小儿之体最嫩,服药分两较大人当用药一钱者,只可二三分,以次加减。如药味过大,
树皮草根,船小何能重载?反损真气。至老人与体虚者,纵药可合机,亦宜小其剂数。以其
气质本衰,无能抵御药力,宣达脏腑,充贯脉络,易使气壅胸塞,呕恶神伤,未收本病之效,
先发变端。合机之药尚如此,不合病之大剂,其不至误人,果谁信哉?故分两不可不慎。且
古之一两,乃今时七分六厘,简编久载。古人禀赋强实,每用一药,不过数分,每服一方尚
分数次,而今运会日下,人身较于古时倍见孱弱,无如医者漫喜大剂浪投,不辨症之虚实,
不究分两之重轻。任情率意,恬不自悔,病家昧于不知,罹其夭札者,不一而足,何啻暗中
以刃杀人?惜未经人发明者,良足致慨,倘病阴寒,非大温剂,不足以回其阳。大时热,非大
凉药,不足以救其阴。骤脱症,非重用参 ,不足以接其元阳。与夫壮实之辈,非轻剂所能胜
其病,又非可一例论也。
龟背症起于小儿,筋骨脆弱,加以先天不足,或病后失调,或跌伤碰损,大人肾虚腰痛,
每成此症。由脊骨第一节数至第十四节下,两傍各一寸五分为肾俞穴,入之两腰,乃肾经发
源,即在此一点,先天生命所系,阴阳之变化出焉。今十四节椎骨肿凸如梅,痛连肾俞,使
腰屈而不能直,久则肿大,伛偻不治。乘初起用长尺许宽五寸布膏药,再掺观音救苦膏末
药(方见《青囊集》)于上,外贴肿处连两腰眼,半月一换,内服方看体质虚实,轻者半年,重者
一载屡效。此法亦可治鸡胸痰。
The constitution of infants and children is the most tender; when prescribing, the dosage should be much smaller than that for adults. For instance, where an adult might take one qian (approx. 3.73g) of a herb, an infant should only take two or three fen (approx. 0.6-1.1g), with adjustments made gradually. If the dosage is too heavy, it is like a small boat trying to carry a heavy load; it will instead damage the True Qi (Zhen Qi). As for the elderly and those with weak constitutions, even if the medication is appropriate to the syndrome, the dosage should still be reduced. This is because their inherent vitality is declining and they lack the capacity to withstand the medicinal force, allowing the medicine to circulate through the Zang-Fu organs and meridians without causing Qi stagnation in the chest, abdominal fullness, nausea, vomiting, and spiritual depletion. Before the intended therapeutic effect on the primary disease is achieved, adverse changes may arise. If even appropriate medications require such caution, who would believe that inappropriate large-dose prescriptions do not harm patients? Therefore, dosage must be handled with extreme care. Moreover, one tael (liang) in ancient times was equivalent to seven fen six li (approx. 28.4g) in modern times, a fact long recorded in texts. Ancients had strong constitutions; each herb used was merely a few fen, and each prescription was taken in divided doses over several servings. However, as the era declines, human bodies are significantly more frail than in ancient times. Regrettably, physicians often blindly administer large doses without distinguishing between deficiency and excess syndromes, nor considering the weight of the dosage. Acting arbitrarily and without remorse, while patients' families remain ignorant, many suffer premature death or severe illness. Is this not akin to killing people in the dark with a blade? It is lamentable that this point has not been sufficiently elucidated. Nevertheless, for Yin-Cold syndromes, only large warming formulas can restore Yang; for intense Heat syndromes, only large cooling herbs can save Yin; for sudden collapse syndromes, high doses of Ginseng (Renshen) are required to reconnect Yuan Yang. Conversely, robust individuals may not respond to light dosages. These exceptions cannot be generalized.
The "Turtle Back" deformity originates in childhood due to fragile bones and tendons, congenital insufficiency, improper post-illness care, or trauma from falls and impacts. In adults, Kidney Deficiency lower back pain can also lead to this condition. Counting from the first vertebra down to below the fourteenth, the Shenshu (BL-23) acupoints are located one cun five fen lateral to the spine, extending into the loins. This area is the source of the Kidney Meridian, the nexus of congenital life, and the origin of Yin-Yang transformations. Currently, the fourteen thoracic vertebrae become swollen and convex like plums, with pain radiating to Shenshu, causing the waist to bend and preventing straightening. Over time, swelling increases, leading to kyphosis that becomes incurable. During the early stages, apply a cloth plaster approximately one chi (approx. 33cm) long and five cun wide. Sprinkle the powder of Guanyin Jiuku Gao (Guanyin's Saving and Suffering Relieving Plaster, formula see *Qingnang Ji*) onto the plaster, and apply externally to the swollen area and both lumbar regions. Replace every half month. Internal herbal formulas should be selected based on constitutional deficiency or excess. Mild cases may take six months, severe cases one year, with frequent efficacy observed. This method can also treat pigeon chest phlegm.