夫痧即是疹,疹即是痧,本属一类,因各处称名
不同耳。如吴地称为痧子,浙人称为瘜子,川陕称为
疹子,山东称为麻子是也。古人论斑为阳明热毒,点
大而色鲜。疹为太阴风热,点细而色红。瘰为脾肺湿
热,连片而红肿。更有丹者,心肺火毒,遍体红晕而
兼斑疹也。瘖者,肺胃湿热,粒如水晶,不甚稠密
也。然考诸方书,斑也、疹也、丹也、瘰也,不外心
脾肺胃之热毒。或斑中兼疹,疹中兼丹,丹中兼瘰,
总无一种独发之理。然疹与瘰发,则搔痒无度,每兼
腹痛。惟瘜系肺胃湿热,只在气分,蒸逼随汗外泄而
成,本属气虚,理宜清气,近时医辈,竟以治痧之法
治瘖,谬之甚焉。殊不知斑、痧、疹、瘰,皆由风热
湿火蕴郁而成,非发不愈,故用疏透。至瘖则湿从热
化,气随汗泄,故宜清气。若见瘖而更以疏泄透汗,
则气液外泄,热势反增。曾见汗泄一次,瘖发一身,
医为未尽,再汗再瘖。一汗一瘖,蔓延无已,竟有不
死不体之弊。吁!医说有理,病听欣然,一旦气脱,
亦不过付之数与命,谁言医之咎耶?总之,斑宜清
化,勿宜提透,痧宜透泄,勿宜温散;瘖宜清气,勿
宜壅遏,丹宜化毒,勿宜温散,瘖宜清气,勿宜疏
散,斯为治法之大要。至于经常权变,神而明之,存
乎其神焉。
Sha (sand rash) is essentially Zhen (rash), and Zhen is Sha; they belong to the same category, differing only in regional names. For instance, in the Wu region it is called "Sha Zi," in Zhejiang "Xi Zi" (or "Yin"), in Sichuan and Shaanxi "Zhen Zi," and in Shandong "Ma Zi." Ancient texts describe Ban (macules) as caused by Yangming heat-toxin, with large spots and bright color; Zhen (papules/rash) as caused by Taiyin wind-heat, with fine spots and red color; Dan (erysipelas/redness) as caused by Spleen-Lung damp-heat, appearing as connected patches of redness and swelling; and more severe Dan cases involve Heart-Lung fire-toxin, with whole-body redness accompanied by macules and rashes. Yin (a specific lesion described here as crystal-like granules, not dense) is caused by Lung-Stomach damp-heat, manifesting as granules like crystal, not very dense. However, consulting various medical books, Ban, Zhen, Dan, and Lei are all attributable to heat-toxins in the Heart, Spleen, Lung, and Stomach. One may find Ban combined with Zhen, Zhen with Dan, or Dan with Lei; there is no case where only one type erupts alone. Nevertheless, when Zhen and Lei erupt, they cause extreme itching and often accompany abdominal pain. Only Xi/Yin stems from Lung-Stomach damp-heat remaining in the Qi level, steaming and forcing out through sweat; it fundamentally involves Qi deficiency and should be treated by clearing Qi. Recent physicians erroneously apply methods for treating Sha to treat Yin, a grave mistake. It is unknown that Ban, Sha, Zhen, and Lei are all formed by the accumulation and stagnation of wind-heat, dampness, and fire, requiring eruption and venting to heal, thus necessitating dispersing and penetrating methods. In contrast, for Yin, dampness transforms into heat, and Qi escapes with sweat, so clearing Qi is appropriate. If one uses dispersing and sweating methods for Yin, Qi and fluids will leak outward, and the heat condition will worsen. I have seen cases where after one episode of sweating, Yin erupted over the whole body; believing the treatment incomplete, the physician induced sweating again, leading to more Yin. Each sweating episode triggered more Yin, spreading endlessly, potentially causing fatal exhaustion. Alas! The physician claims rationality, the patient listens willingly, but once Qi collapses, it is merely attributed to fate, and who blames the physician? In summary: Ban should be cleared and transformed, not lifted and penetrated; Sha should be vented and drained, not warmed and dispersed; Yin should clear Qi, not be obstructed; Dan should resolve toxins, not be warmed and dispersed; Yin should clear Qi, not be scattered. These are the major principles of treatment. As for adapting to constant changes, divine understanding lies within the mind.