Library

Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum), Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Hou Po (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex), Cang Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma). Decoct with ginger water.

Treats children initially affected by dampness, presenting with body pain, headache, fever, aversion to wind, excessive sweating, facial edema, vomiting, and dysuria.
Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Zhu Ling (Polyporus), Gan Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Ze Xie (Alismatis Rhizoma), Chi Fu Ling (Poria cum Rubrum), Mu Tong (Akebiae Caulis), Deng Xin Cao (Junci Medulla) (seven stems), Che Qian Zi (Plantaginis Semen). Decoct with water and take orally.

Treats vomiting and diarrhea caused by dampness invading the middle jiao, assisting the spleen to remove dampness. For conditions where dampness injures the sinews, causing weakness and inability to lift hands and feet, pain, etc.
Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Ju Hong (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Huo Xiang Ye (Agastaches Folium), Cang Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma) (soaked in rice wash water and stir-fried), Da Fu Pi (Arecae Pericarpium), Fu Ling (Poria), Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum) (processed with ginger juice), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) (each one qian). Decoct with water and take orally.

Dampness is a yin pathogen. The *Classic* states: "The dampness of the earth, when contracted, harms the skin, flesh, sinews, and vessels." It also states: "All dampness-induced swelling and fullness belong to the Spleen."
Dampness is the qi of Earth; Earth is the child of Fire; thus, dampness can generate heat, and heat can generate dampness. However, dampness may enter from the exterior or arise from within. In the southeast, where the land is low and dampness is abundant, it mostly enters from the outside. Those suffering from leg Hong Kong Foot (Gouty Arthritis/Charley Horse) are numerous; treatment should involve diaphoresis to disperse it, and for chronic cases, dredging and diuresis are appropriate. In the northwest, where the land is high, people often consume raw, cold, wet noodles, dairy, and alcohol, leading to stagnation of cold qi, preventing dampness from venting, resulting in abdominal distension like a drum, or generalized edema that pits upon pressure. These all arise from within. One must distinguish the deficiency or excess of Yuan Qi (Primal Qi) to unblock urination and defecation, and treat according to specific symptoms, without adhering rigidly to a single method.
Cang Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma) is a key herb for treating dampness, applicable to both upper and lower parts. If the Spleen and Stomach are affected by dampness, feeling heavy, weak, lethargic, and prone to lying down, it is necessary to eliminate damp-phlegm, dry dampness, and strengthen the Spleen using Cang Zhu, Bai Zhu, Ban Xia, Fu Ling, etc. For treating upper-body dampness, Cang Zhu's potent action is suitable. For lower-body dampness, Sheng Ma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma) should be used to raise it. Exterior dampness should be dispersed via the surface; interior dampness should be leached out with bland herbs. For lower jiao dampness swelling and pain, or bladder fire pathogens, herbs such as Fang Ji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix), Huang Bo (Phellodendri Cortex), Long Dan Cao (Gentianae Radix), and Cang Zhu must be wine-washed.

There is dampness in the Heaven, such as rain, dew, fog, and mist. Dampness in Heaven pertains to Qi, so it first affects the Ying (Nutrient) and Wei (Defensive) at the exterior. There is dampness on the Earth, such as mud and water. Dampness on Earth pertains to Form, so it first injures muscles, sinews, bones, blood, and vessels. There is dietary dampness, such as alcohol, water, milk, and cheese. The Stomach is the Sea of Water and Grain, so injury occurs to the Spleen and Stomach. There is sweat dampness, referring to sweat soaking clothes without timely changing. There is dampness transformed by the Taiyin Spleen Earth, which does not enter from outside. When Yang is excessive, Fire prevails, transforming into Damp-Heat; when Yin is excessive, Water prevails, transforming into Cold-Damp. Symptoms include fever and aversion to cold, heavy body, spontaneous sweating, bone and joint pain, scanty and difficult urination, loose stools, lower back pain with inability to turn, dorsal edema, flesh like mud that does not rise upon pressure.

The *Classic* states: "Affected by dampness, the head feels wrapped." Dampness steaming upwards causes heaviness of the head. It also states: "Dampness injures sinews, so the large sinews shorten, and the small sinews relax and lengthen. Shortening leads to spasms/cramps; relaxing and lengthening leads to flaccidity." It also states: "Excess dampness leads to loose stools." Thus, loose stools result in scanty urine. It also states: "Dampness is received from below," hence dorsal edema. It also states: "All dampness-induced swelling and fullness belong to Spleen Earth." Hence abdominal distension and flesh like mud. When dampness enters the Kidney, and since the Kidney governs Water, water flows toward dampness, following its kind, hence lower back pain. Li Dongyuan said: "To treat dampness without promoting urination is not the correct treatment." He also said: "For those below, guide and exhaust them." The words of the Sages, though recorded in texts, have未尽 meanings that can be sought through intuition. Dampness pathogenicity enters from outside to inside. If bland-leaching agents are used to remove it, lowering again and again will further increase Yin and re-exhaust Yang. As Yang is weakened, spirit becomes deficient; this is Yin becoming strong and Yang becoming weak, which actually assists the pathogen. Therefore, use acrid-warm herbs to raise Yang, combined with strengthening Spleen Earth to remove dampness, and recovery will occur. Use Qiang Huo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix), Du Huo (Angelicae Pubescentis Radix), Sheng Ma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma), Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix), Fang Feng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), Zhi Gan Cao (Prepared Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Zhi Bai Zhu (Processed Atractylodis Rhizoma), Chao Bai Shao (Stir-fried Paeoniae Radix Alba). Decoct with water and take hot. The general principle states: "When dampness overcomes, use wind herbs to pacify it." It also states: "Raise what is sunk." Recovery occurs when Yang Qi rises. It also states: "Remove the guest," meaning straightening what is curved. Just as soil in water becomes mud, with gentle wind and warm sun, it becomes earth again. The methods of the Sages can be inferred by analogy; knowing one allows knowing hundreds.

There is Hong Kong Foot resembling Shang Han (Cold Damage), with fever and aversion to cold, necessarily involving swelling and pain in the calves. All should be treated from dampness. *Qian Jin Fang* distinguishes Yin and Yang. Yin Hong Kong Foot involves calf swelling without redness; Yang Hong Kong Foot involves swelling with redness. For yellowing due to Damp-Heat with whole-body pain and fever, treat from stagnation. Anything damp-heat does not stagnate does not yellow. Use Xiao Yao San (Free and Easy Wanderer Powder). Strictly avoid Yin Chen Wu Ling San (Artemisiae Scopariae and Polyporus Powder); those who use it rarely survive.

In all Shang Han, there is aversion to cold; in Shang Feng (Wind Injury), there is aversion to wind; in Shang Shi (Dampness Injury), there is aversion to rain. If dampness injury is accompanied by aversion to cold, no sweating, joint pain, and a soggy yet floating pulse, with limb flaccidity, this is exterior-dampness, named Shi Bi (Dampness Bi). Promote diuresis and separation; modify Wu Ling San (Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria). Zhang Zhongjing has Gan Cao Fu Zi Tang (Licorice and Aconite Decoction), containing Bai Zhu, Zhi Gan Cao, Gui Zhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus), and Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata). Bai Zhu stabilizes the Middle and supports the Spleen to dry dampness; Gui Zhi disperses outward through stimulation; Fu Zi is acrid and hot to remove cold-damp stagnation; Zhi Gan Cao warms the Middle and is sweet and slow to remain temporarily in the Middle, preventing Fu Zi from descending too quickly. The subtlety of formula preparation is perfectly suited. If joints are heavy and painful, with edema, wheezing, fullness, abdominal distension resembling stifling, coma, and unconsciousness, the pulse must be deep and slow, or deep and faint/thin. This is named Zhong Shi (Struck by Dampness), suitable for Chu Shi Tang (Dampness-Removing Decoction). For traumatic wounds, if dampness enters through the wound during bathing, causing coma and heaviness resembling Zhong Shi, it is named Po Shang Shi (Traumatic Dampness), suitable for Bai Zhu Jiu (Atractylodis Rhizoma Wine).

The origin of Damp-Heat lies in irregularities of cold/warmth, hunger/fullness, and excessive anger/happiness/labor, injuring the Spleen and Stomach. The Spleen and Stomach are the Sea of Water and Grain. When harmonious, they transport water and grain to produce essence; when injured, they generate fire, steaming water and grain into Damp-Heat. The Stomach governs reception, and the Spleen governs transformation. Now that the Spleen fails to transform, food and drink accumulate, generating more Damp-Heat. Treatment: for the robust, temporarily attack Damp-Heat; for the deficient, combine attacking and tonifying. Tonifying the Spleen, digesting grains, and guiding water are three indispensable aspects. If treated recklessly as one, attacking more leads to greater deficiency, worsening swelling and pain daily. Wu Pi Yin (Five-Bark Decoction) and Wu Zi Wan (Five-Seed Pill) instead drain Qi, ultimately leading to premature death.

Zhu Danxi said: "The head is the meeting of all Yang meridians. Its position is high, its form is empty, its Qi is clear, so clarity resides here." Why does Damp-Heat steam? The clear pathways are blocked, causing heaviness and difficulty, as if covered by something. If untreated for long, dampness stagnates into heat. Heat remains, injuring Blood, failing to nourish sinews, so large sinews become soft and short, leading to spasms. Damp-Heat injures sinews, failing to bind bones, so small sinews relax and lengthen, leading to flaccidity. Wang Bing said: "Normally having Qi disorders, adding Damp-Heat, Qi contends with Damp-Heat, hence swelling." As Yang Qi gradually increases and Yin Qi gradually decreases, pathogen attacks healthy Qi, Qi fails to circulate freely, hence swelling of the four limbs, for all Yang Qi receives influence from the four limbs.