2. Strengthen Spleen and Promote Water Drainage

2. Strengthen Spleen and Promote Water Drainage

The Su Wen, in the chapter "Great Discussion on the Ultimate Truth," says, "All conditions of dampness and swelling are related to the spleen." The Ling Shu, in the chapter "On the Spirit," says, "When the spleen is deficient, the limbs lose function, the five viscera are disturbed, and when it is excessive, the abdomen swells and bowel movements are difficult." This shows that the spleen is also closely related to the onset of chronic nephritis. In fact, when kidney yang is insufficient, the Ming Men fire declines, and over time the spleen yang loses its ability to warm and eventually weakens, further promoting the formation of edema. Clinically, patients with chronic nephritis, in addition to the most common symptom of kidney yang deficiency, often also exhibit symptoms of spleen deficiency, such as poor appetite, fatigue, and abdominal distension. In most cases, these symptoms accompany those of kidney deficiency; in some cases, they appear independently. Moreover, most diuretic drugs, such as Wu Ling and Wu Pi, also have the effect of strengthening the spleen, indicating that the spleen's inability to function properly is indeed an important cause of edema in nephritis. Based on this, strengthening the spleen and promoting water drainage is also one of the fundamental treatments for chronic nephritis. Clinically, one can choose Bao Yuan Tang combined with Wu Ling and Wu Pi, or more often add Dang Shen, Bai Zhu, Huang Qi, Wu Ling, and Wu Pi to the warm and tonifying kidney formula.