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What is the cause of people suffering from intestinal wind with blood in stool? The intestines of humans are wrapped in fat; when the fat is thick, the intestines are full and stable. There is originally no blood within the intestines; blood enters because wind or heat consumes the fat, causing the intestinal wall to become thin and allowing blood to seep into the body. In the initial stage of the disease, patients must take cold-natured medicines to recover. If these are taken excessively, it causes coldness in the intestines, preventing the regeneration of fat, and the bleeding will recur. For heat patterns, the blood is bright red; for cold patterns, the blood is dark blue-black. One should observe whether the condition is heat or cold to prescribe medication accordingly (from *Yi Yu*).

It is said that someone drank alcohol daily, eventually developing *jiu li* (diarrhea caused by alcohol consumption), becoming emaciated to the point of visible bones, unable to eat, but drinking one or two cups of wine would trigger diarrhea. This had persisted for several years. Therefore, *Xiangrong Wan* (Musk Deer Antler Pill) was administered in a dose of one liang, and the symptoms ceased. This is likely because Musk can treat alcohol toxicity (from *Yan Yi*).

A woman in Luoyang, aged forty-six or forty-seven, indulged in drinking without restraint and consumed excessive amounts of fish and crab, disregarding health preservation methods. Later, due to overeating and drinking, toxins accumulated in the viscera. She had bowel movements twenty to thirty times a day, mixed with pus and blood. The pain in the large intestine extending to the anus was unbearable. Physicians used hemostatic dysentery medicines without effect, and then used medicines for intestinal wind, which aggravated the condition. This is because intestinal wind involves blood but not pus. Such a state lasted for more than half a year. Her qi and blood gradually weakened, her appetite decreased, and her muscles wasted away. Taking slightly warm medicines increased abdominal pain and bleeding; taking slightly cool medicines caused watery diarrhea and further depleted her qi, reducing her ability to consume congee; taking neutral-warm medicines showed no improvement. After nearly a year, physicians declared their techniques exhausted, leaving her to await death. Someone recommended taking *Renshen San* (Ginseng Powder). The patient's family dared not decide on their own but gave it casually. After just one dose, she felt relief; after two doses, symptoms reduced; after three doses, pus and blood stopped. Within ten doses, the illness was cured. Later, inquiring about the prescription, it was explained as treating large intestine wind deficiency, excessive alcohol consumption, dysentery with pus and blood due to combined heat, and prolonged pain. *Cichorii Radicis Cortex* (Bark of the Chinese Toosendan Tree Root) and *Ren Shen* (Ginseng Root), each one liang, were ground into powder. Two qian bi (a traditional measure) were taken orally with warm wine on an empty stomach. Alcohol was replaced with warm rice water. Foods such as greasy items, damp wheat noodles, green vegetables, fruits, sweets, chicken, fish, and garlic were prohibited (from *Yan Yi*).

Many blue veins on the arms indicate *tuo xue* (blood depletion); a slow and choppy pulse at the chi position indicates *jie xie* (limb flaccidity and weakness). A vigorous pulse indicates blood depletion; prolonged lying down damages qi.

Sui, the attending physician of the King of Qi, fell ill and self-administered refined Five-Stone Powder. Chen Yi (Chunyu Yi) visited him. Sui asked Chen Yi to diagnose his illness. Chen Yi examined him and said, "You suffer from internal heat. Medical theory states that those with internal heat and difficulty urinating should not take Five-Stone Powder. These stones are potent and fierce medicines. Your intake has led to reduced urination. Stop immediately, and a carbuncle will develop on your complexion." Sui replied, "Bian Que said: Yin stones treat yin diseases, and yang stones treat yang diseases. Medicines and stones have distinctions of yin, yang, water, and fire. Thus, internal heat is a yin disease, treated with soft yin stones; internal cold is a yang disease, treated with hard yang stones." Chen Yi said, "Your argument is far-fetched. Although Bian Que said this, one must carefully examine, weigh, establish standards, and combine complexion and pulse analysis to determine excess or deficiency in the interior and exterior, and compliance or deviation. One must also consider the patient's activity and respiration to make a diagnosis. Medical theory states: When yang disease is internal and yin signs appear externally, harsh medicines and stones should not be added. If harsh medicines enter the body, pathogenic qi is repelled, and stagnant qi becomes deeper. Diagnostic methods state: When two yin channels respond externally and one yang channel connects internally, hard medicines should not be used. Hard medicines disturb yang, worsening yin deficiency and making yang pathology prominent. Pathogenic qi flows freely, causing severe obstruction in the acupoints." Sui became angry and developed a carbuncle. Chen Yi predicted that within a hundred days, a carbuncle would indeed erupt on the breast, spread to the quepen area, and cause death. This illustrates the general principles of medical theory, which must follow specific rules. An incompetent practitioner who fails to study the principles of literature and yin-yang will err (from *Shi Ji*).