Library

Taiyang disease (disease of the Taiyang channel), after excessive sweating, leads to palpitations with internal water retention, or vomiting, or diarrhea, dizziness, muscle twitching, heavy body, unsteady movement, trembling and desire to fall to the ground. This formula is indicated for these symptoms.

Fuling (Tuckahoe Rhizome) (3 liang), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) (2 liang), Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) (each 3 liang), Fuzi (Prepared Aconiti Lateralis Radix) (1 piece). Use 8 sheng of water, boil to obtain 3 sheng, take 7 ge warm, three times a day.

Zhenwu is the Water God of the North. Whenever the True Yang of the Kidney is vigorous, water internally adheres and shares the storage function with Kidney Qi. If Kidney Yang is deficient and cannot control water, water overflows causing disease; thus, it insults the Heart from above leading to dizziness and palpitations, and insults the Spleen/Earth from the middle causing vomiting and diarrhea. The formula is named "Zhenwu," implying the meaning of securing the Kidney. When Kidney Yang is sufficient, water naturally settles. Physicians fear using Fuzi and do not administer it, while patients willingly die without realizing it, resulting in many premature deaths.

It treats headache due to Shanghan (Cold Damage), aversion to cold with high fever, neck stiffness and blurred vision, nasal congestion with heavy voice, wind-phlegm cough, as well as seasonal epidemics, ghost malaria, various sores, macules, and rashes.

Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix), Duhuo (Angelicae Pubescentis Radix), Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), Qianhu (Peucedani Radix), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Zhike (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix), Fuling (Tuckahoe Rhizome) (1 liang), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) (5 qian). Each dose is 1 liang, add Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) and Bohe (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba), decoct and take.

Yu Jiayan said: Among the categories of Summerheat, Dampness, and Heat, this formula is recommended as the first. How difficult is it to handle pathogens where these three qi combine! Their qi transmits mutually to become epidemic. All herbs used in the formula are pungent and neutral, further aided by the strong qi-tonifying power of Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), supporting Zheng Qi (Upright Qi) to expel Xie Qi (Pathogenic Qi). If the patient takes two or three doses daily, preventing the epidemic pathogen from lingering, is this not delightful? Alas, common physicians reduce the dosage of Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma); how does this differ from other formulas? He also said: In treating Shanghan (Cold Damage), one should use Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma); the differentiation must be clear. Generally, when a person contracts external pathogenic factors, they must first be expelled via sweating. Only those with robust Yuan Qi (Primal Qi) can have external pathogens driven out by the medicinal force. For those who are constitutionally weak, although the medicine acts outwardly, the Qi becomes depleted in the middle. In mild cases, half the pathogen remains inside; in severe cases, it retreats inward following the depleted Qi, causing continuous fever. Therefore, for individuals with weak constitutions, one must use 3-5-7 fen of Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) added to exterior-releasing medicines, slightly assisting Yuan Qi (Primal Qi) to act as the main driver for expelling pathogens, so that the pathogen is surged out with the medicine's help. This is entirely not for the purpose of tonifying weakness. Even in harmonizing formulas, if there is a strong presence of Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) mediating, external pathogens encountering Zheng Qi (Upright Qi) will naturally retreat without contention; otherwise, how could fierce pathogens obey harmonization? Those who do not understand believe there is no tonification method for Shanghan (Cold Damage), fearing that tonification will make the pathogen more intense. Thus, for initial stages of smallpox/rash, malaria, dysentery, stroke, phlegm obstruction, cold invasion, summerheat, carbuncles, and postpartum conditions, they dare not use tonics, leaving weak patients with serious illnesses without hope. Ancient formulas for inducing sweating such as Wuji San (Five Accumulations Powder), Shen Su Yin (Ginseng and Perilla Decoction), and Baidu San (Toxin-Resolving Powder), and for harmonizing such as Xiaochaihu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction), Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction), and Zhuye Shigao Tang (Bamboo Leaf and Gypsum Decoction), all use Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) to lead internal pathogens outward, achieving rapid recovery. Why is this not observed? For those with external contraction and weak constitution, if fever persists after sweating, purging, or harmonizing, accompanied by groaning from high fever, dried-up fluids, and a body like dry firewood, the physician's skills seem exhausted because Yuan Qi (Primal Qi) has already dissipated, hence the medicine fails. If Yuan Qi (Primal Qi) is not yet dissipated, using 3-5-7 fen of Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) first to guide the medicine deep into the body to expel pathogens, why would sweating or harmonizing fail?

Li Dongyuan treated internal injury with external contraction by using Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Middle-Boosting Qi-Invigorating Decoction) plus one or two exterior-releasing herbs, taken hot to disperse external pathogens, truly contributing merit for millennia. Specialized Shanghan (Cold Damage) texts from Zhang Zhongjing to Ming dynasty sages all use Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma). Why do recent physicians exclude it entirely, completely losing the transmitted principle, causing the weak to have little chance of survival? Do they not realize the harm? In the Jiaying year of the Jiajing era, a great epidemic occurred in Jianghuai, even presenting with mouth ulcers, red eyes, swollen cheeks, and throat closure. Treatment should focus on the Middle Jiao, but using Shaoyang and Yangming channel herbs, combined with Baidu San (Toxin-Resolving Powder) with doubled Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) and removing Qianhu (Peucedani Radix) and Duhuo (Angelicae Pubescentis Radix), all patients recovered. In the Jimao year of the Wanli era, the same formula was effective again. In the Xin si and Ren wu years of the Chongzhen era, during great famine and epidemic, with corpses lining the roads, adding Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) to sweating and harmonizing medicines saved many. Furthermore, the symptom of rash eruption is most toxic; adding Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) to macule-resolving medicines saved many lives. After famines and wars, when climate is discordant and diet/lifestyle are irregular, human deficiency meeting heavenly deficiency leads to seasonal diseases; this method is especially suitable. Using standard Shanghan (Cold Damage) treatments with drastic sweating or purging would surely cause great error.