Edema is a disorder with demonstrable accumulation of excessive fluid in the subcutaneous tissues, which manifests itself as puffiness of the head, face, eyelids, limbs, abdomen, back and scrotum or even general anasarca. It may be accompanied by hydrothorax or ascites in serious cases.
From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, edema is considered as water excessively accumulated in the body. It can be caused by many factors. Many common causes of edema are related to lungs, kidneys and spleen. When these organs fail in their functions of transforming, transporting and distributing fluids, excess water overflows into the interstitial tissue in the muscle and the skin.
Pitting and non-pitting Edema
One of the key features in differentiating edema is whether or not it is pitting. When finger pressure levels a persistent indentation in the edematous area this is pitting. The ability of tissue to fill out following focal pressure depends on the flow of yang qi in the flesh and skin. In excess patterns, the still intact yang qi in the tissue will move fluids back into the indentation made by the pressing finger. When yang qi is deficient, it is unable to mobilize qi and fluids, so the pit fills slowly and the indent remains. The rate of filling of the indent reflects the degree of deficiency; the slower to rebound, the greater the deficiency.
Etiology
Some causes of Edema have been listed below
> External pathogens such as damp
> Trauma, boils and toxic lesions such as surgery, scarring, toxic heat and damp heat
Diet and medications such as restrictive or fad diets, the use of appetite suppressants and slimming aids, some over the counter medications
> Emotional factors such as emotions repression and chronic stress
> Overwork and exhaustion such as working excessively long hours or laboring to the point of exhaustion
> Some people inherit a tendency to edema
TCM practitioners attempt to identify and treat the underlying deficiency and imbalance that cause edema by using herbal medicine and acupuncture.
