Can the Yinlingquan acupoint treat foot edema?

Generally, whether the Yinlingquan acupoint can treat foot edema depends on the underlying cause of the edema. Details are as follows:

For foot edema caused by spleen deficiency with dampness retention, the Yinlingquan acupoint can be effective. This acupoint belongs to the Yuan-Source point of the Spleen Meridian of Foot Taiyin and has functions of strengthening the spleen to resolve dampness and promoting the functions of the triple energizer. When improper diet or prolonged sitting with little physical activity impair the spleen's transformation and transportation functions, leading to abnormal metabolism and accumulation of dampness causing foot edema, massage or moxibustion at the Yinlingquan acupoint can stimulate qi circulation in the meridians, enhance the spleen's transformation function, promote elimination of dampness, and alleviate edema symptoms.

If foot edema is caused by heart or kidney disease, trauma, or other factors, the Yinlingquan acupoint alone may not produce significant effects. Edema caused by heart failure originates from decreased cardiac pumping function leading to systemic venous congestion; edema caused by kidney dysfunction is associated with impaired renal excretion and water-sodium retention; while edema from trauma results from local tissue injury, capillary rupture, and subsequent bleeding and exudation. These conditions have complex etiologies, and simple stimulation of the Yinlingquan acupoint cannot address the root cause.

When using the Yinlingquan acupoint to manage foot edema, it is essential to identify the underlying cause of the edema and avoid blind intervention.