徐(二八)肺气失于清肃,则欠下行,致生腹胀痰喘,小便赤短,治法宜行秋令。
石膏 茯苓 通草 桑皮 苏梗 杏仁 浓朴 连翘
四服腹不胀,痰喘缓,小便清长,改用∶
北沙参 麦冬 茯苓 桑皮 杏仁 连翘 甘草 茅根
胡(三二)宿有气喘,多年不作。近因劳倦复发,肢软无力,脉象浮大。按∶脉大为劳
,当作伤治。加味贞元饮。
熟地(四钱) 归身(一钱五分) 党参(二钱) 生冬术(一钱五分) 杏仁(一钱) 苏子(
一钱五分) 橘红(六分) 茯苓(一钱) 黑栀(一钱五分) 炙草(四分)
时有一邻人在旁,略能医理,见予骤用熟地、党参,乃曰∶观病者形体魁梧,愿切其脉
,脉
无虚象,但觉有力,而竟投腻补,恐壅滞肺气,喘更甚焉。予曰∶医贵小心胆大,明眼快手
,此方实合其症,非冒昧粗率可比。凡气呼属肺,吸属肾,今肺肾不足,故息出入不顺而急
,当补一也。脉之浮大,似乎有余,其实不足,当补二也。脉有真假,有假寒假热,假虚假
实,此即假实也。予方中佐杏、苏二味,当非十全本领,君欲舍补而全用疏肺顺气,似是而
实非也。约服四剂,复诊时,可来一证。后四日邻人见来复诊,随至小山园,先问服药若何
,答言∶气已不促,四肢略觉有力,昨日已能帮拔菜箕。始无间言。设其与病者为邻,必止
其不服予方,药之是否,亦无从而验矣。世间似此者岂少哉!
Xu (28 years old): The Lung Qi has lost its clear and descending function, causing the Qi to fail to descend, resulting in abdominal distension, phlegm-wheezing, red and scanty urine. The treatment principle should be to promote the descending action characteristic of Autumn.
Prescription: Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum), Fu Ling (Poria), Tong Cao (Tetrapanacis Medulla), Sang Bai Pi (Mori Cortex), Su Geng (Perillae Caulis), Xing Ren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum), Hou Po (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex), Lian Qiao (Forsythiae Fructus).
After four doses, abdominal distension ceased, phlegm-wheezing alleviated, and urine became clear and abundant. The prescription was then changed to:
Bei Sha Shen (Glehniae Radix), Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Tuber), Fu Ling (Poria), Sang Bai Pi (Mori Cortex), Xing Ren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum), Lian Qiao (Forsythiae Fructus), Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Mao Gen (Imperatae Rhizoma).
Hu (32 years old): Suffered from chronic wheezing for many years without recurrence recently. It recurred recently due to fatigue and overwork, with weak limbs and a floating, large pulse. Commentary: A large pulse indicates damage from overwork; it should be treated as a deficiency injury. Use Jia Wei Zhen Yuan Yin (Modified Zhen Yuan Decoction).
Prescription: Shu Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata) 4 qian, Dang Gui Shen (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) 1.5 qian, Dang Shen (Codonopsis Radix) 2 qian, Sheng Zhu Shu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) 1.5 qian, Xing Ren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum) 1 qian, Su Zi (Perillae Fructus) 1.5 qian, Ju Hong (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Rubrum) 6 fen, Fu Ling (Poria) 1 qian, Hei Zhi (Gardeniae Fructus) 1.5 qian, Zhi Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Preparata cum Melle) 4 fen.
At that time, a neighbor standing nearby, who had some knowledge of medicine, saw me suddenly using Shu Di Huang and Dang Shen, and said, "Observing the patient's robust physique, I wish to feel his pulse." Upon palpation, he said, "The pulse shows no signs of deficiency; it feels forceful. To administer cloying tonifying herbs is feared to obstruct Lung Qi and worsen the wheezing." I replied, "Medicine requires both caution and boldness, sharp insight and swift hands. This formula truly matches the syndrome; it is not reckless or hasty. Exhalation belongs to the Lung, inhalation belongs to the Kidney. Now, both Lung and Kidney are deficient, causing irregular and rapid breathing; this is the first reason for tonification. The pulse is floating and large, appearing excess, but actually indicating deficiency; this is the second reason for tonification. Pulses have true and false aspects, such as false cold/true heat or false deficiency/true excess; this case presents false excess. My formula includes Xing Ren and Su Zi as assistants. While I do not claim perfection, your suggestion to abandon tonification and use only Lung-dispersing and Qi-smoothing methods seems plausible but is fundamentally incorrect. After approximately four doses, please come to verify at the follow-up visit." Four days later, the neighbor came to observe the follow-up consultation. I first asked about the medication's effect. He answered, "The breath is no longer short, and the limbs feel slightly stronger; yesterday he could even help winnow vegetables." Thus, he ceased his objections. If he were the patient's neighbor, he would likely have prevented him from taking my prescription, and the efficacy of the medicine would never have been verified. Are there not many such cases in the world!