Library

Wang XX from Dacheng County, aged 50, suffered from cold pain in the lower abdomen and had not recovered despite long-term medication.

Etiology: Since childhood, he was accustomed to sleeping on a heated brick bed (huokang). Later, while residing in Tianjin, he was exposed to cold and dampness, and his diet was often careless, leading to this condition.

Symptoms: He frequently felt a bearing-down sensation in the lower abdomen. During sleep, he required a hot water bottle to apply heat to the area below the umbilicus; otherwise, the pain prevented him from sleeping. If he repeatedly took hot-natured medicines, he would feel irritability in the upper jiao (upper burner). This condition had persisted for two years without cure. The pulse was deep and wiry (Chen Xian) on both sides, with a slightly slow rate.

Diagnosis: Based on the deep, wiry, cold, and bearing-down quality of the pulses at the Chi position (cun-kou method), it is known that there should be cold accumulation in the intestines. It is appropriate to use warm and unblocking agents to purge the accumulation.

Prescription: Administered self-made Tongche Wan (Pill of Unimpeded Penetration), made from the coarse powder of Semen Sisymbrii Iridae (Qianniu Zi Tou Mo) mixed with water into pills the size of Sorghum grains (Shumi), three qian. Instructed to take it on an empty stomach in the early morning.

Effect: After three hours, abdominal pain seemed to intensify. Shortly thereafter, he passed some material resembling cool jelly boiled from mung bean paste. The pain and bearing-down sensation disappeared completely, and he no longer felt cold. Subsequently, a prescription for warming, unblocking, and resolving stagnation was prescribed for him to take a few more doses to consolidate the recovery.

Li XX from Tianjin, aged 25, developed abdominal knotting and pain in mid-spring.

Etiology: Accidental anger stirred up Liver Qi (Gan Qi), causing food to stagnate in the intestines, condense, and fail to descend, resulting in pain.

Symptoms: Food stagnated in the intestines, causing frequent sharp pain. Bowel movements were obstructed for over twenty days. Initially, he could eat small amounts, but later he could not eat at all; even drinking one mouthful of water caused vomiting. Medical treatment was sought, but regardless of the medicine taken, it was vomited immediately. The pulse was weak and faint (Wei Ruo) on both sides, fortunately with a normal rate and root upon palpation, indicating that the case was still salvageable.

Therapeutic Method: Treating such conditions requires combining anti-emetic herbs with agents that resolve stagnation to reach the disease site directly. Furthermore, internal and external treatments must be combined so that long-standing stagnation can descend.

Prescription: Used Xiaofu Tongjie Decoction (Radish and Natrii Sulfas Decoction to Resolve Knots), administered with fine powder of raw Hematitum (Sheng Zhe Shi). The decoction was taken in three doses (one dose every fifty minutes), totaling one tael and half of Zhe Shi powder. Externally, four jin of scallion white (Cong Bai) were cut into shreds, stir-fried with vinegar until extremely hot, wrapped in hot cloth, and applied to the affected area, replacing it when it cooled. Additionally, he was instructed to boil two liang of clean Cornus Officinalis Fructus (Yurou) in enough water to make one cup of soup, which he should drink after the knot resolved and stool passed, to prevent collapse due to deficiency.

Effect: Starting at 8 PM, the medicine was finished by midnight, accompanied by external application of the fried scallions. By 8 AM the next day, he passed twenty hard fecal pellets, followed by loose stools. Knowing that the bowels were cleared, he drank the Yurou soup and recovered peacefully. In cases of severe deficiency, if the knot resolves and defecation is imminent, it is advisable to drink the Yurou soup first.