医有不知其病而不能治者;亦有明知其病而不能治者,有莫解其病而莫能疗者,亦有了解其病而仍莫能
疗者。与哮
痫相颉颃而深藏之固,更甚于哮痫者,正头风一症。或数日一发,或数月一发,其发也,突如其来,不因邪触
;其止也, 然而止,非藉药医。揣其痛之根,不越风毒之客于髓海焉。六经皆有头痛,三阳之经上于头,随
其经而医之,药到而痛自除。痛居经络不到之处,羌活、防风,无所施其勇;升麻、干葛,无所竭其力;柴胡
、黄芩不能消其事而逐其邪。三阴亦令人头痛,或痰壅于胸膈(太阴);或气逆于脑顶(少阴);或冷逼乎督
脉(厥阴)。而痛不关于痰气与风,南星、半夏,燥其痰;麻黄、附片,温其经;吴萸、干姜去其寒。燥者自
燥,温者自温,去者自去,而痛者自痛也。本草胪陈,空对神农而数典;万书案积,莫向仲景而问建。抑又闻
之剑阁之危险,四面拒敌,而偏以缒入之(邓艾破蜀至阴平,山势险绝,军士不得过,以缒入之);逼阳之深,
固万夫莫当,而偏以老克之(《左传》逼阳城小而固,晋荀偃、HT 伐逼阳,入于逼阳请于荀 曰∶“水潦
将降,惧不能归,请班师。”荀 曰∶“牵帅老夫,以至于此,七日不克,必尔乎,取之五月庚寅。”荀偃、
HT帅卒攻逼阳,亲受矢石,甲午灭之)。阅方书鼻渊,称为脑漏,脑可漏之出,亦可注之入,以口服药而经不
通者,以鼻注药而窍自通。在拣其解毒去风性味之平正者,淡淡注之(白菊、陈茶煎汤冷注。一方,皂角、细
辛,研细末,吹鼻得嚏则解),而痛自渐渐减炙。以鼻代口,休防郢人之垩(《庄子》郢人鼻端有垩,使匠石
斫之,匠石运斤成风,垩去
而鼻不伤,郢人立不改容);追风拔毒,何假华佗之刀(华佗字符化,汉末沛国谯人。通五经,精方脉,能刳
骨疗疾,为外科之祖。有《青囊》书,惜乎无存)。然此法肇自前人莱菔汁注鼻之方,特取而变化之者。至于
偏头风痛,丹溪以为左属风、属火,多血虚;右属热、属痰,多气虚,用之未必大验。究其根,亦是风毒傍于
脑海之旁,病之去路,多从目出而解。同邑石光南所传淡婆婆一方(淡婆婆根为君,天麻、京子为臣,川芎、
白芷为佐,菊花、当归、木贼为使,黑豆百粒为引),初起者用之屡效,殊不可解,录之以备急用。一种手三
阳之脉受风寒,伏留而不去者,名厥头痛;入连在脑者,名真头痛。其受邪与正头风无异,而其来也速,其死
也速,更有甚于偏正头风者,古无救方,质诸海内名公,不知家亦藏有秘方否?
石光南家累千金,广为结纳,高人异士,过其地者,辄馆于书斋,所得多医书未传之秘方。淡婆婆,又名
淡亲家母,未考其性,但尝其味,亦属平淡,草药肆购之。
There are cases in medicine where the disease is unknown and thus cannot be treated; there are also cases where the disease is clearly known but still cannot be treated. There are those who do not understand the disease and therefore cannot cure it, and there are those who understand the disease yet still fail to cure it. A condition that rivals asthma (Xiao) and epilepsy (Xian) in severity and lies deeply concealed, even surpassing them, is Zheng Tou Feng (True Head Wind). It may occur every few days or every few months. Its onset is sudden, not triggered by external pathogens; its cessation is equally abrupt, requiring no medicinal intervention. Speculating on the root of the pain, it does not exceed the invasion of wind-toxin into Sui Hai (Sea of Marrow, i.e., the brain).
Headache can occur in all six meridians. The three Yang meridians ascend to the head; treating according to the specific meridian allows the medicine to reach the target and the pain to subside spontaneously. However, if the pain resides in areas beyond the reach of the meridians, Qiang Huo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix) and Fang Feng (Saposhnikoviae Radix) cannot exert their prowess; Sheng Ma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma) and Gan Ge (Puerariae Radix) cannot exhaust their strength; Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix) and Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix) cannot eliminate the pathology nor expel the pathogen.
The three Yin meridians also cause headaches. Some involve phlegm obstructing the chest and diaphragm (Tai Yin); some involve qi rebellion rushing to the crown of the head (Shao Yin); some involve cold pressing against the Du Mai (Governing Vessel) (Jue Yin). Yet, this pain is unrelated to phlegm, qi, or wind. Using Nan Xing (Arisaematis Rhizoma Preparatum) and Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) to dry dampness; using Ma Huang (Ephedrae Herba) and Fu Pian (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata) to warm the meridians; using Wu Zhu Yu (Evodiae Fructus) and Gan Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) to remove cold—these actions remain independent: drying remains drying, warming remains warming, removing cold remains removing cold, while the pain persists unchanged. The Materia Medica lists countless entries, vainly reciting classics before Shennong; libraries accumulate volumes of books, yet one cannot ask Zhang Zhongjing for prescription construction.
Furthermore, I have heard of the perilous terrain of Jiange, which repels enemies from all sides, yet Deng Ai breached it by lowering soldiers down ropes (Deng Ai defeated Shu at Yinpang, where the mountain terrain was extremely steep and impassable for armies, so he lowered his troops down using ropes); Biyang City was deep and fortified, impervious to ten thousand men, yet it was conquered by veteran tactics (In *Zuo Zhuan*, Biyang City was small but well-fortified. Xun Yan of Jin attacked Biyang. Upon entering, his generals requested a retreat due to impending rains and fear of being cut off. Xun Yan declared, "I have led you here; if we do not take it in seven days, I will take your heads." He personally endured arrows and stones, and Biyang fell on the day Jia Wu). Reading medical formularies regarding Bi Yuan (Nasal Sinusitis), termed Nao Lou (Brain Leakage): brain fluid can leak out, but it can also be injected in. If oral medication fails due to blocked meridians, nasal instillation can naturally open the orifices. Select herbs with neutral properties for detoxification and wind-expulsion, and gently instill them (Decool decoction of Bai Ju [Chrysanthemi Flos] and Chen Cha [Aged Tea]; another method uses Zao Jiao [Gleditsiae Fructus] and Xi Xin (Asari Radix) ground into powder, insufflated into the nose to induce sneezing, thereby relieving pain). The pain will gradually diminish. Using the nose instead of the mouth, one need not fear injury like the man from Ying whose nose tip was scraped clean by Zhuang Shi without harming the nose (*Zhuangzi*); for chasing away wind and extracting toxins, what need is there for Hua Tuo's surgical knife? (Hua Tuo, courtesy name Yuanhua, was from Qiao, Pei State, late Han Dynasty. He mastered the Five Classics, excelled in pulse diagnosis and prescriptions, could perform surgeries such as opening bones to treat diseases, and is regarded as the ancestor of surgery. He authored *Qing Nang Jing*, unfortunately lost).
However, this method originated from an earlier formula involving radish juice instilled into the nose, merely adapted and modified. As for Pian Tou Feng (Lateral Head Wind), Zhu Danxi believed the left side belongs to wind and fire, often associated with blood deficiency; the right side belongs to heat and phlegm, often associated with qi deficiency. Applying these generalizations may not yield significant results. Investigating the root, it is also wind-toxin lodging beside the Sea of Marrow. The exit path for the pathogen often resolves through the eyes. A formula passed down by my fellow townsman Shi Guangnan, named Dan Po Po (Dan Po Po Gen [Radix of Unknown Plant] as Sovereign herb, Tian Ma [Gastrodiae Rhizoma] and Jing Zi [likely Ginkgo Semen or similar] as Minister herbs, Chuan Xiong [Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma], Bai Zhi [Angelicae Dahuricae Radix] as Assistant herbs, Ju Hua [Chrysanthemi Flos], Dang Gui [Angelicae Sinensis Radix], Mu Zei [Equiseti Herba] as Envoy herbs, and 100 Black Beans [Sojae Glycines Semen Nigrum] as Guide herbs), proves highly effective for early-stage cases. This is inexplicable, so I record it for emergency use.
Another type involves the Hand Three Yang meridians invaded by wind-cold, which lingers and does not depart, named Jue Tou Tong (Jue Headache); if the pain extends into the brain, it is named Zhen Tou Tong (True Headache). The pathogenic invasion is no different from Zheng Tou Feng, but its onset is rapid, and its fatality is swift, exceeding both lateral and true head winds. Ancient texts lack rescue formulas. I inquire among renowned physicians within and outside the seas: do you possess secret formulas?
Shi Guangnan accumulated immense wealth and widely networked. Masters and unusual scholars passing through were hosted in his study, allowing him to acquire many secret formulas not recorded in standard medical books. Dan Po Po, also known as Dan Qin Jia Mu, has unverified properties, but tasting it reveals a bland flavor. It is commonly available in herbal shops.