病源肾主水，肾虚即水气妄行，不依经络，停聚结在脐间，少腹肿大鞭如石。故云石水
，其候引胁下胀痛而不喘是也，脉沉者名曰石水，脉微大亦曰石水，肿起脐下至少腹垂垂然，
上
集验膀胱石水，四肢瘦腹肿方。
大豆（五升） 防己（四两） 桑根白皮（切三升） 白术（四两） 泽漆叶（切三升）
射干（
四两） 白皮（四两一云切三升）
上七味切，以水一斗半，煮取六升，去滓，纳好酒三升，更煎取五升，分五服，日再夜
一，余煎明日服之。（千金同出第六卷中）
千金疗膀胱石水，四肢瘦，腹肿方。
桑根白皮（六两） 射干（四两） 泽汤（五两） 泽漆（切一升） 茯苓（四两） 防
己（一两）
上九味切，以水五斗，煮大豆取三斗，去滓澄清，取汁一斗，下药煮，取三升，空腹温
分三服。（出第二十一卷中）
集验疗石水痛引胁下胀，头眩痛，身尽热，灸法。
灸关元
又灸石水法。
灸章门然谷。
集验疗暴患遍身肿满方。
大豆
上一味，捣筛为散，粥清服三方寸匕，日再，甚良验。
又疗身体暴肿如吹方。
巴豆（三十枚合皮 咀）
上一味，以水五升，煮取三升，绵纳汁中以拭肿上，随手减矣，日五六拭，勿近目及阴
。（范汪同并出第六卷中）
备急疗身体暴肿满方。
榆白皮捣屑随多少，杂米作粥食，小便利即消，陶效方。（出第三卷中）
古今录验泽漆汤，疗寒热当风，饮多暴肿身如吹，脉浮数者方。
泽漆（二两炙） 知母（二两） 海藻（二两） 茯苓（二两） 丹参（三两） 秦艽
（二两） 木
防己（二两） 猪苓（二两去皮） 大黄（三两） 通草（二两） 青木香（二两）
上十一味切，以水九升，煮取三升，分三服。忌酢物。（出第十一卷中）
The etiology lies in the Kidney governing water metabolism; when Kidney deficiency occurs, Water Qi (Water Qi, abnormal movement of pathological fluids) acts recklessly, failing to follow the meridians and collaterals, instead stagnating and accumulating around the umbilicus. This causes the lower abdomen to swell and become hard as stone. Hence it is called Shi Shui (Stone Water). Its manifestations include pain and distension radiating from the hypochondrium without panting. A deep pulse indicates Shi Shui (Stone Water), and a slightly large pulse also indicates Shi Shui (Stone Water). The swelling originates below the umbilicus and extends to the lower abdomen, appearing pendulous and prominent.
Ji Yan Fang (Collected Proven Prescriptions) records a prescription for Bladder Shi Shui (Stone Water involving the Bladder channel/organ), characterized by emaciated limbs and a swollen abdomen:
Da Dou (Soybean Seed, 5 sheng), Fang Ji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix, 4 liang), Sang Gen Bai Pi (Mori Cortex, cut into 3 sheng), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, 4 liang), Ze Qi Ye (Phytolaccae Folium, cut into 3 sheng), She Gan (Belamcandae Rhizoma, 4 liang), Bai Pi (Bark, unspecified source, 4 liang; some say cut into 3 sheng).
Chop the above seven herbs. Decoct with 1.5 dou of water until 6 sheng remains. Strain the dregs. Add 3 sheng of good wine and decoct again until 5 sheng remains. Divide into five doses. Take two doses during the day and one at night. Consume the remaining decoction the next day. (This prescription also appears in Qian Jin Fang [Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold], Volume 6).
Qian Jin Fang (Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold) records a prescription for Bladder Shi Shui (Stone Water involving the Bladder channel/organ), characterized by emaciated limbs and abdominal swelling:
Sang Gen Bai Pi (Mori Cortex, 6 liang), She Gan (Belamcandae Rhizoma, 4 liang), Ze Tang (Decoction of Ze plants, 5 liang), Ze Qi (Phytolaccae Radix, cut into 1 sheng), Fu Ling (Poria, 4 liang), Fang Ji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix, 1 liang).
Chop the above nine herbs. Decoct Da Dou (Soybean Seed) in 5 dou of water to obtain 3 dou of liquid. Strain and clarify the liquid to obtain 1 dou. Add the other herbs and decoct until 3 sheng remains. Take warm, divided into three doses on an empty stomach. (This prescription appears in Qian Jin Fang [Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold], Volume 21).
Ji Yan Fang (Collected Proven Prescriptions) records moxibustion methods for Shi Shui (Stone Water) presenting with pain radiating to the hypochondrium causing distension, dizziness and headache, and generalized heat:
Moxa Guan Yuan (CV-4).
Another method for treating Shi Shui (Stone Water):
Moxa Zhang Men (LR-13) and Ran Gu (KI-2).
Ji Yan Fang (Collected Proven Prescriptions) records a prescription for sudden onset of generalized edema and fullness:
Da Dou (Soybean Seed).
Pulverize the single herb into powder. Administer 3 fang cun bi (approx. 9 grams) with clear rice gruel, twice daily. It yields excellent results.
Another prescription for sudden bodily swelling resembling inflation:
Ba Dou (Crotonis Fructus, 30 seeds, with skin, crushed).
Decoct the single herb in 5 sheng of water until 3 sheng remains. Dip cotton cloth in the juice and wipe the swollen areas. The swelling will subside immediately. Wipe 5-6 times daily. Avoid contact with eyes and genitalia. (Fan Wang's formula also appears in Volume 6).
Bei Ji Fang (Emergency Prescriptions) records a prescription for sudden bodily swelling and fullness:
Yu Bai Pi (Ulmus Rubra Bark), pounded into fine particles. Use an appropriate amount to cook congee with rice. Once urination becomes smooth, the swelling will dissipate. This is Tao Xiao's formula. (This prescription appears in Volume 3).
Gu Jin Lu Yan records Ze Qi Tang (Phytolacca Root Decoction) for treating alternating chills and fever, wind-strike, excessive drinking leading to sudden swelling and body inflation, and a floating, rapid pulse:
Ze Qi (Phytolaccae Radix, 2 liang, stir-baked), Zhi Mu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma, 2 liang), Hai Zao (Sargassum, 2 liang), Fu Ling (Poria, 2 liang), Dan Shen (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, 3 liang), Qin Jiao (Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix, 2 liang), Mu Fang Ji (Stephaniae Sinicae Radix, 2 liang), Zhu Ling (Polyporus, 2 liang, peeled), Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, 3 liang), Tong Cao (Tetrapanacis Medulla, 2 liang), Qing Mu Xiang (Aucklandiae Radix, 2 liang).
Chop the above eleven herbs. Decoct in 9 sheng of water until 3 sheng remains. Divide into three doses. Avoid vinegar products. (This prescription appears in Volume 11).