Library

The *Suwen* (Plain Questions), chapter "Shengqi Tongtian Lun" (Treatise on the Connection between Vital Qi and Heaven), states: "Affected by dampness, the head feels as if wrapped." The *Suwen*, chapter "Zhiyao Da Lun" (Great Treatise on the Most Essential Principles), states: "All dampness-related swelling and fullness belong to the Spleen." The *Suwen*, chapter "Shuire Xuelun" (Treatise on Water-Heat Acupoints), asks: "Why does the Kidney govern water?" It answers: "The Kidney is the organ of extreme Yin; extreme Yin implies the abundance of water. The Lung belongs to the Taiyin (Greater Yin) meridian, and Taiyin corresponds to the winter pulse. Therefore, its root lies in the Kidney, and its branches lie in the Lung." Wang Haogu stated: "Water metabolism is governed by the Spleen, Lung, and Kidney meridians, involving the compartments of the five Zang organs, six Fu organs, and twelve regular meridians. It ascends to the head and face, traverses the four limbs, descends to the waist and feet, reaches the exterior skin, enters the interior muscles, and penetrates the bones and sinews." The Spleen and Stomach belong to Earth. When fluids are ingested into the Stomach, their essence spreads and overflows, descending to be transported by the Spleen. The Spleen scatters these essences upward to return to the Lung. The Lung is the "child of Earth" (in Five Elements theory, Earth generates Metal). When Lung Qi is abundant, its clearing and purifying function proceeds smoothly, regulating and unblocking the water passages, transporting fluids downward to the Bladder. The Kidney is the child of the Lung and the gatekeeper of the Stomach. When Kidney Qi undergoes qi transformation, the two yin openings (urethra and anus) become patent. The Sanjiao (Triple Burner), as the official responsible for irrigation, serves as the pathway for water. The ministerial fire (Xianghuo) of the Liver and Kidney meridians circulates among the five Zang organs, receiving the transformations of Heaven above and assisting the generation of Earth below. It forms an exterior-interior relationship with the Pericardium of Hand-Jueyin to facilitate the movement of all waters. How could there be concerns of flooding or stagnation? However, if the Spleen and Stomach are weak, the Lung receives no nourishment, leading to obstruction of the air pathways. Consequently, the Four Seas become blocked, the Sanjiao fails to drain, and after prolonged steaming and郁 (stagnation), damp disease arises. This, however, is dampness due to internal injury. If it is an external contraction, there is dampness from rain, dew, frost, and fog in the sky; dampness from marshes, tides, and miasmas on the ground; dampness from wine and beverages in diet; and dampness from sweat on clothing and bedding. When Yang is abundant, Fire flares up, and dampness tends to transform into Heat. When Yin is abundant, Water prevails, and dampness tends to transform into Cold. Wind can dispel dampness, yet dampness often carries Wind. Dryness can remove dampness, yet dampness often overcomes dryness. Internal and external causes trigger symptoms along the meridians, attacking the head and eyes upward, presenting diverse manifestations. Dampness in the Spleen meridian often causes eye tinea and fungal growths; dampness in the Lung meridian often presents as yellow membranes; dampness in the Heart meridian often results in fleshy growths like fat; dampness in the Liver meridian often causes star-shaped nebulae, with the black cornea appearing cloudy like mist; dampness in the Kidney meridian leads to dull pupils, pale color, dimness, and lack of luster. Therapeutic methods include: wind herbs to overcome dampness, drying herbs to remove dampness, bland herbs to leach out dampness, promoting urination to guide dampness out, promoting defecation to expel dampness, and inducing vomiting of phlegm to instantly remove dampness. If dampness is accompanied by heat, bitter-cold agents are used to dry and clear it. If dampness is accompanied by cold, acrid-hot agents are used to dry and warm it. In cases where both the Spleen and Kidney are deficient, causing water flooding, one must tonify Earth (Spleen) and fill Essence (Kidney), treating both root and branch. This is why Li Dongyuan's *Piwei Lun* (Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach) earnestly emphasizes the remediation of acquired constitution (Houtian).