李荔翁年近花甲。宿患痰火。累年医治。不能除根。去岁余用轻清之品。治之而愈。今春晚膳毕。正与诸孙嬉戏。
忽觉右半身麻木不仁。少顷舌本连头俱麻。急来召余诊之。右三部脉俱洪大而数。左关尺脉劲滑利。余谓痰火上
升。阻遏脉络所致。先刺两手曲池、少商、出血。方用羚羊角、桑叶、钓藤、橘红、川贝、石菖蒲、郁金、天竺黄、远
志、神砂、茯
神、竹茹、竹沥等一剂而愈。次日再诊。脉平人安。乃用宁神和中略佐化痰。以善其后。乃郎今年北上。高捷翰苑。诸
孙皆眉目清秀。俊雅能文。其浓福正方兴而未艾也。
先甫与心禅交有年矣。每遇急症。延师延医。无不应手而愈。去秋感冒微寒。师一下指。即有疑难之色。予心知
为不祥。至季冬时果遭大变。心禅师可谓神明其技。而予则永为无父之人矣。悲哉。（棘人李鹏飞泣血书于苫次。）
金衢严桑观察。过于劳顿。虚阳上冒。更挟痰火。上阻清空。下流足膝。年逾古稀。体质偏阳。头晕脚弱。患此数
年。退归静养。医治罔效。召余治之脉浮滑数大。溢上鱼际正脉法所云高章之脉也。余曰高年亢阳为患甚多。徐洄溪
云。凡年高福浓之人。必有独盛之处。症似不足。其实有余也。夫头面诸窍。乃清空之地。六阳经脉之所会聚。上窍
皆奇。尤为阳中之阳。厥阴风火内旋。蒸腾津液。如云雾之上升。清阳不利。则为眩晕。且痰之为物。随气升降。无处
不到。气有余即是火。其冲于上也。则为眩晕。流于下也。则成痿痹。入于肢节。则如瘫痪。藏于胞络。则为痫厥。阴
不足而阳有余。所谓上实下虚是也。治以清痰火为先。次熄肝风。终以养血潜阳。徐图奏效。方用鲜橄榄数斤。敲碎
煮汁。人乳蒸西洋参、川贝母。钗石斛、桑椹子、白蒺藜、麦冬、山栀皮、竹沥。少佐姜汁同熬膏。入生矾末。每清晨
用开水冲服三四钱。服之颇安。再诊改用茯神、人乳蒸西洋参、石斛、山栀皮、桑椹子、蒺藜、生牡蛎、甜杏仁、川贝
母、麦冬、石菖蒲、竹沥、姜汁等。调理两月。渐能步履。而头晕终不能瘥。总须慎阴为是。
Li Liweng was nearly sixty years old. He had a chronic history of Phlegm-Fire (Tan Huo, accumulation of phlegm and heat). Despite years of medical treatment, the root cause could not be eliminated. Last year, I used light and clearing herbs to treat him, and he recovered. This spring, after dinner, while playing with his grandsons,
he suddenly felt numbness and insensitivity in his right half-body. Shortly after, his tongue base and head became numb. He urgently summoned me for consultation. The pulses on the right side at all three positions were surging, large, and rapid. The Guan and Chi positions on the left side were firm, slippery, and smooth. I stated that this was caused by Phlegm-Fire ascending and obstructing the meridians and collaterals. First, I punctured the Quchi (LI11) and Shaoshang (LU11) acupoints on both hands to bleed. The prescription included Antelope Horn (Lingyang Jiao), Mulberry Leaf (Sang Ye), Uncaria Rhynchophylla (Gouteng), Tangerine Peel (Juhong), Fritillaria Bulb (Chuan Bei Mu), Acorus Tatarinowii Rhizome (Shichangpu), Curcuma Aromatica Rhizome (Yujin), Hyacinth Bean Meal (Tian Zhu Huang), Polygala Root (Yuanzhi), Cinnabar (Zhusha), Poria (Fushen), Bamboo Shavings (Zhuru), and Bamboo Sap (Zhuli). One dose resulted in recovery. On the second day, upon re-examination, the pulse was peaceful and the patient was well. Thus, I used methods to calm the spirit and harmonize the middle jiao, slightly assisting with resolving phlegm, to conclude the treatment. His son went north this year and achieved high success in the Hanlin Academy. All his grandsons have clear features, are elegant, and skilled in literature. His abundant blessings are just beginning to flourish and show no sign of abating.
My late father had been friends with Master Xinchann for many years. Whenever an acute condition arose, whether consulting a master or a physician, they would invariably cure it promptly. Last autumn, when he caught a slight chill from cold, the master’s expression turned puzzled upon taking the pulse. I knew in my heart that this was an inauspicious sign. Indeed, in deep winter, a major catastrophe occurred. Master Xinchann could be said to possess divine medical skills, whereas I am forever a man without a father. How sorrowful. (Written in tears and blood by Jiren Li Pengfei during the mourning period.)
Observer Sang of Jinqu and Yan suffered from overexertion, leading to Deficient Yang floating upward, compounded by Phlegm-Fire. This pathogenic factor obstructed the clear orifices above and flowed down to the feet and knees. Over seventy years old, with a constitution leaning towards Yang, he suffered from dizziness and weak legs for several years. After retiring to rest quietly, medical treatments proved ineffective. I was summoned to treat him. The pulse was floating, slippery, rapid, and large, overflowing onto the fish belly area. This is precisely what pulse methodology refers to as the "Gao Zhang" (High and Abundant) pulse. I said that excessive Yang in the elderly causes many ailments. Xu Huixi stated: "Those who are advanced in age and blessed with abundance must have areas of particular excess; symptoms may appear deficient, but actually there is excess." The orifices of the head and face are places of clarity, where the six Yang meridians converge. The upper orifices belong to the extraordinary vessels, being particularly Yang within Yang. Wind and Fire of the Jueyin Liver channel rotate internally, steaming body fluids upward like clouds and mist. When Clear Yang fails to ascend smoothly, dizziness ensues. Furthermore, Phlegm moves up and down with Qi, reaching everywhere. Excess Qi constitutes Fire. When it rushes upward, it causes dizziness; when it flows downward, it results in flaccidity and bi-syndrome; when it enters the limbs and joints, it resembles paralysis; when it lodges in the pericardium collaterals, it causes epilepsy and syncope. Yin deficiency with Yang excess is what is meant by "Excess above and Deficiency below." Treatment prioritizes clearing Phlegm-Fire, followed by extinguishing Liver Wind, and finally nourishing Blood and subduing Yang, aiming for gradual efficacy. The prescription used several jin of fresh olives, crushed and boiled for juice, steamed with human milk, American Ginseng (Xiyangshen), Fritillaria Bulb (Chuan Beimu), Dendrobium Stem (Shihu), Mulberry Fruit (Sangshenzi), Tribulus Fruit (Bajili), Ophiopogon Tuber (Maidong), Gardenia Bark (Shanzhipi), and Bamboo Sap (Zhuli), with a little Ginger Juice (Jiangzhi) added to boil into a paste. Alum powder (Shengfan) was incorporated. Each morning, three to four qian were taken with boiling water, resulting in considerable comfort. For the follow-up visit, the prescription changed to Poria (Fushen), American Ginseng steamed with human milk, Dendrobium, Gardenia Bark, Mulberry Fruit, Tribulus, Raw Oyster Shell (Sheng Muli), Sweet Almond (Tian Xingren), Fritillaria Bulb, Ophiopogon, Acorus, Bamboo Sap, and Ginger Juice. After two months of regulation, he gradually regained the ability to walk, although dizziness never fully resolved. Ultimately, careful nourishment of Yin is essential.