Article 135: Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis and Single-herb Prescriptions for Hydrocele

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Treatment and recuperation of common diseases

How does Traditional Chinese Medicine differentiate syndromes and treat diseases?

1. Cold-dampness retention type: Symptoms include scrotal swelling, shiny skin, heaviness and distension, no pain upon touch, chest tightness, red tongue with thin white greasy coating, and deep and slow pulse.

Treatment principle: Promote qi circulation and diuresis, strengthen the spleen and eliminate dampness.

Prescription: Poria cocos 15g, Polyporus umbellatus 15g, Atractylodes macrocephala 10g, Alisma plantago-aquatica 10g, Cinnamomum cassia 10g, Plantago asiatica (wrapped) 15g, Coix lacryma-jobi 30g, Cinnamomum cassia (added later) 10g, Melia toosendan 10g, Foeniculum vulgare 10g, Evodia rutaecarpa 3g, Litchi chinensis seed 10g.

2. Damp-heat accumulation type: Symptoms include rapid onset, scrotal swelling resembling crystal, damp and hot, occasional sweating in the scrotum, swelling and pain, scanty dark urine, constipation, swelling and pain in the testicles and epididymis, red tongue with yellow and greasy coating, and slippery and rapid pulse.

Treatment principle: Clear heat and promote diuresis.

Prescription: Poria cocos 15g, Polyporus umbellatus 15g, Alisma plantago-aquatica 15g, Akebia quinata 10g, Gardenia jasminoides 10g, Plantago asiatica (wrapped) 15g, Anemarrhena asphodeloides 10g, Phellodendron chinense 10g, Jade Powder (wrapped) 30g.

3. Spleen deficiency with dampness: Symptoms include scrotal swelling, heaviness and coldness that persists, lower abdominal pain, loose stools, poor appetite, fatigue, pale tongue with a thin and greasy coating, and a soft pulse.

Treatment principle: Strengthen the spleen and promote diuresis.

Prescription: 10g of Fangji, 30g of Huangqi, 15g of Baizhu, 10g of Fuling, 30g of Yiyiren, 10g of Guizhi, 10g of Dangshen, 30g of Chixiaodou, 10g of Shengjiang, 10 pieces of Dazao, and 5g of Gancao.

4. Cold-induced Qi stagnation type: Symptoms include scrotal swelling, heaviness and discomfort, lower abdominal pain, loose stools, pale tongue, thin white coating, and thready pulse.

Treatment principle: warm the meridians and dispel cold, regulate the blood and unblock the meridians.

Prescription: 10g of Sichuan pepper, 10g of costus root, 10g of fennel, 10g of poria cocos, 10g of alisma plantago-aquatica, 15g of plantain seed (wrapped), 10g of green tangerine peel, and 10g of litchi seed.

5. Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency Type: Symptoms include scrotal swelling and coldness, heaviness and discomfort, thickened scrotal skin, cold pain in the lower back and knees, aversion to cold and cold limbs, clear urine and loose stools, lower abdominal distension, pale tongue, thin white coating, and deep and slow pulse.

Treatment principle: warm the kidneys and strengthen the spleen, promote diuresis and dissipate nodules.

Prescription: 12g Rehmannia glutinosa, 15g Dioscorea opposita, 6g Cornus officinalis, 12g Alisma plantago-aquatica, 12g Poria cocos, 15g Achyranthes bidentata, 15g Plantago asiatica (wrapped), 10g Stephania tetrandra, 10g Luffa cylindrica, 10g Aconitum carmichaelii (decocted first), 10g Cinnamomum cassia, 10g Polyporus umbellatus, 10g Atractylodes macrocephala.

Traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions for treating hydrocele

1. Stir-fry 100g of orange seeds, 100g of fennel seeds, and 10g of salt over low heat until heated through. Place the mixture in a cloth bag and apply it to the affected area repeatedly 4-5 times.

2. Mix 50 grams of Cnidium monnieri and 2 egg whites with the powdered medicine, apply externally to the affected area, and change the dressing 1-2 times a day.

3. 9g each of green tangerine peel, dried tangerine peel, lychee seed, and orange seed; 6g of pangolin scales; 12g each of Poria cocos, Alisma plantago-aquatica, and Moutan bark; and 6g of licorice root. Decoct in water and take one dose daily.

4. 10g of orange seed, 10g of lychee seed, 10g of mango seed, 12g of white peony root, 12g of fenugreek, 12g of Sichuan pepper, 12g of poria cocos, and 6g of fennel. Decocted in water and taken once daily.

5. Take 10 grams of cottonseed, 100 grams of Glauber's salt, 100 grams of radish, and 7 scallions. Decoction for fumigation and washing of the affected area, 1-2 times daily.

6. Honeysuckle 30g, cicada molting 30g, perilla leaf 15g. Decocted twice in water, remove the dregs, and use the decoction to fumigate and wash the affected area for 30 minutes each time, twice a day.

Medicinal diet for treating hydrocele

1. Stir-fry 15 grams of fennel seeds and 2 grams of salt until charred, grind them into a fine powder, then add 2 green-shelled duck eggs, fry them together into a pancake, take it with rice wine before going to bed every night, 4 days is one course of treatment, stop for 2 days and then take the next course of treatment.

2. Add 30 grams of Polygonum multiflorum (50 grams if fresh) to 200 ml of water and simmer until reduced to 100 ml. Remove the dregs and keep the liquid. Add 100 grams of japonica rice and 600 ml of water and cook into porridge.

3. Take 6-7 tablespoons of aloe vera juice and 30 sunflower seeds. Put the aloe vera juice and sunflower seeds into a pot and simmer briefly until warm. Eat the sunflower seeds and drink the soup before meals, twice a day. This is used for hydrocele caused by damp-heat descending to the lower abdomen.

4. Take 10 ginkgo nuts, 30 grams of winter melon seeds, 15 grams of lotus seeds, 1.5 grams of pepper, and a little white sugar. Boil the ginkgo nuts, winter melon seeds, lotus seeds, and pepper in water, remove the residue, add white sugar and stir well. Drink 30 ml 2-3 times a day. Used for hydrocele of the damp-heat type.