Sudden Swelling with a Cold? It Could Be "Wind-Water."

What is "Wind-Water"?

In Chinese Medicine, your Lungs have two crucial jobs related to this pattern:

  • They command your Wei Qi, the protective energy shield that defends you from external influences.
  • They are in charge of regulating the water passages in the upper part of your body. Think of them as the manager of a sophisticated irrigation system, ensuring fluids are properly distributed and sent downwards.

This pattern occurs when an external "Wind" invades your body, but instead of bringing Cold or Heat with it, it directly disrupts the Lungs' ability to manage this "irrigation system."

The Wind attack obstructs the Lungs' function. As a result, they can no longer properly transform and move fluids. This causes water to accumulate, leading to sudden swelling or puffiness (edema).

The key feature of this pattern is the sudden onset of edema, which appears at the same time as the early signs of a common cold. The symptoms are:

  • The Hallmark Sign: Sudden Puffiness (Edema). This appears first on the face, especially around the eyelids, and can then spread to the limbs and the rest of the body.
  • General "Wind-Invasion" Symptoms:
    • An aversion to wind and cold.
    • A slight fever and body aches.
  • Urinary Symptoms: Scanty urination. Because the Lungs are not sending fluids down to the Bladder properly, there is less urine output.
  • Respiratory Signs: A cough and slight breathlessness.

This pattern is an acute condition, often triggered by exposure to wind and damp weather when the body is already a bit run down.

Your acupressure treatment was designed to do two things simultaneously: release the Wind from the exterior (like treating a cold) and restore the Lungs' function of moving water to resolve the edema.

Lifestyle Advice: Release the Wind, Move the Water

Your primary goal is to treat this like the beginning of a cold, while also supporting your body's fluid metabolism.

1. Expel the Wind:

  • Drink Warming Diaphoretic Teas: A tea made from fresh ginger and the white part of scallions is excellent. It helps to induce a light sweat to push the Wind out from the surface of your body.
  • Wear a Scarf: Protect the back of your neck, where Wind is said to enter, from any further exposure.
  • Rest: Your body needs all its energy to fight off the external invader and restore its internal fluid balance.

2. Promote Urination to Drain Water:

  • Eat Diuretic Foods: Small amounts of foods that naturally help the body excrete water can be beneficial. These include:
    • Aduki beans (excellent for this).
    • Barley.
    • Celery.
    • Cucumber.
  • It's best to have these lightly cooked in a soup or as part of a simple, warm meal.

3. Eat Simply and Warmly:

  • Soups and Congee: A simple vegetable soup or rice porridge (congee) is perfect. Your digestive system is under stress, so don't overburden it.
  • AVOID: Greasy, heavy, and salty foods. Salt, in particular, will cause your body to retain more water and should be strictly limited. Also avoid cold and raw foods.

4. Acupressure at Home:
This combination targets both the Wind invasion and the fluid regulation.

  • Lung 7 (Lieque - "Broken Sequence"): A key point to release Wind from the surface of the body and restore the Lungs' function.
    • Location: With your palms facing each other, interlock your thumb and index finger. The point is in the small depression on your forearm directly under the tip of your top index finger.
    • How to: Apply firm pressure for 1-2 minutes.
  • Large Intestine 4 (Hegu - "Joining Valley"): A master point for the face (excellent for facial puffiness) and for expelling Wind.
    • Location: In the fleshy mound between your thumb and index finger. Squeeze the webbing to find the most tender spot.
    • How to: Apply strong pressure for 1-2 minutes. Note: Avoid this point during pregnancy.
  • Spleen 9 (Yinlingquan): A major point for resolving edema and draining excess water from the body.
    • Location: On the inside of your lower leg, in the depression just below the bulge of your knee bone (the medial condyle of the tibia), behind the shin bone.
    • How to: Press firmly into this often-tender spot for 1-2 minutes.

By taking these steps to support your body, you can help it to expel the Wind, restore the normal flow of fluids, and resolve the swelling quickly.