伤寒两感者,阴阳双传也,虽为必死之证,犹有可救之理。盖用药先后,发表攻里,本自不同。
《活人书》先救里以四逆汤,后攻表以桂枝汤。殊不知仲景云∶太阳与少阴病,头疼恶寒,邪在表;
口干而渴,邪在里。阳明与太阴病,身热目痛,邪在表;不欲食,腹满,邪在里。少阳与厥阴病,
耳聋胁痛,寒热而呕,邪在表;烦满囊缩,邪在里。三阳之头痛,身热,耳聋胁痛,恶寒而呕,在
表者,已自不可下之。其三阴之腹满,口渴,囊缩谵语,在里者,可不下乎?《活人书》引下利身
疼痛,虚寒救里之例,而欲施治于烦满囊缩,实热之证,可乎?盖仲景所谓
发表者,葛根、麻黄是也。攻里者,调胃承气是也。《活人书》却谓救里则是四逆,攻表则是桂枝。
今以救为攻,岂不相悖?若用四逆,是火济火,而腹满,囊缩等证何由而除?脏腑何由而通?荣卫
何由而行?故死者,可立而待也。学人岂可执一定之法于胸中乎?
合病并病,世所难明,若非得其精专,焉能识此证哉!合病者,两经或三经齐病不传者,为合
病。并病者,一经先病未尽,又过一经之传者,为并病。若并而未尽,是传未过,尚有表证,法当
汗之。若并之已尽,是为传过,法当下之。是知传则入腑,不传不入腑,言其有传受如此也。三阳
互相合病,皆自下利,太阳阳明合病,主葛根汤;太阳少阳合病,主黄芩汤;少阳阳明合病,主承
气汤。三阳合病无表证者,俱可下。但三阳经合病,仲景无背恶寒语句。虽则有口燥渴,心烦,背
微恶寒者,乃属太阳证而非三阳合病也。三阳若与三阴合病,即是两感,所以三阴无合并例也。
Taiyang-Shaoyin simultaneous infection (Lianggan Shanghan) refers to the simultaneous transmission of pathogenic factors into both Yin and Yang meridians. Although this is considered a critical condition with a poor prognosis, there remains a possibility of rescue. This is because the sequence of medication administration and the distinction between releasing the exterior and purging the interior are fundamentally different.
The *Qianjin Yifang* (Book of Vitality) advocates first rescuing the interior with Sini Tang (Four Reversal Decoction), and subsequently attacking the exterior with Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction). However, it fails to realize that Zhang Zhongjing stated: In Taiyang-Shaoyin simultaneous disease, headache and aversion to cold indicate the pathogen is in the exterior; dry mouth and thirst indicate the pathogen is in the interior. In Yangming-Taiyin simultaneous disease, fever, eye pain, and discomfort indicate the pathogen is in the exterior; anorexia and abdominal fullness indicate the pathogen is in the interior. In Shaoyang-Jueyin simultaneous disease, deafness, hypochondriac pain, alternating chills and fever, and vomiting indicate the pathogen is in the exterior; irritability, fullness, and retraction of the genitals indicate the pathogen is in the interior. For the headaches, fever, deafness, hypochondriac pain, aversion to cold, and vomiting associated with the Three Yang meridians, since the pathogen is in the exterior, purgative methods should inherently not be used. Conversely, for the abdominal fullness, thirst, genital retraction, and delirium associated with the Three Yin meridians, since the pathogen is in the interior, can one refrain from using purgatives? The *Qianjin Yifang* cites the precedent of "diarrhea with body ache," a deficiency-cold pattern requiring urgent interior rescue, and attempts to apply this treatment to "irritability, fullness, and genital retraction," which are excess-heat patterns. Is this appropriate?
Zhang Zhongjing's concept of "releasing the exterior" refers to herbs such as Gegen (Kudzu Root) and Mahuang (Ephedra). His concept of "purging the interior" refers to Tiaowei Chengqi Tang (Stomach-Regulating Major Purge Decoction). Yet, the *Qianjin Yifang* claims that rescuing the interior requires Sini Tang and attacking the exterior requires Guizhi Tang. To treat "rescuing the interior" as "attacking the exterior" is contradictory. If Sini Tang is used in this context, it is akin to adding fuel to fire. How will symptoms like abdominal fullness and genital retraction be resolved? How will the Zang-Fu organs become unobstructed? How will Ying and Wei Qi circulate? Consequently, death may occur immediately. How can practitioners rigidly adhere to a single fixed method in their minds?
Simultaneous disease (Hebing) and overlapping disease (Bingbing) are difficult for the world to comprehend. Without profound expertise, how can one recognize these patterns? Simultaneous disease occurs when two or three meridians are affected simultaneously without sequential transmission. Overlapping disease occurs when the pathogen of one meridian has not fully resolved before transmitting to another. If the overlap is incomplete, transmission is not yet finished, and exterior signs remain, the treatment principle is diaphoresis (sweating). If the overlap is complete, transmission has finished, the treatment principle is purgation. Thus, transmission implies entry into the Fu organs, while no transmission implies no entry into the Fu organs, describing the nature of transmission.
When the Three Yang meridians mutually combine, diarrhea often ensues. For Taiyang-Yangming simultaneous disease, Gegen Tang (Kudzu Decoction) is the primary formula. For Taiyang-Shaoyang simultaneous disease, Huangqin Tang (Scutellaria Decoction) is the primary formula. For Shaoyang-Yangming simultaneous disease, Chengqi Tang (Purge Decoction) is the primary formula. When Three Yang simultaneous disease presents without exterior signs, purgation is applicable. However, in Zhang Zhongjing's discussions on Three Yang simultaneous disease, there is no mention of "aversion to cold in the back." Cases involving dry mouth, thirst, irritability, and slight aversion to cold in the back belong to Taiyang syndrome, not Three Yang simultaneous disease. If the Three Yang meridians combine with the Three Yin meridians, it becomes Lianggan (simultaneous Yin-Yang infection); therefore, there are no examples of combination solely within the Three Yin meridians.