Wu Pi Yin: A traditional Chinese medicine recipe for promoting diuresis, reducing swelling, and regulating qi

Wu pi yin is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription first mentioned in Volume 1 of Ma Ke Huo Ren , a book written by Wu Jutong, a Qing Dynasty physician, which mainly discusses the diagnosis and treatment of measles . In this book, Wu pi yin is used to treat the initial symptoms of measles, such as fever, chills, swelling of the limbs, thirst, and difficulty urinating.

This prescription is known for its diuretic and edema-relieving effects and is mainly used to treat systemic or local edema caused by water retention. The ingredients of this prescription include ginger peel, mulberry peel, tangerine peel, tangerine peel, and poria peel, each in equal parts, and the dosage of each herb is usually 9 grams. The following will introduce the origin and background of Wupi Drink, the explanation of the prescription, indications, efficacy, modern application and precautions.

Wu pi yin Recipe Explanation

The prescription explanation of Wu pi yin can be divided into groups according to the principle of monarch, minister, assistant and envoy:

Main medicine : Radix Phellodendri and Radix Poriae. Radix Phellodendri has the effects of promoting qi and eliminating dampness, promoting diuresis and reducing swelling, and is the main medicine of this prescription. Radix Poriae has the effects of strengthening the spleen and penetrating dampness, and can improve the disorder of transportation and transformation caused by spleen deficiency.
Assistant medicine : ginger peel. Ginger peel has the effect of promoting diuresis and dispelling cold, and can expel moisture through sweat.
Adjuvants : mulberry bark, tangerine peel. Mulberry bark has the effects of clearing the lungs and relieving asthma, promoting diuresis and reducing swelling, and can help regulate the Qi. Tangerine peel has the effect of regulating Qi and strengthening the spleen, and can promote the transportation and transformation function of the spleen and stomach.

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Indications of Wu pi yin

Wu pi yin is mainly used to treat systemic or local swelling caused by water retention, especially swelling on the surface of the skin. Its indications include:

Skin edema : The main effect of Wupiyin is to treat systemic or local edema caused by water stagnation, especially edema on the surface of the skin.
Swelling of the limbs : Wupi Drink is often used to treat swelling of the limbs. For example, "Weisheng Baojian" says "swelling of the body, face and limbs", and "Huoyou Xinshu" records that it "treats swelling of the head, face and limbs".
Swelling below the waist : Wupi Drink is particularly suitable for treating swelling below the waist. It is believed that water tends to flow downwards, and this recipe can "penetrate the water in the skin."
Prenatal and postpartum edema : Wupi Drink can also be used to treat edema during pregnancy and postpartum period.

Wu pi yin Benefits

The effects of Wu pi yin are mainly reflected in the following aspects:

Diuresis and swelling reduction : Wupi Drink achieves the effect of diuresis and moisture removal through the synergistic effect of multiple medicinal materials. The tangerine peel and tuckahoe peel promote diuresis and moisture removal, allowing moisture to be discharged through urination, while the ginger peel promotes diuresis and dispels cold, allowing moisture to be discharged through sweat.
Regulate Qi : The dried tangerine peel has the effect of promoting Qi and eliminating dampness, which can promote water metabolism. At the same time, it can also regulate Qi and prevent water and moisture from stagnating.
Taking care of the spleen and lungs : Poria peel has the function of strengthening the spleen and penetrating moisture, which can improve the disorder of transportation and transformation caused by spleen deficiency. Some medicinal materials can also take care of the descending of lung qi.

Modern Application of Wu pi yin

In modern medicine, Wu pi yin is still widely used to treat various edema-related diseases, including:

Edema caused by nephritis : Wupi Drink has a good therapeutic effect on edema caused by nephritis and can improve symptoms by promoting diuresis and reducing swelling.
Cardiogenic edema : For edema caused by heart failure, Wupi Drink can also relieve symptoms by promoting diuresis and improving Qi.
Pregnancy edema : Wupi Drink also has a certain therapeutic effect on edema in pregnant women and can help improve the swelling caused by water stagnation.

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Notes

When using Wu pi yin, you need to pay attention to the following points:

Indications : Wupiyin is suitable for the initial stage of measles, with symptoms of fever, chills, swelling of the limbs, thirst, and difficulty urinating. It should not be used if the measles has already broken out.
Side effects : Wupi Drink has relatively few side effects, but individual differences should still be taken into consideration when using it, especially for pregnant women and the weak, who should use it under the guidance of a doctor.
Contraindications : For those with yin deficiency, hyperactivity of fire, and internal excess of dampness and heat, Wupi Drink should be used with caution or not at all to avoid aggravating the condition.

Conclusion

As a traditional Chinese medicine prescription, Wu pi yin is widely used in the treatment of edema-related diseases due to its effects of promoting diuresis and eliminating swelling, regulating qi, and taking care of the spleen and lungs. Whether in ancient times or modern times, Wu pi yin has been proven to be an effective prescription, especially in the treatment of systemic or local edema caused by water retention. However, when using Wu pi yin, it is still necessary to pay attention to its indications and contraindications to ensure the safe and effective use of this traditional prescription.