Shuiluhu Wan: Pills that Generate Fluids and Quench Thirst

In Jifeng Puji Fang there is a formula called "Shuiluhu Wan" ("Water-Hyacinth Pills") for treating dry mouth and vexing thirst. Its composition is: Baiyaojian [Chinese gall fermented with tea] 3 liang (90 g), licorice 1 liang (30 g), smoked plum meat (Wumei) and white plum meat (Bai Mei) each 5 qian (15 g), ginseng, dried kudzu root (Gange), and Ophiopogon (Maimendong) each 1 liang 5 qian (45 g), and perilla leaf (Zisuye) 5 qian (15 g). Grind all the herbs into a fine powder and, using refined honey as the excipient, form into pills the size of cherries. Hold one pill in the mouth and let it dissolve, at any time and as often as desired. If Baiyaojian is unavailable, amla (Yuganzi, Phyllanthus emblica) may be substituted.

This formula relieves vexing thirst and generates fluids. It is indicated for summerheat attack with hidden heat, thirst with a desire to drink, and a dry mouth with loss of taste. Nowadays it is often used to treat thirst caused by diabetes or the aftereffects of radiotherapy in cancer patients. The formula has some blood-glucose-lowering action and some anti-cancer action; besides quenching thirst, it also stops cough, with some effect on dry cough due to lung-yin deficiency.

Baiyaojian is a medicinal material made by fermenting Chinese gall (Wubeizi, Galla Chinensis) together with tea. This formula uses a large dose of Baiyaojian to draw on its action of astringing yin and descending fire. TCM holds that Wubeizi astringes yin and descends fire, stops cough and sweating, and has an astringent, hemostatic action. Modern pharmacological research shows Wubeizi has some efficacy against lung cancer. Wubeizi has certain side effects, but the ancient Chinese invented a fermentation method that reduces them.

For thirst that has failed to respond to various treatments, this formula may be tried. Shuiluhu Wan is not sold as a ready-made patent medicine and must be prepared from the formula; however, it is not difficult to make. Powder the herbs finely, mix with refined honey, roll into balls like glutinous-rice dumplings, and air-dry.