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Huangdi asked: Why does the Shaoyin meridian correspond to the Kidney, and why does the Kidney govern water metabolism? Qibo replied: The Kidney is the organ of Supreme Yin (Zhiyin). The organ of Supreme Yin abounds in water. The Lung belongs to the Taiyin meridian. The Shaoyin meridian corresponds to the pulse of winter. The root of water accumulation lies in the Kidney, while its branches extend to the Lung; both are involved in water retention. Huangdi asked: Why can the Kidney accumulate water and thereby cause disease? Qibo said: The Kidney serves as the gate of the Stomach. If this gate fails to function properly, water accumulates and gathers according to its kind, overflowing upward and downward into the skin, thus causing edema. Edema refers to disease caused by the accumulation of water. Huangdi asked: Are all water diseases primarily attributed to the Kidney? Qibo said: The Kidney is a Yin organ (Pin Zang). Earthly Qi ascends and belongs to the Kidney, generating fluid; therefore, it is called Supreme Yin. If internal essence stagnates and transforms into edema, with its root in the Kidney, it is named Fengshui (Wind Water).

Huangdi asked: For a patient suffering from Kidney Wind, whose face is swollen and speech is impaired due to swelling, can acupuncture be used? Qibo said: Deficiency patterns should not be treated with acupuncture. If one mistakenly punctures a deficiency pattern, the pathogenic Qi will inevitably arrive after five days. Huangdi asked: What will happen when the pathogenic Qi arrives? Qibo said: Upon arrival, there will definitely be shortness of breath, sweating from the chest and back up to the head, heat in the hands, dry mouth with bitter taste and thirst, yellow urine, swelling under the eyes, borborygmus in the abdomen, heaviness of the body making movement difficult, amenorrhea, irritability with inability to eat, and an inability to lie flat on the back. Lying flat exacerbates coughing. This disease is named Fengshui (Wind Water).

Huangdi said: I wish to hear the explanation. Qibo said: Wherever pathogenic factors gather, the healthy Qi must be deficient. When Yin is deficient, Yang pathogenic factors inevitably converge here, resulting in shortness of breath, periodic fever, and sweating. Yellow urine indicates heat in the lower abdomen. The inability to lie flat is due to disharmony in the Stomach. Coughing worsens when lying flat because the pathogen presses upward upon the Lung. In all cases of water qi disease, slight swelling appears under the eyes. Huangdi asked: Why do you say so? Qibo said: Water belongs to Yin, and the area under the eyes also belongs to Yin. The abdomen is the residence of Supreme Yin. Therefore, if water resides in the abdomen, it necessarily causes swelling under the eyes. When True Qi rebels upward, it causes bitter taste in the mouth and dry tongue. Inability to lie flat leads to coughing up clear fluid. All patients with water diseases cannot lie flat; lying flat causes palpitations, which in turn exacerbate coughing. Borborygmus occurs because the Spleen's function depends on the Stomach. Transmission to the Spleen causes irritability and anorexia. Food impaction is due to obstruction in the epigastrium. Heaviness of the body and difficulty walking are due to the Stomach meridian running along the foot. Amenorrhea is due to the closure of the Bao Mai (Uterine Vessels). The Bao Mai connects to the Heart and links to the uterus. Now, since Qi rebels upward and presses upon the Lung, the Heart Qi cannot descend and communicate smoothly, hence amenorrhea.

Huangdi asked: There is a condition where the face looks swollen like water qi. The pulse is large and tight, the body has no pain, the form is not emaciated, but the patient cannot eat or eats very little. What is this disease called? Qibo said: The root of this disease lies in the Kidney, and it is named Kidney Wind. If a patient with Kidney Wind cannot eat and suffers from incessant fright, leading to atrophy of Heart Qi, death will ensue.

For knee swelling caused by Fengshui (Wind Water), Juxu Shanglian (ST37) is the primary point. For facial swelling, Shangxing (GV23) is the primary point; first select Ge Shu (BL17), then Tianyou (TE16) and Fengchi (GB20). For facial swelling caused by Fengshui (Wind Water), Chongyang (ST42) is the primary point. For facial swelling accompanied by black complexion caused by Fengshui (Wind Water), Jiexi (ST41) is the primary point.