4. Guide Water to the Plateau

4. Guide Water to the Plateau

The lungs are the source of water; as the ancients said, "Water enters the stomach, flows through the vital energy, rises to the spleen, where the spleen disperses the vital energy, then returns to the lungs, where lung qi is harmonized and the bladder is emptied." If lung qi is not released, kidney qi cannot descend; therefore, releasing lung qi is another common method for promoting kidney qi and facilitating water metabolism. This method has been valued by physicians throughout history because it is effective; some call it the "Plateau Water Guiding Method," while others refer to it as the "Lifting the Pot and Opening the Lid" method. From this came many theories and teachings, such as "Open the Ghost Gate, Cleanse the Palace," "Lung and Kidney Share the Same Origin," and "Gold and Water Generate Each Other." The formulas I use in accordance with this method include Yue Bei Tang, Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang, and Ma Huang Fu Zi Xi Xin Tang. Adding to Yue Bei Tang: 10g of Ma Huang, 30g of Sheng Shi, 10g of Xing Ren, 6g of Gan Cao, 3g of Xi Xin, 20g of Da Fu Pi, 20g of Hu Lu Pi, 10g of Che Qian Zi. Brew the herbs in water and take one dose daily. This formula is particularly suitable for patients with acute chronic glomerulonephritis who also experience external infections, or those with pulmonary edema or heart failure.