Library

Treatment for the accumulation in the Liver: The lesion is located under the left hypochondrium, resembling an inverted cup with distinct head and tail, similar to the shape of a turtle or tortoise. If untreated for a long time, it may induce coughing with reverse flow of Qi (cough and belching), malaria, persisting year after year.

Qingpi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, remove white pith, chop and stir-fry, 1 liang) Chuan Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis, remove radicle, wash, 1 liang, dry-bake) Shehanshi (Hematites, fire-calcine, quench in vinegar seven times, 3 fen) Cangzhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, peel off skin, soak in rice washing water overnight, chop and stir-fry, 1 liang) Ezhu (Rhizoma Curcumae Zedoariae, slice) Jingsanleng (Rhizoma Sparganii, slice) Tieyanfen (Limonitum, 1.5 liang each).

Grind the above ingredients into fine powder. Use vinegar-boiled rice paste as a binder to form pills the size of mung beans. Take 40 pills per dose, administered with wine infused with Danggui, before meals.

Treatment for the accumulation in the Lung: The lesion is located under the right hypochondrium, large as an inverted cup. If untreated for a long time, it causes chills and fever (shivering cold and heat), reverse flow of Qi with wheezing and coughing, developing into Lung Abscess (Fei Yong).

Banxia (Rhizoma Pinelliae Preparatum, soak in hot water seven times) Wuzhuyu (Fructus Evodiae, stir-fry) Guixin (Cortex Cinnamomi, avoid excessive heating, 7.5 qian each) Renshen (Radix Ginseng) Sangbaipi (Cortex Mori, honey-fried) Tinglizi (Semen Lepidii et Descurainiae, lightly stir-fry).

Chop the above ingredients. Take 4 qian per dose, add 1.5 sheng of water, 7 slices of fresh ginger, and 2 jujubes. Decoct until reduced to 0.7 sheng, strain, and take warm before meals.

There are five types of Accumulation (Ji) and six types of Gathering (Ju). Accumulations arise from the Yin Qi of the Five Zang Organs; Gatherings form from the Yang Qi of the Six Fu Organs. This results from disharmony of Yin and Yang. Emotions such as worry, thought, joy, and anger are inherent to humans, but excess damages the Five Zang Organs and causes Qi rebellion in the four limbs. When transmission and overcoming cycles fail, pathogenic factors remain and knot together to form the Five Accumulations. Thus, in the Liver it is called Feiqi (Fat Qi); in the Heart, Fuliang (Hidden Beam); in the Spleen, Piqi (Stagnant Qi); in the Lung, Xiben (Gathering Breath); in the Kidney, Bentun (Running Piglet). Although their names differ, their symptoms vary.

The manifestation of Feiqi is under the left hypochondrium, large as an inverted cup, enlarged with apparent head and tail; this is Liver Accumulation. Palpation reveals a string-taut and thin pulse (Xuan and Xi), bluish complexion, pain in both hypochondria radiating to the lower abdomen, cold feet with tetany, hernia masses in men, and abdominal masses in women.

The manifestation of Fuliang starts below the umbilicus, as large as an arm, extending up to the epigastrium, resembling a beam横跨 across the chest and diaphragm; this is Heart Accumulation. Palpation reveals a deep and hollow pulse (Chen and Kou), reddish complexion, heat in the abdomen, facial flushing, dry throat, irritability, severe cases may involve hematemesis, loss of appetite, and emaciation.

The manifestation of Piqi remains in the epigastrium, large as an inverted cup, causing stagnation and obstruction; this is Spleen Accumulation. Palpation reveals a floating, large, and long pulse (Fu, Da, Chang), yellowish complexion, symptoms that diminish when hungry and appear when full, abdominal distension, vomiting, diarrhea, swollen feet, muscle wasting, and prolonged illness leading to inability to control the four limbs.

The manifestation of Xiben is under the right hypochondrium, large as an inverted cup, with wheezing and surging Qi; this is Lung Accumulation. Palpation reveals a floating and superficial/hairy pulse (Fu and Mao), whitish complexion, reverse flow of Qi with back pain, shortness of breath, forgetfulness, drowsiness with cold skin, intermittent skin pain feeling like insect crawling or needle pricks.

The manifestation of Bentun originates in the lower abdomen, rising to the epigastrium, occurring irregularly, resembling a running piglet; this is Kidney Accumulation. Palpation reveals a deep and rapid pulse (Chen and Ji), blackish complexion, symptoms appearing when hungry and diminishing when full, urgency in the lower abdomen, lower back pain, dry mouth, blurred vision, cold bones, prolonged illness leading to bone atrophy and shortness of breath.

Regarding the formation of the Six Gatherings in the Six Fu Organs, it differs. Why? The Six Fu Organs belong to the Three Yang channels. Taiyang facilitates clear Qi, Yangming drains turbid Qi, Shaoyang transforms essence and Qi. They act like capitals, primarily responsible for transportation and transformation. If the Six Fu Organs lose normal function, pathogenic Qi gathers and does not disperse. Initially lacking a root, they move up and down without staying in one place, and pain has no fixed location. Upper manifestations cause blockage; lower manifestations cause distension. Lateral attack on the hypochondria creates movable masses like cups. Thus, they differ from the Five Accumulations. Generally, a fast and tight pulse indicates accumulation. A small and heavy pulse suggests gastric accumulation. Diseases have specific syndromes, and treatments have specific formulas. In diagnosing heart/abdominal accumulations, a firm, strong, and urgent pulse indicates survival, while a weak and urgent pulse indicates death. Real and strong pulses indicate survival; deep and small pulses indicate death. These must be carefully observed.

Furthermore: Accumulations result from injury and stagnation. Prolonged stagnation fails to transform, forming accumulations. Viscera suffer diseases from external pathogens, with the Spleen and Stomach being most susceptible. Daily diet, if excessive, leads to stagnation and difficult digestion, causing vomiting or diarrhea/dysentery. At this stage, the method should be to purge and sweep away stagnation, then assist in nourishing the Spleen and Stomach. Purging requires assessing the patient's deficiency/excess and the severity of stagnation. Once stagnation clears, accumulation does not form; improper digestion over time leads to accumulation, mass, and tumor syndromes. Accumulations include Qi accumulation, flesh accumulation, wine accumulation, tea accumulation, food accumulation, phlegm accumulation, and blood accumulation (in women due to amenorrhea). The key principles for treating various accumulations are listed below; refer to them and apply appropriately to the aforementioned syndromes.