Edema
Edema refers to the retention of fluids in the body, with fluid overflowing into the skin and causing swelling of the eyelids, head and face, limbs, abdomen and back, or even the whole body. Severe cases may be accompanied by pleural effusion, ascites, and other conditions. The condition is often caused by external pathogens, dietary irregularities, or overexertion, which may impair the Lungs’ regulation and movement of fluids, the Spleen’s transportation and transformation, the Kidneys’ opening and closing, or the Bladder’s qi transformation. Edema is a symptom of many diseases and is seen in Western medicine in renal, cardiac, and hepatic edema, edema due to malnutrition, functional edema, and edema caused by endocrine disorders, among others. This section focuses primarily on renal edema, including acute and chronic glomerulonephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and secondary glomerular diseases.
TCM Pattern Differentiation and Medication Reference
|Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Swelling of the eyelids at onset, rapidly spreading to the limbs and throughout the body. With a Wind-Heat tendency, the throat is red, swollen, and painful, the tongue is red, and the pulse is floating, slippery, and rapid; with a Wind-Cold tendency, there are aversion to cold, cough, and wheezing, a thin white tongue coating, and a floating, slippery, or tight pulse.
In Plain Language:
- The eyelids become swollen first, and the swelling quickly spreads to the limbs and throughout the body.
- With a Wind-Heat tendency, the throat may feel red, swollen, and painful, with noticeable discomfort when swallowing or speaking.
- With a Wind-Heat tendency, the tongue may appear distinctly red.
- With a Wind-Heat tendency, the pulse is readily felt superficially and may feel slippery and rapid.
- With a Wind-Cold tendency, there may be chills and an aversion to cold.
- With a Wind-Cold tendency, coughing and wheezing may occur, with breathlessness more noticeable when speaking or being active.
- With a Wind-Cold tendency, the tongue coating is thin and white.
- With a Wind-Cold tendency, the pulse is readily felt superficially and may feel slippery or tight.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Dispel Wind and clear Heat; diffuse the Lung qi and promote water movement.
In Plain Language:
- May help dispel Wind and clear internal Heat, easing discomfort such as fever, headache, sore throat, thirst, and irritability.
- May help diffuse Lung qi and promote fluid movement, easing symptoms such as cough, wheezing, copious phlegm, chest oppression, or difficulty urinating.
|Related Products
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|Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Eyelid edema spreading throughout the body, scant urination, sores or ulcers on the skin that may ulcerate in severe cases, a red tongue, thin yellow coating, and a floating, rapid or slippery, rapid pulse.
In Plain Language:
- The eyelids become swollen, and the swelling may gradually affect the whole body.
- Urine output may be low, with infrequent urination and a sense of insufficient or difficult urination.
- Sore-like skin lesions may develop and, in severe cases, break open and discharge fluid.
- The tongue may appear red.
- The tongue coating may be thin and yellow.
- The pulse may be readily felt superficially and rapid, or feel slippery and rapid under pressure.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Diffuse the Lung and promote urination; clear Heat and resolve toxins.
In Plain Language:
- May help diffuse Lung qi and promote fluid movement, easing symptoms such as cough, wheezing, copious phlegm, chest oppression, or difficulty urinating.
- May help clear internal Heat and eliminate pathogenic factors, easing symptoms such as fever, irritability, sore throat, or painful sores and swelling.
|Related Products
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|Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Generalized edema with taut, shiny skin; vexing Heat and thirst; scant, dark urine; a yellow, greasy tongue coating; and a deep, rapid or soggy, rapid pulse.
In Plain Language:
- Swelling may affect the whole body, with taut, shiny skin that feels swollen.
- There may be a feeling of internal heat and thirst, with a desire to drink water.
- Urine output may be low and the urine darker, yellowish, or reddish, with difficulty urinating.
- The tongue may have a yellow, greasy-looking coating.
- The pulse may be rapid and felt only with deeper pressure, or feel soft and rapid.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Separate and drain Damp-Heat.
In Plain Language:
- May help disperse and eliminate Damp-Heat, easing discomfort such as heaviness, chest oppression, abdominal bloating, or scant, dark urine.
- May help ease symptoms associated with excess Damp-Heat and promote a more comfortable feeling.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the packaging and product information, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Generalized edema, especially in the lower limbs, with pitting on pressure; poor appetite and loose stools; fatigue and weakness; a pale-red tongue, often with tooth marks along the edges; a thin white coating; and a fine, weak pulse.
In Plain Language:
- Swelling occurs throughout the body and is more noticeable in the lower limbs. Pressing the swollen area leaves a dent that takes time to rebound.
- Appetite is poor, with reduced food intake and loose, poorly formed stools.
- There may be generalized fatigue and weakness, with low energy and increased weakness after activity.
- The tongue may appear pale with a slight red tinge.
- Tooth marks may often be visible along the tongue edges, making them appear wavy.
- The tongue has a thin, white coating.
- The pulse is fine and weak, lacking strength and fullness.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Strengthen the Spleen and supplement qi; promote urination and reduce edema.
In Plain Language:
- May help support Spleen function and supplement qi, easing poor appetite, fatigue, weakness, abdominal bloating, or loose stools.
- May help promote the elimination of retained fluids and reduce swelling, easing heaviness, difficulty urinating, or swelling of the lower limbs.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the packaging and product information, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Edema of the limbs or whole body, especially below the waist, with pitting that does not quickly rebound; aversion to cold and fatigue; epigastric oppression and abdominal bloating; scant urination; a pale tongue with a white, slippery coating; and a deep, moderate pulse.
In Plain Language:
- Edema may affect the limbs or whole body and is more noticeable in the lower body. Pressing the swollen area leaves a dent that does not quickly rebound.
- There may be an aversion to cold and easy fatigue or weakness, with low energy.
- The upper abdomen may feel oppressed and the abdomen bloated and uncomfortable, as if something is not moving freely.
- Urine output may be low, with difficulty urinating and a sense of incomplete relief.
- The tongue may appear pale, with reduced color.
- The tongue coating may be white and slippery, giving the tongue a moist, pale appearance.
- The pulse is felt more clearly with deeper pressure and may be relatively slow and even.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Warm and support Spleen Yang to promote the elimination of Dampness.
In Plain Language:
- May help warm and support Spleen Yang and its transforming function, easing aversion to cold, cold limbs, poor appetite, or loose stools.
- May help promote the elimination of retained fluids, easing heaviness, difficulty urinating, or swelling of the lower limbs.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the packaging and product information, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Facial and body edema, especially below the waist, with pitting that does not rebound; cold extremities; scant urination; a pale, swollen tongue with a white coating; and a deep, fine or deep, slow pulse.
In Plain Language:
- The face and body may become swollen, especially below the waist. Pressing the area leaves a dent that does not rebound easily.
- The limbs may feel cold, with cold hands and feet that are slow to warm.
- Urine output may decrease noticeably, with a sense of insufficient or unsatisfactory urination.
- The tongue may appear pale and enlarged or swollen.
- The tongue has a white coating.
- The deep, fine or deep, slow pulse is felt more clearly with deeper pressure and may be fine or slow.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Warm and supplement Kidney Yang; transform qi and promote water movement.
In Plain Language:
- May help warm and support Kidney Yang, easing discomfort such as aversion to cold, cold limbs, soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees, or fatigue.
- May help promote qi transformation and fluid movement, easing difficulty urinating, swelling of the lower limbs, or a heavy feeling in the body.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the packaging and product information, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Long-standing edema; shortness of breath and fatigue; heat in the palms and soles; dry mouth and throat; a red tongue with scant coating; and a fine, rapid pulse.
In Plain Language:
- The edema has persisted for a long time and the body continues to look swollen.
- There may be shortness of breath and fatigue, with low energy.
- The palms and soles may feel hot to the touch.
- The mouth and throat may feel dry, including when speaking or swallowing.
- The tongue may appear red, with little coating.
- The pulse may feel fine and rapid.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Supplement qi and nourish Yin; promote urination.
In Plain Language:
- May help supplement qi and nourish Yin, easing fatigue, shortness of breath, dry mouth and throat, or hot flashes and night sweats.
- May help promote the elimination of retained fluids, easing heaviness, difficulty urinating, or swelling of the lower limbs.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the packaging and product information, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical Description:
Edema; a dull, dark complexion and dusky lips and skin; prominent abdominal veins; dark-red menstrual flow or purple clots, with scant or absent menstruation; a dark-purple tongue or purple spots; and a choppy pulse.
In Plain Language:
- The body may become swollen, with taut, puffy skin; the swelling may also be noticeable during activity.
- The face, lips, and skin may look dark or dull, with reduced luster and color.
- Veins on the surface of the abdomen may be visibly raised and prominent.
- Menstrual blood may be dark red, with or forming purple clots.
- Menstrual flow may be markedly reduced or, in severe cases, absent for a period of time.
- The tongue may appear dark purple, with scattered purple spots.
- The pulse may feel uneven or hesitant, as if its flow were impeded.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical Description:
Invigorate blood and promote urination.
In Plain Language:
- May help promote blood circulation, easing discomfort such as bruising, pain, or menstrual irregularities.
- May help promote the elimination of retained fluids, easing heaviness, difficulty urinating, or swelling of the lower limbs.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the packaging and product information, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
References
- Huang Wei. Overview of TCM Diagnosis and Treatment of Edema [J]. Chinese Journal of Integrative Pediatrics, 2013, 5(8): 292–294.
- Tang Hao. A Brief Analysis of TCM Pattern-Based Treatment of Renal Edema [J]. Guangming Journal of Chinese Medicine, 2012, 27(4): 648–649.
- Chi Yanqing, Li Ying, Feng Zhen, et al. Experimental Study of the Renal Protective Effect of Shenyansiwei Tablets in Diabetic Rats [J]. Journal of Hebei Medical University, 2010, 31(3): 268–271.
- Peng Yaping, He Zeyun. Clinical Observation of Modified Shenling Baizhu San in the Treatment of Edema in Diabetic Nephropathy [J]. Diabetes New World, 2015, 24: 63–65.
- Yue Nan, Zhi Deguang, Zhao Yigui, et al. Main Pharmacodynamic Studies of Shenkang Granules in the Treatment of Chronic Glomerulonephritis [J]. Drugs & Clinic, 2009, 24(3): 155–159.
- Ma Guangming. Treatment of Idiopathic Edema with Fuzi Lizhong Wan [J]. Journal of Medical Forum, 2007, 28(3): 104.
- Liu Chunyang. Clinical Analysis of Jisheng Shenqi Wan Combined with Diuretics for the Treatment of Edema [J]. China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica, 2012, 19(16): 108–110.
- Zhou Songdong. Modern Pharmacology and Clinical Applications of Jisheng Shenqi Wan [J]. Chinese Medicine Modern Distance Education of China, 2008, 6(9): 1138–1139.
- Wang Rong, Zhang Lian, Ai Jinwei, et al. A Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy of Shenyan Kangfu Tablets Combined with Conventional Western Treatment for Diabetic Nephropathy [J]. World Chinese Medicine, 2017, 12(1): 180–185, 190.