治劳瘵发热，或喘或嗽，或自汗，或心中怔忡，或因小便不利，致大便滑泻，及一切阴分亏
生怀山药（四两，切片） 煮汁两大碗，以之当茶，徐徐温饮之。
山药之性，能滋阴又能利湿，能滑润又能收涩。是以能补肺补肾兼补脾胃。且其含蛋白质最
多，在滋补药中诚为无上之品，特性甚和平，宜多服常服耳。
陈修园谓∶山药为寻常服食之物，不能治大病，非也。若果不治大病，何以《金匮》治劳瘵有
薯蓣丸。尝治一室女，温病痰喘，投以小青龙加石膏汤，又遵《伤寒论》加减法，去麻黄加
杏仁，喘遂定。时已近暮，一夜安稳。至黎明喘大作，脉散乱如水上浮麻，不分至数，此将
脱之候也。取药不及，适有生山药两许，急煮汁饮之，喘稍定，脉稍敛，可容取药，方中仍
重用山药而愈（详案在仙露汤下）。
一室女，月信年余未见，已成劳瘵，卧床不起。治以拙拟资生汤，复俾日用生山
药四两，煮汁当茶饮之，一月之后，体渐复初，月信亦通。
一妇人，产后十余日，大喘大汗，身热劳嗽。医者用黄 、熟地、白芍等药，汗出愈多。后
愚诊视，脉甚虚弱，数至七至，审证论脉，似在不治。俾其急用生山药六两，煮汁徐徐
饮之，饮完添水重煮，一昼夜所饮之水，皆取于山药中。翌日又换山药六两，仍如此煮饮之
。三日后诸病皆愈。
一人，年四十余，得温病十余日，外感之火已消十之八九。大便忽然滑下，喘息迫促，且有
烦渴之意。其脉甚虚，两尺微按即无。亦急用生山药六两，煎汁两大碗，徐徐温饮下，以之
当茶，饮完煎渣再饮，两日共享山药十八两，喘与烦渴皆愈，大便亦不滑泻。
附录∶
直隶青县张××来函∶
侄女××，已于归数载，因患瘰 证成痨，喘嗽不休，或自汗，或心中怔忡，来函索方。余揣此系阴分亏损已极所
致。
俾先用一味薯蓣饮，每日用生怀山药四两，煮汁两大碗，当茶频频温饮之。不数剂，喘定汗止，咳嗽亦见轻。继又兼服
薯蓣粥，作点心用之，渐渐全愈。
奉天法库县万××来函∶
家慈患痰喘咳嗽病，三十年于兹矣。百方不效，且年愈高，病愈进。乃于今春宿病既发，又添发灼、咽干、头汗出、食
不下等证。生虽习医，此时惟战兢不敢处方，遂请一宿医诊视，云是痰盛有火，孰知是肺气与脾阴肾阴将虚竭也。与人
参清肺汤，加生地、丹皮等味，服二剂，非特未效，遂发灼如火，更添泄泻，有不可终日之势。于是不敢延医，自选用
资生汤方，服一剂，亦无显效。转思此时方中于术、牛蒡子、鸡内金等味有未合也。因改用一味薯蓣饮，用生怀山药四
两，加玄参三钱。服一剂见效，二剂大见效，三剂即病愈强半矣。后乃改用薯蓣粥，用生怀山药一两为细末，煮作粥，
少调以白糖，每日两次当点心服之。又间进开胃之药。旬余而安。
[Background Information]
Book Title: *Yixue Zhongzhong Canxi Lu* (Records of Medical Practice Integrating Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine)
Author: Zhang Xichun
Dynasty: Qing
Chapter: 4. Yiwai Shuyin Decoction (Single-Ingredient Yam Decoction)
Category: Medical Treatise
[Translation]
Indicated for fever caused by consumptive disease (a chronic wasting syndrome characterized by yin deficiency and internal heat), or accompanied by panting or coughing, spontaneous sweating (sweating without exertion), palpitations (restlessness and fearfulness in the heart), or due to difficult urination leading to loose stools and diarrhea, as well as any condition involving depletion of the Yin aspect.
Prescription: Raw Huai Shan Yao (Dioscorea opposita, four taels, sliced).
Usage: Boil to obtain two large bowls of decoction. Drink it warm slowly, treating it like tea.
The nature of Shan Yao (Chinese Yam) is capable of nourishing Yin and promoting diuresis/dampness resolution; it is both moistening and astringent. Therefore, it can tonify the Lung, Kidney, and Spleen/Stomach simultaneously. Moreover, it contains the highest amount of protein among tonifying herbs, making it truly an supreme product in this category. Its medicinal property is very mild and peaceful, suitable for frequent and long-term consumption.
Chen Xiuyuan stated that "Shan Yao is an ordinary food item and cannot treat serious illnesses," which is incorrect. If it truly could not treat serious illnesses, why does the *Jin Gui Yao Lue* (Essential Prescriptions from the Golden Cabinet) contain Shuyu Wan (Shuyu Pill) for treating consumptive disease?
I once treated a young unmarried woman who suffered from phlegm-panting due to a warm disease (an exogenous febrile disease caused by warm pathogenic factors). I administered Xiao Qing Long Jia Shi Gao Tang (Minor Blue Green Dragon Decoction plus Gypsum), and following the modification rules of the *Shang Han Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage), removed Ma Huang (Ephedra) and added Xing Ren (Apricot Seed). The panting subsided. It was near dusk, and she slept peacefully through the night. At dawn, the panting worsened significantly. Her pulse was disordered, floating like hemp seeds on water, indistinguishable in degree and rate, indicating a impending collapse of Yang Qi. There was no time to fetch medicine. Fortunately, there were about two liang of raw Shan Yao available. I urgently boiled it into a decoction and had her drink it. The panting slightly stabilized, and the pulse became slightly gathered, allowing time to fetch the prescribed medicine. The prescription still heavily relied on Shan Yao, and she recovered (for the detailed case record, see under "Xian Lu Tang").
Another young unmarried woman had not menstruated for over a year and had developed consumptive disease, leaving her bedridden. I treated her with Zisheng Tang (Nourishing Life Decoction), which I formulated, and instructed her to consume four taels of raw Shan Yao daily, boiled into a decoction to be drunk like tea. After one month, her body gradually returned to normal, and her menstruation resumed.
A woman, more than ten days postpartum, presented with severe panting, profuse sweating, fever, and consumptive cough. The attending physician used Huang Qi (Astragalus), Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmannia), Bai Shao (White Peony Root), etc., resulting in even more sweating. Later, I examined her. Her pulse was extremely weak, beating seven times per breath (tachycardia). Assessing the symptoms and pulse, it seemed untreatable. I instructed her to urgently use six taels of raw Shan Yao, boil it into a decoction, and drink it slowly. After finishing, add water and re-boil. All the water consumed throughout the day and night was derived from the Shan Yao. The next day, replace with another six taels of raw Shan Yao and continue boiling and drinking. After three days, all ailments resolved.
A man, in his forties, had suffered from a warm disease for over ten days. The external heat from the pathogen had dissipated by eighty to ninety percent. Suddenly, he experienced loose stools and diarrhea, urgent panting, and irritability with thirst. His pulse was very deficient; the Chi positions (Kidney pulse at the wrist) disappeared upon light pressure. I also urgently used six taels of raw Shan Yao, decocted into two large bowls, and had him drink it warm slowly, treating it as tea. He drank the dregs after the liquid, consuming a total of eighteen taels of Shan Yao over two days. The panting and irritability/thirst resolved, and the loose stools stopped.
Appendix:
Letter from Zhang XX of Qing County, Zhili:
My niece XX has been married for several years. She contracted scrofula (tuberculous lymphadenitis) which progressed to consumptive disease, resulting in incessant panting and coughing, occasional spontaneous sweating, and occasional palpitations. She wrote to request a prescription. I surmised this was caused by extreme depletion of the Yin aspect.
I advised her to first use Yiwai Shuyin Decoction, using four taels of raw Huai Shan Yao daily, boiled into two large bowls of decoction, to be drunk frequently and warm like tea. Within a few doses, the panting ceased, sweating stopped, and the cough lightened. Subsequently, she took Shuyu Porridge (Yam Porridge) as a snack, and gradually recovered completely.
Letter from Wan XX of Faku County, Fengtian:
My mother has suffered from phlegm-panting and cough for thirty years. Various remedies proved ineffective, and the older she got, the worse the illness became. This spring, her chronic illness relapsed, accompanied by sensations of burning heat, dry throat, sweating on the head, and inability to eat. Although I have studied medicine, I trembled with fear and dared not prescribe at this moment. Thus, I invited an old doctor to examine her. He claimed it was excessive phlegm with fire, but I realized it was actually the impending exhaustion of Lung Qi, Spleen Yin, and Kidney Yin. He prescribed Renshen Qingfei Tang (Ginseng Lung-Clearing Decoction) with additions of Sheng Di Huang (Rehmannia Root) and Dan Pi (Moutan Cortex). After two doses, not only was there no effect, but she developed intense burning heat and added diarrhea, appearing critical. Therefore, I dared not seek further medical help and self-selected Zisheng Tang. One dose showed no obvious effect. I then reconsidered that the Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala), Niu Bang Zi (Arctium Fruit), and Ji Nei Jin (Chicken Gizzard Lining) in the formula were inappropriate for this stage. Consequently, I switched to Yiwai Shuyin Decoction, using four taels of raw Huai Shan Yao plus three qian of Xuan Shen (Scrophularia Root). One dose showed improvement, two doses showed significant improvement, and after three doses, half the illness was cured. Later, I switched to Shuyu Porridge, using one tael of raw Huai Shan Yao ground into fine powder, cooked into porridge, sweetened with a little white sugar, taken twice daily as a snack. Intermittently, I administered appetite-stimulating medicines. After more than ten days, she stabilized.