Library

Using bitter-cold herbs as the sovereign (Jun, 君主/主药): Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex), Lianhua (Coptidis Rhizoma), Zhi Mu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), and Sheng Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix prepared with yellow wine). Using sweet-warm herbs as the assistant (Zuo, 佐药/辅佐药): Huangqi (Astragali Radix), Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), and Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma). Using large-pungent herbs to resolve knots as the minister (Chen, 臣药/辅助君药): Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), and Gaoben (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma). Using pungent-warm herbs to invigorate blood and remove stasis: Danggui Shao (tip of Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Sumu (Sappan Lignum), Honghua (Carthami Flos), and Mudanpi (Moutan Cortex). If the pulse is floating (Fu Mai, 浮脉), the pathogen is in the exterior; it is appropriate to unblock the meridians using: Lianhua, Huangqin, Lianqiao, Danggui, Renshen, Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix), Binglang (Arecae Semen), Huangbai, and Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma). For lesions from the waist upwards to the head, Zhike (Aurantii Fructus) remains as a guiding herb to direct the medicinal action to the ulcer site. [Herbs for] resolving toxicity and reducing swelling: Niubangzi (Arctii Fructus); [herbs for] discharging pus: Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex); [herbs that] enter the Heart meridian to guide blood transformation into sweat without ulceration, or for skin injury: Wangguagen (Trichosanthis Radix), Sanleng (Sparganii Rhizoma), Ezhu (Curcumae Rhizoma), and Huangyaozi (Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma); [for severe pain]: Huangqin, Lianhua, Huangbai, Zhi Mu. If the pulse is deep (Chen Mai, 沉脉), the pathogen is in the interior; one should regulate and purify the zang-fu organs. After purgation, add Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) to the aforementioned formulas, aiming for bowel movement, and determine the dosage according to the patient's deficiency or excess. For pain, use only Danggui and Huangqi to alleviate it.

For pregnant women near term who have not yet delivered, if any disease occurs, first use Huangqin and Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) to stabilize the fetus, then administer medicines to treat the disease. For fever and heat in the muscles, use Lianhua, Huangqin, Huangqi, and Renshen. For abdominal pain, use Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) and Gancao. For colds, follow the aforementioned methods for releasing the exterior. For various postpartum diseases, avoid using Shaoyao, Huangqin, and Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix). For upward rushing of retained lochia causing chest and hypochondriac pain, use Dahuang and Taoren (Persicae Semen). For stabbing pain caused by blood stasis, use Danggui. For internal injury fever, use Lianhua. For thirst, use Baifuling (Poria). For all other diseases, follow the aforementioned methods, except removing Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) when there is thirst, removing Renshen when there is wheezing and cough, and avoiding Gancao when there is abdominal distension.

Regarding leukorrhea in women, the world generally considers it a cold syndrome, which is a great error. The so-called leukorrhea is a disease of the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel). The classics state: The Ren Mai originates below the Zhongji point, ascends above the pubic hair, follows the interior of the abdomen, passes through the Guanyuan point, reaches the throat, ascends to the chin, follows the face, and enters the eyes. Annotations explain: The Ren Mai ascends from the uterus, crosses the Dai Mai (Girdle Vessel), and connects through collaterals to ascend. However, its pathological manifestation occurs precisely at the distribution of the Dai Mai, with symptoms dripping downwards, hence it is called leukorrhea. The description of red and white discharge shares the same meaning as dysentery, and there is no case of pure cold syndrome. Therapeutic principles state: Symptoms such as dizziness, bitter taste in the mouth and dry tongue, difficulty in the throat, reddish and scanty urine, constipation, and a rapid and full pulse are all signs of heat syndromes.