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Source: Zhōng Cáng Jīng 中藏经

Ingredients:

• Fú líng pí (茯苓皮 Poriae Cutis, poria skin) 12–30g
• Sāng bái pí (桑白皮 Mori Cortex, mulberry bark) 9–12g
• Chén pí (陈皮 Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, tangerine peel) 6–9g
• Shēng jiāng pí (生姜皮 Zingiberis Rhizomatis Cortex, ginger skin) 3–6g
• Dà fù pí (大腹皮 Arecae Pericarpium, areca husk) 6–9g

Action: Disinhibits water; moves qì; dispels wind-damp.

Indication: (a) Generalized water swelling with distension and oppression in the chest and abdomen, and short scant urinary voidings; (b) water swelling in pregnancy; (c) exuberant dampness in summer causing swelling of the instep. Tongue fur: White and glossy. Pulse: Fine, moderate, or slippery.

Category: Dampness-dispelling formulas / Water-disinhibiting dampness-percolating formulas

Method: Decoct with water.

Rationale: Fú líng pí, the sovereign agent, percolates dampness and disinhibits water. It is supported by Chén pí which rectifies qì and transforms dampness, Sāng bái pí and Dà fù pí, which precipitate qì and disinhibit water, and warm dispersing ginger, which moves water. The water-disinhibiting action is supported by the qì-rectifying action, since when qì moves, water also moves.

Variations:

• Swelling above the lumbus: Add perilla, Jīng jiè (荆芥 Schizonepetae Herba, schizonepeta), Fáng fēng (防风 Saposhnikoviae Radix, saposhnikovia), and Qín jiāo (秦艽 Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix, large gentian [root]).
• Swelling below the lumbus: Add Chì xiǎo dòu (赤小豆 Vignae Semen, rice bean), Fú líng (茯苓 Poria , poria), Zé xiè (泽泻 Alismatis Rhizoma, alisma [tuber]), Fáng jǐ (防己 Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix, fangji [root]), and Chē qián zǐ (车前子 Plantaginis Semen, plantago seed).
• Fecal stoppage: Add Dà huáng (大黄 Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, rhubarb) and Zhǐ shí (枳实 Aurantii Fructus Immaturus, unripe bitter orange).
• Abdominal fullness: Add Hòu pò (厚朴 Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex, officinal magnolia bark), Qīng pí (青皮 Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride, unripe tangerine peel), and Lái fú zǐ (莱菔子 Raphani Semen, radish seed).
• Constitutional vacuity: Add Dǎng shēn (党参 Codonopsis Radix, codonopsis [root]), Huáng qí (黄芪 Astragali Radix, astragalus [root]), and Bái zhú (白朮 Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, white atractylodes [root]).
• Yīn water: Add Fù zǐ (附子 Aconiti Radix Lateralis Praeparata, aconite [accessory root]), Gān jiāng (干姜 Zingiberis Rhizoma, dried ginger), Ròu guì (肉桂 Cinnamomi Cortex, cinnamon bark), or Wàn nián qīng gēn (万年青根 Rohdeae Rhizoma et Radix, rohdea root).
• Yáng water: Add Huáng bǎi (黄柏 Phellodendri Cortex, phellodendron [bark]), Chē qián zǐ (车前子 Plantaginis Semen, plantago seed), and Zé xiè (泽泻 Alismatis Rhizoma, alisma [tuber]).

Notes: The five peels are the five ingredients, which include barks and skins as well as peels. The Chinese 皮 (pí) covers all these things.

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