脏犹库藏,主秘藏;腑如会府,主转输。脏实,则腑无不实;腑虚,则脏亦因而致虚。
故六极者,由腑虚致脏虚,阴阳失度,荣卫走散,无以养筋脉皮肉骨髓,故六物皆极。极者
穷绝之谓也,与《洪范》六极同意。
治筋实极,咳而两胁下痛,不可转动,脚下满,不得远行,脚心痛不可忍
,手足爪甲青黑,四肢筋急烦满。
生地黄 犀角(镑,各一两) 干葛 玄参 栀子仁 升麻(各三分) 大黄(半两,蒸) 芍药(一两半)
上为锉散。每服四钱,水盏半,煎七分,去滓,不以时服。恶寒体痛,加麻黄;头疼,
加石膏煎半两。
治筋虚极,好悲思,四肢嘘吸,脚手拘挛,伸动缩急,腹内转痛,十指甲痛,
数转筋;甚则舌卷卵缩,唇青,面色苍白,不得饮食。
乌麻(十两) 人参 防风 茯苓 细辛 秦椒(炒出汗) 黄 当归 牛膝 桔梗(各一两
半) 干地黄 丹参 薯蓣 矾石( ,各三两) 山茱萸 川芎(各二两) 麻黄(去节) 白术(各二
两半) 五加皮 生干姜(各五两) 大枣 钟乳粉(各三两,别以小袋子盛)
上为锉散。用清酒二斗半,同浸五宿,温服三合,日再服。
治脉实极,气衰血焦,发落好怒,唇舌赤,甚则言语不快,色不泽,饮食不为肌肤。
麦门冬(去心) 生地黄(干,各五两) 人参 茯苓 芍药(各三两) 葳蕤(四两) 石膏(六两)
远志(去心,十两) 甘草(三两) 白术(三两)
上锉散。每服四钱,水盏半,煎七分,去滓,不以时服。
The Zang organs are like storehouses, governing storage and conservation; the Fu organs are like gathering places, governing transportation and transformation. If the Zang organs are full/excess, the Fu organs will inevitably be full/excess; if the Fu organs are deficient, the Zang organs will consequently become deficient as well.
Therefore, the "Six Extremes" (Liu Ji) arise from Fu deficiency leading to Zang deficiency, resulting in a loss of balance between Yin and Yang, and the scattering of Ying (Nutritive Qi) and Wei (Defensive Qi). Consequently, there is no nourishment for the sinews, vessels, skin, flesh, bones, and marrow, causing these six substances to reach a state of extreme depletion. "Extreme" (Ji) means exhaustion or cutoff, which aligns with the concept of the "Six Extremes" found in the *Hong Fan* chapter of the *Book of Documents*.
To treat Sinew Excess Extreme (Jin Shi Ji), characterized by coughing and pain under both hypochondria, inability to turn the body, distension in the feet, inability to walk long distances, unbearable pain in the soles of the feet, cyanotic and black fingernails and toenails, and stiffness, irritability, and fullness in the limbs' sinews:
Raw Rehmannia Root (Sheng Dihuang), Rhinoceros Horn (Xi Jiao, sliced into thin pieces, 1 liang each), Kudzu Root (Gegen), Scrophularia Root (Xuanshen), Gardenia Seed (Zhizi Ren), Cimicifuga Rhizome (Shengma) (each 3 fen), Rheum Palmatum Rhizome (Dahuang, 0.5 liang, steamed), Paeonia Lactiflora Root (Shaoyao, 1.5 liang).
Grind the above ingredients into a coarse powder. Take 4 qian per dose, add 1.5 bowls of water, decoct until reduced to 0.7 volume, strain, and take at any time. If accompanied by aversion to cold and body pain, add Ephedra Herb (Mahuang); if headache occurs, add Gypsum Fibrosum (Shigao), decoct until half the liquid remains.
To treat Sinew Deficiency Extreme (Jin Xu Ji), characterized by frequent sadness and overthinking, flaccidity or labored breathing of the four limbs, spasms and contractures of hands and feet, painful contraction upon extension, internal abdominal twisting pain, pain in all ten fingernails, frequent muscle cramps; in severe cases, tongue retraction and testicular retraction, cyanotic lips, pale complexion, and inability to eat:
Black Sesame Seeds (Wuma, 10 liang), Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen), Saposhnikovia Root (Fangfeng), Poria (Fuling), Asarum Root (Xixin), Zanthoxylum Fruit (Qinjiao, stir-fried until oil appears), Astragalus Membranaceus Root (Huangqi), Angelica Sinensis Root (Danggui), Achyranthes Bidentata Root (Niuxi), Platycodon Root (Jiegeng) (each 1.5 liang), Dry Rehmannia Root (Gan Dihuang), Salvia Miltiorrhiza Root (Danshen), Dioscorea Opposita Tuber (Shuyu), Alum (Fanshi, calcined, 3 liang each), Cornus Officinalis Fruit (Shanzhuyu), Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizome (Chuanxiong) (each 2 liang), Ephedra Herb (Mahuang, nodes removed), Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome (Baizhu) (each 2.5 liang), Acanthopanax Bark (Wujia Pi), Fresh Dried Ginger (Sheng Ganjiang) (each 5 liang), Jujube (Dazao), Ostrich Eggshell Calcium (Zhonglu Fen, 3 liang each, stored separately in small bags).
Grind the above ingredients into a coarse powder. Soak them in 2.5 dou of clear wine for five nights. Take 3 he of the warm infusion twice daily.
To treat Vessel Excess Extreme (Mai Shi Ji), characterized by Qi deficiency and scorched blood, hair loss, irritability, red lips and tongue, and in severe cases, slurred speech, lusterless complexion, and food failing to transform into flesh and muscle:
Ophiopogon Tuber (Mendong, pips removed), Raw Rehmannia Root (Sheng Dihuang, dried, 5 liang each), Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen), Poria (Fuling), Paeonia Lactiflora Root (Shaoyao) (each 3 liang), Polygonatum Odoratum Rhizome (Weirui, 4 liang), Gypsum Fibrosum (Shigao, 6 liang), Polygala Tuber (Yuanzhi, pips removed, 10 liang), Licorice Root (Gancao, 3 liang), Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome (Baizhu, 3 liang).
Grind the above ingredients into a coarse powder. Take 4 qian per dose, add 1.5 bowls of water, decoct until reduced to 0.7 volume, strain, and take at any time.