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[Li Dongyuan] Irregular diet and overwork cause damage, leading to Spleen-Stomach deficiency (Spleen-Stomach weakness), which is a disease originating from the Blood level. The primary manifestation is the failure of fluids to circulate in the mouth, resulting in dry mouth and dry throat.
If the patient perceives thirst and the physician treats it with Wuling San (Five-Ling Powder), thirst and dryness will instead worsen. This is due to further depletion of body fluids, leading to critical danger or death. The Classic states: "For deficiency syndromes, tonify its mother."
Tonification should be directed at the Heart and Small Intestine, as they are the root of the Spleen-Stomach (Fire generates Earth). Use sweet-warm herbs as the principal agents, bitter-cold herbs as the guiding agents, sour herbs as the assistant agents, and pungent herbs as supplements.
The Heart dislikes laxity; urgently consume sour substances to astringe it. If Heart Fire is hyperactive, it pathologically affects Lung Metal. When Lung Metal is deficient, tonify it with sour substances. Subsequently, use sweet-warm and sweet-cold preparations to drain the hyperactivity of Heart Fire within the Spleen-Stomach. This constitutes treating the root cause.
[From *Bencao*] Huangqi Tang (Astragalus Decoction) treats irritability in the chest, lack of saliva production, and anorexia.
Huangqi (Astragali Radix), Shudi (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata), Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus), Maimendong (Ophiopogonis Radix) [each 3 liang]; Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Tianmendong (Asparagi Radix) [each 5 qian]; BaiFuling (Poria) [1 liang].
Crush the above ingredients. Take 3 qian per dose, decoct with fresh ginger, Jujube, and Wumei (Mume Fructus), strain, and administer after meals.
Wuweizi Tang (Schisandra Decoction) and Sangzhi Jian (Mulberry Twig Decoction) treat dry mouth. (Formulas see chapter on Carbuncles and Ulcers.) For dry throat caused by dry-heat, avoid Nanxing (Arisaematis Rhizoma Preparatum) and Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma).
Regarding Yunqi (Six Qi and Five Movements) theory, oral dryness and tongue dryness are both attributed to Heat and Dryness pathogens. However, when analyzed separately, there are four categories:
First is Heat. The Classic states: "When Yearly Fire is excessive, the people suffer from throat dryness." It also states: "When Shaoyin governs the Heaven, excess Heat causes symptoms such as vexation and heat in the chest and throat dryness; treat with cold preparations."
Second is Dryness. The Classic states: "When Metal stagnation erupts, there is throat dryness and a dusty complexion." It also states: "When Yangming governs the Earth, excess Dryness causes severe throat dryness and a dusty complexion; treat with warm preparations."
Third is Upper Heat and Lower Dryness. The Classic states: "In the administration of Shaoyin governing Heaven, the Qi of Water, Fire, Cold, and Heat interact at the Qi junction, causing people to suffer from throat dryness. In the Fourth Qi period, people suffer from alternating chills and fever with throat dryness."
Fourth is Upper Dryness and Lower Heat. The Classic states: "In the administration of Yangming governing Heaven, during the Fourth Qi period, people suffer from throat dryness and polydipsia. All are treated with a combination of cold and warm therapies, adjusting the dosage and formulation according to circumstances."
[From *Suwen*] The Du Mai (Governor Vessel) governs diseases manifesting as throat dryness. (From the chapter *Gukong Lun*)