Library

Bai Zhi Li (Dysentery characterized by white mucus) is caused by intestinal deficiency and the invasion of cold qi. The cold pathogen clashes with the intestines, causing body fluids to coagulate and stagnate, resulting in white discharge. The following prescription is suitable:

Chishizhi (Red Stone Lipid) 8 liang, Ganjiang (Dried Ginger), Longgu (Fossilized Bones), Danggui (Angelica Sinensis) each 3 liang, Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root), Muli (Oyster Shell) each 2 liang, Shaoyao (Peony Root), Gancao (Licorice Root, honey-fried) each 1 liang.

First, boil Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome) in 12 sheng of water until reduced to 9 sheng. Add the remaining herbs and decoct to obtain 3 sheng of liquid. Divide into three doses. If pus is present, add Houpo (Magnolia Bark) 3 liang; if vomiting occurs, add Chenpi (Tangerine Peel) 2 liang.

Leng Re Li (Cold-Heat Dysentery), where the stool alternates between yellow and white, results from weak spleen and stomach, pre-existing internal cold, and injury by external heat. The interaction of cold and heat causes this condition. The prescription is as follows:

Xiangchi (Prepared Soybean), Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome) 6 liang, Xiebai (Allium Macrostemon Bulb), Shengma (Cimicifuga Rhizome) 2 liang.

Boil in 7 sheng of water until reduced to 2.5 sheng. Divide into three doses.

Kushen (Sophora Flavescens Root), Jupi (Tangerine Peel), Duhuo (Angelica Pubescens Root), Ejiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin, fried), Lanqing (Indigo Naturalis), Huanglian (Coptis Rhizome), Guijianyu (Euonymus Ramulus), Huangbai (Phellodendron Bark), Gancao (Licorice Root).

Grind these equal parts into powder. Melt Ejiao with honey and form pills the size of a wu zi (cherry seed). Take 10 pills with warm water, three times daily.

Alternatively, use: Sheng Xijiao (Unprocessed Rhinoceros Horn), Suan Shiliupi (Acid Pomegranate Peel), Zhishi (Immature Bitter Orange).

Grind together into powder. Take 2-3 cun bi (ancient measuring spoon) per dose, twice daily.

Xiang Danshi (Lightly Fermented Soybean) 0.5 sheng, Huanglian (Coptis Rhizome) 1 sheng.

Soak Danshi in 1.5 sheng of water for one day, filter to obtain the juice. Crush Huanglian, wrap it in thin silk, and steep it in the Danshi juice. Decoct until slightly more than half a sheng remains. Take on an empty stomach in one dose; dysentery will cease immediately.

For chronic Chi Li (Dysentery characterized by blood) persisting for years without cure, use:

Diyu (Sanguisorba Root), Shuweicao (Agrimony) each 1 liang.

Boil in 2 sheng of water until reduced to 1 sheng. Divide into two doses.

If not cured, collect dust from the eaves, wash with water to remove impurities, and take 1 sheng, twice daily.

All forms of dysentery arise from insufficiency of Ying and Wei (Nutritive and Defensive Qi) and weakness of the spleen and stomach. Cold and heat pathogens invade the intestines through the deficiency. Intestinal weakness leads to diarrhea, thus forming dysentery. Heat invading the blood causes blood to渗 (seep) into the intestines, resulting in Chi Li (blood dysentery); cold qi clashing in the intestines causes body fluids to coagulate, resulting in Bai Zhi Li (white mucus dysentery); when cold and heat interact, red and white mix. The following prescription is suitable:

Lurong (Deer Antler Velvet), Shiliupi (Pomegranate Peel) 2 liang, Ganjiang (Dried Ginger), Zaohezhongren (Kernel within Date Pit) 7 pieces, Chidili (Polygonum Multiflorum Root, burnt to ash) 1 liang.

Grind all ingredients into a powder. Take 1 cun bi with food before meals, three times daily and once at night. If frequent defecation occurs, increase to five or six doses.