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Old theories held that individuals suffering from eye diseases should not bathe, as doing so might exacerbate the condition or even lead to blindness. Bai Yanliang, holding the title of Chengzhi Lang (Official Rank), stated that before reaching his prime, he suffered from red eyes every year. A Daoist priest advised him that if he ceased washing his hair, the illness would not recur. Bai Yanliang followed this advice and has not washed his hair since; now in his seventies, he has not suffered from eye disease again. (From *Bozhai Bian*)

A patient suffered from red eyes with swelling and pain, accompanied by weak spleen and stomach function, rendering him unable to eat. Pulse diagnosis revealed a surging liver pulse and a weak spleen pulse. Using cooling herbs to treat the liver would damage the spleen, making eating impossible; conversely, using warming herbs to tonify the spleen would cause the liver fire to surge further, worsening the illness. How should this be treated? One should double the dosage of Cinnamon Twig (*Rougui*, *Cinnamomi Cortex*) within warm and neutral formulas, while avoiding *Chatiao San* (Tea-Powdered Pill) for fear of damaging the spleen. Cinnamon Twig suppresses liver fire while benefiting the spleen, achieving two goals with one treatment. As the classics state: "Wood dies when it encounters Cinnamon." (From *Yiyu*)

A patient suffered from an eye condition where the eyes became red and swollen upon waking from sleep, only to return to normal after a long time. Various treatments proved ineffective. The master said, "This is due to blood heat, not a liver disease. When lying down to sleep, blood returns to the liver; the return of hot blood to the liver causes the redness and swelling. It resolves later because upon waking, blood disperses again into the four limbs." Therefore, fresh juice of Rehmannia Root (*Shengdihuang*, *Rehmanniae Radix*) was used to soak half a sheng of glutinous rice. The rice was soaked until thoroughly penetrated and then dried in the sun, repeating this process three times. The prepared rice was then boiled in water in a porcelain vessel until one liter of decoction remained boiling. Four or five spoonfuls of the Rehmannia-soaked rice were added and cooked into a thin porridge. After cooling to a warm temperature, one or two cups were consumed after being half-full, followed by sleep. Following this regimen for two days, the illness resolved. This is because Rehmannia Root juice cools the blood. (Ibid.)

Generally, eye diseases present either as excess above and deficiency below, or deficiency above and excess below. Deficiency patterns are suitable for treatment with kidney-tonifying herbs, as the Kidney is the Mother of the Liver, and tonifying the Mother strengthens the Child. Excess patterns are suitable for treatment with herbs that clear and drain the Heart Meridian, as the Heart is the Child of the Liver, and draining the Child relieves the Mother. Ophthalmological texts state that so-called "tonifying herbs" do not refer to warming substances like Sulfur (*Liuhuang*), Prepared Aconite Root (*Fuzi*, *Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata*), Deer Antler (*Lurong*, *Cervi Cornu Degelatinatum*), or Cistanche (*Rongrong*, *Cistanches Herba*), but rather to heavy-settling agents like Cinnabar (*Zhusha*, *Cinnabaris*) and Magnetite (*Cishi*, *Magnetitum*). To tonify the lower jiao while treating eye diseases, ophthalmic preparations should be employed; this is considered the highest principle. (Ibid.)

For patients with red eyes, washing the feet with hot water is beneficial. Bathing, however, may inevitably lead to blindness. One must strictly avoid consuming dog meat, chicken, fish, and eggs from chickens or ducks.

An elderly man named Qian lost vision in one eye. Hearing that Hu, a national physician in the central court, was skilled in treating eye diseases, he submitted a memorial requesting treatment. Emperor Jinzu dispatched a physician who traveled by sea. Upon examining the eye, the physician said, "Your Excellency need not undergo treatment. This condition will extend your lifespan by five to seven years. If you insist on removing the cataract to restore vision, although sight may be regained, it is feared that your fortune will be diminished." Qian replied, "I am content to become a one-eyed ghost underground. I wish for the doctor to exert all skill in treating me, and I shall reward you generously." The physician treated him, and his vision was restored. Overjoyed, Qian presented the physician with gold, silk, precious belts, and other valuables worth fifty thousand strings of cash, and provided a ship to return to the capital. The physician died after returning to the capital at the age of eighty-one. (From Liu Yingshu's *Yiyuan*)