夫微之显者,积也。人身皮里膜内必有津液滋润其间,乃气血之所生也。及
气血因感伤而停滞,则津液变涎沫以凝结,气血可以复通,凝结不能再解,潜孳
暗长,无减有增,此积之所由成也。若铜铁遇潮湿生锈,非括磨不能去,正如积
之非揉不消,同一理也。人生幼稚无积,积生则绝。少年气血旺,积不能生,壮
年气血更旺,嗜欲开,难免积,随长随消。中年并生并育,气血旺则伏,否则为患
。中年以后积渐大,占地阔。同是气血也,积有余而人反不足,宾夺主食矣。皮紧
、面鼓、项粗。腮缩,耳反、唇掀、结喉、露齿,此形之不足于外者也。再当要害
之地,手足则麻木、瘫痪;
颈项则瘰 、噎嗝;口舌则 哑、歪斜;耳目则聋 、糊涂,此急不待时者也。倘不甚重,尚可
苟延,逮至晚年,头尖、项壅、背驼、肩耸、腿胯直强、手足痿痹,四肢塞满,空隙毫无,生意隔
绝,而人积偕亡矣。此无他法,惟揉以去之,倘得消多长少,或者一条生路也。或者曰∶所言皆
病之内症,古有医案方药,安见所谓积?安见揉有效?自古无此治病法也。予应之曰∶子遵古而言
内症是也,独不见生于外之瘿瘤乎?附体成形,耗其气血,日长月大,竟以致命。虽有筋脂脓血
石肉之别,要皆气血凝结之积,古方皆以药内消,然历见消去者,十不获一。缘病在皮里膜内,药
力不能到也,在外揉之,竟可消散。今之所谓积者,即如瘿瘤使之反生于内,得不统谓气血之积乎
?独可专仗药力消之乎?总之,凡百病症,皆以气血为主,通则无积,不通则积,新则积小,久
则积大。不论大小内外病症,果能揉之,使经络气血通畅,则病无不愈者,不必先争此揉积之名分
今古也。再以浅近者申之,如头痛揉提太阳及眉心,立见轻爽,喉痛重提项前,亦见效验;小有肿痛
疮疖,揉之立时解散。揉之为法,有益无损,且可窒病之源,拔病之根,思患预防之道,无过是者,
岂反不及临渴掘井之医药耶?且也,病遇良医实是罕逢,而远乡僻野,更无所谓医药矣。况疳劳鼓嗝
,医效难期∶肓上膏下,药力不到,更有无力延医市药者,尤堪怜悯也。俗语云有病靠天,此无法如
何之词也。然则何如尽自己之心,竭自己之力,用日月之功,保百年之命,上可对天地,中可对父母,
下可对自身。今有揉晒二法,既不借人之力,又不费己之财,矢以诚,行以勤,用以和,守以恒,凡百
病症,概可立愈。健旺精神,延年益寿,此即所谓可以赞天地之化育也,请自身始。从古良医代不乏
人,真可起死回
生,实是出神入化,然垂名千古而心法无传,徒留医案方药,后人则效无从。今兹之道,
若大路然,人人能为,时时可行,惟患人之不求,不患法之不传也。集说既成,弁以揉
积论,愿先览焉。
What manifests from the subtle is "accumulation" (Ji, 积). Within the human body, between the skin and the fascia, there must be Jin Ye (Body Fluids) to moisten the space, which is generated by Qi and Blood. When Qi and Blood stagnate due to pathogenic invasion or internal injury, Jin Ye transforms into phlegm and foam, condensing together. If Qi and Blood can resume their flow, the condensation can still be resolved; but if the condensation cannot be further resolved, it secretly proliferates and grows, increasing without decreasing. This is how "accumulation" comes into being. It is like copper or iron rusting when exposed to dampness; it cannot be removed without scraping and polishing. Similarly, "accumulation" cannot be dissipated without kneading and rubbing, following the same principle.
In infancy and childhood, there is no "accumulation"; once "accumulation" arises, vitality is severed. In youth, Qi and Blood are vigorous, so "accumulation" cannot form. In early adulthood, Qi and Blood are even more vigorous; although desires open up and "accumulation" is inevitable, it grows and dissipates simultaneously. During middle age, one engages in both reproduction and labor. If Qi and Blood are vigorous, "accumulation" lies dormant; otherwise, it becomes a hazard. After middle age, "accumulation" gradually enlarges and occupies a wider area. Although it involves the same Qi and Blood, because "accumulation" is excessive, the person becomes deficient; this is the guest (pathogen) seizing the food of the host (healthy Qi). Manifestations include tight skin, swollen face, thick neck, retracted cheeks, backward-turned ears, everted lips, protruding Adam's apple, and exposed teeth. These are signs of physical deficiency on the exterior.
If located in critical areas, the limbs may experience numbness or paralysis; the neck and throat may develop scrofula (Luo Li, 瘰疬) or dysphagia (Ye Ge, 噎膈); the mouth and tongue may suffer from aphasia or deviation; the ears and eyes may suffer from deafness or confusion. These are urgent conditions that cannot wait. If not too severe, life can be barely prolonged. By late years, however, the head becomes pointed, the neck swollen, the back hunched, shoulders shrugged, legs and hips stiff and straight, and limbs withered and paralyzed. The four limbs are filled, leaving no gaps, vitality is cut off, and the person perishes along with the "accumulation." There is no other method except to remove it through kneading. If one can reduce more than what grows, perhaps there is a path to survival.
Someone might ask: What you describe are all internal symptoms of disease. Ancient medical cases and prescriptions exist, but where is this so-called "accumulation"? Where is the efficacy of kneading? Such a treatment method has never existed since ancient times. I reply: You are correct to follow ancient texts regarding internal symptoms, but have you not seen goiters and tumors (Ying Liu, 瘿瘤) growing on the exterior? They attach to the body, take shape, consume Qi and Blood, and grow day by day and month by month until they become fatal. Although they differ in nature—such as tendon, fat, pus, blood, stone, or flesh—they are essentially "accumulations" formed by the condensation of Qi and Blood. Ancient formulas use herbs to dissolve them internally, yet I have observed that fewer than one in ten cases succeed. This is because the pathology lies within the skin and fascia, where medicinal power cannot reach. However, external kneading can actually dissipate them. The "accumulation" discussed today is akin to having goiters and tumors grow internally. How can we not uniformly call them "accumulations" of Qi and Blood? Can we rely solely on herbal medicine to dissolve them?
In summary, all diseases are primarily governed by Qi and Blood. If unobstructed, there is no "accumulation"; if obstructed, "accumulation" forms. New "accumulations" are small; old ones are large. Regardless of whether the disease is minor or major, internal or external, if kneading is applied to make the meridians and Qi-Blood flow smoothly, then no disease will fail to heal. One need not first debate whether the title "Kneading Accumulation" is ancient or modern. Let me illustrate with simple examples: for headache, kneading and lifting the Taiyang acupoint and the glabella brings immediate relief; for sore throat, firmly lifting the front of the neck yields results; for minor swelling, pain, sores, or boils, kneading disperses them instantly. The method of kneading is beneficial without harm. It can block the source of disease and pull out its root. Regarding preventive care against potential illness, nothing surpasses this. Is it not superior to the reactive approach of "digging a well only when thirsty," i.e., seeking medical treatment only after illness strikes?
Moreover, encountering a skilled physician is rare, and in remote villages, medical care is virtually non-existent. Furthermore, for conditions such as infantile malnutrition (Gan Lao, 疳劳), abdominal distension (Gu Zhang, 鼓胀), and dysphagia (Ye Ge, 噎膈), therapeutic effects are hard to expect. When the disease is located above the diaphragm and below the heart (Huang Shang Gao Xia, 肓上膏下), medicinal power cannot reach. There are also those who lack the means to hire doctors or buy medicines, which is truly pitiable. The common saying "rely on Heaven when sick" reflects a sense of helplessness. Therefore, how can one exert one's own heart, exhaust one's own strength, apply the effort of days and months, and preserve a hundred-year lifespan? This allows one to answer to Heaven and Earth above, parents in the middle, and oneself below. Currently, there are two methods: kneading and sunbathing. They require neither others' labor nor one's wealth. With sincerity as the vow, diligence as the action, harmony as the application, and perseverance as the guard, all diseases can theoretically be cured immediately. Spirit becomes robust, extending life and health. This is what is meant by assisting the transformation and nourishment of Heaven and Earth. Please begin with yourself. Since ancient times, skilled physicians have been numerous, capable of reviving the dead and achieving miraculous results. However, while their fame lasts for millennia, their core techniques were not transmitted, leaving only medical cases and prescriptions, making it impossible for later generations to emulate. The present Dao is like a broad road; everyone can practice it, at any time. The only issue is whether people seek it, not whether the method is transmitted. Having compiled these discussions, I add the "Treatise on Kneading Accumulation," hoping it will be read first.