Oedema of hands according to Chinese Medicine
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Oedema of hands can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like oedema of hands here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here oedema of hands is often associated with poor appetite, loose stools and feeling of heaviness in the pattern “Oedema”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of oedema of hands we’ve identified five herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat oedema of hands.
Oedema, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause oedema of hands
In Chinese Medicine oedema of hands is a symptom for the pattern "Oedema". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
Water Plantain (Ze Xie) is the king ingredient for Wu Ling San, a formula used for Oedema
Oedema
Pulse type(s): Hidden (Fu), Slowed-down (Huan)
Tongue coating: Thick white coating
Oedema manifests itself as swellings due to the retention of Body Fluids. Chinese Medicine believes that it originates from the leaking of Body Fluids from their normal pathways into the space between skin and muscles.
In addition to oedema of hands, other symptoms associated with Oedema include poor appetite, loose stools and feeling of heaviness.
Oedema is often treated with Wu Ling San, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Water Plantain - Ze Xie - as a key herb). Wu Ling San belongs to the category of "formulas that promote urination and leach out dampness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Promotes urination,".
Five herbal formulas that might help with oedema of hands
Wu Ling San
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Promotes urination,. Warms the Yang. Strengthens the Spleen. Promotes Qi transformation function. Drains Dampness. Clears edema.
Why might Wu Ling San help with oedema of hands?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Oedema' of which oedema of hands is a symptom.
Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Diuretic, clears Excess fluid and removes edema. Tonifies the Spleen Qi. Calms External Wind.
Why might Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang help with oedema of hands?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Oedema' of which oedema of hands is a symptom.
Ping Wei San
Source date: 1051 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Dries Dampness. Improves the Spleen's transportive function. Promotes the movement of Qi. Harmonizes the Stomach.
Why might Ping Wei San help with oedema of hands?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Oedema' of which oedema of hands is a symptom.
Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Warms and transforms Phlegm-Fluids. Strengthens the Spleen. Resolves Dampness.
Why might Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang help with oedema of hands?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Oedema' of which oedema of hands is a symptom.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat oedema of hands
Why might Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with oedema of hands?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat oedema of hands as a symptom, like Wu Pi Yin or Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang for instance.
Poria-Cocos Mushrooms is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit.
Why might Atractylodes Rhizome (Bai Zhu) help with oedema of hands?
Because Atractylodes Rhizome is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat oedema of hands as a symptom, like Zhen Wu Tang or Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang for instance.
Atractylodes Rhizomes is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Spleen Qi. Fortifies the Spleen Yang and dispels Damp through urination. Tonifies Qi and stops sweating. Calms restless fetus when due to Deficiency of Spleen Qi.
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with oedema of hands?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat oedema of hands as a symptom, like Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang or Ping Wei San for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs.
Why might Cinnamon Twig (Gui Zhi) help with oedema of hands?
Because Cinnamon Twig is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat oedema of hands as a symptom, like Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang or Shen Qi Wan for instance.
Cinnamon Twigs is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Adjusts the nutritive Ying and defensive Wei Qi. Relieves the Exterior through sweating. Warms and disperses Cold. Removes obstruction of Yang. Promotes the circulation of Yang Qi in the chest. Regulates and moves blood.
Why might Fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang) help with oedema of hands?
Because Fresh Ginger is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat oedema of hands as a symptom, like Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang or Zhen Wu Tang for instance.
Fresh Ginger is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Relieves the Exterior and disperses Cold. Warms and circulates Qi in the Middle Burner. Calms a restless fetus and treats morning sickness. Treats seafood poisoning.
Other symptoms often associated with oedema of hands
Poor appetite Loose stools Feeling of heaviness Fatigue Sore back Sore knees Cold limbs Oedema of abdomen Oedema of ankles Oedema of face