凡伤寒头眩者莫不因汗吐下虚其上焦元气之所致也眩者目无常主头眩者俗谓头旋眼花是也眩冒者昏冒是也少阳口
苦咽干目眩者少阳居表里之间以表邪渐入于里表中阳虚故目眩也太阳少阳并病或眩者责其虚也伤寒有起则头眩与眩冒
者皆汗吐下后所致是知其阳虚也故针经曰上虚则眩下虚则厥眩虽为虚又阳明中风但头眩不恶寒者此又风主眩也凡此皆
非逆候及其诸逆发汗剧者言乱目眩者死噫病势已成可得半愈及病已剧神医莫为也
太阳 伤寒若吐若下后心下逆满气上冲胸起则头眩脉沉紧发汗则动经身为振振摇者茯苓桂枝白术甘草汤主之(吐下
后里虚气上逆心下逆满气上冲胸表虚阳不足起则头眩脉浮紧邪在表当发汗脉沉紧邪在里不可汗汗则外动经络损伤阳气
则不能主持诸脉身为振振摇也与此汤以和经益阳 真武汤主之汗后补不止用以密腠理未能止汗)伤寒吐下后发汗虚烦脉
甚微八九日心下痞硬胁下痛气上冲咽喉眩冒经脉动惕者久而成痿(伤寒吐下后发汗则表里之气俱虚虚烦脉甚微为正气内
虚邪气独在至七八日正气当复邪气当罢尚心下痞胁下满气上冲咽喉眩冒者是正气未复而邪留也经脉动惕者经络之气虚
极久则热气还经必成痿弱或用真武汤桂枝茯苓白术甘草汤)
太阳少阳并病心下硬颈项强而眩者当刺大椎肺俞禁下 太阳少阳并病头项强痛眩冒时如结胸心下痞硬刺大椎第一
间肺俞肝俞禁发汗汗则谵语脉弦五六日谵语不止刺期门
阳明 病脉迟食难用饱饱则微烦头眩必小便难欲作谷疸须下之腹满如故所以然者脉迟故也(见前阳明病)阳明病但
头眩不恶寒故能食而咳其人必咽痛若不咳者咽不痛(阳明病身不重但头眩而不恶寒者阳明中风而风内攻也经曰阳明病若
能食名中风风邪攻胃胃气上逆则咳咽门者胃之系咳甚则咽伤故咽痛若胃气不逆则不咳其咽亦不痛也 四逆散加桔梗小
柴胡乃本经中风非伤寒小承气汤)
少阳 少阳之病口苦咽干目眩也(小柴胡汤加天麻川芎)
少阴 病下利止而头眩时时自冒者死(下利则水谷竭眩冒则阳气脱故死)
动气在左误汗则头眩汗不止筋惕肉 (方论见动气活人云宜小建中汤)诸逆误汗而言乱目眩者死(论见谵语)
吴 太阳中风头眩头摇者脉浮弦而急也羌活神术汤加防风天麻之类若血虚头眩者以四物汤加人参天麻之类若痰火
上攻者加酒芩竹沥之类若内伤劳役阴虚头眩者宜补中益气汤加川芎天麻防风蔓荆子之类若下焦元气虚脱者宜人参养荣
汤或大建中汤加天麻曾治一妇人服藿香正气三剂汗出过多头眩身摇发热脉虚数遂用人参养荣汤倍加人参为主加天麻少
佐酒炒黄柏二服而愈易老曰头旋目黑非天麻不能除故加之少加黄柏以救肾水也
Whenever a patient with Shanghan (Cold Damage) presents with dizziness (Xuan, vertigo/dizziness), it is invariably caused by the deficiency of Yuan Qi (Original Qi) in the Upper Jiao (Upper Burner) resulting from sweating, vomiting, or purging. "Xuan" refers to the eyes losing their normal focus; "Tou Xuan" (head dizziness) is commonly known as spinning sensation and blurred vision; "Xuan Mao" refers to a state of drowsy confusion. In Shaoyang disease, bitter taste in the mouth, dry throat, and dizziness occur because the Shaoyang channel resides between the exterior and interior; as pathogenic factors gradually move from the exterior into the interior, the Yang Qi between the exterior and interior becomes deficient, leading to visual dizziness. When Taiyang and Shaoyang diseases occur simultaneously (Bing Bing) and present with dizziness, the cause is attributed to deficiency. In Shanghan, dizziness upon rising or drowsy confusion are all consequences of prior sweating, vomiting, or purging, indicating Yang Qi deficiency. Thus, the *Zhen Jing* (Classic of Acupuncture) states: Deficiency in the upper part causes dizziness; deficiency in the lower part causes Jue (cold extremities/reversal). Although dizziness is generally a sign of deficiency, in Yangming wind-strike, if there is only head dizziness without aversion to cold, this is because Wind pathogens primarily cause dizziness. These conditions are not adverse prognostic signs. However, when various mis-treatments lead to forced sweating, resulting in confused speech and dizziness, death ensues. Alas! Once the disease process has established itself, half recovery may still be possible; but if the condition is already critical, even a divine physician cannot help.
In Taiyang Shanghan, if vomiting or purging is used first, followed by symptoms of fullness and rebellious Qi in the epigastrium (Xin Xia Ni Man), Qi rushing up to the chest, dizziness upon rising, and a deep, tight pulse; if sweating is then induced, it disturbs the collaterals, causing the body to tremble and shake. This should be treated with Fuling Guizhi Baizhu Gancao Tang (Poria, Cinnamon Twig, Atractodes Macrocephala, and Licorice Decoction). (Note: After vomiting and purging, the interior is deficient, causing rebellious Qi and fullness in the epigastrium, with Qi rushing to the chest. Exterior deficiency and insufficient Yang Qi cause dizziness upon rising. A floating, tight pulse indicates exterior pathogen, warranting sweating; a deep, tight pulse indicates interior pathogen, contraindicating sweating. Misguided sweating moves the exterior collaterals, damaging Yang Qi, which fails to govern the vessels, causing bodily tremors. This decoction harmonizes the collaterals and benefits Yang.) If Zhenwu Tang (True Warrior Decoction) is used. (Note: After sweating, if sweating does not stop, this formula is used to consolidate the Cou Li (pores/skin texture), though it failed to stop the sweating.)
After Shanghan is treated with vomiting, purging, and then sweating, leading to empty irritability (Xu Fan) and a very faint pulse; after eight or nine days, symptoms include hardness and fullness in the epigastrium, pain under the ribs, Qi rushing up to the throat, dizziness and confusion, and twitching of the meridians. If prolonged, this develops into Wei syndrome (flaccidity/atrophy). (Note: Vomiting, purging, and subsequent sweating deplete both exterior and interior Qi. Empty irritability and faint pulse indicate internal deficiency of righteous Qi, leaving pathogenic Qi alone. By the seventh or eighth day, righteous Qi should recover and pathogenic Qi should dissipate. Persistent epigastric fullness, rib-side distension, Qi rushing to the throat, and dizziness indicate that righteous Qi has not recovered while pathogenic Qi remains. Twitching of meridians indicates extreme deficiency of Qi in the channels; over time, heat returns to the channels, inevitably forming flaccidity. Zhenwu Tang or Fuling Guizhi Baizhu Gancao Tang may be used.)
When Taiyang and Shaoyang diseases occur simultaneously, presenting with hardness in the epigastrium, stiffness in the neck and occiput, and dizziness, acupuncture at Dazhui (GV14) and Feishu (BL13) is indicated, and purgation is forbidden.
When Taiyang and Shaoyang diseases occur simultaneously, presenting with stiffness and pain in the head and neck, dizziness and confusion, and sometimes epigastric fullness resembling Jie Xiong (Chest Binding), acupuncture at the first interspace of Dazhui (GV14), Feishu (BL13), and Ganshu (BL18) is indicated, and sweating is forbidden. If sweating is induced, it leads to delirium (Chan Yu) and a wiry pulse. If delirium persists for five or six days, Qimen (LR14) should be needled.
In Yangming disease, a slow pulse, inability to eat until full, mild irritability and dizziness after eating, difficulty urinating, and impending Gu Dan (Grass Jaundice) require purgation. However, if abdominal fullness persists, it is due to the slow pulse. (See previous Yangming disease section.) In Yangming disease, if there is only head dizziness without aversion to cold, the patient can eat and cough, and will necessarily have a sore throat; if there is no cough, the throat will not hurt. (Note: Yangming disease with body heaviness absent, only head dizziness and no aversion to cold, indicates Yangming wind-strike with internal attack by Wind. The classic states: In Yangming disease, if the patient can eat, it is called wind-strike. Wind pathogen attacks the Stomach, causing rebellious Stomach Qi and cough. The throat is connected to the Stomach; severe cough damages the throat, causing pain. If Stomach Qi does not rebel, there is no cough and no throat pain.) Si Ni San (Frigid Extremities Powder) with Jiegeng (Platycodon) or Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) may be used. This is wind-strike of this channel, not Shanghan; Xiao Cheng Qi Tang (Minor Order the Qi Decoction) is also an option.
Shaoyang disease manifests as bitter taste in the mouth, dry throat, and dizziness. (Xiao Chai Hu Tang with Tianma and Chuanxiong may be added.)
In Shaoyin disease, if diarrhea stops but dizziness occurs, accompanied by periodic fainting/confusion, death ensues. (Note: Diarrhea exhausts water and grain essence; dizziness and confusion indicate the depletion of Yang Qi, hence death.)
If Dong Qi (Pulsatile Qi) is on the left, mistaken sweating causes dizziness and incessant sweating, with muscle twitching. (For formula discussion, see Dong Qi section; *Huo Ren Shu* suggests Xiao Jian Zhong Tang.) For various mis-treatments where mistaken sweating leads to confused speech and dizziness, death ensues. (Discussion seen in Delirium section.)
Wu's perspective: In Taiyang wind-strike, if dizziness and head shaking occur with a floating, wiry, and rapid pulse, use Qiang Huo Shen Shu Tang with Fangfeng and Tianma. If dizziness is due to Blood deficiency, use Si Wu Tang with Renshen and Tianma. If Phlegm-Fire attacks upward, add Jiuhuang Qin (Alcohol-fried Scutellaria) and Zhuli (Bamboo Sap). If dizziness is due to internal injury from labor and fatigue with Yin deficiency, Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang with Chuanxiong, Tianma, Fangfeng, and Manjingzi is appropriate. If Yuan Qi of the Lower Jiao is depleted, Renshen Yang Rong Tang or Da Jian Zhong Tang with Tianma is suitable. I once treated a woman who took three doses of Huoxiang Zhengqi San, causing excessive sweating, leading to dizziness, body shaking, fever, and a deficient-rapid pulse. I used Renshen Yang Rong Tang, doubling Renshen as the main herb, adding Tianma, and a small amount of Jiuhuang Bo (Alcohol-fried Phellodendron). Two doses resulted in recovery. Yilao (Zhang Yuansu) stated: For spinning head and blackened vision, only Tianma can remove it, so it is added; a small amount of Huangbo is added to nourish Kidney Water.