夫人夜卧交睫,则梦争斗,负败恐怕之状难以形容〔者〕,人以为心病也,谁知是肝病乎?盖肝藏魂,肝血虚
则魂失养,故交睫则若魇,乃肝胆虚怯,故负恐维多,此非竣补,不克奏功。而草木之品,不堪任重,乃以酒化
鹿角胶,空心服之可痊。盖鹿角胶峻补精血,血旺则神自安矣。
人有神气不宁,每卧则魂飞扬,觉身在床而魂离体也,惊悖多魇,通夕无寐,人以为心病也,谁知是肝经受
邪乎?盖肝气一虚,邪气袭之,肝藏魂则魂无根据,是以魂飞扬而若离体也。
此症当用珍珠母为君,龙齿佐之。珍珠母入肝为第一,龙齿与肝同类也。龙齿、虎睛,令人例以为镇心之
药,不知龙齿安魂,虎睛定魄也。东方苍龙,木也,属肝而藏魂,西方白虎,金也,属肺而藏魄。龙能变化,故魂
游而不定;虎能专静,故魄止而有守。
是以治魄不宁,宜虎睛;治魂飞扬。宜龙齿;药各有当也。
古人所立治痰之法,皆是治痰之标,而不能治痰之本也。如二陈汤上中下久暂之痰皆治之,而其实无实效也。
今立三方,痰病总不出其范围也。
伤风、咳嗽、吐痰是也。方用∶
半夏(一钱) 陈皮(一钱) 天花粉(一钱) 茯苓(一钱) 苏子(一钱) 甘草(一钱)
水煎服。
二剂而痰可消矣。此方去上焦之痰,上焦之痰,原在胃中而不在肺,去其胃中之痰,而肺金自然清肃,又何至
火之上升哉?
When a person falls asleep at night and dreams of fighting, bearing burdens, or experiencing fear and failure—states that are difficult to describe in words—it is commonly believed to be a heart disease. However, who would suspect it is actually a liver disorder? The liver stores the Hun (ethereal soul, a component of spiritual activities). When Liver Blood is deficient, the Hun lacks nourishment; thus, upon closing one's eyes to sleep, one feels as if paralyzed by a nightmare. This arises from deficiency and timidity of the Liver and Gallbladder, resulting in frequent feelings of fear. Such conditions cannot achieve therapeutic effects without potent tonification. Ordinary herbal preparations are insufficient for such heavy tasks; instead, Deer Antler Glue (Lujiaojiao) dissolved in wine should be taken on an empty stomach to cure the condition. Deer Antler Glue strongly tonifies Essence and Blood; when Blood becomes abundant, the Spirit naturally calms.
Some individuals experience restlessness of their Shen (Spirit), where during sleep their Hun flies about uncontrollably, feeling as though their body remains in bed while their Hun has left it. They suffer from frequent fright, nightmares, and insomnia throughout the night. People assume this is a heart disease, but who would realize it is due to pathogenic factors invading the Liver Meridian? When Liver Qi becomes deficient, pathogenic factors invade it. Since the Liver stores the Hun, a deficiency means the Hun has no foundation, causing it to fly about as if detached from the body.
For this syndrome, Mother-of-Pearl Shell (Zhenzhumu) should be used as the sovereign drug, with Dragon Bone (Longgu) as the minister drug. Mother-of-Pearl Shell enters the Liver meridian with superior efficacy, and Dragon Bone shares the same nature as the Liver. It is commonly assumed that Dragon Bone and Tiger Eye are drugs for calming the Heart and anchoring the Spirit; however, one does not know that Dragon Bone’s function is to calm the Hun, while Tiger Eye’s function is to stabilize the Po (corporeal soul). The Azure Dragon of the East belongs to Wood, corresponds to the Liver, and stores the Hun; the White Tiger of the West belongs to Metal, corresponds to the Lungs, and stores the Po. The Dragon is capable of transformation, hence the Hun wanders and is unstable; the Tiger is capable of stillness, hence the Po remains stationary and holds fast.
Therefore, to treat instability of the Po, Tiger Eye is suitable; to treat flightiness of the Hun, Dragon Bone is suitable; each drug has its specific indication.
The methods for treating Phlegm established by ancient physicians all addressed the branch (symptoms) of Phlegm rather than its root (cause). For instance, Er Chen Tang treats Phlegm in the Upper, Middle, and Lower Jiao regardless of duration, yet practically yields little effective result. Now, three formulas are established, covering the scope of all Phlegm diseases.
Wind injury, coughing, and expectoration of Phlegm constitute one category. The formula is as follows:
Pinellia Tuber (Banxia, 1 qian)
Tangerine Peel (Chenpi, 1 qian)
Trichosanthes Root (Tianhuafen, 1 qian)
Poria (Fuling, 1 qian)
Perilla Seed (Suzi, 1 qian)
Licorice Root (Gancao, 1 qian)
Decoct in water and take orally.
After two doses, the Phlegm will dissipate. This formula eliminates Phlegm in the Upper Jiao. Phlegm in the Upper Jiao originally resides in the Stomach, not the Lungs. By removing Phlegm from the Stomach, the Lung Metal naturally clears and descends, preventing Fire from rising.