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(From *Jin Gui Yao Lue*) Treats Feng Shui (Wind Edema), characterized by a floating pulse, heavy body, sweating with aversion to wind, as well as numbness and body pain caused by various wind and damp pathogenic factors. (Li Dongyuan stated: It is well known that numbness is caused by wind, but careful differentiation reveals distinctions. For instance, prolonged sitting causes numbness, and people bound by ropes also experience numbness; this is not due to wind pathogens, but rather the failure of Qi movement. One should tonify Lung Qi, and the numbness will naturally resolve. There are also cases where Qi deficiency allows wind pathogens to invade and lodge themselves; thus, wind manifests as a deficiency pattern, with Qi deficiency being the root.)

Fangji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix) 1 liang, Huangqi (Astragali Membranacei Radix) 1 liang, Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) 7 qian 5 fen, Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, honey-fried) 5 qian. Take 5 qian per dose, decoct with Shengjiang (Zingiberis Recens Rhizoma) and Dazao (Jujubae Fructus). If abdominal pain occurs, add Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix Alba); if wheezing occurs, add Fuling (Poria) and Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma); if Qi stagnation occurs... [text incomplete].

Fangji is greatly pungent, bitter, and cold in nature; it unblocks the twelve meridians, opens orifices, and drains dampness, serving as the principal herb for treating wind edema and water swelling. Raw Huangqi reaches the exterior, treating pain caused by wind lodging in the skin.

Remove Baizhu, Shengjiang, and Dazao; add Fuling (as the Sovereign herb) and Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus), naming the formula Fangji Fuling Tang. (From *Jin Gui Yao Lue*) Treats water qi lingering in the skin, with slight tremors in the four limbs, termed Pi Shui (Skin Water/Edema). (Fangji unblocks meridians, Fuling excels at leaching out dampness, Huangqi reaches the skin, and Guizhi travels through the joints. According to the classification of five types of water diseases: Floating pulse, aversion to wind, and joint pain are termed Feng Shui (Wind Water). Floating pulse, edema that leaves an indentation upon pressure, abdominal distension like a drum, without aversion to wind or thirst, are termed Pi Shui (Skin Water); sweating should be induced. Alternatively: Aversion to cold without thirst is Feng Shui; no aversion to cold but with thirst is Pi Shui. Even if Pi Shui presents without thirst, sweating should still be induced. Deep, slow pulse with spontaneous wheezing is Zheng Shui (Correct Water). Deep pulse, abdominal fullness without wheezing, water accumulation in the bladder, hard and full like stone, is Shi Shui (Stone Water). Deep, slow pulse with fever, chest fullness, body swelling, and sweat resembling paulownia juice is Huang Han (Yellow Sweat).)

(Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan, also known as Gui Fu Ba Wei Wan, treats women's Zhuan Bao (displacement of the uterus causing urinary retention), containing no Cheqianzi or Niuxi.) Treats severe deficiency of Spleen and Kidney, abdominal distension and enlargement, limb edema, wheezing with profuse phlegm, difficult urination, loose yellow stools, progressing to Gu Zheng (Gu Distension/Bloating). It also treats Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst), where one drinks much and urinates much. (The Classic states: The Stomach is the gate of excretion. If the gate function is impaired, water accumulates and spreads according to its nature. Overflowing up and down into the skin results in edema. In Kidney Xiao, the Dragon-Lei fire within the Kidney fails to remain in its proper position. Flaring upward to the Lung causes wasting-thirst and excessive drinking. When water enters the Stomach, lacking fire below to transform it, it goes directly into the Bladder, hence drinking one part and urinating one part. Using the acrid-hot properties of Guizhi and Fuzi guides the True Fire back to its origin. Shudi (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata) is purely yin, strengthening True Water to nourish the Kidney; this is a formula for treating Lower Xiao.)

Shudi (Prepared Rehmanniae Radix) 4 liang, Fuling (Poria, mixed with milk) 3 liang, Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma, lightly stir-fried), Danpi (Moutan Cortex, wine-rinsed), Shanzhuyu (Corni Fructus, moistened with wine), Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma, wine-soaked).

Earth is the mother of all things; when Spleen is deficient, Earth cannot control Water, leading to overflow. Water is the source of all things (Heaven generates One Water); when Kidney is deficient, Water does not stay in its proper position and moves recklessly, flooding between the skin and joints. To attack this with purgatives would cause the disaster of "deficiency making deficiency worse," which needs no further explanation. (The Classic says: Do not reinforce excess, do not aggravate deficiency. [Text fragment regarding Liver/Spleen interaction omitted due to corruption]. When the gate of the Stomach loses its transport and excretion functions, disease arises in the lower part, leading to accumulating water that soaks and spreads without stopping. Another view states: In this formula, Jisheng Fang uses Fuzi as the Sovereign, while Xue Xinpu’s revised edition uses Fuling as the Sovereign. However, if the Kidney's gate does not open, one must use Fuzi to restore Yang and steam the Kidney Qi for the gate to open. Only then can water in the Stomach descend, because Yang governs opening. Once the gate opens, even without Fuling, Niuxi, or Cheqianzi, water will flow down. If the gate is closed, even using unlimited amounts of Cheqianzi and Fuling, nothing can be done. Should the prescriber make Fuzi the Sovereign, or Fuling? Zhang Jingyue said: Edema is a disease involving the interplay of the Spleen, Lung, and Kidney. Since Water is extreme Yin, its root lies in the Kidney. Water transforms into Qi, so its branch lies in the Lung. Water fears Earth, so its control lies in the Spleen. Now, Lung deficiency means Qi cannot transform Essence into Water (but rather creates pathological water); Spleen deficiency means Earth cannot control Water and is counter-attacked; Kidney deficiency means Water has no master and acts recklessly. Seeking ancient treatments, only the Modified Shen Qi Decoction from *Jin Gui* is appropriate. I have used it frequently with success. Although this is a formula to strengthen Water, it essentially treats the Spleen, Lung, and Kidney correctly. The Kidney is the source of Pre-Heaven Qi; if Pre-Heaven Yuan Qi is deficient below, Post-Heaven Stomach Qi loses its foundation, affecting the Spleen and then the Lung. The regulation fails, so water accumulates below, Qi stagnates above, and wheezing and distension arise. One should vigorously tonify the Mingmen (Gate of Life) to restore Qi, thereby calming all three organs. Regarding the prescription: Guizhi and Fuzi benefit the stagnation within Yin; Shudi, Shanyao, and Shanzhuyu nourish the Water within Yin; Fuling, Zexie, and Cheqianzi transform the Yang within Yin. This allows Qi to transform into Essence, which treats the Lung. Tonifying Fire to generate Earth treats the Spleen. Strengthening Water to unblock orifices treats the Kidney. It tonifies without stagnation and drains without damaging healthy Qi. For anyone developing edema after middle age or with inherently weak constitution, if used with symptomatic modifications, the response is immediate. It is truly the premier formula, unsurpassed. Furthermore: In treating swelling, for Spleen and Kidney deficiency patterns as described, the Modified Shen Qi Decoction is indeed excellent. However, its application should be expanded upon, not rigidly adhered to. I once treated a friend surnamed Tao, over forty years old, who suffered from Shang Han (Cold Damage), was mis-treated by other physicians, and was on the verge of death. I saved him with large doses of Renshen, Fuzi, and Shudi. After recovery, he enjoyed drinking. Within two months, his legs and thighs suddenly swelled completely, distending to the abdomen, hard and drum-like. Given his previous illness had injured his Middle Qi, and the recent illness involved alcohol-dampness, I judged that only the Modified Shen Qi Decoction would suffice. I administered several doses consecutively; while there were no adverse reactions, there was ultimately no effect. Everyone predicted he would die. I carefully considered the antecedents and current causes; the root was severe Spleen and Kidney deficiency, but the concurrent use of draining/diuretic herbs inevitably reduced the tonifying power, akin to pouring water into a leaking vessel. Large doses given... [text ends]