阴虚火动难治。虚火可补,实火可泻,轻者可降,重者则从其性而升之。火郁可发,当看何经。凡气有余便
是火,火过甚重者必缓之,以生甘草兼泻兼缓,参术亦可。有可发者二,风寒外来者可发,郁者可发。有补阴则火自
降者,炒黄柏、地黄之类。凡火盛者,不可骤用寒凉药,必用温散。左金丸治肝火∶黄连(二两) 昊茱萸(一
两) 上末之为丸,每服五十丸,温汤送下。阴虚证难治,用四物加黄柏为降火补阴之妙剂。龟板补阴,乃阴中之至
阴。治阴火四物汤加白马胫骨,用火 过,降阴火可代芩、连。黄连、黄芩、栀子、大黄、黄柏降火,非阴中之火不
可用。栀子仁屈曲下行,以泻阴中之火,从小便中泄去,其性能下行降火,人所不知,亦治痞块中火。生甘草缓火邪。
木通下行泻小肠火。人中白泻肝火,亦降阴火,须风露二、三年者。人中黄降阴火,治温病多年者佳。小便降火极
速。气从左边起,乃肝火也;从脐下起者,阴火也;从脚上起入腹者,乃虚极也。至于火起于九泉之下,此病十不救
一。一法,以附子末塞其涌泉内,以四物汤加降火之药服妙。一妇人气实多怒不发,忽一日大发,叫而欲厥,盖痰
闭于上,火起于下,上冲故也。与香附末五钱,生甘草三钱,川芎七钱,童便、姜汁煎;又以青黛、人中白、香附,
末为丸,稍愈后,大吐乃安。后以导痰汤加姜炒黄连、香附、生姜汤,下龙荟丸。一人小腹下,常唧唧如蟹声,作
阴火处治。用败龟板酥炙,盐酒灸亦得。侧柏用酒九蒸九焙,酒黄柏、酒知母、酒川芎、酒当归,上各等分糊丸,每
服八十丸,淡盐汤送下。
Yin deficiency with fire agitation is difficult to treat. Deficient fire can be treated by tonification, excess fire can be cleared by purging, mild cases can be directed downward, and severe cases should be dispersed upward in accordance with their nature. Fire stagnation can be resolved by dispersing, but one must determine which meridian is involved. Generally, when Qi is in excess, it transforms into Fire. When Fire is extremely severe, it must be moderated; Sheng Gancao (Raw Licorice Root) serves both to clear Fire and moderate urgency, and Renshen (Ginseng Root) and Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome) may also be used. There are two indications for dispersal: external contraction of Wind-Cold can be dispersed, and Qi stagnation can be dispersed. In some cases, tonifying Yin causes Fire to descend spontaneously, such as using Chao Huangbai (Fried Phellodendron Bark) and Dihuang (Rehmannia Root). When Fire is abundant, cold and cooling herbs should not be used abruptly; instead, warm dispersing methods must be employed. Zuo Jin Wan (Left Metal Pill) treats Liver Fire: Huanglian (Coptis Rhizome) (2 liang), Wuzhuyu (Evodia Fruit) (1 liang). These are ground into powder and formed into pills; take 50 pills each time, washed down with warm water. Yin deficiency syndromes are difficult to treat; Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) added with Huangbai is an excellent formula for clearing Fire and tonifying Yin. Guiban (Tortoise Shell) tonifies Yin and represents the utmost Yin within Yin. To treat Yin Fire, add Baima Jinggu (White Horse Tibia Bone) to Siwu Tang; after calcining over fire, it can substitute for Huangqin (Scutellaria Root) and Huanglian to descend Yin Fire. Huanglian, Huangqin, Zhizi (Gardenia Fruit), Dahuang (Rhubarb Root), and Huangbai are used to descend Fire, but they should not be used if the Fire is not "Fire within Yin." Zhiren (Gardenia Seed) curves downward to drain Fire from within Yin, excreting it through urination; its ability to descend and clear Fire is often unknown, and it also treats Fire within Pi Kuai (Plum-pit qi or abdominal masses). Sheng Gancao moderates Fire pathogenic factors. Mutong (Akebia Stem) descends and drains Small Intestine Fire. Renzhongbai (Calculus Ureae) drains Liver Fire and also descends Yin Fire, but only that which has been exposed to wind and dew for two to three years is effective. Renzhonghuang (Charcoal Processed with Human Excrement) descends Yin Fire and is particularly good for treating chronic Warm Diseases. Urination clears Fire very rapidly. Qi rising from the left side indicates Liver Fire; Qi rising from below the umbilicus indicates Yin Fire; Qi rising from the feet into the abdomen indicates extreme deficiency. As for Fire arising from "Nine Springs" (the deepest depths, implying critical Kidney fire or false heat), this condition is fatal in nine out of ten cases. One method involves stuffing Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root) powder into Yongquan (KI-1) acupoint, while simultaneously administering Siwu Tang added with Fire-descending herbs, which yields miraculous results. A woman with excess Qi and frequent anger who did not vent her emotions suddenly experienced a severe outbreak one day, shouting and nearly fainting. This was due to Phlegm obstructing the Upper Jiao and Fire arising from the Lower Jiao, rushing upward. She was given Xiangfu (Cyperus Rhizome) powder (5 qian), Sheng Gancao (3 qian), and Chuanxiong (Ligusticum Rhizome) (7 qian), decocted with Tongbian (Child's Urine) and Jiangzhi (Ginger Juice). Additionally, Qingdai (Indigo Naturalis), Renzhongbai, and Xiangfu were powdered and formed into pills. After slight improvement, she vomited profusely and then stabilized. Later, Daotan Tang (Major Phlegm Resolving Decoction) was administered with Jiangchao Huanglian (Ginger-fried Coptis Rhizome), Xiangfu, and Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger) soup, followed by Longhui Wan (Dragon Gallbladder Pill). Another patient had a constant bubbling sound like a crab in the lower abdomen, which was treated as Yin Fire. Bai Gui Ban (Old Tortoise Plastron) was fried in lard until crisp; alternatively, moxibustion with salt wine could be used. Ce Bai Ye (Biota Top Leaf) was steamed and baked nine times with wine, combined with Jiuhuangbai (Wine-processed Phellodendron Bark), Zhimu (Anemarrhena Rhizome), Chuanxiong, and Danggui (Angelica Sinensis Root), all processed with wine. These ingredients were mixed in equal parts, made into honey pills, and taken at 80 pills per dose, washed down with light salt water.