Library

Take more than two *shi* (a unit of volume) of ash from a well, and use it to bury the patient, covering completely from head to foot. When water flows out from the seven orifices, the person will revive. It has been tried on flies that died after falling into water; when buried in this ash, they revived on their own.

[Collected Commentary]
Li said: Ash possesses the generative energy of Fire producing Earth and Earth producing Fire. When used to bury a person, it warms the Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) externally and permeates/drainages dampness internally. Thus, it can cause water to flow out from the seven orifices and bring about revival.

Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma), sliced and soaked until decocted into juice, 1 liang. Fei Bo (Burnt Silk Fabric), ash size of a hand. Luan Fa (Burnt Human Hair), size of a chicken egg. Jiu Yong Chui Dan Bu (Burnt Long-used Cooking Cloth), 1 chi. Bai Pu (Dried Cattail Stem), one handful, 3 cun. Tao Ren (Persicae Semen), peeled skin and tip, roasted, 49 pieces. Gan Cao (Prepared Licorice Root), roasted and chopped, size of the middle finger joint.
These seven ingredients are decocted with urine from an uncircumcised boy, according to the quantity needed, until the liquid is formed. Add one large cup of wine, then add Da Huang. Strain the dregs, and divide into three warm doses. First, chop half a lead of old cattail mat, decoct for bathing. Cover the body with clothes and blankets. Soon, there will be several bowel movements, and the pain will immediately cease. If the excrement and bathwater turn red, do not be surprised; this is stasis blood.

[Note]
External bathing dissipates stasis, while internal medication purges stasis. This achieves both benefits.

[Collected Notes]
Xu Bin said: For falls from heights, the treatment principle should primarily focus on rescuing injuries to the sinews and bones. However, due to the sudden impact, blood inside and outside must inevitably become stagnant. If stasis is not removed, Qi cannot circulate; if Qi does not circulate, the injury cannot heal. Therefore, Tao Ren and Da Huang are used as the main agents to drive out stasis. Fei Bo is considered residual of Hong Hua (Safflower), and Luan Fa is residual of blood; combined with Tong Bian (Urine of an Uncircumcised Boy), they eliminate stasis blood. The herbal bath activates Qi and Blood throughout the body. However, stasis blood in sinews and bones often involves stagnation and depression of heat. Therefore, Chui Dan Bu, which absorbs Qi most effectively and is easy to dissolve, is used to dissipate stagnation and promote Qi circulation, following its similar nature. A small amount of Zhi Gan Cao (Prepared Licorice Root) is added to tonify the Middle Jiao and harmonize the various herbs.

The chapters on "Jin Gui Yao Lue" (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet) volumes 24 and 25 were originally listed at the end of the scroll. Their text appears to have been added by later authors. Commentators either annotated or deleted them. Since they have been transmitted for a long time, they are difficult to remove. Here, the original text is still attached as a separate section for reference.

All flavors of food and drink are intended to nourish the body. If consumed improperly, they can instead cause harm. Unless one is taking medicinal pills or refining elixirs, how can one avoid eating and drinking? I observe that contemporary people do not pay attention to regulation and preservation, leading to the rise of diseases. If illness arises from diet, to preserve life, one must know what foods are strictly contraindicated. The flavors of food may be suitable for certain conditions or harmful to the body. If suitable, it benefits the body; if harmful, it causes disease. Cases resulting in danger due to this are generally difficult to treat. Regarding decocting herbs to extract juices for detoxification, although this is for emergency rescue, it should not be drunk hot. Various toxic conditions worsen with heat, so they should be drunk cold.

@@@
In Liver diseases, pungent flavors are contraindicated. In Heart diseases, salty flavors are contraindicated. In Spleen diseases, sour flavors are contraindicated. In Lung diseases, bitter flavors are contraindicated. In Kidney diseases, sweet flavors are contraindicated.

[Note]
This explains why five flavors are contraindicated for diseases of the five Zang organs. If Liver Wood disease is treated with Pungent flavor, Pungent assists Lung Qi, which may over-control the Liver; thus, Pungent is contraindicated in Liver disease. If Heart Fire disease is treated with Salty flavor, Salty benefits Water, which may over-control Fire; thus, Salty is contraindicated in Heart disease. If Spleen Earth disease is treated with Sour flavor, Sour belongs to Liver Wood, which may over-control Earth; thus, Sour is contraindicated in Spleen disease. If Lung Metal disease is treated with Bitter flavor, Bitter belongs to Heart Fire, which may over-control Metal; thus, Bitter is contraindicated in Lung disease. If Kidney Water disease is treated with Sweet flavor, Sweet tonifies Spleen Earth, and Earth controls Water; thus, Sweet is contraindicated in Kidney disease.

@@@
Do not eat Liver in Spring, Heart in Summer, Lung in Autumn, Kidney in Winter, and Spleen during the transition seasons of the year. Explanation: Do not eat Liver in Spring because Liver Qi is prosperous and Spleen Qi is weak. Eating Liver would further tonify the Liver, making Spleen weakness even more severe and incurable. Also, when Liver Qi is prosperous, dead Qi should not enter the Liver, lest it damage the Hun (Ethereal Soul). If it is not the time when Liver Qi is prosperous, meaning the Liver is deficient, using Liver to tonify it is good. The same applies to other Zang organs.

[Note]
This states that in the four seasons, some foods are suitable and others are not. For example, in Spring, Liver Qi is prosperous and Spleen is weak, so it is suitable to eat Spleen-related foods (or tonify Spleen) and unsuitable to eat Liver. If Liver is eaten, Liver becomes more prosperous and Spleen weaker, hence described as "incurable." It also says that when Liver Qi is prosperous, one should not allow "dead Qi" to enter the Liver, which aligns with the meaning in the "Nei Jing" (Inner Canon) of "not violating the Harmony of Heaven." Violating this harmony damages the Liver; since the Liver governs the Hun, it risks damaging the Hun again. If it is not the time of prosperity, i.e., deficiency, then tonifying the Liver with Liver is good. The same logic applies to other Zang organs.

@@@
Liver meat from animals that died naturally should never be lightly consumed; self-dead animals are even worse.

[Note]
When livestock are slaughtered, they are startled, and their Livers hold resentment. Consuming such meat is unfavorable. Therefore, it is said not to consume it lightly. Animals that die on their own are likely poisoned and must not be eaten.

@@@
The heart is the residence of the Shen Spirit (Divine Spirit). Do not eat it, as it may cause retribution in future lives.

[Note]
Although humans and animals differ, their desire to live and fear of death are the same. Since the heart is the residence of the Shen Spirit, it is said not to eat it.

@@@
Meat and liver that do not attract dust when dropped on the ground should not be eaten.
Pork that floats when thrown into water should not be eaten.
Meat that is not dry, moves when roasted by fire, or moves automatically when exposed to water should not be eaten.
Meat from the six domestic animals where hot blood continues to flow should not be eaten.
Internal organs and fish that do not stain the dust when thrown to the ground should not be eaten.

[Note]
The above five points are all highly abnormal and absolutely inedible.

@@@
Meat and fish that dogs do not eat and birds do not peck should not be eaten.

[Note]
Meat rejected by poultry and beasts must contain poison and should not be eaten.

@@@
Meat containing spots like cinnabar should not be eaten.

[Note]
Cinnabar-like spots are accumulations of evil blood; such bad color indicates it should not be eaten.

@@@
Animals related to parents or oneself should not be eaten, as doing so unsettles the Shen and Hun.

[Note]
This reflects the mindset of benevolent and filial people.

@@@
After eating fatty meat and hot soup, one should not drink cold water.

[Note]
Drinking cold water after fatty meat and hot soup causes cold and heat to clash, leading to obstruction in the diaphragm. If it does not cause abdominal pain, vomiting, or diarrhea, it will certainly form masses and accumulations. Be extremely cautious.

@@@
Filthy drinks, spoiled meat, and smelly fish are all harmful if eaten.

[Note]
Decayed and putrid substances should not be consumed.

@@@
Birds and beasts that die naturally with closed mouths should not be eaten.

[Note]
For naturally deceased creatures, their meat contains poison. If the mouth is closed, the poison cannot escape outward; it must not be eaten.

@@@
Domestic animals that die naturally are usually victims of epidemics and contain toxins; they should not be eaten.

[Note]
Epidemic toxins kill livestock; their meat necessarily contains epidemic toxins and should not be eaten.

@@@
Beasts that die naturally with heads facing north or lying prone on the ground are lethal if eaten.

[Note]
Beasts that die facing north or lie prone without stiffening upon death are mostly fatal if consumed.

@@@
Eating raw meat until full and then drinking milk or yogurt transforms into white worms.

[Note]
Eating raw meat to satiety followed by milk/yogurt creates damp-heat, which inevitably generates white worms.

@@@
Beef from animals that died of epidemic disease causes severe diarrhea if eaten, and may also lead to hard accumulations. It should be purged with laxative medicines.

[Note]
Beef from epidemic deaths is toxic and inedible. If eaten and causing severe diarrhea, it is because the toxin is being expelled downward. If it leads to hard accumulations, purgatives should be used to drain it.

@@@
Dried meat stored in rice jars contains toxins. Eating it in summer induces Kidney diseases.

[Note]
Dried meat stored in rice jars absorbs damp-heat and muggy air. If eaten after summer decomposition, the putrid Qi enters the Kidneys, causing Kidney diseases.

@@@
To treat poisoning from meat of naturally deceased domestic animals, grind Huang Bo (Phellodendri Cortex) into powder and take one Fang Cun Bi (a square-inch measure) orally.

[Note]
Meat from naturally deceased livestock contains toxins. Those poisoned should take this formula to detoxify.