, take hot. Add Xi Gua Jiang (Watermelon juice) if urine is unclear; add Zhi Zi (Gardeniae Fructus) if there is heat; add Ren Shen (Ginseng radix) if Middle Qi is deficient; add Gan Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) if there is cold. Yi Mu (Liver Wood) is suppressed and sunken, free flow and drainage do not function, Yang is damaged, Spleen Earth dampness is excessive, failing to control Water Evil, thus swelling occurs. Draining dampness, drying Spleen Earth, soothing Liver Wood, and promoting water movement are the established methods. Later generations' modified formulas based on Ba Wei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill) use Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix) which aids Spleen dampness, and Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata) which increases Liver heat. If Liver and Spleen are not extremely depleted, taking these may be effective; but if Liver and Spleen disease is deep, they will be ineffective and instead increase harm, most misleading people.
Xiao Qing Long Tang: (Formula see Cough section)
Gui Zhi Qu Shao Yao Jia Ma Huang Xi Xin Fu Zi Tang, Ma Huang Fu Zi Tang: (Both formulas see Jingui Yaolue)
Zhen Wu Tang: (Formula see Phlegm-Fluids section)
Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang: Fang Ji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix, 3 qian), Gan Cao (Licorice root, 1.5 qian, honey-fried), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, 2 qian), Huang Qi (Astragali Radix, 2 qian), Sheng Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, 1 qian), Da Zao (Jujubae Fructus, 1 piece). Decoct in water to obtain half a cup, take warm. After taking, if one feels like insects crawling in the skin, and the lower waist feels like ice, sit on the quilt, then wrap another quilt around the lower waist, keep warm until slight sweating occurs for recovery. Add Ma Huang (Ephedrae Herba) if panting. Add Shao Yao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) if Stomach is disharmonious. Add Gui Zhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus) if Qi rushes upward.
Fang Ji Fu Ling Tang: Fang Ji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix, 3 qian), Gui Zhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus, 3 qian), Huang Qi (Astragali Radix, 3 qian), Fu Ling (Poria cocos, 6 qian), Gan Cao (Licorice root, 1 qian, honey-fried). Decoct in water to obtain half a cup, take warm, divide into three doses throughout day and night.
Gui Zhi Ling Ze Tang: This formula generally treats Gu Zhang (Drum Distension). Gui Zhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus, 3 qian), Fu Ling (Poria cocos, 6 qian), Ze Xie (Alisma rhizome, 3 qian), Xing Ren (Apricot seed, 3 qian), Ban Xia (Pinellia tuber, 3 qian), Gan Cao (Licorice root, 2 qian), Fang Ji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix, 3 qian), Sang Ye (Mori Folium, 3 qian), Sheng Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, 3 qian). Decoct in water to obtain half a cup, take warm.