用干艾叶揉熟,去灰作艾炷。取脐下一寸五分名气海,二寸丹田,三寸关元,灸五十壮
至二、三百壮。以手足渐温,人事稍苏为可治。
阴毒手足厥冷,不省人事者,此法行之。
手足不自温也,受气于中而后温;里有阴寒,故手足厥冷;阳气明,阴气昏,不省人事
者,乃阴盛而失神明之官也。《甲乙经》曰∶气海、丹田,任脉所发;关元,足三阴、任脉
之会,是任脉实贯三阴,而三阴之脉皆会于任脉也。故阴毒中于三阴者,取而灸之,有寒谷
回春之妙!
叠青布数重,新水渍之,稍捩去水,搭于患人胸上,须臾蒸热,又以别浸冷布易之,频
换新水;热稍退,可进阳毒药。
阳毒渐深,脉洪大,内外结热,舌卷焦黑,鼻如烟煤者,此法行之。
阳毒者,三阳热证之毒也。由表入里,故曰渐深;洪大皆阳脉,表邪未去,里热又甚,
故曰内外皆热,此由失汗之所致也;舌卷者,热燥华池而筋缩急也;舌焦而黑,鼻如烟煤,
此火极而兼水化,亢龙有悔之象也。行此法者,水可以灭火,寒可以却热,外可以安内。经
曰∶行水渍之,和其中外,可使毕已。此之谓也。
少阴,即太溪穴也,在两足内踝后跟骨上动脉陷中。灸七壮。
少阴吐利,手足不冷,反发热,脉不至者,此法行之。
少阴,肾也。寒中少阴,阴寒格阳上逆,故吐;少阴主二便,病寒故利;阴在内,拒阳
于外,故手足不冷而反发热;脉不至者,阴盛于内而脉沉陷也。太溪,肾之俞也,干焉而灸
之,所以引外格之阳,使之归原,如《易》所谓不远之复也。
Use dried mugwort leaves (Artemisia argyi), rub them until soft, remove ash and impurities to make moxa cones. Select Qihai (Sea of Qi, an extra point on the Ren vessel) 1.5 cun below the umbilicus, Dantian (Elixir Field, an extra point on the Ren vessel) 2 cun below the umbilicus, and Guanyuan (Gate of Origin, a Ren vessel point) 3 cun below the umbilicus. Moxibustion is applied for fifty burns (zhuang) at each point, up to two or three hundred burns. The condition is considered treatable when the hands and feet gradually become warm and consciousness slightly returns.
This method is used for Yin Toxin syndrome presenting with cold extremities and loss of consciousness.
The extremities do not warm themselves because Yang Qi must be obtained from the Middle Jiao to warm the limbs; internal Yin-Cold causes cold extremities. Yang Qi brings brightness, while Yin Qi brings dimness; loss of consciousness occurs due to excessive Yin disturbing the organ of Spirit (Shen Ming). The *Jia Yi Jing* states: Qihai and Dantian are points where the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) originates; Guanyuan is the intersection of the Three Yin Meridians of the Foot and the Ren Mai. This indicates that the Ren Mai penetrates the Three Yin meridians, and all Three Yin meridians converge on the Ren Mai. Therefore, when Yin Toxin attacks the Three Yin meridians, selecting these points for moxibustion has the wonderful effect of bringing spring back to a valley of cold!
Stack several layers of green cloth, soak them in fresh water, wring out slightly, and place on the patient's chest. After a moment, the cloth becomes hot, then replace it with another piece soaked in cold water, frequently changing with fresh water. Once the heat subsides slightly, Yang-toxic medicines can be administered.
This method is used for Yang Toxin syndrome that has gradually deepened, characterized by a surging and large pulse, internal and external binding heat, a curled and scorched black tongue, and nostrils resembling soot.
Yang Toxin is the toxin of Heat syndromes in the Three Yang meridians. Entering from the exterior to the interior, it is said to deepen gradually. Surging and large pulses are both Yang pulses; since the exterior pathogen has not been expelled and the interior heat is severe, it is described as heat in both interior and exterior, caused by failure to induce sweating. A curled tongue results from heat drying the fluids (Hua Chi) causing tendon contraction and urgency. A scorched black tongue and nostrils like soot indicate extreme Fire transforming into Water characteristics, representing the phenomenon of "the soaring dragon repents" (extremes turn to their opposites). Applying this method, water extinguishes fire, cold dispels heat, and external cooling stabilizes the interior. The classic says: Apply water soaking to harmonize the interior and exterior, making the disease cease. This refers to such methods.
Shaoyin corresponds to the Taixi acupoint, located in the depression above the posterior aspect of the medial malleolus where the arterial pulse is felt. Apply seven burns of moxibustion.
This method is used for Shaoyin disease presenting with vomiting and diarrhea, without cold extremities but rather fever, and an imperceptible pulse.
Shaoyin corresponds to the Kidney. Cold invading Shaoyin causes Yin-Cold to reject Yang Qi upward, leading to vomiting; Shaoyin governs urination and defecation, so cold pathology leads to diarrhea. Yin residing internally rejects Yang externally, hence extremities are not cold but rather febrile. An imperceptible pulse indicates Yin excess internally causing the pulse to sink and depress. Taixi is the Shu-stream point of the Kidney. Moxibustion here serves to guide the Yang Qi rejected externally back to its origin, akin to the concept of "returning quickly" in the *I Ching*.