夫水蛊者。此由水毒瓦斯结聚于内。令腹渐大。动摇有声。常欲饮水。皮肤粗黑。如似肿
状。名曰水蛊是也。
治水蛊。遍身肿。楮枝汤方。
细楮枝（十两锉） 黑豆（一斗） 细桑枝（十两锉）
上件药。以水五斗。煎取一斗。去滓。别煎取三升。每服。暖一小盏服之。日三四服。
治腹重大。动摇有水声。皮肤黑色。名曰水蛊。宜服此方。
白茅根（一握锉） 赤小豆（二升）
上件药。都以水六升。煮小豆令熟。去茅根。食豆及汁。病当随小便出为效。
又方。
青蛙（二枚干者涂酥炙微黄） 蝼蛄（七枚干者微炒） 苦葫芦子（半两微炒）
上件药。捣细罗为散。每日空心。以温酒调下二钱。不过三服瘥。
治大腹水蛊。坚硬如石。宜利小便方。
水银（一两以少煮枣瓤研令星尽） 川芒硝（一两） 甜葶苈（五两隔纸炒令紫色） 椒
目（
一两微炒去汗）
上件药。相和捣一万杵。丸如大豆大。每于腹空时。以粥饮下十丸。
治积年水蛊。宜服此方。
大戟（半两锉碎微炒） 甘遂（半两煨微黄） 甜葶苈（半两隔纸炒令紫色） 巴豆（十
四枚
炒熟去皮心及油） 赤小豆（四十九粒）
上件药。捣罗为末。以煮枣肉和丸。如梧桐子大。每服空心。以粥饮下三丸。当日便利
下水为效。
又方。
鬼扇草
上捣绞取汁五合。空腹分温二服。以小便利为效。
Water Gu (Shuigu, a type of abdominal distension caused by water retention) is caused by the accumulation of water-toxic qi within the body. It causes the abdomen to gradually enlarge, with a sloshing sound upon movement. The patient often desires to drink water, and the skin becomes rough and dark, resembling edema. This condition is named Water Gu.
Chuzhi Tang Decoction (Cudong Branch Decoction) for treating Water Gu with generalized edema:
Xizhizhi (Fine Cudong Branch, 10 liang, cut into pieces), Heidou (Black Soybean, 1 dou), Xisangzhi (Fine Mulberry Twig, 10 liang, cut into pieces).
Take the above herbs, add five dou of water, decoct to obtain one dou of liquid, filter out the dregs, and then decoct again to obtain three sheng. Take one small cup warm per dose, three to four times daily.
For treating abdominal distension that is heavy and large, with a water sound upon movement, and blackened skin, named Water Gu, this formula is suitable:
Baimaogen (White Imperata Rhizome, one handful, cut into pieces), Chixiaodou (Red Adzuki Bean, 2 sheng).
Combine the above herbs, add six sheng of water, and boil the beans until cooked. Remove the Baimaogen. Consume the beans and the broth; the disease should resolve as it is expelled through urination.
Another prescription:
Qingwa (Green Frog, two dried specimens, coated with butter and roasted until slightly yellow), Lougu (Mole Cricket, seven dried specimens, lightly stir-fried), Kuhuuluizi (Bitter Bottle Gourd Seed, half liang, lightly stir-fried).
Pulverize the above herbs through a fine sieve to make a powder. Each day on an empty stomach, take two qian mixed with warm wine. Recovery will occur in no more than three doses.
A formula suitable for promoting diuresis in cases of massive abdominal Water Gu where the abdomen is hard as stone:
Shuiyin (Mercurius, 1 liang, ground with a small amount of cooked jujube pulp until no metallic particles remain), Chuan Mangxiao (Sichuan Mirabilite, 1 liang), Tiantingli (Sweet Descurainia Seed, 5 liang, stir-fried between papers until purple), Jiaomu (Zanthoxylum Seed, 1 liang, lightly stir-fried to remove moisture).
Mix the above herbs and pound them ten thousand times. Form pills the size of soybeans. When the abdomen is empty, take ten pills with millet gruel.
For treating chronic Water Gu accumulated over many years, this formula is suitable:
Daji (Euphorbia Root, half liang, cut into pieces and lightly stir-fried), Gansui (Kansui Root, half liang, baked until slightly yellow), Tiantingli (Sweet Descurainia Seed, half liang, stir-fried between papers until purple), Badou (Croton Seed, fourteen seeds, cooked thoroughly, peeled, core removed, and oil extracted), Chixiaodou (Red Adzuki Bean, forty-nine grains).
Pulverize the above herbs. Mix with the pulp of boiled jujubes to form pills the size of Chinese quince seeds. On an empty stomach, take three pills with millet gruel. The effect is achieved when there is free bowel movement and discharge of water on the same day.
Another prescription:
Guishancao (Ghost Fan Grass).
Crush and press to extract five he of juice. Divide into two warm doses taken on an empty stomach. The effect is indicated by improved urination.