Postpartum water swelling

Water swelling occurring after delivery when spleen-kidney vacuity exacerbated by childbirth disturbs the normal distribution of fluids. Postpartum water swelling is characterized by swelling of the extremities and a moist shiny appearance of the skin.

Medicinal therapy: Treat by major supplementation of qì and blood supported by disinhibiting water. Applicable formulas include Eight-Gem Decoction (八珍汤 bā zhēn tāng) plus atractylodes (Atractylodis Rhizoma, 苍朮 cāng zhú) and poria (Poria, 茯苓 fú líng). If there is distension and fullness, add tangerine peel (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, 陈皮 chén pí), pinellia (Pinelliae Rhizoma, 半夏 bàn xià), and cyperus (Cyperi Rhizoma, 香附子 xiāng fù zǐ). For pronounced vacuity, add ginseng (Ginseng Radix, 人参 rén shēn) and trifoliate akebia (Akebiae Trifoliatae Caulis, 木通 mù tōng). For pronounced heat, add scutellaria (Scutellariae Radix, 黄芩 huáng qín) and ophiopogon (Ophiopogonis Radix, 麦门冬 mài mén dōng).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on CV, back transport points, ST, and SP. Select CV-9 (Water Divide, 水分 shuǐ fēn), CV-6 (Sea of Qì, 气海 qì hǎi), BL-22 (Triple Burner Transport, 三焦俞 sān jiāo shù), BL-20 (Spleen Transport, 脾俞 pí shù), BL-23 (Kidney Transport, 肾俞 shèn shù), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport, 膈俞 gé shù), ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo), and SP-9 (Yīn Mound Spring, 阴陵泉 yīn líng quán); needle with supplementation and add moxa. For distension and fullness, add ST-25 (Celestial Pivot, 天枢 tiān shū) and PC-6 (Inner Pass, 内关 nèi guān). If heat is present, needle with drainage at LI-4 (Union Valley, 合谷 hé gǔ) and LI-11 (Pool at the Bend, 曲池 qū chí).