湿者。不燥之谓也。其质重。其气浊。其体阴。其性下。有自上自下之殊。自上受者。
雾露
病。
亦
必
阳
或化肿胀。或化痰水。治以辛香和脾。温暖补土为主。其脉短涩者难治。缓大者易医。弦者
木来乘土。滑者水来侮脾。总宜补土为主。如有邪以御邪之法佐之。自无误治之累矣。金匮
云。湿家之为病。一身尽疼。发热身如熏黄也。湿外盛者。阳必内郁。湿盛故身疼。阳郁故
发热。又云。湿家其人但头汗出。背张。欲得被覆向火。若下之早则哕。或胸满小便不利。
舌上如胎者。以丹田有热。胸上有寒。渴欲得饮而不能饮。则口燥烦也。又云。湿家下之。
额上汗出。微喘。小便利者死。若下利不止者亦死。又有湿兼风者。金匮云。风湿相搏。一
身尽痛。法当汗出而解。值天阴雨不止。医云。此可发其汗。汗之病不愈者何也。盖发其汗
。汗大出。但风气去。湿气在。故不愈也。若治风湿者。但微微似欲汗出者。风湿俱去也。
又云。病者一身疼。发热。日晡所剧者。此名风湿。此病伤于汗出当风。或久伤取冷所致也
。可与麻黄杏仁薏苡甘草汤。又有湿温之病。头胀耳聋。重感湿邪。湿化火。鼻血出。或有
呃忒。咽喉欲闭。系湿邪阻其上窍。名曰湿温。治以开肺解毒汤。惟湿症最多变幻。尚宜参
考古书乃可。
Dampness refers to the state of not being dry. Its substance is heavy, its qi is turbid, its nature is Yin, and its tendency is downward. There are differences in whether it enters from above or below. When contracted from above, it is a disease caused by fog and dew. It inevitably leads to the obstruction of Yang Qi, manifesting either as swelling or as phlegm-fluid retention. Treatment should primarily focus on using acrid-aromatic herbs to harmonize the Spleen and warming to tonify Earth (the Spleen/Stomach). A short and choppy pulse indicates difficulty in treatment, while a slow and large pulse indicates ease of cure. A wiry pulse suggests Liver Wood overacting on Spleen Earth; a slippery pulse suggests Water counter-rebelling against Spleen Earth. The general principle is to tonify Earth. If external pathogens are present, they should be addressed with methods to expel pathogens, thereby avoiding errors in treatment. *Jin Gui Yao Lue* states: "In patients with dampness diseases, the whole body aches, fever occurs, and the body appears yellow like smoked." When dampness is abundant externally, Yang Qi must be constrained internally. Abundant dampness causes body pain; constrained Yang causes fever. It also states: "In patients with dampness, only the head sweats, the back is stiff, and they desire to cover themselves and face fire." If purgatives are used prematurely, hiccups may occur, or there may be chest fullness and dysuria. A tongue coating resembling a pellicle indicates heat in the Dantian (Lower Jiao) and cold in the Chest, thirst for drinking but inability to swallow, resulting in dry mouth and irritability. It further states: "If dampness patients are treated with purgatives, sweating on the forehead, slight wheezing, and free urination indicate death. Unremitting diarrhea also indicates death." There are also cases where dampness combines with wind. *Jin Gui Yao Lue* states: "When Wind-Dampness combats each other, the whole body aches. According to the method, sweating should resolve it." If rainy weather persists, and the physician says, "Sweating can be induced," yet the disease does not resolve after sweating, why is this? Because excessive sweating expels only the Wind, leaving the Dampness behind, hence no resolution. To treat Wind-Dampness, one should aim for a slight, continuous perspiration, so that both Wind and Dampness are expelled. It also states: "When a patient has whole-body pain and fever that worsens at Shen hour (3-5 PM), this is named Wind-Dampness. This disease results from sweating while exposed to wind, or prolonged exposure to cold." Ma Huang Xing Ren Yi Yi Gan Cao Tang (Ephedra, Apricot Seed, Coix Seed, and Licorice Decoction) may be administered. There is also a condition called Wet-Warmth (Shi Wen), characterized by head distension, deafness, secondary contraction of damp pathogen, transformation of damp into fire, epistaxis, hiccups, and a sensation of throat closure. This is due to damp pathogen obstructing the upper orifices, named Wet-Warmth. It is treated with Kai Fei Jie Du Tang (Lung-Opening and Toxin-Resolving Decoction). Dampness diseases are most prone to variations; thus, it is advisable to consult ancient medical texts for reference.