Library

To treat a woman who first suffered from whole-body numbness, which decreased during sleep and completely resolved upon opening her eyes; subsequently, although the symptoms had subsided, due to mental distress and vexation, she experienced pain in all bone joints, heaviness of the body, reduced appetite, and stagnation of Qi in the abdomen.

Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix), Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) (each 1 fen); Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus), Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum), Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Caodoukou Ren (Cardamomi Fructus), Nongpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex), Hei Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata), Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) (each 2 fen); Zhigancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata), Shengma (Bupleuri Radix), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Fuling (Poria), Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma) (each 3 fen); Huangqi (Astragali Radix), Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba, unremoved nodes), Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) (each 5 fen). All above ingredients are combined as one dose, decocted with two cups of water until one cup remains, strained, and taken before or after meals.

The *Jingui Zhenyan Lun* (Treatise on True Discussions of the Golden Cabinet) states: "The North corresponds to black, connects internally to the Kidney, opens into the two yin orifices, and stores essence within the Kidney." It further states: "The Kidney governs defecation; for difficulty in defecation, select points from the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian." The Kidney governs the five fluids; when Jin-Ye (body fluids) are abundant, defecation is normal. If there is irregular eating and drinking, excessive labor damaging Stomach Qi, or consumption of pungent, hot, and rich foods that assist Fire pathogen, causing the Fire to lurk in the blood and consume Zhenyin (True Yin), leading to deficiency of Jin-Ye, thus resulting in dry and hard stools. However, the pathology of dryness and hardness varies: there is Heat-dryness, Wind-dryness, Yang-constraint, and Yin-constraint, as well as cases in the elderly where Qi deficiency and insufficient Jin-Ye cause dryness. The treatment principle states: The Kidney dislikes dryness; urgently use Pungent substances to moisten it; constrained conditions are dispersed. For Shaoyin disease with constipation, use Pungent substances to moisten; for Taiyin disease with constipation, use Bitter substances to purge; Yang-constraint is dispersed, Yin-constraint is warmed. Zhang Zhongjing stated: When urination is frequent but stool is hard, purgatives should not be used; instead, apply *Pi Yue Wan* (Spleen-Restriction Pill) to moisten. If dietary injury affects the Taiyin, causing abdominal fullness, indigestion, borborygmus, and inability to defecate, use Bitter substances to purge. For blood dryness causing constipation, use Tao Ren (Persicae Semen) and Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma processed with wine) to promote bowel movement; for Wind-dryness causing constipation, use Huozhiren (Cannabis Fructus) plus Da Huang to facilitate; for Qi stagnation causing constipation, use Yuliren (Pruni Semen), Zhishi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), and Zaorao Ren (Gleditsiae Sinensis Spina) to moisten. Generally, treating disease requires investigating its root cause; one must not indiscriminately use harsh purgatives such as Badou (Crotonis Fructus) and Qianniubang (Semen Phytolaccae) or (Semen Mirabilite), as this damages Jin-Ye, worsening the dryness. Repeated purging leads to repeated constraint; in extreme cases, it may result in lower orifice obstruction becoming untreatable. Alas, can one not be cautious?

To treat difficult defecation, obstruction of the幽门 (Yumen/Huiyang area), upward rushing blocking the吸门 (Ximen/epiglottis area), dysphagia, inconvenience, dryness, constipation, and failure of Qi to descend. The treatment focuses on the Yumen, using Pungent substances to moisten.

Zhigancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata), Honghua (Carthami Flos) (each 1 fen); Shengdihuang (Rehmanniae Radix), Shudihuang (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata) (each 5 fen); Shengma (Bupleuri Radix), Taoren (Persicae Semen prepared as paste), Dangguishen (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) (each 1 qian). All above ingredients are combined as one dose, decocted with two large cups of water until one cup remains, strained, mixed with 5 fen of fine powder of Binglang (Arecae Semen), slightly heated, and taken before meals.