Library

*Ji Yan Fang* (Collected Proven Prescriptions) records: The Yellow Emperor asked Qibo, "How can one differentiate between water disease (Shui Bing), skin distension (Fu Zhang), drum distension (Gu Zhang), intestinal polyps (Chang Qin), stone gynecological mass (Shi Xia), and stone water (Shi Shui)?" Qibo replied... (The original text is incomplete here).

*Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang* (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold for Emergencies) records: Swelling that begins in the chest is named Stone Water (Shi Shui), with its root in the Spleen.)

*Yi Men Fang* (Medical Gate Formulas) analyzes: In recent observations of patients with edema (Shui Bing), urination is invariably obstructed; the urine may be yellow or red and difficult to discharge. Fluid overflows into the meridians and collaterals, causing swelling and fullness, which is termed Water Disease (Shui Bing).

It further states: For various types of skin edema, administering diaphoretic decoctions will result in recovery once sweating occurs. One must strictly avoid wind-cold and salty foods. It is advisable to consume carp, snakehead fish, adzuki beans, etc.

*Ge Shi Fang* (Formulas by Master Ge) records: If a patient with water disease presents with black lips and protruding umbilicus, it is a death sign; if a patient with water disease exhibits "Mai Chu" (floating and rootless pulse), it is also a death sign.

*Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang* records: At the onset of water disease, the eyes swell first, taking on a color resembling an old silkworm. There is pulsation in the vessels of the cheeks and neck. The inner thighs feel cold, and the shins are full/swollen. Pressing the area leaves an indentation that does not immediately rebound.

It further states: Patients with water disease must avoid abdominal fluid leakage. If fluid leaks from the abdomen, death will occur within one month; this must be strictly avoided.

It further states: Patients with water disease must avoid mourning rituals, periods of filial piety, childbirth, lactation, listening to music, sexual intercourse, noisy play, and must abstain from all fish, all meats, raw/cold foods, sour/slippery foods, garlic, and sticky rice.

*Bing Yuan Lun* (Treatise on Pathogenesis and Symptoms of Diseases) records: All cases of edema are caused by stagnation and obstruction of Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) Qi, along with weakness of the Kidney and Spleen. Large abdominal edema may occur after a severe illness... (The original text is incomplete here).

*Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang* provides a formula for large abdominal edema with blocked qi respiration, where life hangs in the balance:
Niuhuang (Calculus Bovis, 2 fen) Kunkbu (Laminariae Thallus, 10 fen) Haizao (Sargassum, 10 fen) Qianniuzi (Pharbitidis Semen, 8 fen) Guixin (Cinnamomi Ramulus, 8 fen) Jiaomu (Zanthoxyli Fructus Seed, 3 liang, stir-fried) Tinglizi (Descurainiae Semen Lepidii Semen, [quantity missing]).
Process seven herbs. Separate Tinglizi, grind it until it resembles paste, mix with other herbs, and form pills the size of mulberry seeds. Take ten pills with warm water, twice daily. Gradually increase the dose until urination becomes free.

*Yi Men Fang* provides a formula for large abdominal edema with generalized severe swelling and scanty/difficult urination:
Haige (Concha Meretricis, 6 he, ground to powder) Tinglizi (Descurainiae Semen Lepidii Semen, 10 fen, stir-fried) Fuling (Poria, 6 fen) Juapi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, 4 fen) Yuliren (Pruni Semen, 4 fen) Sanggenbaipi (Mori Cortex, [quantity missing]).
Grind the above herbs into a powder. Separately grind Tinglizi into a paste-like consistency and incorporate it into the powder. Mix with honey to form pills. Take seven pills on an empty stomach with warm water, once daily. One should have one or two bowel movements. If there is no relief... (The original text is incomplete here).

*Xin Lu Fang* (Newly Recorded Formulas) provides a formula for water disease with abdominal distension, facial edema, and difficult urination:
Tinglizi (Descurainiae Semen Lepidii Semen, 1 sheng, stir-fried until purple, ground to paste) Mangxiao (Natrii Sulfas, 3 liang) Wuzhuyu (Evodiae Fructus, 3 he, ground to powder).
Mix the three herbs and grind again. Add a small amount of honey to form pills. Grind for two thousand strokes. Take seven pills with warm water, twice daily. Stop when urination becomes free. Avoid salty and sour foods. Discontinue when cured.

*Xiao Yan Fang* (Proven Formulas) provides Tinglizi Powder for treating large abdominal edema:
Lanye (Isatidis Folium, 3 liang) Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, 1.5 liang) Tinglizi (Descurainiae Semen Lepidii Semen, 2 liang, stir-fried).
Process the three herbs and sift. Take before meals with wine, two fangcun bi (measurements). If preferring pills, mix with honey and take like soybean-sized pellets, twenty pills daily.

*Duan Ju Fang* (Short Drama Formulas) provides Soybean Decoction for treating edema:
Dadou (Glycines Sojae Semen, 3 dou), water 5 dou. Boil until cooked. Remove the beans and clarify the juice. Add 5 sheng of fine wine. Simmer over low heat until thick like maltose syrup. Take 1 sheng initially, gradually increasing the dose, to cause... (The original text is incomplete here).

*Qipo Fang* (Formulas of Qibo) provides a formula for human water disease with rotting limbs/feet and generalized swelling of face and abdomen:
Xiangru (Moslae Herba, 100 jin). Boil in water until cooked. Remove dregs and simmer again until the liquid is thick like maltose syrup. Take small amounts frequently. This should induce the discharge of accumulated water. Frequent urination indicates recovery.

It further states: To treat patients with excessive water retention, heavy body, drooling, and puffy facial swelling, use this purgative formula:
Guixin (Cinnamomi Ramulus, 1.5 liang) Dafubinglang (Arecae Catechu, 3-7 pieces, chewed or ground) Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, 1.5 liang).
Cut the three ingredients. Boil in 9 sheng of water to obtain 3 sheng. Remove dregs. Divide into three doses. Recovery occurs when accumulated water is discharged.

*Ge Shi Fang* provides a formula for large abdominal water disease:
Fangji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix) Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) Tingli (Descurainiae Semen Lepidii Semen) (each 2 liang).
Grind together. Mix with vinegar (Ku Jiu) to form pills the size of mulberry seeds. Take three pills, three times daily. Keep this medication on hand until the swelling completely subsides.

Another formula: A large bunch of Baimaogen (Imperatae Rhizoma) and 3 sheng of Dadou (Adzuki Beans). Boil in 5 sheng of water. After cooking, remove the Baimaogen and eat the beans. The water will drain out through urination.

Another formula: Frequently eating adzuki bean rice and drinking adzuki bean juice is beneficial.

*Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) records: Meat [specific type missing] treats chronic edema that has not healed and cases near death. Prepare as a soup/stew for consumption; it has a great effect in promoting water drainage.

*Ji Yao Fang* (Extremely Important Formulas) provides a miraculous formula for treating general and localized swelling:
Baiyang (White Maltose, 4 liang) Guixin (Cinnamomi Ramulus, 1 liang) Sanggen (Mori Radix Cortex, 6 sheng) Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, 1 liang, prepared with heat) Renshen (Ginseng Radix, 1 liang) Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma, 1 liang) Dazao (Jujubae Fructus, [quantity missing]).
Take the above herbs. Boil Sanggen in 9 sheng of water to obtain 3 sheng. Use this liquid to decoct the remaining herbs to obtain 1 sheng. Remove dregs. Add Baiyang (maltose) and melt it completely. Divide into three doses. Over one day and night, if 5-6 sheng of urine is discharged, the condition will improve.

*Long Men Fang* (Dragon Gate Formulas) provides a formula for abdominal fullness hard as stone, persisting for years without improvement: Take the bark or branches from the southeast side of a white poplar tree. Remove the rough outer bark. Carefully shave and process 5 sheng. Stir-fry... (The original text is incomplete here).

It further states: Take 1 he per dose, three times daily.

Moxibustion method for water disease:
*Duan Ju Fang* states: Moxa-burn Ge Shu (BL17, located 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the 7th thoracic vertebra) for 100 moxa cones. Repeat every three days. Moxa-burn Pi Shu (BL20, located at the lower border of the spinous process of the 11th thoracic vertebra, lateral...) (The original text is cut off here).