Library

If the parents' constitutions are inherently deficient, the infant born of them will have an innate insufficiency from early on. If improper care is given during infancy, or if frequent illnesses cause damage, or if the child is made to sit up forcibly too early, the fragile and tender bones and sinews are prone to injury, resulting in atrophy and protrusion of the spinal column. Initially appearing like a plum, it gradually rises to resemble a large plum, and in severe cases, leads to kyphosis (hunchback). There are also cases caused by wind-water pathogens, which are extremely difficult to treat effectively. I often see men and women who develop this condition from chronic kidney deficiency with lower back pain; only those who take Yiyin Decoction (see formula below) for a long time to preserve their natural lifespan survive, but I have never seen a complete cure.

In individuals with Qi deficiency, both Qi and Blood must be deficient. If they encounter external pathogenic factors that invade freely due to the void, the healthy Qi cannot resist, allowing the pathogens to flourish unchecked and directly attacking the uterine collaterals. This causes confusion of spirit and intellect, disordered speech, and an inability to independently rise or lie down. It is necessary to slightly add herbs that support healthy Qi (such as Codonopsis Root and Polygonatum Rhizome) to the prescription treating the primary syndrome, so that the pathogens can be guided out. Otherwise, with deficient healthy Qi and sinking pathogens, there is a risk of imminent death. The same method applies to obese individuals.

Individuals prone to anger and excessive thinking often experience emotional stagnation. Anger causes Qi to knot in the Liver, while excessive thinking causes Qi to congregate in the Spleen. Once complicated diseases occur, the ascending and descending of Qi loses regulation, inevitably leading to nausea, vomiting, chest oppression, hypochondriac distension, and vexation. In the herbs used for the primary disease, one should appropriately add several herbs to soothe Qi and resolve depression (such as Eupatorium Herb, Bergamot Fruit, Curcuma Tuber, Aquilaria Wood, Costus Root, and Cyperus Rhizome). If one merely treats the symptoms without seeking the root, how can effectiveness be achieved?

Women regard the Liver as their congenital foundation, and the Liver stores Blood. During youth and prime adulthood, when menstruation has just started or ended, if illness strikes suddenly, the pathogen must sink into the Blood Chamber (uterus). Blood belongs to Yin; when it knots with pathogens and cannot exit, the body becomes heavy, causing drowsiness, muteness, and an inability to identify the source of suffering. If prolonged and unresolved, one should add guiding or blood-activating herbs (such as Peach Kernel, Red Yeast Rice, and Angelica Sinensis Tail) to the prescribed formula to break the blood stasis fortress and destroy the pathogen's nest, making resolution not difficult. These are contraindicated in pregnant women to prevent fetal harm. For elderly women whose Tian Gui (menstrual essence) has dried up, this matter may be disregarded.