Treatment of Edema with Zhulingtang: A Review
10.13422/j.cnki.syfjx.20251397
- VernacularTitle:猪苓汤治疗水肿的研究进展
- Author:
Yinuo LI
1
;
Liheng LI
1
;
Yufei ZHANG
1
;
Shurui ZHAO
1
;
Youcai YUAN
1
;
Jie GAO
1
;
Renshuai WANG
1
Author Information
1. Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine,Harbin 150040,China
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Zhulingtang;
edema;
mechanism of action;
clinical application;
research progress
- From:
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae
2025;31(12):266-275
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Edema, as a common pathological phenomenon, is essentially the abnormal accumulation of body fluids in the interstitial spaces of human tissues and is often a direct manifestation of various underlying diseases, such as heart failure, impaired renal filtration function, or liver metabolic disorders. In the Western medical system, strategies for treating edema primarily focus on the use of diuretics to promote the excretion of excess fluid in the body, while simultaneously addressing the underlying causes through targeted treatment. However, long-term reliance on the use of diuretics may lead to a decrease in drug sensitivity and induce side effects, including electrolyte disorders such as hypokalemia and hypercalcemia, posing a potential threat to patients' overall health. Compared with Western medicine, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has demonstrated well-recognized and sustained efficacy in treating edema with its unique theoretical system. Zhulingtang, as a classic and commonly used TCM formula, is widely applied as it can effectively relieve edema and related symptoms. In recent years, ongoing in-depth studies on the treatment of edema with Zhulingtang have revealed multiple mechanisms of action of Zhulingtang, including the regulation of water metabolism and the reduction of inflammatory responses, thereby providing a solid theoretical basis for clinical practice. This review summarized the research progress on the treatment of edema with Zhulingtang in recent years and analyzed the active ingredients and action pathways of Zhulingtang. Additionally, the primary mechanisms of action and efficacy were systematically analyzed, so as to provide references for the clinical application of Zhulingtang in treating various types of edema, such as cardiogenic edema, renal edema, and hepatogenic edema. This review aims to offer theoretical support and practical guidance for clinicians in deciding treatment approaches, as well as references for subsequent in-depth studies, thereby promoting further development of TCM in the treatment of edema.