天津崔××，年三十四岁，患眼干，间有时作疼。
病因 向因外感之热传入阳明之府，服药多甘寒之品，致外感之
邪未净，痼闭胃中永不消散，其热上冲遂发为眼疾。
证候 两目干涩，有时目睛胀疼，渐至视物昏花，心中时常发热，二便皆不通顺，其脉左右皆
有力，而右关重按有洪实之象，屡次服药已近二年，仍不少愈。
诊断 凡外感之热传里，最忌但用甘寒滞泥之药，痼闭其外感之邪不能尽去，是以陆九芝谓如
此治法，其病当时虽愈，后恒变成痨瘵。此证因其禀赋强壮，是以未变痨瘵而发为眼疾，医者
不知清其外感之余热，而泛以治眼疾之药治之，是以历久不愈也。愚有自制离中丹，再佐以清热托表
之品，以引久蕴之邪热外出，眼疾当愈。
处方 离中丹（一两） 鲜芦根（五钱） 鲜茅根（五钱）
药共三味，将后二味煎汤三杯，分三次温服，每次服离中丹三钱强，为一日之量，若二种
鲜根但有一种者，可倍作一两用之。
效果 将药如法服之，至第三日因心中不发热，将离中丹减半，又服数日眼之干涩疼胀皆愈，二便亦顺利。
天津王姓，年三十余，得牙疼病。
病因 商务劳心，又兼连日与友宴饮，遂得斯证。
证候 其牙疼甚剧，有碍饮食，夜不能寐，服一切治牙疼之药不效，已迁延二十余日矣。
其脉左部如常，而右部弦长，按之有力。
诊断 此阳明胃气不降也。上牙龈属足阳明胃，下牙龈属手阳明大肠。究之，胃气不降肠中之气
亦必不降，火随气升，血亦因之随气上升并于牙龈而作疼，是以牙疼者牙龈之肉多肿
热也。宜降其胃气兼引其上逆之血下行，更以清热之药辅之。
处方 生赭石（一两轧细） 怀牛膝（一两） 滑石（六钱） 甘草（一钱）
煎汤服。
效果 将药煎服一剂，牙疼立愈，俾按原方再服一剂以善其后。
帮助 方书治牙疼未见有用赭石牛膝者，因愚曾病牙疼以二药治愈，后凡遇胃气不降致牙疼者，
方中必用此二药。其阳明胃腑有实热者，又恒加生石膏数钱。
Cui XX from Tianjin, aged thirty-four, suffered from dry eyes with occasional pain.
Etiology Previously, due to heat from an external contraction transmitting into the Yangming Fu organs, he took many sweet and cold natured medicines. This caused the external pathogenic factors not to be completely cleared, becoming entrenched and closed in the stomach, never dissipating. The rising heat subsequently triggered the eye disease.
Symptoms Both eyes were dry and gritty, with occasional distending pain in the eyeballs, gradually progressing to blurred vision. He often felt heat in the heart/chest area, and both urination and defecation were obstructed. His pulses on both left and right sides were forceful, while the Right Guan position presented a surging and solid image upon heavy pressure. After taking various medicines for nearly two years, there was no improvement.
Diagnosis When external contraction heat transmits inward, it is most taboo to use only sweet, cold, and cloying/stagnating medicines, as this entrenches the external pathogenic factors preventing their complete removal. Therefore, Lu Jiuzhi stated that such treatment methods, although the disease might heal temporarily, would later often transform into consumptive diseases (Lao Zhai). Because this patient had a strong constitution, he did not develop a consumptive disease but instead manifested as an eye disease. The physician failed to clear the residual heat of the external contraction and instead used general eye remedies, which is why it persisted for so long. I have my self-made Lizhong Dan, combined with heat-clearing and exterior-releasing agents to guide the long-accumulated pathogenic heat outward; the eye disease should then heal.
Prescription Lizhong Dan (1 liang), Fresh Reed Rhizome (Wu Xian) (5 qian), Fresh Imperata Rhizome (Mao Gen) (5 qian).
There are three ingredients in total. Decoct the latter two fresh rhizomes in water to obtain three cups of decoction, taken warm in three divided doses. Each dose should be accompanied by slightly more than 3 qian of Lizhong Dan, constituting one day's dosage. If only one type of fresh rhizome is available, double the amount to 1 liang.
Outcome Following the prescribed method, by the third day, when the heat in the chest subsided, the dosage of Lizhong Dan was halved. After taking it for several more days, the dryness, pain, and distension of the eyes resolved, and urination and defecation became smooth.
A surnamed Wang from Tianjin, in his thirties, suffered from toothache.
Etiology Mental exertion from business affairs, combined with continuous banqueting with friends over several days, led to this condition.
Symptoms His toothache was severe, interfering with eating and sleep. All medications for toothache proved ineffective, and the condition had persisted for over twenty days.
His pulse was normal on the left side, while the right side was wiry and long, forceful upon palpation.
Diagnosis This is due to the failure of Yangming Stomach Qi to descend. The upper gums belong to the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian, and the lower gums belong to the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. Fundamentally, if Stomach Qi fails to descend, Qi in the intestines will also fail to descend. Fire rises with the Qi, and Blood follows the ascending Qi, converging in the gums causing pain. Hence, in cases of toothache, the gum tissue is often swollen and hot. Treatment should involve descending Stomach Qi and guiding the rebellious Blood downward, assisted by heat-clearing herbs.
Prescription Raw Oyster Shell (Zhe Shi) (1 liang, finely crushed), Huai Achyranthes Root (Niu Xi) (1 liang), Talcum (Hua Shi) (6 qian), Licorice Root (Gan Cao) (1 qian).
Decoct and take as a soup.
Outcome One dose of the decoction resulted in immediate cessation of the toothache. It is recommended to take another dose according to the original prescription to consolidate the effect.
Note: Medical texts do not typically list Hematite (Zhe Shi) and Achyranthes (Niu Xi) for treating toothache. However, having cured my own toothache with these two herbs, I invariably include them in prescriptions for toothache caused by Stomach Qi rebellion. In cases where there is excess heat in the Yangming Stomach organ, I frequently add Raw Gypsum (Shi Gao), several qian in amount.