传经之次第,由少阴而厥阴。厥阴者,肝也,肝为厥阴之府,而肝膈之下垂,与包肾之脂膜相连者,即厥
阴之经也。为其经与少阴经之脂膜相连,是以由少阴可传于厥阴。厥者逆也,又尽也,少阴自少阳、太
阴传来,而复逆行上传于肝,且经中气化之相传至此,又复阴尽而阳生也,是以名为厥阴也。
《伤寒论》原文∶厥阴之为病,消渴,气上撞心,心中疼热,饥而不欲食,食则吐蛔,下之利不止。
《内经》谓∶“厥阴之上,风气主之,中见少阳。”少阳者,肝中所寄之少阳相火也。为肝中寄有相火,
因外感之激发而暴动,是以消渴。相火挟肝气上冲,是以觉气上撞心,心中疼且热也。凡人之肝热者,胃中亦
恒有热,胃中有热能化食,肝中有热又恒欲呕,是以饥而不欲食。至于肠中感风木兼少阳之气化,
原能生蛔,因病后懒食,肠中空虚,蛔无所养,偶食少许,蛔闻食味则上来,是以吐蛔也。至误下之利不止
者,因肝受外感正在不能疏泄之时(经谓肝主疏泄),适有降下之药为向导,遂至为肾过于行气
(肝行肾之气)而疏泄不已。
《伤寒论》原文∶伤寒脉微而厥,至七、八日,肤冷,其人躁无暂安时者,此为脏厥,非蛔厥也。蛔
厥者,其人当吐蛔,今病者静,而复时烦者,此为脏寒,蛔上入膈,故烦,须臾复止,得食而
呕,又烦者,蛔闻食臭出,其人当自吐蛔,蛔厥者,乌梅丸主之,又主久利。
【乌梅丸方】乌梅三百枚,细辛六两,干姜十两,黄连一
斤,当归四两,附子六两去皮炮,蜀椒四两炒出汗,人参六两,黄柏六两,桂枝六两去皮。
上十味,异捣筛,合治之,以苦酒渍乌梅一宿,去核,蒸之五升米下,饭熟,捣成泥,和药令相得,
内臼中,与蜜杵二千下,丸如梧桐子大,先食饮,服十丸,日三服,稍加至二十丸。禁生冷、滑物、臭食等。
厥阴一篇,病理深邃,最难疏解。注家以经文中有阴阳之气,不相顺接之语,遂以经解经,于四肢
之厥逆,即以阴阳之气不相顺接解之,而未有深究其不相顺接之故,何独在厥阴一经者。盖肝主疏泄,原为风木
之脏,于时应春,实为发生之始。肝膈之下垂者,又与气海相连,故能宣通先天之元气,以敷布于周
身,而周身之气化,遂无处不流通也。至肝为外感所侵,其疏泄之力顿失,致脏腑中之气化不能传达于外,
是以内虽蕴有实热,而四肢反逆冷,此所谓阴阳之气不相顺接也。至于病多呕吐者,
亦因其疏泄之力外无所泻,遂至蓄极而上冲胃口,此多呕吐之所
以然也。又胃为肝冲激不已,土为木伤,中气易漓,是以间有除中之病。除中者,脾胃之气已伤尽,而危
在目前也。至于下利亦未必皆因藏寒,其因伏气化热窜入肝经,遏抑肝气太过,能激动其疏泄之力上冲,亦
可激动其疏泄之力下注以成下利,然所利者必觉热而不觉凉也。试举一治验之案以明之。
辽宁刘××,寓居天津,年近四旬,于孟秋得吐泻证,六日之间勺饮不存,一昼夜间下利二十余次,病
势危急莫支。延为延医,其脉象微细,重按又似弦长,四肢甚凉,周身肌肤亦近于凉,而心中则甚觉发热,所
下利者亦觉发热,断为系厥阴温病,在《伤寒论》中即为厥阴伤寒(《伤寒论》开端处,曾提出温病,后则
浑名之为伤寒)。惟其呕吐殊甚,无论何药,入口即吐出,分毫不能下咽,实足令医者束手耳。因问之曰,心
中既如此发热,亦想冰吃否?答曰,想甚,但家中人驳阻不令食耳。愚曰,此病已近垂危,再如此吐泻一昼
夜,即仙丹不能挽回,惟用冰膏搀生石膏细末服之,可以止吐,吐止后泻亦不难治矣。遂立主买冰淇淋若干,
搀生石膏细末两许服之,服后病见愈,可服稀粥少许,下利亦见少。翌日复为诊视,四肢已不发凉,身亦
微温,其脉大于从前,心中犹觉发热,有时仍复呕吐。俾再用生石膏细末一两,搀西瓜中服之,呕吐从
此遂愈。翌日再诊其脉,热犹未清,心中虽不若从前之大热,犹思食凉物,懒于饮食,其下利较前已愈强半。
遂为开白虎加人参汤,方中生石膏用二两,野台参三钱,用生杭芍六钱以代知母,生山药六钱以代粳米,甘草
则多用至四钱,又加滑石六钱,方中如此加减替代者,实欲以之清热,又欲以之止利也。俾煎汤两
盅,分两次温饮下,病遂全愈。此于厥阴温病如此治法,若在冬令,遇厥阴伤寒之有实热者,亦可如此治法。
盖厥阴一经,于五行属木,其性原温,而有少阳相火寄生其间,则温而热矣。若再
有伏气化热窜入,以激动其相火,原可成极热之病也。夫石膏与
冰膏、西瓜并用,似近猛浪,然以愚之目见耳闻,因呕吐不止而废命者多矣,况此证又兼下利乎?此为救
人之热肠所迫,于万难挽救之中,而拟此挽救之奇方,实不暇计其方之猛浪也。若无冰
膏、西瓜时,或用鲜梨切片,蘸生石膏细末服之,当亦不难下咽而止呕吐也。
The sequence of disease transmission proceeds from Shaoyin (Lesser Yang) to Jueyin (Terminal Yin). Jueyin refers to the Liver; the Liver is the zang organ associated with Jueyin. The portion of the liver diaphragm that hangs downward and connects with the fatty membrane surrounding the Kidney constitutes the Jueyin meridian. Because this meridian connects with the fatty membrane of the Shaoyin meridian, pathogenic factors can transmit from Shaoyin to Jueyin. "Jue" implies reversal or extremity. Pathogenic qi transmitted from Shaoyang (Lesser Yang) and Taiyin (Greater Yin) enters Shaoyin, then reverses and transmits upward to the Liver. Furthermore, the transformation of qi within the meridians reaches its conclusion here, where Yin is exhausted and Yang begins to generate; thus it is named Jueyin.
The original text of *Shanghan Lun* states: In Jueyin disease, symptoms include excessive thirst (Xiaoke), a sensation of Qi rushing upward to strike the heart, pain and heat in the chest/heart region, hunger without desire to eat, vomiting of roundworms if food is ingested, and unceasing diarrhea if purgatives are misused.
The *Neijing* states: "At the upper aspect of the Jueyin, Wind Qi governs, and internally it corresponds to Shaoyang." Here, Shaoyang refers to the Ministerial Fire residing within the Liver. Because Ministerial Fire resides in the Liver, when provoked by external pathogens, it flares up violently, causing excessive thirst. The Ministerial Fire, carrying Liver Qi, rushes upward, creating the sensation of Qi striking the heart and causing pain and heat in the chest. Generally, individuals with Liver Heat also possess Stomach Heat. Stomach Heat aids digestion, while Liver Heat induces nausea; thus, the patient feels hungry but lacks the desire to eat. Regarding intestinal roundworms, the intestines are influenced by Wood Qi and Shaoyang transformations, which naturally foster worm generation. After illness, laziness to eat leaves the intestines empty, depriving worms of nourishment. When the patient eats slightly, the worms detect the food odor and ascend, resulting in vomiting of roundworms. As for unceasing diarrhea following misuse of purgatives: when the Liver is invaded by external pathogens, it is unable to perform its function of free flow and discharge (Liver governs Shuxie). If purgative drugs act as guides at this moment, they cause the Kidney to over-activate Qi movement (as the Liver directs Kidney Qi), leading to uncontrollable hyper-secretion and diarrhea.
The original text of *Shanghan Lun* states: In cold damage, if the pulse is faint and there is coldness of the extremities, and by the seventh or eighth day, the skin becomes cold and the patient is restless with no moment of peace, this is Zang Jue (Organ Cold Reversal), not Tui Jue (Roundworm Reversal). Patients with Tui Jue typically vomit roundworms. If the patient is quiet but experiences intermittent irritability, it indicates internal cold causing worms to ascend into the diaphragm, causing irritability, which ceases after a short while. Eating causes vomiting and renewed irritability because worms emerge upon smelling food; such patients will spontaneously vomit roundworms. For Tui Jue, Wumei Wan is indicated; it is also indicated for chronic diarrhea.
[Wumei Wan Formula] Wumei (Mume Fruit) 300 pieces, Xixin (Asarum Root) 6 liang, Ganjiang (Dried Ginger) 10 liang, Huanglian (Coptis Rhizome) 1 jin, Danggui (Angelica Sinensis Root) 4 liang, Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root) 6 liang (peeled and processed), Shujiao (Sichuan Pepper) 4 liang (stir-fried until oil exudes), Renshen (Ginseng Root) 6 liang, Huangbai (Phellodendron Bark) 6 liang, Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig) 6 liang (peeled).
Process the ten ingredients separately by pounding and sieving, then mix them. Soak Wumei in vinegar overnight, remove pits, and steam over five sheng of rice. Once the rice is cooked, pound the Wumei into a paste, mix thoroughly with the powdered herbs, place in a mortar, add honey, and pound two thousand times to form pills the size of paulownia seeds. Take ten pills before meals with warm water, three times daily, gradually increasing to twenty pills. Avoid raw, cold, slippery, and spoiled foods.
The Jueyin chapter presents profound pathology, making it difficult to elucidate. Commentators, citing the phrase "Yin and Yang Qi fail to connect smoothly," use the text to explain itself regarding cold extremities, failing to deeply investigate why this disconnection occurs specifically in the Jueyin meridian. The Liver governs free flow and discharge and belongs to Wind-Wood. Corresponding to Spring, it represents the beginning of growth. Its lower diaphragmatic extension connects with Qihai (Sea of Qi), allowing it to disseminate congenital Yuan Qi throughout the body, ensuring smooth Qi transformation everywhere. When external pathogens invade the Liver, its ability to discharge is suddenly lost. Consequently, Qi transformation within the organs cannot reach the exterior. Although substantial heat accumulates internally, the extremities become cold; this is the "failure of Yin and Yang Qi to connect smoothly." Vomiting often occurs because the discharge force has nowhere to go outward, so it accumulates to an extreme and rushes upward against the stomach opening. Additionally, constant irritation by Liver Qi damages Spleen-Stomach Earth (Wood overacting on Earth), weakening Middle Qi, which may lead to Chuzhong (Elimination of the Middle). Chuzhong indicates that Spleen-Stomach Qi is exhausted, signaling imminent danger. Diarrhea is not always due to organ cold; if latent heat窜入 (intrudes into) the Liver meridian, suppressing Liver Qi excessively, it can stimulate the discharge force to rush upward or downward, causing diarrhea. However, the stool will feel hot, not cold.
Consider this clinical case for illustration: Mr. Liu XX from Liaoning, residing in Tianjin, nearly forty years old, contracted vomiting and diarrhea in early autumn. Within six days, he could retain nothing; he suffered diarrhea more than twenty times in a single day and night, facing critical danger. His pulse was faint and fine, yet deep pressure revealed a string-taut and long quality. Extremities were very cold, skin near-cold, but the chest felt intensely hot, and the stool felt hot. I diagnosed Jueyin Warm Disease (equivalent to Jueyin Cold Damage in *Shanghan Lun*, though Wenbing was distinguished early on, later subsumed under Shanghan). His vomiting was severe; any medicine taken was immediately expelled, leaving me helpless. I asked, "Since your chest burns, do you crave ice?" He replied, "Yes, but my family forbids it." I said, "This condition is critical. Another day and night of this vomiting and diarrhea cannot be saved even by immortal elixirs. Only by consuming ice cream mixed with finely ground Shigypsum Fibrosum (Raw Gypsum) can we stop the vomiting; once vomiting stops, treating diarrhea will be easier." I advised purchasing ice cream mixed with approximately one liang of Raw Gypsum powder. After ingestion, symptoms improved; he could tolerate some thin porridge, and diarrhea decreased. On the second day, extremities were no longer cold, body temperature slightly warm, pulse larger than before, chest still hot, occasional vomiting persisted. I prescribed another one liang of Raw Gypsum powder mixed into watermelon. Vomiting ceased completely. On the third day, heat remained; although chest heat subsided somewhat, he craved cool foods, lacked appetite, and diarrhea had improved significantly. I prescribed Baihu Jia Renshen Tang (White Tiger Plus Ginseng Decoction): Shigypsum Fibrosum 2 liang, Yetairen (Wild Ginseng) 3 qian, replaced Zhimu (Anemarrhena Rhizome) with Sheng Hangshao (Raw Paeonia Radix Alba) 6 qian, replaced Jingmi (Rice) with Sheng Shanyao (Dioscorea Rhizome) 6 qian, increased Gancao (Licorice Root) to 4 qian, and added Huashi (Talcum) 6 qian. These substitutions aimed to clear heat and stop diarrhea. Decocted into two bowls, taken warm in two doses, the patient recovered fully. This method applies to Jueyin Warm Disease; similarly, for Winter Jueyin Cold Damage with substantial heat, this approach is valid. Jueyin belongs to Wood, inherently warm; with resident Shaoyang Ministerial Fire, it becomes hot. If latent heat intrudes and agitates the Ministerial Fire, extreme heat results. Using Gypsum, ice cream, and watermelon together seems aggressive, but I have witnessed many deaths from intractable vomiting, especially with concurrent diarrhea. Driven by compassion, I devised this miraculous rescue formula amidst hopeless circumstances, disregarding concerns about its aggression. If ice cream or watermelon is unavailable, fresh pear slices dipped in Raw Gypsum powder may be used to facilitate swallowing and stop vomiting.