Library

The cause of edema and swelling lies generally in the deficiency and damage of the primordial Qi of the Spleen and Stomach. When one fails to regulate diet and daily routine, it further injures the meridians of the Spleen, Lung, and Kidney, all of which can lead to swelling. Swelling caused by injury to the Spleen corresponds to the classic saying: "All dampness, edema, and fullness belong to the Earth (Spleen)." Swelling caused by injury to the Lung corresponds to the classic text: "Food and drink enter the Stomach, their essence floats and overflows, is transported upward to the Spleen, where the Spleen's Qi scatters the essence, sending it upward to the Lung. The Lung regulates the water passages, transporting them downward to the Bladder." If the Lung is injured and cannot regulate the water passages or transport them downward to the Bladder, urination becomes difficult, leading to fluid overflow and swelling. Swelling caused by injury to the Kidney: The Kidney belongs to Water. Due to deficiency and cold of the Kidney Qi, it fails to grasp Qi, causing fluids to overflow and inundate the upper body. Consequently, the Triple Burner stagnates, and the collaterals become obstructed; fluid seeps into the skin and pours into the muscles, resulting in swelling.

A floating and large pulse indicates survival (favorable prognosis), while a deep and fine pulse indicates death (unfavorable prognosis). Umbilical protrusion, flattening of the supraclavicular fossa, swelling of the palms and soles without wrinkles, abdominal distension with exposed blue veins, and swelling of the waist and genitals without folds are all untreatable conditions.

For treatment of Spleen injury, methods should solidify the Spleen, promote diuresis, and move Qi. Jiahe San, Wuchen San, Wujia San, Shipi San, Wuling San, Wupi San, Pingwei San, Weiling San, and Liuqi Yin may be selected according to detailed circumstances. One must strictly avoid using harsh purgative agents such as Zhangliu (Camphor Willow), Yuanhua (Genkwa Flower), Heiqian (Black Morning Glory Seed), Daji (Euphorbia Pekinensis Root), and Gansui (Kansui Root). For Lung injury, Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction) with modifications should be used. For deficiency-cold of Kidney Water, Fuzi Lizhong Tang (Aconite Pill to Regulate the Middle) or Xiangsha Liujun Tang (Aucklandia and Amomum Six-Gentlemen Decoction) decocted with Ginger and Aconite, followed by administering Jin Gui Shenqi Wan (Kidney Qi Pill from the Golden Cabinet), may be used. The key to the above formulas lies in their flexible application; it depends on the physician's ability to utilize them appropriately at any time.

Zhang Nue (Malarial Syndrome due to Miasma) often arises from phlegm obstruction. Therefore, if post-recovery care is slightly negligent, phlegm symptoms will recur. However, the variations of phlegm syndromes are not limited to one type; they manifest as laughter, coughing, vomiting and regurgitation, numbness, epigastric fullness and obstruction, and among the most severe異病 (heterogeneous diseases), sudden phlegm syncope (Tan Jue) and vertigo.

If phlegm syncope leads to rigid collapse and unconsciousness, a floating and slow pulse indicates survival, while a rapid and urgent pulse indicates death. Symptoms such as open or closed eyes, hand relaxation, urinary incontinence, foaming at the mouth, snoring-like sounds in the throat, straightened hair, head shaking, and sweat dropping like pearls are all untreatable conditions. For treatment of phlegm syncope, Sansheng Yin combined with Duoming San may be used. If the primordial Qi is not deficient, nasal insufflation powder, Sansheng Yin, Xingfu Tang, Xingxiang San, and Daotan Tang may be selected. For other phlegm syndromoms, Erchen Tang (Two-Aged Decoction) serves as the main formula, treating according to specific symptoms without adhering rigidly to a single method.