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Treats generalized edema of the whole body, panting and crying out, thirst, and constipation of both stool and urine (The above symptoms indicate severe damp-heat with sufficient healthy qi, which belongs to Yang Edema. Yang Edema presents with Yang syndromes, and the pulse must be deep and rapid; Yin Edema presents with Yin syndromes, and the pulse must be deep and slow).

Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix), Qinjiao (Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix), Binglang (Arecae Semen), Shanglu (Phytolaccae Radix), Jiaomu (Zanthoxyli Semen), Dafupi (Citri Grandis Pericarpium), Fulingpi (Poriae Cortex), Mutong (Akebiae Caulis), Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma), Chixiaodou (Phaseoli Radiati Semen) in equal parts. Add Jiangpi (Zingiberis Recens Pericarpium) and decoct.

These are herbs for the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Channel, Hand-Taiyin Lung Channel, and Foot-Taiyin Spleen Channel. Externally, there is swelling all over the body; internally, there is thirst and constipation, indicating that the upper and lower, exterior and interior are all diseased. Qianghuo and Qinjiao unblock the water passages, directing water to the Small Intestine; Zexie drains water from the Spleen and Kidney, communicating with the Bladder (These two herbs drain water, which is essentially draining fire). They dissipate heat from the upper, lower, interior, and exterior, similar to the intent of Yu the Great dredging rivers and digging canals (The Classic says: Why does the Kidney govern water? The Kidney is the organ of Extreme Yin; Extreme Yin implies abundant water. The Lung is the organ of Taiyin; Shaoyin is the pulse of Winter. Thus, the root of water lies in the Kidney, and its branches in the Lung; both accumulate water. Why does the Kidney gather water and cause disease? The Kidney is the gate of the Stomach. If the gate is not functional, water gathers and follows its kind. Therefore, water disease manifests below as abdominal distension and swelling, and above as panting and inability to lie flat. Since both root and branch are diseased, the Lung causes panting, the Kidney causes edema, and rebellious Lung Qi causes inability to lie flat. Yu Jiayan said: The Stomach is the sea where water gathers and the source of the Five Zang and Six Fu organs. If the Spleen cannot scatter the water essence from the Stomach to the Lung, disease occurs in the Middle Jiao; if the Lung cannot communicate the water pathways from the Stomach to the Bladder, disease occurs in the Upper Jiao; if the Kidney cannot manage the gate of the Stomach and regulate its transport and excretion, disease occurs in the Lower Jiao; this leads to accumulating water overflowing without end. Wang Haogu said: Water is governed by the Spleen, Lung, and Kidney channels, involving the regions of the Five Zang, Six Fu, and Twelve Channels, divided into head and face, middle limbs, lower waist and feet, outer skin, inner muscles, and internal sinews and bones. Pulses differ in Cun and Chi positions and floating and sunken qualities. One should not lightly use purgative herbs; one must know which channel and Zang organ are affected before prescribing. Note: Edema can be caused by phlegm obstruction, food stagnation, or blood stasis leading to failure of clear Yang to ascend and turbid Yin to descend; it can be formed by mutually generating damp-heat and blocked meridians; it can be formed by dry-heat surging and blockage. These syndromes belong to Excess. It can be formed by taking cold-cooling herbs, damaging diet, or deficiency of Middle Qi; it can be formed after serious illness when healthy Qi is exhausted; it can be formed by ineffective urination, reckless flow of fluids, and Spleen's inability to control them. These syndromes belong to Deficiency. They should be treated separately. However, their source often arises from insufficiency of Middle Qi. *Yi Guan* states: To treat swelling and fullness, first focus on strengthening Spleen Earth, using Buzhong Yiqi Tang or Liujunzi Tang. Some doubt: "Water distension and panting/fullness—would pure tonifying agents not worsen the distension?" The answer is: If Lung Qi is already deficient, one cannot forcibly move Qi; if Kidney Water is already depleted, one cannot forcibly promote diuresis. Pure tonifying agents may initially feel uncomfortable, but after a while, when the medicinal power takes effect, things gradually become orderly. Ang notes: This is the meaning of 'treating obstruction with obstruction' (Sai Yin Sai Yong) from the *Inner Canon*).