Oedema of legs 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.
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Oedema of legs 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 legs 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 legs is often associated with loose stools, feeling of cold and lower back pain in the pattern “Kidney Yang Deficiency”. As you will see below, we have in record three patterns that can cause oedema of legs.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of oedema of legs 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 legs.
The three "patterns of disharmony" that can cause oedema of legs
In Chinese Medicine oedema of legs is a symptom for 3 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidney Yang Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Tongue color: Pale
Tongue shape: Swollen
Kidney Yang Deficiency causes Internal Cold and weakness.
In addition to oedema of legs, other symptoms associated with Kidney Yang Deficiency include loose stools, feeling of cold and lower back pain.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Kidney Yang Deficiency is associated with health issues such as Late Menstruation, Menopausal Syndrome or Irregular Menstruation.
Kidney Yang Deficiency is often treated with Ba Wei Di Huang Wan, a herbal formula made of 8 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Ba Wei Di Huang Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that nourish yin and tonify", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Tonifies Yang".
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 legs, other symptoms associated with Oedema include loose stools, poor appetite and cold limbs.
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,".
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Weak (Ruo)
In addition to oedema of legs, other symptoms associated with Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency include loose stools, feeling of cold and lower back pain.
Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency is often treated with Li Zhong Wan, a herbal formula made of 4 herbs (including Dried Ginger - Gan Jiang - as a key herb). Li Zhong Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that warm the middle and dispel cold", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Warms the Middle Burner".
Five herbal formulas that might help with oedema of legs
Shen Qi Wan
Why might Shen Qi Wan help with oedema of legs?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yang Deficiency' of which oedema of legs is a symptom.
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 legs?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Oedema' of which oedema of legs is a symptom.
Li Zhong Wan
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Warms the Middle Burner. Strengthens the Spleen and Stomach.
Why might Li Zhong Wan help with oedema of legs?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency' of which oedema of legs is a symptom.
Ba Wei Di Huang Wan
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Yang. Warms the Kidneys and lower extremities.
Why might Ba Wei Di Huang Wan help with oedema of legs?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yang Deficiency' of which oedema of legs is a symptom.
You Gui Wan
Source date: 1624 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Warms and tonifies Kidney Yang. Replenishes the Essence. Tonifies the Blood.
Why might You Gui Wan help with oedema of legs?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidney Yang Deficiency' of which oedema of legs is a symptom.
Acupuncture points used for oedema of legs
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat oedema of legs
Why might Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with oedema of legs?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat oedema of legs 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 Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi) help with oedema of legs?
Because Prepared Aconite is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat oedema of legs as a symptom, like Zhen Wu Tang or Shen Qi Wan for instance.
Prepared Aconite is a Hot herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Raises the collapse of Yang. Warms the meridians and relieves pain caused by Cold. Reduces Damp caused by Deficiency in Yang.
Why might Yam (Shan Yao) help with oedema of legs?
Because Yam is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat oedema of legs as a symptom, like Ba Wei Di Huang Wan or Tu Si Zi Wan for instance.
Yam is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach. Tonifies the Lung Qi and nourishes the Lung Yin. Nourishes the Kidneys and consolidates Jing.
Why might Atractylodes Rhizome (Bai Zhu) help with oedema of legs?
Because Atractylodes Rhizome is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat oedema of legs as a symptom, like Zhen Wu Tang or Li Zhong Wan 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 Water Plantain (Ze Xie) help with oedema of legs?
Because Water Plantain is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat oedema of legs as a symptom, like Wu Ling San or Ba Wei Di Huang Wan for instance.
Water Plantain is a Cold herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Bladder and the Kidney.
Its main actions are: Causes urination and removes Damp-Heat
Other symptoms often associated with oedema of legs
Loose stools Feeling of cold Lower back pain Cold and weak knees Weak legs Bright-white complexion Impotence Premature ejaculation Low sperm count Lassitude