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A person suffered from chronic dysentery with mixed red and white discharge, or purely white or purely red, which resisted all medications. Due to the prolonged illness and excessive medication, where treatments for dysentery often employed toxic drugs to attack the pathogen, the Qi of the Zang-Fu organs became disharmonious, making recovery difficult. Shi Zaizhi treated this patient with light, clear, and Qi-regulating herbs, resulting in a cure. This method was later verified to be effective in numerous cases. The prescription consists of Poppy Capsule (Piperis Papaveris Fructus, processed with honey), Ginseng Radix (Renshen), Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu), Poria (Baifuling), Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuanxiong), Licorice Root (Gancao, processed), and Huang [character missing, likely Astragali Radix] in equal parts. These are ground into fine powder. Two qian are taken each time with one lamp of water, along with ginger, jujube, and half a dried plum, decocted until reduced to eight-tenths, and taken warm at any time.

Another person suffered from chronic diarrhea. Treatments involving warming and tonifying the Spleen and promoting diuresis failed after hundreds of attempts. The physician diagnosed a weak Heart pulse alone and treated the patient with herbs to tonify Heart Qi combined with Spleen-tonifying herbs, leading to a cure. This is because the Heart belongs to Fire and the Spleen to Earth; Fire generates Earth. The prosperity of the Spleen relies on the drying warmth of Heart Fire. If Heart Qi is insufficient, Fire does not dry, causing Dampness to affect the Spleen Earth, thus leading to diarrhea. By tonifying the Heart and Spleen while simultaneously removing Dampness, efficacy is inevitable.

There is another type of diarrhea characterized by cold accumulation, food stagnation, or deficiency of Heart Qi. Treatments and the extensive use of Realgar (Shihuang) and Aconite Root (Fuzi) were ineffective. However, it was cured by taking Huo [character missing, likely a pill name] Wan. This indicates Wind-Cold in the intestines and stomach. Taking Weifeng Tang combined with warming herbs is also beneficial.

Yet another type of Spleen-deficiency diarrhea was cured by Taishan Laoli Zhigan San, which consists of Angelica Dahurica Root (Baizhi), Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu), White Peony Root (Baishaoyao), and Platycodon Root (Jiegeng). (From *Yiyu*)

Generally, for patients with dysentery regardless of red or white discharge, if the pulse is small and the body is cool, recovery is easy; if the pulse is large and the body is hot, recovery is difficult. Dysentery invariably involves abdominal pain due to the presence of accumulations. Summer-heat and heat accumulations mostly cause red dysentery, while cold accumulations mostly cause white dysentery. Some cases of red dysentery arise from Wind in the intestines and stomach, and mixed red-white dysentery arises from disharmony of cold and heat. For summer-heat accumulation dysentery, Huanglian Ejiao Wan or Mianjian San plus Talcum (Huashi) can be used. For white dysentery, Zhuche Wan or Yinggan Wan may be used. For disharmony of cold and heat, Wuji Wan or Badou Wan may be used. Adding Talcum (Huashi) to Mianjian San is highly effective for treating red dysentery. Modified Douyin Zi is also effective. These remedies are useful for various types of dysentery and often yield results. Lingsha Dan from the Imperial Pharmacy Bureau is also remarkable. These medicines should not be omitted from summer to autumn. (Ibid.)

Ancient prescriptions do not record the use of Poppy for treating dysentery. Modern usage, though slightly varied in method, yields miraculous effects. Some use several grains, slow-fire roasted yellow, ground into powder, and taken with rice water. Others use only the shell as described above. Or, five to seven shells and one-and-a-half cun of Licorice Root (half raw, half processed) are decocted in a large bowl of water until half remains, to be sipped warm. An old man from Shu said: using Poppy shells and de-seeded Rhamnus Jujuba Fruit (Shuzhaizi), each a few pieces, roasted dry and ground into powder, taken with water, is especially effective for treating Jin Kou Li (dysentery with inability to eat/drink). (From *Bozhai Bian*)