5. High-Source Water-Draining Method

5. High-Source Water-Draining Method

The Su Wen, in the chapter "Discussion on Soup and Liquor," says, "Maintain balance... open the ghost gate and cleanse the palace." The Jin Gui Yao Lue, in the chapter "Water Energy," says, "Swelling above the waist can be cured by sweating." This shows that opening the lungs can promote water drainage. The lungs are the source of water, and if lung qi is not dispersed, kidney qi cannot descend. This water-draining method is like drawing water from a high source, hence the name. Clinical practice has shown that more severe edema is often accompanied by symptoms of lung qi not being dispersed, such as shortness of breath and coughing. If one ignores the need to disperse lung qi and only focuses on strengthening the spleen and warming the kidneys or simply promoting water drainage, the effect will be hard to achieve. However, the high-source water-draining method can yield better results. Commonly used formulas include Ma Huang Lian Qiao Chi Xiao Dou Tang, Yue Bi Tang, and Ma Huang Fu Zi Xi Xin Tang. The author often adds ma huang, shi gao, and xi xin to the warm and tonifying kidney formula for patients with severe edema in chronic nephritis, and this approach often works well.