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[Formula Twenty-Six, Along with Five Incurable Syndromes]

There are five types of edema that are incurable:
First, if the face is swollen and appears cyanotic-black, it indicates liver failure and is incurable;
Second, if the palms are swollen without visible skin texture, it indicates heart failure and is incurable;
Third, if the abdomen is swollen without visible skin texture, it indicates lung failure and is incurable;
Fourth, if the yin region (genitals) is swollen and pitting does not rebound upon pressure, it indicates kidney failure and is incurable;
Fifth, if the area around the umbilicus is distended, swollen, and protruding outward, it indicates spleen failure and is incurable.

[Zhu Ling San (Polyporus Powder)]
Indications: Deficiency-type abdominal fullness, generalized edema, unblocking the San Jiao (Triple Burner), and promoting water passages.
Ingredients: Zhu Ling (Polypori Sclerotium, peeled), Fu Ling (Poria, peeled), Ting Li Zi (Descurainiae Semen seu Lepidii Semen, stir-fried), Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Wu Wei Zi (Schisandrae Fructus), Fang Feng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), Ze Xie (Alismatis Rhizoma), Ye Lang Du (Stellerae Radix), Xuan Shen (Scrophulariae Radix), Gan Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Cong Rong (Cynomorii Herba) (each 2.5 fen).
Process the above nineteen medicinal materials by pounding and sieving to make a powder. Administer one fang cun bi (a measure approx. 2-3 grams) with wine, three times during the day and once at night. For the elderly and children, administer one qian bi (approx. 1 gram), three times daily. Discontinue when urination becomes smooth.

[Pu Huang Jiu (Polygoni Catnatum Wine)]
Indications: Various diseases caused by strange pathogens, manic wandering, qi stagnation with cold sensations, chronic yellowish-black complexion, massive abdominal edema, pediatric ding xi syndrome (severe malnutrition/emaciation), perennial malaria, cholera, sudden evil invasion, fei shi (flying corpse disease), and acute emergencies. All are primarily treated by this formula.
Ingredients: Yuan Qing (Mylabris), Ba Dou (Crotonis Fructus, remove heart and peel, stir-fried), Ban Mao (Mylabris, 30 each, remove wings and feet, stir-fried), Tian Xiong (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, processed, peeled), Gan Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, half liang each), Wu Tou (Aconiti Radix, processed, peeled), Xi Xin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma), Shu Jiao (Zanthoxyli Pericarpium, sweat-treated, remove seeds and closed-mouth ones), Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, processed, peeled), Zhi Zhu (Rhododendri Mollis Flos), Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix).
Process the above twelve medicinal materials by finely chopping them. Place them in a silk bag and soak in one dou (approx. 10 liters) of wine for ten days. Remove the dregs. Administer half he (approx. 10-20 ml), three times daily, until efficacy is observed. If dregs remain, process them into a powder. Administer half qian bi with wine, three times daily; strong individuals may take one qian bi. For Shang Han (Cold Damage), warm pathogens, damp-cold, headache, muscle spasms, alternating chills and fever, malaria onset, and head wind, administer one qian bi. Cover thickly to induce sweating. Upon initial administration, expect vomiting of clear fluid, approximately three to four sheng (approx. 600-800 ml). It also treats xin shan (heart hernia) and female infertility. If severe restlessness occurs after ingestion, drink one sheng (approx. 200 ml) of cold water to resolve it.

[Pu Huang San (Polygoni Catnatum Powder)]
Indications: Generalized edema due to wind-deficiency and water qi; also treats sudden edema.
Ingredients: Pu Huang (Typhae Pollen), Xiao Dou (Phaseoli Vulgaris Semen), Da Dou (Sojae Semen Album) (one sheng each).
Process the above three medicinal materials by boiling in one dou of wine until reduced to three sheng. Divide into three doses.