Refractory Edema of Nephrotic Syndrome Treated by Acupuncture based on the Principle of “When Swelling is Below the Waist， Urination should be Induced”： A Case Report / 中医杂志

ABSTRACT

Edema is one of the typical symptoms of nephrotic syndrome， and symptomatic diuretics is mainly used in clinical practice but with unstable effect. This paper reported a case of refractory edema of nephrotic syndrome treated by acupuncture. The patient was mainly manifested as edema in both lower limbs， which were sunken when pressed and difficult to recover. After symptomatic treatment with western medicine， the effect was not obvious. In traditional Chinese medicine， this patient was diagnosed as spleen-kidney depletion and water-dampness internal accumulation syndrome. Based on the principle of “when swelling is below the waist， urination should be induced” in ZHANG Zhongjing's Essentials from the Golden Cabinet （《金匮要略》）， it is recommended to puncture at Shuidao （ST 28） and Shuifen （CV 9） to promote urination， at Sanyinjiao （SP 6）， Lougu （SP 7）， Yinlingquan （SP 9） and Zusanli （ST 36） to fortify the spleen and boost the kidneys and treat the root and branch simultaneously. After 3-day treatment， urine becomes smooth， and the edema of both lower limbs disappeared.