太阴中风。四肢烦疼。阳微阴涩而长者。为欲愈。
此太阴自中风邪之证。不从阳经来也。夫太阴、脾也。风、阳邪也。脾主行气于四肢。而风淫
为末病。故太阴中风。四肢烦热而疼痛也。脉阳微阴涩而长者。阳无病而阴受邪。而涩又为邪气之
将衰。长为正气之方盛。正盛邪衰。故为欲愈。
太阴病。脉浮者。可发汗。宜桂枝汤。
太阴脉浮有二义。或风邪中于太阴之经。其脉则浮。或从阳经传入太阴。旋复反而之阳者。其
脉亦浮。浮者。病在经也。凡阴病在脏者宜温。在经者则宜汗。如少阴之麻黄附子细辛。厥阴之麻
黄升麻皆是也。桂枝汤甘辛入阴。故亦能发散太阴之邪。
下利腹胀满。身体疼痛者。先温其里。乃攻其表。温里宜四逆汤。攻表宜桂枝汤。
此条叔和本列厥阴篇中。今移置此。
此太阴经脏并受寒邪之证。叔和编入厥阴经中者。误也。下利腹胀满。里有寒也。身体疼痛。
表有寒也。然必先温其里。而后攻其表。所以然者。脏气不充。则外攻无力。阳气外泄。则里寒
转增。自然之势也。而四逆用生附。则寓发散于温补之中。桂枝有甘芍。则兼固里于散邪之内。用法
之精如此。
太阴病欲解时。从亥至丑上。
六经邪解之时。必于其经王之时。太阴者。土也。土王于辰戌丑未。而独于亥子丑时解者。脾
为阴土。应王于阴。故其病欲解。必从亥至丑上也。
Taiyin disease presenting with wind-stroke. There is vexatious pain in the four limbs. If the pulse is superficially faint (Yang micro), deeply choppy (Yin choppy) yet long, it indicates that recovery is imminent.
This is a syndrome of Taiyin spontaneously contracting wind-pathogen, not transmitted from the Yang meridians. Taiyin corresponds to the Spleen. Wind is a Yang pathogen. The Spleen governs the distribution of Qi to the four limbs. When wind-pathogen overflows and causes disease, it results in vexatious heat and pain in the four limbs. A pulse that is superficially faint indicates no pathogen on the exterior; deeply choppy indicates pathogen affecting the interior. However, a choppy pulse also signifies that the pathogen is waning, while a long pulse signifies that the healthy Qi is flourishing. With healthy Qi flourishing and pathogen waning, it is judged as impending recovery.
In Taiyin disease, if the pulse is floating, sweating therapy may be applied, preferably using Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction).
A floating pulse in Taiyin disease has two meanings: either wind-pathogen directly strikes the Taiyin meridian, resulting in a floating pulse; or the pathogen was transmitted from a Yang meridian to Taiyin but then reverted and returned to the Yang level, also resulting in a floating pulse. A floating pulse indicates the pathology is located in the meridians. Generally, for Yin meridian diseases, if the pathology is in the Zang organs, warming therapy is appropriate; if in the meridians, diaphoretic therapy is appropriate. For example, Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Tang (Ephedra, Prepared Aconite Root, and Asarum Decoction) for Shaoyin disease and Mahuang Shengma Tang (Ephedra and Cinnabar Root Decoction) for Jueyin disease are examples of this. Guizhi Tang is sweet and acrid, entering the Yin aspect, thus it can also disperse pathogens in the Taiyin meridian.
When there is diarrhea accompanied by abdominal fullness and body pain, one must first warm the interior, and then attack the exterior. To warm the interior, Si Ni Tang (Frigid Extremities Decoction) is indicated; to attack the exterior, Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) is indicated.
This clause was originally listed in the Jueyin chapter in the Song edition of the text, but is now relocated here.
This is a syndrome where both the Taiyin meridian and its associated Zang organ are affected by cold-pathogen. It was erroneously compiled into the Jueyin meridian section by Wang Shuhe. Diarrhea and abdominal fullness indicate cold in the interior; body pain indicates cold in the exterior. However, the interior must be warmed first before attacking the exterior. The reason is that if the Zang Qi is not sufficient, there will be no strength to attack externally; if Yang Qi leaks outward, the interior cold will intensify, which is the natural trend. Si Ni Tang uses raw Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Lateral Root), embedding dispersing properties within warming and tonifying actions; Guizhi Tang contains Gancao (Licorice Root) and Shaoyao (Peony Root), thereby consolidating the interior while dispersing pathogens. Such is the precision of its usage.
The time when Taiyin disease tends to resolve is from Hai hour to Chou hour.
The times when pathogens of the Six Meridians tend to resolve correspond to the periods when the respective meridian's Qi is prosperous. Taiyin belongs to Earth. Earth Qi is prosperous during Chen, Xu, Chou, and Wei hours. However, it resolves specifically during Hai, Zi, and Chou hours because the Spleen is Yin-Earth and should prosper during Yin periods. Therefore, its disease tends to resolve from Hai to Chou hours.