Formulas · Drain Dampness 利水滲濕 · Yangbang (良方)

Carp Decoction

Ieo-tang

한글 이어탕  ·  Pinyin Li Yu Tang

鯉魚湯

The distinctive step is the base: one carp is prepared as for eating and boiled in water, and a cup and a half of the clear broth is taken; the cut herbs and seven slices of ginger are decocted in that broth down to one cup, and it is taken warm on an empty stomach — continued until the water is gone and the swelling has subsided. The source adds that regularly eating carp gruel serves the same end. Note on modern practice: swelling in pregnancy, especially of sudden onset or with headache or visual change, requires prompt obstetric evaluation.

Composition 構成

Total 44 g per packet (첩) · representative dosage — verify against source texts.

Received this formula from your practitioner? Amounts shown here are classical reference values — granule and prepared products differ. Always follow your prescribed dosage and directions.

Actions 效能

Indications 主治

Pattern-based

  • Child swelling — water in the pregnancy with generalized edema (子腫)
  • Abdominal distension with hurried panting in the later months
  • Swelling that would harm the pregnancy if untreated

Biomedical correlates

  • Edema in pregnancy
  • Fluid retention with abdominal distension
  • Supportive management of gestational swelling

Source text 原文

Donguibogam 東醫寶鑑

治子腫. 白朮ㆍ赤茯苓 各二錢, 白芍藥ㆍ當歸 各一錢半, 橘紅 五分. 右剉, 作一貼. 先取鯉魚一箇, 修事如食法, 水煮取淸汁一盞半, 入藥及薑七片, 煎至一盞, 空心溫服, 以水盡腫消爲度. 《良方》

Translation

Treats child swelling. White atractylodes and red poria, 2 don each; white peony and Korean angelica, 1.5 don each; red tangerine peel 5 fun. Cut the above and make one packet. First take one carp, prepare it as for eating, boil it in water, and take a cup and a half of the clear broth; add the medicines and seven slices of ginger, decoct down to one cup, and take warm on an empty stomach — continuing until the water is gone and the swelling has subsided. — Yangbang 良方 (Donguibogam · Buin)

Clinical commentary 臨床

Medicine cooked in fish broth — the chapter's most domestic prescription, and a shrewd one: carp was the classical diuretic food, so the vehicle itself is doing half the work while atractylodes and poria drain and peony and angelica keep the Blood from being drained with the water. A formula a family could make from what was already in the kitchen. — Eui Young (Justin) Chung, L.Ac., Dipl. O.M.

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