此症大端,由其人肾水素亏,劳心过度,水亏则木燥生风;心劳则血耗,风火相煽。一
时卒
倒,不省人事,口眼歪斜,言语不清者,为类中风。治宜滋肾平肝,养血熄风,参消痰之品
。亦有寒中,须佐温热,如地黄饮子一方加减。若用开窍豁痰,散风清火,每成脱证不治。
更有兼症,随其病而治之。其半身不遂,四肢不仁,亦属类中分岐。一切方药,须于各种医
书查阅,予只论其源头,方概不录。
痨之为病,咳嗽吐血,后反无血可吐,内热形瘦,失音气急,语言不续,危如反掌。其
人患
此症者,体素弱,过用心;或好色,必善怒,三者兼之,必成痨病。何也?用心血耗,好色
精亏,善怒肝旺。肝旺则脾胃先伤,纳食欠运,大便或燥结,或溏泄,饮食不化精微,而成
痰涎。母虚子弱,不任风寒,稍受感冒,咳嗽见矣。心火不降,肾水不交于心,
兼之肝火上炎,血焉得不吐?内热焉得不作?及后无血可吐,败症尽见,临崖勒马,悔已晚矣
!其症始起,饮溲溺,更能静养,远色戒性,脱然亦不为难。若惟仗草根树皮,不能守戒,
百无一痊也。更有尸蛀,俗称百日痨,室女为多。其患干咳,不吐血,亦无痰,入暮身热,
晨起不觉,饮食渐减,初起面色娇红,绝似无病,未及半年,多已殒命。治此病,《千金方
》有此药。然是症甚少,未曾修试,虽芦扁复生,亦无所施其技。设有痨虫,谓之心疾,皆
非我所知也。凡男子欲事未必损人,欲念最损人;隔墙钗钏,隙穴髻鬟,少年常有,衽席不
施,而烁为枯腊者矣。惟童痨一症,无论男女,患咳嗽夜热者,宜于补土养金中,加银胡、
青蒿、地骨皮、鳖甲、知母等药多效。
The general aspect of this condition stems from the patient's inherent deficiency of Kidney Yin (Shen Yin, 肾阴), compounded by excessive mental labor. When Kidney Water is deficient, Liver Wood becomes dry and generates internal Wind; excessive mental effort consumes Blood, leading to a mutual incitement of Wind and Fire. Sudden collapse, loss of consciousness, deviation of the mouth and eyes, and slurred speech are classified as "Similar Stroke" (Lei Zhong Feng, 类中风). The treatment should focus on nourishing the Kidney, pacifying the Liver, nourishing Blood, extinguishing Wind, and incorporating phlegm-resolving agents. There are also cases of Cold striking the interior, which require the addition of warming and hot herbs, such as modifications of Dihuang Yinzi (Rehmannia Decoction). If opening orifices, resolving phlegm, dispersing Wind, and clearing Fire are employed, it often results in Collapse Syndrome (Tuo Zheng, 脱证) which is incurable. Furthermore, there are concurrent symptoms that must be treated according to the specific pathology. Hemiplegia and insensibility of the four limbs also belong to the branches of Similar Stroke. All formulas and drugs should be consulted in various medical texts; I only discuss the source of the disease and do not record specific formulas.
The disease of Consumption (Lao Bing, 痨病) manifests as coughing and hemoptysis, later progressing to a state where there is no blood left to expectorate, accompanied by internal heat, emaciation, aphonia, rapid breathing, and interrupted speech. The condition is critical, with life hanging in the balance. Patients suffering from this condition typically have a constitutionally weak body, engage in excessive mental work, indulge in sexual activity, and are prone to anger. The combination of these three factors inevitably leads to Consumption. Why? Because excessive mental work depletes Heart Blood, indulgence in sex depletes Kidney Essence, and frequent anger causes Liver Fire to flourish. When Liver Fire flourishes, the Spleen and Stomach are damaged first, leading to poor appetite and impaired transportation, resulting in stools that are either dry and constipated or loose and diarrheal. Food fails to transform into essence and qi, instead accumulating as phlegm and saliva. As the Mother organ (Spleen) is deficient, the Child organ (Lung) becomes weak and unable to resist Wind-Cold; upon slight exposure to cold, coughing ensues. Heart Fire fails to descend, and Kidney Water fails to ascend to communicate with the Heart; combined with Liver Fire flaming upward, how can Blood not bleed? How can internal heat not arise? By the time there is no blood left to expectorate, signs of decay are fully apparent, and attempting to rein in the horse at the cliff edge comes too late! In the early stage of this disease, drinking urine (an ancient folk remedy, not applicable today), coupled with quiet rest, abstinence from sex, and regulation of temperament, recovery is not difficult. If one relies solely on herbal roots and barks without observing dietary and behavioral restrictions, fewer than one in a hundred will recover. Additionally, there is "Corpse Borer," commonly known as Hundred-Day Consumption, which occurs mostly in unmarried young women. It presents as dry cough without hemoptysis or phlegm, fever in the evening, normal feeling in the morning, gradual reduction in appetite, and a rosy complexion initially resembling health. However, within half a year, death often occurs. The *Qianjin Fang* contains medicines for treating this disease. However, this condition is rare, and I have not personally tested it; even if Lu Dan and Bian Que were reborn, they would find it difficult to apply their skills. If there are so-called "Consumption Worms," referred to as Heart Disease, these are unknown to me. Generally, sexual intercourse itself may not harm the body, but lustful thoughts are most damaging. Hearing jewelry through walls or seeing hair ornaments through cracks are common experiences for youths; even without sexual activity, such thoughts can burn the body to a crisp. For the specific condition of Pediatric Consumption (Tong Lao, 童痨), regardless of gender, if coughing and night fever are present, adding Yinhua (Silver Flower/Chrysanthemum), Qinghao (Artemisiae Annuae Herba), Digupi (Cortex Lycii Radicis), Biejia (Carapax et Plastrum Testudinis), and Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma) to methods that tonify Earth (Spleen) and nourish Metal (Lung) is often effective.