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In the *Suwen: Qibing Lun* (Treatise on Rare Diseases), the Yellow Emperor asked, "There is a disease where the face appears swollen as if there were water retention. The pulse is large and tight, the body has no pain, the form is not emaciated, the patient cannot eat, or eats very little. What is this disease called?" Qibo replied, "The pathology originates in the Kidney, and it is named Kidney Wind (Shen Feng). In Kidney Wind, if the patient cannot eat, is prone to fright, and after the fright subsides, the Heart Qi becomes flaccid and exhausted, death ensues."

The description 'swollen as if there were water' refers to edema of the body and face. Typically, the pulse in edema must be deep and weak. Now that the pulse is large and tight, this is what is referred to as the True Zang Pulse (Zhen Zang Mai). This occurs because Kidney deficiency leads to Yang transforming into internal Wind, hence the name Kidney Wind. When Kidney Qi rebels and the Middle Jiao is disharmonious, the patient cannot eat, or eats very little even if they try. Due to Kidney Water deficiency, Liver Wood loses nourishment, leading to frequent fright. After the fright, if Heart Qi becomes flaccid, it signifies that withered Kidney Water fails to generate Heart Fire through withered Liver Wood. As Heart Qi dissipates, vital life force is extinguished, resulting in death. The earlier text in the *Feng Lun* (Treatise on Wind) mentioned that Kidney Wind often presents with sweating, aversion to wind, facial swelling, but without swelling elsewhere in the body; this indicates external Wind pathogen injuring the Kidney. In contrast, the current case describes Kidney Water exhaustion with deficient Yang transforming into Wind, which is an internal injury disease. Consequently, both Liver Wood and Heart Fire lose their vitality, leading to death.

In the *Suwen: Ping Re Bing Lun* (Treatise on Evaluating Heat Diseases), the Yellow Emperor asked, "A patient suffering from Kidney Wind presents with severe facial swelling and obstruction in speech. Can acupuncture be used?" Qibo answered, "When there is deficiency, acupuncture is contraindicated. If one acupunctures when it is contraindicated, the pathogenic Qi will inevitably return after five days." The Yellow Emperor asked, "What will the condition be like upon its return?" Qibo replied, "Upon return, there will be shortness of breath, intermittent fever, heat rising from the chest and back to the head, sweating, hot hands, bitter dry mouth and thirst, yellow urine, edema under the eyes, borborygmus in the abdomen, heaviness of the body making movement difficult, amenorrhea, irritability preventing eating, inability to lie flat on the back, and coughing when lying supine. This disease is named Wind Water (Feng Shui), and the discussion can be found in the *Cifa* (Methods of Acupuncture) chapter." The Yellow Emperor said, "I wish to hear the explanation." Qibo said, "Where pathogenic factors gather, Qi must be deficient. When Yin is deficient, Yang must encroach upon it; thus, there is shortness of breath, intermittent fever, and sweating. Yellow urine indicates heat in the lower abdomen. Inability to lie supine indicates disharmony in the Stomach. Coughing worsens when supine because the pathogen presses upward against the Lung. In all cases of water qi, slight swelling first appears under the eyes." The Yellow Emperor asked, "Why do you say so?" Qibo replied, "Water belongs to Yin, and the area under the eyes also belongs to Yin. The abdomen is the residence of Supreme Yin (Zhi Yin). Therefore, when water resides in the abdomen, it causes swelling under the eyes. When True Qi rebels upward, there is bitterness in the mouth and dryness of the tongue, and one cannot lie supine; if supine, clear fluid is coughed up. All patients with water diseases cannot lie flat; lying flat causes fright, and fright exacerbates coughing. Borborygmus indicates the root of the disease lies in the Stomach. Pathogen pressing on the Spleen causes irritability and anorexia. Food impaction is due to obstruction at the epigastrium. Heaviness and difficulty walking are due to the Stomach Meridian running along the foot. Amenorrhea is due to closure of the Bao Mai (Uterine Vessels). The Bao Mai belongs to the Heart and connects to the Bao Zhong (Uterus). Now, Qi rebels upward pressing on the Lung, and Heart Qi cannot descend to communicate, hence amenorrhea."

The Classics state: "Facial swelling is termed Wind; swelling of the shins and feet is termed Water." The dorsum of the foot is also a site of swelling. Swelling of the head, face, and feet indicates that due to Kidney deficiency and water flooding, Wind pathogen enters the Kidney Meridian from the Taiyang Meridian. Wind agitates and water surges, hence the name Wind Water. Since the Kidney is the Water Organ and shares exterior-interior relationships with Taiyang (Bladder), this connection explains the pathology. The Kidney Meridian connects to the root of the tongue. When pathogen obstructs meridian Qi preventing it from ascending, the tongue cannot move, causing speech difficulties. This is a deficiency syndrome; acupuncturing when contraindicated causes the pathogenic Qi to rebound after five days, worsening the condition and presenting the aforementioned symptoms. Regarding the detailed examination of meridians and attire, no further annotation is needed. Lying flat causing fright is due to Stomach disharmony and constrained Liver Qi. Pathogen pressing on the Spleen implies excess pathogen forcing the Spleen, thereby suppressing Heart Fire, causing irritability. Stomach Qi rebelling prevents food intake. Stomach Qi failing to descend to the feet causes heaviness and difficulty walking. Heart Qi being suppressed and unable to descend closes the Bao Mai, causing amenorrhea. This is a disease of deficiency complicated by pathogen, distinct from the previous two types of Kidney Wind.

In the *Suwen: Shuire Xuelun* (Treatise on Water-Related Acupoints), the Yellow Emperor asked, "Why does the Shaoyin Meridian govern the Kidney? Why does the Kidney govern Water?" Qibo replied, "The Kidney is Supreme Yin (Zhi Yin); Supreme Yin means it stores abundant Water. The Lung is Taiyin. Shaoyin corresponds to the Winter pulse. Thus, the root of water disease is in the Kidney, and the branch is in the Lung; both involve water accumulation." The Yellow Emperor asked, "How can the Kidney accumulate water and cause disease?" Qibo replied, "The Kidney is the gate of the Stomach. If the gate is not functional, water accumulates and gathers according to its kind. Overflowing up and down onto the skin, it causes edema. Edema is caused by accumulated water." The Yellow Emperor asked, "Do all water diseases originate from the Kidney?" Qibo replied, "The Kidney is a Yin organ (Pin Zang). Earthly Qi ascending belongs to the Kidney and generates water fluids, hence it is called Supreme Yin. If one exerts great strength and labors excessively, Kidney sweat emerges. If this sweat encounters Wind, it cannot enter the Zang-Fu internally nor escape through the skin externally. It lodges in the Xuanku (pores), travels within the skin layers, and transforms into edema. Rooted in the Kidney, it is named Wind Water. The so-called Xuanku refers to sweat pores."

Winter is the season governed by Cold Water, and the Kidney is the Water Organ; thus, the source of water lies in the Kidney. Water corresponds to Metal in the Five Elements; since the child can strengthen the mother, the branch of water disease lies in the Lung. If Lung and Kidney Qi fail to regulate smoothly, the Sanjiao's transport and transformation functions fail, leading to water accumulation. This is because the Kidney opens into the two orifices (urethra and anus); turbid water fluids exit through them, so the Kidney is called the gate of the Stomach. If the gate is dysfunctional, Stomach water drinks accumulate, gathering with Kidney water, overflowing onto skin and collaterals, causing edema. Saying all water diseases originate from the Kidney is because the Kidney is a Yin organ; Yin follows Yin. Thus, ascending Earthly Qi belongs to the Kidney to generate water fluids. This follows the principle of things gathering by kind, i.e., 'water flows to wet places.' Because Yin follows Yin, it is called Supreme Yin. If excessive labor causes profuse sweating, the meridians become loose. Encountering Wind, the sweat cannot enter internally or escape externally, lodging in the Xuanku and traveling within the skin layers, transforming into edema. The Xuanku is the sweat pore/hair follicle. Excessive labor opens the pores, allowing Wind pathogen to lodge. The water originates from the Kidney, and together with Wind, agitates within the skin and muscles to cause swelling, hence named Wind Water.

The Yellow Emperor asked, "The fifty-seven Water Acupoints, what do they primarily treat?" Qibo replied, "The fifty-seven Kidney Shu points are where Yin Qi gathers and where water enters and exits. Above the sacrum, there are five rows, each with five points; these are the Kidney Shu points. Therefore, water disease manifests below as edema and abdominal distension, and above as wheezing and inability to lie flat. This indicates simultaneous disease of the root and branch. Thus, the Lung manifests as wheezing, the Kidney as edema, and the Lung as rebellion causing inability to lie flat. These are mutually transferring and jointly affected, resulting from water qi stagnation. Above the Futu point, there are two rows on each side, each with five points; these are the streets of the Kidney, where the three Yin meridians of the foot intersect and knot at the ankle. Above each ankle, there is one row with six points; this is the downward path of the Kidney Meridian, named Taichong. All fifty-seven points are the Yin collaterals of the Zang organs and the dwelling places of water qi."

This clarifies the formation of water disease. The fifty-seven Kidney Shu points are where Yin Qi accumulates. Since water belongs to Yin, it enters and exits through these points. If Qi stagnates and does not seep into the Bladder via the Sanjiao water pathways, but instead travels from the Shu points into the skin and muscles, it causes edema and abdominal distension below. Because the child strengthens the mother, it causes Lung rebellion and wheezing, while Kidney water floods causing edema, affecting both root and branch. Lung Qi rebellion prevents lying flat. Due to the distribution and mutual transmission of Qi from the Shu points, the whole body is affected by stagnant water qi. Points such as Futu are streets for Kidney Qi, where the Foot Three Yin meridians intersect at the foot. Points above the ankle are the descending path of the Kidney Meridian, named Taichong. All fifty-seven points are Yin collaterals of the Zang organs; thus, water accumulates there, following the principle of Yin following Yin and water flowing to wet places.