Question: After suffering from diarrhea, if one is thirsty and drinks water, but experiences dysuria, abdominal distension and fullness, and swelling of the vulva, what is the reason? Answer: In this case, it is likely to develop into water retention. However, if urination is normal and sweating occurs, it will naturally heal.

bubble_chart Note

Diarrhea leads to deficiency, damaging the earth (spleen) and depleting body fluids. When the earth is deficient, water tends to flow recklessly; when fluids are depleted, one inevitably craves water. If urination is normal and sweating occurs, water and essence are properly distributed—how could water retention arise? Only when dysuria occurs does water have no outlet, inevitably leading to water retention. In cases of water retention, the spleen must be deficient and unable to control water, hence abdominal distension and fullness; the kidneys must also be deficient and unable to govern water, hence swelling of the vulva. From this, it can be inferred that after any illness involving damage to fluids, if thirst and a desire to drink water are accompanied by dysuria, one must guard against water retention.

bubble_chart Collected Annotations

• Cheng Lin said: Diarrhea weakens the spleen-earth and exhausts body fluids, hence the thirst and desire to drink. Moreover, the earth cannot control water, leading to dysuria. The spleen is averse to dampness, hence abdominal distension and fullness; the kidneys govern water, hence swelling of the vulva—this undoubtedly indicates water retention. If urination is normal, water circulates; if sweating occurs, water disperses. Even without medication, recovery will follow naturally.