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Edema and distension disorders. Shuozao Yinzi (Boat-Rowing Decoction) and Zhouche Wan (Cart-and-Wheel Pill) are contraindicated. Jisheng Shenqi Wan (Kidney-Qi Pill for Sicknesses by the Sage) must also be used with caution in treating distension disorders.

Inability to swallow food was termed "Ye" (Dysphagia/Choking) by ancient physicians. If food enters the throat but is immediately vomited up along with phlegm and saliva, it is termed "Ge" (Regurgitation). Vomiting what was eaten in the morning in the evening, or what was eaten in the evening in the morning, is termed "Fanwei" (Reverse Stomach/Regurgitation). Zhu Danxi advocated that this condition results from the depletion of both blood and yin fluids. "Ye" refers to dryness in the upper jiao, while "Ge" refers to dryness in the lower jiao. The primary treatment involves Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction), supplemented with sweet substances such as sugarcane juice, reed rhizome juice, and cow's milk. Xue Lizhai attributed this to emotional stagnation injuring the spleen qi, recommending formulas such as Xiaoyao San (Free and Easy Wanderer Powder), Zuojin Wan (Left Metal Pill), Guipi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction), and Liujunzi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction), administered alternately with Liuwei Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia) or Bawei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill). Zhao Yangkui expanded upon this theory, ultimately attributing the root cause to kidney pathology. Citing the *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon): "The Kidney is the gate of the Stomach." If the gate functions improperly, the ascending and descending movements of qi cease. This "gate" corresponds to the pivot of heaven within the intersection of qi. Therefore, when kidney qi is robust, stomach yin fluids are sufficient; when stomach yin is sufficient, one can eat. The main treatment employs large doses of Liuwei Dihuang Tang (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Decoction) and Bawei Dihuang Tang (Eight-Ingredient Rehmannia Decoction). Contemporary scholars such as Gao Gufeng and Yang Chengliu followed this methodology and adapted it, focusing specifically on the Yangming channel.
The prescription uses Liuwei Dihuang Tang, removing Mudanpi (Cortex Moutan), Fuling (Poria), and Zexie (Rhizoma Alismatis), and adding Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae), Gouqi (Fructus Lycii), Shengdi (Radix Rehmanniae Preparata), and Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis). The goal is to employ a regimen of moistening and sweet-natured herbs to nourish stomach yin. When stomach yin ascends to nourish the upper part, the cardia relaxes and expands, allowing food intake; when stomach yin descends to nourish the lower part, the pylorus and ileocecal valve become moistened, facilitating the passage of stool and urine. Recovery can be expected after approximately ten doses. Ye Tianshi (Ye Gui), interpreting the *Neijing* statement "When the three yang channels are knotted, it is called Ge," radically altered this approach. For patients with dysphagia who have not had a bowel movement for five to seven days, accumulated waste prevents the acceptance of new food. Treatment involves administering Sanyi Chengqi Tang (Three-One Purging Decoction) in stages to purge accumulation, followed by Sesame Drink until recovery. These methods are derived from the moistening honey-water principle found in Banxia Xiexin Tang (Banxia Heart-Purging Decoction) in the *Jingui Yaolue* (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet), yet they overlook Zhang Zhongjing's intent: using Banxia (Rhizoma Pinelliae) as the chief herb to descend rebellious Chong vessel qi, and Renshen (Radix Ginseng) as the assistant to generate lost fluids. Practitioners must grasp this key mechanism here and apply treatment based on an assessment of cold, heat, deficiency, and excess. In doing so, they will master more than half of the principles regarding the treatment of Ye and Ge. As for food being ingested and then regurgitated, this indicates cold in the middle jiao (spleen/stomach earth) and deficiency fire in the lower jiao. Attuzi Lizhong Tang (Aconite Center-Regulating Decoction) and Xiangsha Liujunzi Tang (Aromatic-Amomum Six Gentlemen Decoction), taken alternately with Ganjiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis) and Bawei Dihuang Wan (Eight-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill), often prove effective. ○ If food cannot enter at all, the primary formula should be Huanglian Huangqin Renshen Ganjiang Tang (Coptis, Scutellaria, Ginseng, and Ginger Decoction), which utilizes a bitter-cold and acrid-warm combination to open and purge; Xiexin Tang (Heart-Purging Decoction) is also excellent. ○ If there is blood stasis in the diaphragm region, and hiccups occur after drinking hot liquids or eating pepper and ginger, herbs such as Taoren (Semen Persicae) and Honghua (Flos Carthami) should be added to invigorate blood and resolve stasis. ○ Wuzhuyu Tang (Evodia Decoction) can be used for both Ye/Ge and Fanwei, specifically indicated for symptoms of vomiting accompanied by chest fullness, or dry heaving, spitting of clear saliva, and headache. A pulse that is floating, moderate, and slippery, or deep, moderate, and long, indicates treatability. A pulse that is wiry, choppy, short, and small indicates a difficult prognosis.