Two Experienced Formulas of Dr. Liang Xiuqing for Lower-Limb and Head-and-Facial Edema
Dr. Liang Xiuqing was born into a TCM family that had practiced medicine for nine generations. He was a renowned senior TCM physician of the early post-Liberation period, practicing in Shanxi and Hebei and enjoying an excellent reputation in both. During the Cultural Revolution he suffered an injustice; after rehabilitation he became director of the oncology clinic at the Julu County TCM Hospital in Hebei.
Dr. Liang was remarkably effective in treating tumors with TCM. Patients came to him in an endless stream from across the country, and he left behind many medical case records of tumor treatment.
Unfortunately, Dr. Liang wrote little, so much of his precious clinical experience was buried with him. His disciple Guo Boxin compiled some of Liang Xiuqing's family-transmitted formulas in a book called Selected Secret Family Formulas of Liang Xiuqing, published by Shanxi Science and Education Press in 1987. Sadly, this little book is now out of print.
Dr. Liang had two family-experience formulas for edema: one for lower-limb swelling and one for head and facial swelling. Because head/facial and lower-limb edema are fairly common among cancer patients, I excerpt these two family formulas for readers' reference.
Liang Xiuqing's formula for lower-limb edema—Qumai San (Dianthus Powder):
Qumai (Dianthus) 120g, Zhuling (Polyporus) 60g, Zexie (Alisma) 60g, Chuanniuxi (Cyathula) 120g, Yiyiren (Coix seed, vinegar-fried) 60g, Baizhu (Atractylodes) 30g, Huashi Fen (Talcum) 120g, Haijinsha (Lygodium spores) 60g, Xiangfu (Cyperus) 120g.
Grind all the above together into a fine powder. Take 10g each time, stirred into warm water, three times a day.
Guo Boxin's commentary: As the saying goes, "Head and facial edema—a pot of sweat; lower-limb edema—open the water springs." (Zhiyuan's note: this means head/facial edema is treated by sweating, lower-limb edema by diuresis.) This lower-limb formula focuses on promoting urination. With Haijinsha, swelling resolves quickly; without it, more slowly. Also, Gancao (licorice) should not be used in this condition (Zhiyuan's note: some cancer patients who need Gancao should still use it; in my own experience swelling was not worsened by it). Otherwise, not only is swelling reduction hindered, but further down the line Yuanhua (Genkwa) cannot be used (Zhiyuan's note: because Gancao and Yuanhua are an antagonistic pair in TCM's eighteen incompatibilities, patients given Gancao should not simultaneously take Yuanhua). Further, in this condition, if pressing the tissue leaves an immediate rebound it is qi; if it leaves a pit it is fluid—both can use this formula. It cured 60 cases: mild cases resolved with one course; severe ones needed four.
Example:
Wu, male, 44, from Balizhuang, Julu County, Hebei. Presented in 1969. Starvation had led to nine months of lower-limb edema; the legs were so swollen he could not wear shoes or get out of bed, could not eat, his face was slightly puffy, complexion pale, pulse deep, fine, and weak. One course of the above Qumai San cut the swelling in half; a second course resolved it, and a third was taken to consolidate. When I followed up in 1981, he was healthy, with no recurrence, able to cycle and work as normal.
Zhiyuan's note: Guo Boxin's commentary basically reproduces what Dr. Liang himself taught him. Dr. Liang was known for treating tumors; lower-limb edema is common among tumor patients, usually from ascites but sometimes from blocked lymphatic drainage. On its own, this formula may not have such dramatic effect for tumor patients' diuresis. But it is indeed an excellent diuretic and swelling-reducing formula, and can be combined with other herbs to reduce tumor patients' edema—hence my recommendation.
Liang Xiuqing's formula for head and facial edema:
Zisuye (Perilla leaf) 120g, Chaihu (Bupleurum) 120g, Qianghuo (Notopterygium) 45g, Gaoben (Ligusticum) 30g, Huangqin (Scutellaria) 30g, Chantui (Cicada slough) 30g, Zhizi (Gardenia) 30g, Jingjiesui (Schizonepeta spike, fried) 30g.
Grind all together into a fine powder. Take 12g each time, washed down with decocted Congbai (scallion white) water, twice a day.
Guo Boxin's commentary: This medicine only produces a mild, moist sweat in the upper jiao (head, face, chest, upper limbs)—not heavy sweating. It cured 8 people; generally one course suffices, very severe cases two.
Example:
Liang, male, 52, from Liangzhuang, Julu County, Hebei. Presented in 1967. After an angry outburst, his head, face, and upper limbs swelled; he felt weak all over, had no appetite, spoke feebly, his complexion was puffy, and the pulse was deep, fine, and rapid. After taking this medicine, on the very same day a moist sweat broke out on his head, and he was cured before finishing one course.
Zhiyuan's note: Dr. Liang's two formulas both reduce swelling: for the upper body use sweating, for the lower use purging. When disease lies in the upper jiao, sweating opens the "upper source of water," embodying TCM's "lifting the lid to open the pot" approach to water disorders. When disease lies in the lower jiao, diuresis drains water and reduces swelling. Both formulas are rigorously and ingeniously composed, which is why I have excerpted and recommended them.
However, while these two formulas should work well for ordinary lower-limb or head/facial edema, for edema in tumor patients, although some will respond, the effective rate may not be very high.
In clinical treatment of tumor diseases, other medication strategies must be combined to achieve better results.
Also, Dr. Liang's second formula is a diaphoretic but relatively gentle. Judging by the properties of its herbs, it can reduce not only head/facial edema but also reduce fever.