甘平。宜煎调脾胃，去湿热之药。（仲景治伤寒瘀热在里、身发黄、麻黄连轺赤小豆汤、
煎
用潦水者、取其味薄、不助湿气利热也。）降注雨水为潦。（韩愈时、潢潦无根源、朝灌夕已
除。又淫雨为潦、反助湿热、不可用。）
甘微寒。治鬼疰狂邪恶毒。洗诸疮。主蛊毒。杀鬼精。恍惚妄语与饮之。勿令知之。槐
树间
者。主诸风。及恶疮风瘙疥痒。一名上池水。（此竹篱头水、及空树穴中水也、战国策云∶
长桑君饮扁鹊以上池之水、能洞见脏腑、注云∶上池水、半天河水也。）
时珍曰∶天下之水、灭火濡枯则同、至于性从地变、质与物迁、未尝同也。
千里水、东流水、甘烂水。（用流水以瓢扬万遍、故又名劳水。）
甘平。主五劳七伤。肾虚脾弱。阳盛阴虚。目不能
瞑。及霍乱吐利。伤寒后欲作奔豚。（藏
器曰∶千里水、东流水、皆堪荡涤邪秽、煎煮汤药、思邈曰∶江水流泉远涉、顺势归海、不
逆上流、用以治头、必归于下、故治五劳七伤羸弱之病、煎药宜以陈芦劳水、取其水不强、
火不盛也、无江水则以千里东流水代之、如泾渭之类、时珍曰∶劳水即扬泛水、仲景谓之甘
烂水、用流水二斗、置大盆中、以杓高扬之、千万遍、有沸珠相逐、乃取煎药、盖水性本咸
而体重、劳之则甘而轻、取其不助肾气而益脾胃也、医学正传云∶甘烂水、甘温而性柔、故
烹伤寒阴证等药用之、顺流水、性顺而下流、故治下焦腰膝之证、及通利大小便之药用之、
急流水、湍上峻急之水、其性急速而下达、故通二便风痹之药用之、宗 曰∶东流水取其性
顺、疾速通膈下关也、张从正曰∶昔有患小便闭者、众工不能治、令取长川急流之水煎前药
、一饮立溲、水可不择乎。）
逆流水。性逆而倒上。治中风卒厥。头风疟疾。咽喉诸病。宣吐痰饮。
【潦水】味甘，性平。适宜用于煎煮调理脾胃、清除湿热的药物。（张仲景治疗伤寒瘀热蕴结在体内、身体发黄时，使用麻黄连轺赤小豆汤，用潦水煎药，是取其味道淡薄，不助长湿气而利于清热。）降注的雨水称为潦。（韩愈曾说：“当时积水没有源头，早晨灌注晚上就排除了。”另外，连绵大雨造成的积水称为潦，反而助长湿热，不可使用。）
【半天河水】味甘，微寒。治疗鬼疰（一种慢性消耗性疾病）、狂乱及邪恶毒气。清洗各种疮疡。主治蛊毒。驱除鬼精。若出现神志恍惚、胡言乱语的症状，给患者服用此水，不要让他知道。槐树间积存的这种水，主治各种风邪，以及恶疮、风疹瘙痒。又名上池水。（这是竹篱头滴下的水，以及空心树穴中的水。《战国策》记载：长桑君给扁鹊喝上池之水，能洞察脏腑内部。注释说：上池水就是半天河水。）
李时珍说：天下的水，灭火和滋润枯物作用是相同的，至于其性质随地理环境变化，质地随接触物体迁移，从未完全相同。
【流水】包括千里水、东流水、甘烂水。（使用流动的水，用瓢反复扬起万次，所以又名劳水。）味甘，性平。主治五劳七伤。肾虚脾弱。阳气盛阴虚。眼睛无法闭合失眠。以及霍乱吐泻。伤寒后准备发作奔豚病。（陈藏器说：千里水、东流水，都可以用来荡涤邪秽，煎煮汤药。孙思邈说：江水流泉远涉，顺势归海，不逆流而上，用来治疗头部疾病，药力必归于下，所以治疗五劳七伤羸弱的病，煎药宜用陈芦劳水，取它水性不强、火力不盛的意思。如果没有江水，就用千里东流水代替，如泾水渭水之类。李时珍说：劳水即扬泛水，张仲景称为甘烂水。用流动的水二斗，放在大盆中，用勺子高高扬起，千万遍，有沸腾的气泡相互追逐，才取来煎药。大概水性本来咸且体重，经过劳作则变甘而轻，取它不助肾气而益脾胃的意思。《医学正传》说：甘烂水，味甘温而性柔和，所以烹制治疗伤寒阴证等药物时使用它。顺流水，性质顺流而下，所以治疗下焦腰膝的疾病，以及通利大小便的药物时使用它。急流水，湍急迅猛的水，其性质急速而下达，所以治疗通二便、风痹的药物时使用它。戴宗皋说：东流水取其性质顺遂、疾速通过膈下关窍的意思。张从正说：过去有个患小便闭塞的病人，众医生不能治愈，让人取长河急流的水煎前面的药，一喝立刻排尿，用水难道可以不选择吗？）
[Laoshui (Rainwater collected from puddles]) Sweet, neutral. Suitable for decocting herbs that regulate the Spleen and Stomach and eliminate damp-heat. (Zhang Zhongjing used Laoshui to decoct Mahelian Lianyao Chixiaodou Decoction [Mahuang, Coptis, Red Bean Decoction] for treating Shaoyang disease with stagnant heat in the interior and jaundice of the body, taking advantage of its thin flavor to avoid assisting dampness while promoting heat clearance.) Rainwater falling into puddles is called Laoshui. (Han Yu said: "At that time, the accumulated water had no source; poured in the morning, it was gone by evening." Furthermore, continuous heavy rain causing accumulation is called Laoshui, which instead aids damp-heat and should not be used.)
[Bantianhe Shui (Water collected from tree hollows or bamboo fences]) Sweet, slightly cold. Treats Guizhu [a chronic wasting disease attributed to ghosts], mania, and evil toxic pathogens. Washes various sores. Primarily treats Gudus [gu poison]. Expels ghostly essences. For symptoms of mental confusion and delirious speech, administer this water to the patient without their knowledge. Water collected under locust trees primarily treats various wind pathogens, as well as malignant sores, wind rash, and scabies. Also known as Shangchi Shui [Upper Pool Water]. (This refers to water dripping from bamboo fence tops or accumulating in hollow tree cavities. The *Strategies of the Warring States* records: Changsun Jun gave Bian Que Shangchi Shui, enabling him to see through the Zang-Fu organs internally. The annotation states: Shangchi Shui is Bantianhe Shui.)
Li Shizhen said: The waters of the world are the same in extinguishing fire and moistening withered things, but their natures change according to geography, and their qualities shift according to what they contact; they have never been identical.
[Liushui (Flowing Water)] Includes Qianli Shui [Thousand-Li Water], Dongliushui [East-Flowing Water], and Ganlan Shui [Sweet-Rotated Water]. (Using flowing water, scooped and thrown up ten thousand times with a ladle, hence also known as Laoshui [Labor Water].) Sweet, neutral. Primarily treats Wu Lao Qi Shang [Five Exhaustions and Seven Injuries]. Kidney deficiency and Spleen weakness. Excess Yang and Yin deficiency. Inability to close the eyes [insomnia]. And Huoluan [cholera-like syndrome] with vomiting and diarrhea. After Shanghan [cold damage disease], when Ben Tun [running piglet syndrome] is about to develop. (Chen Cangqi said: Qianli Shui and Dongliushui can both cleanse evil filth and are suitable for decocting herbal medicines. Sun Simiao said: River water flows far, follows the trend to the sea, does not flow upstream against the current. Used to treat head diseases, the medicinal effect must descend to the lower part. Therefore, for treating Wu Lao Qi Shang and emaciation, decocting medicine should use Chenlu Laoshui [old reed labor water], taking advantage of its weak water nature and mild fire. If river water is unavailable, substitute with Qianli Dongliushui, such as Jing River or Wei River waters. Li Shizhen said: Laoshui is Yangfan Shui [splashing water], Zhang Zhongjing calls it Ganlan Shui. Use two dou of flowing water, place in a large basin, scoop high with a ladle thousands of times until boiling bubbles chase each other, then take it to decoct medicine. Generally, water nature is originally salty and heavy; after labor, it becomes sweet and light, taking advantage of it not assisting Kidney Qi but benefiting the Spleen and Stomach. *Zhengchuan of Medicine* says: Ganlan Shui is sweet, warm, and soft in nature, so it is used to cook medicines for treating Yin syndromes of Shanghan. Shunliushui [smooth-flowing water] has a nature that flows downward smoothly, so it is used for treating lower Jiao waist and knee conditions, and for medicines that promote urination and defecation. Jiliushui [rapid-flowing water] is turbulent and swift water; its nature is rapid and descending, so it is used for medicines treating constipation/diarrhea and wind-bi [painful obstruction syndrome]. Dai Zong said: Dongliushui takes advantage of its smooth nature and speed to open the Guanqiao [gate orifices] below the diaphragm. Zhang Congzheng said: Once there was a patient with urinary retention whom many physicians could not cure. I ordered them to take urgent flowing water from a long river to decoct the previous medicine. One drink, and he urinated immediately. Can water selection be ignored?)
[Niliiushui (Counter-Current Flowing Water]) Nature is counter-current and flows upward. Treats Fengzhong [wind stroke] with sudden syncope. Toufeng [head wind] and malaria. Various throat diseases. Promotes expectoration of phlegm-fluids.