Ze Xie Rhizoma Alismatis orientalis 6 g

Gui Zhi Ramulus Cinnamomi cassiae 6 g

Gou Ji Rhizoma Cibotii barometz 6 g

Chi Xiao Dou Semen Phaseoli calcarati 9 g

Tian Men Dong Tuber Asparagi cochinchinensis 6 g

Explanation The first five herbs constitute the Zhen Wu Tang which tonifies Spleen-
and Kidney-Yang and resolves oedema.

The next three herbs constitute Wu Ling San (minus Fu Ling and Bai

Zhu which are already in the first formula) which resolves oedema.

Gou Ji tonifies Kidney-Yang.

Chi Xiao Dou drains Dampness.

Tian Men Dong nourishes Kidney-Yin and is added to temper the hot

energy of the Yang tonics. Ze Xie (contained in Wu Ling San) would

also perform this function.

As this patient had been suffering from oedema for 33 years and had

resorted to the use of diuretics for 12, the treatment necessarily took a

long time (2 years) and, although she improved by about 70%, the

oedema was never resolved completely.

Prognosis

Acute oedema can be resolved fairly easily using acupuncture and/or herbs but chronic oedema
usually requires a lengthy treatment of at least several months. The oedema from Kidney-Yang
deficiency is more difficult to treat than the one from Spleen-Yang deficiency.

Western Differentiation

Oedema consists in the excessive accumulation of interstitial fluid, and it may be either localized
or generalized.

From a Western medical viewpoint there are very many causes of oedema and the main ones are
summarized in Table 22.1Table 22.1.