面肿者风,足肿者湿。凡肿自上而起者,皆因于风,其治在肺,宜发散之,香苏饮合五
皮饮。自下而起者,因于肾虚水泛,宜渗利之,五苓饮加防己槟榔。一身尽肿者,或胎禀不
足卒冒风寒,或因疟痢脾虚,皆能作肿。轻者胃苓汤,重者加味胃苓丸。若小儿元气本虚,
大病后浑身浮肿,四肢冷,口不渴,小便清长,大便滑泻,不思饮食,此阴寒已极,脾胃将
绝,一切治肿之药,俱不可投,惟四君子汤加青化桂、炮姜、白蔻仁,以救其脾胃,庶可望
生。
凡小儿患肿,切须忌盐,盐助火邪,服之愈炽,必待肿消之后将一月,以盐炒过少用之
治水肿从脚起,入腹则难治∶用红饭豆五升,煮极熟,取汤五升,浸两膝之下,冷则重
暖。若治大腹肿,以红饭豆汤,日日服之自消。
治脚肿∶掘杉木根切断而内色红者为油核,方可用,以红根切碎,煎浓汤,将肿脚先熏
后洗即消。又方∶以红糖一大碗,加生姜、生葱,三味同煎汤,先熏后洗。
头面手足俱肿∶苦葶苈一两,隔纸炒熟,研细末,以大红枣蒸过,去复选肉,和前末捶
为丸如豆大,每用七粒,白汤下,日三服,五七日则小便多肿自消也。忌碱酸生冷。
伤寒伤湿肿∶羌活切片,莱菔子等分,同炒香,拣去莱菔子,只以羌活为末,每服一钱
,初日一服,次日二服,三日三服效。
肿证气喘∶男妇大小,肿因积得,既取积而肿再作,小便不利,切不可再用利药。盖中
下二焦气不升降,为阴寒痞隔水遂凝而不通。用熟附子三钱、生姜二钱、沉香三分,同浓煎
汤治服。大人则熟附子一两、生姜六钱,沉香七分,磨浓汁,以姜附对服,不拘剂数,以愈
为度。
身面浮肿坐卧不得∶取东向桑枝烧灰淋汁,煮红饭豆数升,每饥即食之,不得别饮汤水
。
凡水肿本于脾虚,不能制水∶当以参术补脾为主,脾气实,则能健运,而水自行,切不
可下。
Facial edema is caused by Wind, while foot edema is caused by Dampness. Any edema that starts from the upper part is due to Wind; the treatment focuses on the Lung (Zang organ), and dispersing methods are appropriate, such as Xiangsu Yin (Fragrant Perilla Decoction) combined with Wupi Yin (Five Peel Decoction). Edema starting from the lower part is due to Kidney deficiency leading to water overflowing; permeating and draining methods are appropriate, such as Wuling Yin (Five-Ingredient Poria Decoction) added with Fangji (Stephania Root) and Binglang (Areca Seed). Generalized edema may result from congenital insufficiency suddenly exposed to Wind-Cold, or from Spleen deficiency due to malaria or dysentery, all of which can cause edema. For mild cases, Weiling Tang (Gastrodia and Atractylodes Macrocephala Decoction) is used; for severe cases, Jiawei Weiling Wan (Modified Gastrodia and Atractylodes Macrocephala Pills) is used. If a child has originally deficient Yuan Qi and develops generalized edema after a major illness, accompanied by cold limbs, no thirst, clear and profuse urination, loose diarrhea, and loss of appetite, this indicates extreme Yin-Cold and impending failure of the Spleen and Stomach. All drugs for treating edema should not be administered at this time; instead, Sijunzi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) added with Qinghuagui (Cinnamon Twig), Pa Jiang (Prepared Ginger), and Baokouren (Amomum Fruit) should be used to rescue the Spleen and Stomach function, offering a hope for survival.
Whenever children suffer from edema, salt must be strictly avoided because salt aids Fire pathogenic factors, and consuming it will exacerbate the condition. Salt should only be used in small amounts after being stir-fried with salt, and only after the edema has subsided for one month. To treat edema starting from the feet, which becomes difficult to cure if water enters the abdomen: use five sheng of red rice beans, boil them until extremely soft, take five sheng of the decoction, and soak the area below both knees, reheating it when it cools. To treat abdominal distension and swelling, drink the red rice bean decoction daily until the swelling subsides naturally.
To treat foot edema: Dig up the root of the Chinese fir tree, cut it open, and if the inner color is red, it is called Youhe and can be used. Chop the red roots, decoct them into a strong liquid, fumigate the swollen foot first, then wash it, and the swelling will subside. Another prescription: Use one large bowl of brown sugar, add fresh ginger and green onions, decoct the three ingredients together, fumigate first, then wash.
For edema of the head, face, hands, and feet: Take one liang of Tingli (Periploca Seed), stir-fry it熟 through paper until cooked, grind it into fine powder. Steam large red dates, remove the skin and pits, mix the flesh with the powder, and pound into pills the size of beans. Take seven pills each time, washed down with plain boiled water, three times a day. After five to seven days, urination will increase, and the edema will naturally subside. Avoid alkaline, sour, and raw/cold foods.
For edema caused by Cold Damage and Dampness injury: Slice Qianghuo (Notopterygium Rhizome), mix with equal parts of Laifuzi (Radish Seed), stir-fry until fragrant, remove the Radish Seeds, keep only the Qianghuo, grind it into powder. Take one qian each time. Take once on the first day, twice on the second day, and three times on the third day for effectiveness.
Edema accompanied by asthma/panting: Regardless of gender or age, if edema is caused by accumulation, and recurs after the accumulation is removed, with difficulty in urination, diuretic drugs must absolutely not be used again. This is because the Qi mechanism of the Middle and Lower Jiao does not ascend and descend, blocked by Yin-Cold stagnation, causing water to condense and flow不通. Use three qian of Shu Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root), two qian of fresh ginger, and three fen of Chenxiang (Aquilaria Wood), decoct strongly and administer. For adults, use one liang of Shu Fuzi, six qian of fresh ginger, and seven fen of Chenxiang, grind into strong juice, mix ginger and Aconite juices equally, and take without limit on dosage, stopping when cured.
For body and facial edema making sitting and lying uncomfortable: Take branches of mulberry trees facing east, burn them to ash, leach the ash to obtain juice, boil several sheng of red rice beans in this juice. Eat these beans whenever hungry, and do not drink any other liquids.
All edema originates from Spleen deficiency, failing to control water: The primary treatment should be tonifying the Spleen with Renshen (Ginseng Root) and Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome). When Spleen Qi is solid, it can transport and transform effectively, and water will move naturally. Purging methods must absolutely not be used.