Chen, female, 52 years old. Suffers from severe constipation, with bowel movements every five to six days, stools hard like sheep droppings, accompanied by dry mouth and thirst, but unable to drink; feels a rising of qi, dizziness, palpitation, and chest fullness; the rising of qi becomes more pronounced at night, with more severe blurred vision and dizziness; grade I edema all over the body, scanty and difficult urination, puffy face, and bluish color under the eyes; the tongue is swollen and pale, with a slippery coating. This syndrome is due to heart and spleen yang deficiency, with water rising to the yang position. The failure of water qi to transform and body fluids to circulate leads to severe constipation and difficult urination; the rising of water qi, with yin fighting against yang, causes palpitation, vertigo, and chest fullness; the overflow of water and fluid, vast and uncontrollable, results in edema of the body and face. Treatment: Warm and unblock yang qi, reduce water and lower the rising.
Prescription: Poria 30g, Cinnamon Twig 9g, White Atractylodes Rhizome 6g, Prepared Liquorice Root 6g
After taking 2 doses, dizziness, palpitation, and the rising qi all decreased, indicating that the water and fluid were being transformed by the warm medicine and thus reduced. Then, 3g more of Cinnamon Twig was added to the above prescription to assist yang in eliminating yin, and 12g of Alisma to promote water flow and fluid circulation. After taking 2 doses, the dryness was relieved, bowel movements became normal, spirit improved, and the rising qi further improved. Revised prescription:
Cinnamon Twig 9g, Poria 24g, Alisma 12g, Polyporus 9g, Fresh Ginger Rhizome 9g, Aconite Lateral Root 9g, Peony Root 9g