Black Fish and Winter Melon Soup，From *Proven Tea, Decoction, and Soup Recipes for Common Ailments*,Promotes diuresis, removes dampness, clears heat, and detoxifies. Suitable for edema caused by acute or chronic nephritis.
prolonged use of the diuretic action can deplete yin and fluids; those with inadequate yin should be cautious
Commentary
The formula is led by black fish as the sovereign herb; nature cold, flavor sweet, channeled into the Spleen, Kidney, it chiefly tonifies the spleen, promotes diuresis, and dispels stasis to generate the new, striking at the root of the condition. The ministerial support — adzuki beans (with neutral nature and sweet, sour flavor, having Heart, Small Intestine tropism, promotes urination, drains dampness, reduces swelling and removes toxins), and winter melon (of cool nature and sweet, bland flavor, entering the Lung, Large Intestine, Small Intestine, clears heat, transforms phlegm and promotes urination) — reinforces the sovereign’s main effect and coordinates the drug strength. Completing the formula, scallions, acting as the envoy to harmonize the various ingredients, so that potency is moderated and stomach qi protected. Viewed as a whole, the formula addresses the spleen-kidney yang deficiency presentation, treating both root and branch.