Library

It is stated that the Sanjiao (Triple Burner) has a name but no distinct form, governing all Qi in the body. Its function corresponds to the "Three Powers" (Heaven, Earth, and Humanity). Therefore, the ascending and descending of respiration, and the movement of water and food, all rely on it for unimpeded flow. Thus, the Upper Jiao is located below the heart, receiving substances but not excreting them; the Middle Jiao is located at the epigastrium, responsible for rotting and ripening food and drink; the Lower Jiao is located below the umbilicus, responsible for separating the clear from the turbid. Its characteristic is to expel waste without reabsorbing essence. Generally speaking, the functions of these three are rooted in the Middle Jiao. The Middle Jiao is the epigastrium, which is the hub of the harmonious Qi of Heaven and Earth. Here, Yin-Yang and clear-turbid Qi begin to differentiate, and the twelve meridians originate from here. If balance is lost here, there will be pathological conditions of excess cold or heat, deficiency or excess, leading to stagnation and obstruction of Ying (Nutrient) and Wei (Defensive) Qi, failure to separate clear from turbid, and the generation of various diseases. It is said that Qi converges at the Sanjiao, and the Hand-Shaoyang meridian connects to the Tanzhong (Conception Vessel 17 / Pericardium 17), which is called the "Official of the Minister," the Sea of Qi. Examining this reveals that the Sanjiao is the root of harmonious Qi.

It is stated in the *Huangdi Zhenjing* (Yellow Emperor's Classic of Acupuncture) that when the Sanjiao suffers disease, one experiences abdominal distension and fullness, Qi stagnation, inability to urinate with urgency and distress. If water overflows, it becomes edema; if water accumulates, it causes swelling. The Sanjiao is the official responsible for dredging waterways, through which water flows. The treatment site for the Upper Jiao is the Tanzhong point, which serves as the Sea of Qi; the Middle Jiao governs the rotting and ripening of food and drink; the Lower Jiao is situated at the upper opening of the Bladder, governing the separation of clear and turbid. Now that the Sanjiao is diseased throughout, abdominal distension, Qi fullness, and urinary retention occur, with water overflowing to form water-swelling disease. Treatment should regulate the ascending and descending of Qi, so that abdominal fullness will naturally dissipate and waterways will become patent.

Formula: Sanhe Tang (Three Harmonies Decoction) for treating Sanjiao disease where Qi fails to ascend and descend, waterways are obstructed, gradually forming water swelling.
Da Fu Pi (Arecae Pericarpium, roasted until yellow) 1 liang, Zi Su (Perillae Caulis et Folium) 1 liang, Chen Xiang (Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum, sliced) 1 liang, Mu Gua (Chaenomelis Fructus, sliced and dried) 1 liang, Qiang Huo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix, removed rhizome head) 1 liang, Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) 1 liang, Chuan Xiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma) 1 liang.
The above eleven ingredients are coarsely crushed and sifted. Take 3 qian bi per dose, add 1 zhan of water, decoct until 0.7 zhan remains, remove dregs, and take warm. Do not restrict the time of administration.

Formula: Binglang Yin (Betel Nut Drink) for treating Sanjiao disease where Ying and Wei do not circulate freely, causing Qi fullness and water swelling.
Bing Lang (Arecae Semen, five pieces, sliced) 5 pieces, Mu Xiang (Aucklandiae Radix) 1 liang, Sheng Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, sliced and dried), Qing Ju Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, soaked in hot water, white pith removed, dried), Chuan Xiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma) (each 0.5 liang), Qian Hu (Peucedani Radix) 0.5 liang.
The above eight ingredients are coarsely crushed and sifted. Take 3 qian bi per dose, add 1 zhan of water, decoct until 0.7 zhan remains, take warm on an empty stomach. If there is leg swelling, add Qian Niu Zi (Pharbitidis Semen) 0.5 liang. If there is facial and ocular edema, add Yu Li Ren (Pruni Armeniacae Semen Amarum) 0.5 liang.

Formula: Qianniuzi Wan (Pharbitis Seed Pill) for treating Sanjiao disease where distension turns into water accumulation and urination is difficult.
Qian Niu Zi (Pharbitidis Semen, lightly fried) 2 liang, Wu Jiu Mu Gen Pi (Albiziae CorTEX? Note: Text says Wujiumu, likely Alchornea or similar local herb, kept as Wujiu Mu Gen Pi) 5 liang, Mu Xiang (Aucklandiae Radix) 3 liang, Fei Lian (Blatta Orientalis) 2 liang, Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, sliced and fried) 2 liang, Fang Ji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix) 2 liang.
The above nine ingredients are pounded and sieved into fine powder. Mix with refined honey to make pills the size of mung beans. At noon and after cockcrow, take 10 pills each time with warm Gancao Tang (Licorice Decoction). Gradually increase to 20 pills, stopping when effective.

Formula: Tuduzi Buqi Wan (Tuduzi Tonifying Qi Pill) for treating long-standing Sanjiao disease, impending water formation, persistent abdominal distension, and difficult urination.
Hai Ge (Arca Shell) 1 liang, Qian Niu Zi (Pharbitidis Semen) 1 liang, Chi Fu Ling (Poria with Red Cortex, black skin removed) 1 liang, Fang Ji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix) 1 liang, Xi Jiao (Rhinocerotis Cornu, shaved) 1 liang, He Li Le (Terminalia Chebulae Fructus, pit removed) 1 liang, Ku Ting Li (Descurainiae Semen seu Lepidii Semen, fried on paper) 1 liang, Sheng Gan Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata, dried) 1 liang, and other ingredients each 1 liang (Total 17 ingredients listed in source text structure).
The above seventeen ingredients are pounded and sieved into fine powder. Mix with refined honey to make pills the size of sophora seeds. Take 10 pills on an empty stomach with rice water. If feeling blocked and uncomfortable, increase to 15 pills. If feeling free passage, reduce by 3-5 pills. If stool and urine are completely blocked, take 30 pills.

Formula: Huainan Wuru Wan (Huainan Five Soft Pills) for treating Sanjiao disharmony, constipation, regulating Ying and Wei, and benefiting the Zang-Fu organs.
Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, sliced and fried) 1 jin, Qian Hu (Peucedani Radix, removed rhizome head) 2 liang, Chi Fu Ling (Poria with Red Cortex, black skin removed), Xi Xin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma, removed seedlings and leaves), Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma, washed in hot water and sliced), and others (text incomplete/missing specific names/doses for remaining items to make up 9 total, translating visible parts).
The above nine ingredients are pounded and sieved into fine powder. Knead with refined honey and pound another thousand times. Make pills the size of sophora seeds. Take 5 pills after meals with warm water. Three times daily, can slightly increase dosage.

Formula: Renshen Xiangshu San (Ginseng and Atractylodes Powder) for treating Yin-Yang disharmony, Sanjiao Qi stagnation, empty palpitation in chest and diaphragm, abdominal and hypochondriac fullness, difficult urination, and indigestion.
Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix) 1 liang, Gan Cao (Licorice Radix et Rhizoma, roasted and sliced) 1 liang, Mu Xiang (Aucklandiae Radix) 0.5 liang, Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) 5 liang, Wu Wei Zi (Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus, lightly fried) 3 liang.
The above five ingredients are pounded and sieved into powder. Take 2 qian bi per dose, add a little ginger and salt, mix with plain boiled water. Do not restrict the time of administration.

Formula: Muxiang Zhike San (Aucklandia and Aurantium Powder) for treating Sanjiao disease with distension and fullness, and obstructed waterways.
Mu Xiang (Aucklandiae Radix), Zhi Ke (Aurantii Fructus, removed pulp and bran-fried), Bai Zhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix), Peng Ze (Curcumae Phaeocaulis Rhizoma, sliced and fried), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Gan Cao (Licorice Radix et Rhizoma, roasted and sliced), Gui (Cinnamomi Ramulus, removed rough bark) (each 2 liang).
The above eleven ingredients are pounded and sieved into powder. Take 2 qian bi per dose, mix with ginger and salt water. Do not restrict the time of administration.

Formula: Muxiang Wan (Aucklandia Pill) for treating Sanjiao disease with abdominal distension and Qi fullness, and difficult urination.
Mu Xiang (Aucklandiae Radix) 2 liang, Bi Cheng Qie (Schzschweinfurthia Fruit) 4 liang, Qian Niu Zi (Pharbitidis Semen) 24 liang (fried until fragrant, separately pounded to extract 12 liang of powder), Bing Lang (Arecae Semen) 4 liang (wrapped in wet paper with sour millet drink, baked in ash fire until paper is charred, remove rice), Bu Gu Zhi (Psoraleae Fructus, fried until fragrant) 4 liang.
The above five ingredients: First, pound four ingredients (excluding Qian Niu Zi powder) into powder. Mix evenly with Qian Niu Zi powder. Add clean water to bind properly. Make pills the size of mung beans. Take 20 pills after meals with tea water or cooked water. If injured by excessive alcohol or food, take 5-7 pills. For one-year-old children, take 1 pill. Pregnant women must not take this.