丹溪治一妇。病不知人。稍苏即号叫数四而复昏。朱诊之。肝脉弦数且滑。曰。此怒火
所为。盖得之怒而饮酒也。诘之。以不得于夫。每夜必引满自酌解其怀。朱治之以流痰降火
之剂。而加香附以散肝分之郁。立愈。
戴原礼治方氏子妇。疟后多汗。呼媵人易衣不至。怒形于色。遂昏厥若死状。灌以苏合
香丸而苏。自后闻人步之重。鸡犬之声。辄厥逆如初。原礼曰。脉虚甚。重取则散。是谓汗
多亡阳。以参、 日补之。其惊渐减。至浃旬而安。
汪石山治一人年逾七十。忽病瞀昧。但其目系渐急。即合眼昏懵。如瞌睡者。头面有
触。皆不避。少顷而苏。问之。曰不知也。一日或发二三次。医作风治。病转剧。汪诊其脉
结止。苏则如常。但浮虚耳。曰。此虚病也。盖病发而脉结者。血少气劣耳。苏则气血流通
心志皆得所养。故脉又如常也。遂以十全大补汤去桂。加麦冬、陈皮而安。三子皆庠生。
时欲应试而惧。注曰。三年之内。可保无恙。越此非予之所知也。果验。
江篁南治一妇。忽如人将冰水泼之。则手足厥冷。不知人。少顷发热则渐省。一日二三
次。江诊六脉俱微。若有若无。欲绝非绝。此气虚极之证也。用人参三钱。陈皮一钱。枳壳
二分。人参渐加。服至六两。而愈。
孙东宿治徐中宇之妇。汗出如雨。昏昏愦愦。两手无所着落。胸要人足 之不少放。少
放即昏愦益甚。气促不能以息。少近风则呕恶晕厥。与九龙镇心丹一丸。服下即稍定。少间
则又发。始知胸喉中有物作梗而痛。汤水难入。即药仅能吞一口。多则弗能咽下。乃以苏合
香丸与之。晕厥寻止。心痛始萌。昨日六脉俱伏。今早六部俱见。惟左寸短涩。知其痛为瘀
血也。用延胡、桃仁、丹参、丹皮、青皮、当归、香附。其夜仍晕厥一次。由其痛极而然。
再与前方加乌梅、桂枝、赤芍、贝母、人参。而痛减大半。乃自云心虚有热。头眩。加山栀
仁。居常多梦交之证。近更甚。以其心虚故也。人参、丹参、归、芍、枣仁、酒连、香附、
贝母、石斛。调理全安。
李士材治吴门周复庵。年近五旬。荒于酒色。忽然头痛发热。医以羌活汤散之。汗出不
止。昏晕不苏。李灸关元十壮而醒。四君子加姜、桂。日服三剂。至三日少康。分晰家产。
劳而且怒。复发厥。李用好参一两。熟附二钱。煨姜十片煎服。稍醒。但一转侧即厥。一日
之间。计厥七次。服参三两。至明日。以羊肉羹糯米粥与之。尚厥二三次。至五日而厥定。
李曰。今虽痊。但元气虚极。非三载调摄。不能康也。两月之间。服参四斤。三年之内。进
剂六百帖。丸药七十余斤。方得步履如初。
喻嘉言治黄我兼令正。痰厥。频发不痊。有欲用涌剂及下法者。喻曰。惊痰堵塞窍隧。
昏迷不过片向耳。设以涌药投之。痰才一动。人即晕去。探之指不能入。咽之气不能下。药
势与病势相扼。转致连日不苏。将若之何。丹溪云。惧吐者。宜消息下之。是或一道也。但
窍隧之痰。岂能搜导下行。徒伤脾气。痰愈窒塞。此法亦不可用。今三部脉象虚软无力。邪
盛正衰。不易开散。用药贵有节次矩 。盖惊痰之来始于肝胆。冬月木气归根。不敢攻治。
但当理脾清肺。使脾能健运。肺能肃降。痰乃下行耳。今四末肿麻。气壅已甚。须药饵与饮
食相参。白饭香蔬苦茗。便为佳珍。不但浓味当禁。即粥亦不宜食。以粥饮之。结为痰饮。
易易耳。不但杂食当禁。即饮食亦宜少减。以脾气不用以消谷。转用之消痰。较药力更捷耳
其辛辣酒脯及煎爆日曝之物。俱能伤肺。并不宜食。根据此调理。至春月木旺。才用四君子
汤加龙胆草、芦荟、代赭石、黄连、青黛等药。为丸服之。痰迷之症。果获全瘳。后遂不发
震按内经仲景所谓厥者。手足逆冷耳。故有寒厥热厥之辨。今人所谓厥者。乃晕厥耳。
亦兼手足逆冷。而其重在神昏若死也。向来混于一处。最误后学。今只选晕厥。不选厥逆。
庶几头绪稍清。故丹溪案是怒厥也。又名肝厥。戴汪江三案是虚厥也。孙案是血厥也。又名
薄厥。李案是虚厥之极。即脱厥也。喻案是痰厥。亦兼怒厥。法已略备矣。
Zhu Danxi treated a woman who was unconscious. Upon regaining consciousness briefly, she would scream several times before falling back into a coma. Zhu examined her and found the Liver pulse to be Wiry (Xian), Rapid (Shu), and Slippery (Hua). He said, "This is caused by furious anger. It likely resulted from drinking alcohol after becoming angry." Upon inquiry, it was revealed that because she felt unloved by her husband, she drank heavily every night to relieve her sorrow. Zhu treated her with a formula to clear heat, resolve phlegm, and descend fire, adding Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiangfu) to dissipate depression in the Liver channel. She recovered immediately.
Dai Yuanli treated the daughter-in-law of the Fang family. After suffering from malaria, she sweated excessively. When she called for her maid to change her clothes and the maid did not arrive promptly, she showed signs of anger, then fainted and appeared dead. She revived after being administered Suhexiang Wan (Styrax Pill). Afterwards, whenever she heard heavy footsteps or the sound of chickens and dogs, she would faint as before. Dai said, "The pulse is extremely deficient; when pressed heavily, it scatters. This is defined as Yang collapse due to excessive sweating." He used Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen) and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu) to tonify Qi. Her惊 (fright/anxiety) gradually decreased, and she stabilized after ten days.
Wang Shishan treated a man over seventy years old who suddenly suffered from mental confusion and dimness. His eye tendons became tense, causing dizziness and sleepiness whenever he closed his eyes. He did not avoid touch on his head and face, but recovered after a short while. When asked, he claimed ignorance. The episodes occurred two or three times a day. Physicians treated it as Wind disease, worsening the condition. Wang diagnosed a Knotted pulse (Jie Mai) with interruptions; upon recovery, the pulse returned to normal, merely Floating (Fu) and Deficient (Xu). He said, "This is a Deficiency syndrome. The knotted pulse during onset indicates insufficient Blood and weak Qi. Upon recovery, Qi and Blood flow smoothly, nourishing the Heart and Mind, so the pulse returns to normal." He prescribed Shiquan Dabu Tang (Ten Great Tonifying Decoction) without Cinnamomi Ramulus (Guizhi), adding Ophiopogonis Radix (Maidong) and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Chenpi). The patient recovered. Wang’s three sons were Xiangsheng (students in the local school) preparing for imperial examinations and feared failure. Wang predicted, "You will be safe within three years; beyond that is unknown to me." This proved accurate.
Jiang Huangnan treated a woman who suddenly felt as if ice water had been poured on her, resulting in cold extremities and unconsciousness. She gradually regained consciousness after fever set in. This happened two or three times a day. Jiang examined six pulses, all Micro (Wei), seemingly present yet absent, on the verge of disappearing. This is a syndrome of extreme Qi deficiency. He used San Qian (three mace) of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen), one mace of Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Chenpi), and two fen of Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (Zhike). The dosage of Ginseng was gradually increased until six liang were consumed, leading to recovery.
Sun Dongsu treated the wife of Xu Zhongyu. She sweated profusely like rain, feeling dizzy and confused, unable to rest her hands anywhere. Her chest required someone to step on it for relief; slight relaxation worsened her dizziness and confusion. She suffered from shortness of breath and could not breathe comfortably. Slight exposure to wind induced vomiting, nausea, and fainting. One pill of Jiulong Zhenxin Dan (Nine-Dragon Heart-Calming Pill) was given, which provided temporary relief, but symptoms recurred shortly after. It was then discovered that there was an obstruction and pain in the chest and throat, making it difficult to swallow even medicine; only one mouthful could be swallowed at a time. Suhexiang Wan (Styrax Pill) was administered, stopping the fainting. Heart pain began to emerge. Yesterday, all six pulses were Hidden (Fu); this morning, they were visible in all positions, except the Left Cun position which was Short (Duan) and Choppy (Se). This indicated pain due to Blood Stasis. Yanhusuo (Corydalis Rhizoma), Tao Ren (Persicae Semen), Danshen (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Mudanpi (Moutan Cortex), Qingpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), and Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma) were used. She fainted once that night due to severe pain. The previous formula was repeated with added Wumei (Mume Fructus), Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus), Chishao (Paeoniae Radix Rubra), Beimu (Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus), and Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma). Pain reduced significantly. The patient reported Heart deficiency with Heat, causing dizziness; Zhizi Ren (Gardeniae Semen) was added. She often experienced nocturnal emissions and vivid dreams, recently worsened due to Heart deficiency. A regimen of Renshen, Danshen, Danggui, Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Suanzaoren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen), Jiu Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma processed with wine), Xiangfu, Beimu, and Shihu (Dendrobii Caulis) was used for conditioning, leading to full recovery.
Li Shicai treated Zhou Fu'an from Suzhou, nearly fifty years old, who indulged in alcohol and sex. He suddenly suffered headache and fever. Physicians used Qianghuo Tang (Notopterygii Decoction) to disperse, causing continuous sweating, dizziness, and unconsciousness. Li moxaed Guan Yuan (CV4) ten moxibustions to revive him. Four Junzi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) with Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) and Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex) was taken three times daily. By the third day, he slightly recovered. However, while dividing family assets, he became tired and angry, triggering another syncope. Li used one liang of high-quality Renshen, two qian of Shufu (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata), and ten slices of Wei Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Preparatum) decocted and administered. He slightly revived but fainted again with any movement. Within one day, he fainted seven times. Three liang of Renshen were consumed. The next day, he was given mutton soup and glutinous rice porridge, still fainting two or three times. By the fifth day, the syncope stopped. Li stated, "Although cured now, his Yuan Qi is extremely deficient. Without three years of regulation, he cannot recover." In two months, he consumed four jin of Renshen. Over three years, he took 600 prescriptions and over 70 jin of pills before walking normally again.
Yu Jiayan treated the lady of Huang Wojian, who suffered from frequent Phlegm Syncope (Tan Jue) resistant to treatment. Some suggested using emetics (Yong Ji) and purgatives (Xia Fa). Yu said, "Phlegm caused by fright blocks the orifices and tunnels. The coma lasts only a moment. If emetics are used, the phlegm moves, causing immediate fainting. Probing the throat becomes impossible, and swallowing fails. The drug action conflicts with the disease state, potentially causing days of unconsciousness. What should be done? Zhu Danxi said, 'For those afraid of vomiting, it is suitable to consider purgation.' This might be one path. However, phlegm in the orifices cannot be easily guided downward. It only damages Spleen Qi, making phlegm more obstructed. This method is also unusable. Currently, the pulses in all three positions are deficient, soft, and powerless. Pathogen is strong, Zheng Qi is weak, making dispersion difficult. Medication must follow order and rules. Phlegm from fright originates in the Liver and Gallbladder. In winter, Wood Qi returns to its root; aggressive treatment is inadvisable. One should regulate the Spleen and clear the Lung, enabling Spleen transportation and Lung descending, allowing phlegm to move downward. Currently, the four limbs are swollen and numb, indicating severe Qi stagnation. Medicine and diet must be combined. White rice, fragrant vegetables, and bitter tea are best. Rich flavors are forbidden, and even porridge is unsuitable as it easily transforms into Phlegm-Fluids. Mixed foods are forbidden, and general food intake should be reduced because Spleen Qi is diverted from digesting grain to eliminating phlegm, which is faster than medication. Spicy foods, alcohol, dried meats, and fried/sun-dried items damage the Lung and are unsuitable. Following this regulation, in spring when Wood Qi is vigorous, Sijunzi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) plus Longdancao (Gentianae Radix), Lushen (Aloe), Daizheshi (Haematitum), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), and Qingdai (Indigo Naturalis) were made into pills. The Phlegm-misting syndrome fully resolved and did not recur.
Commentary: Nei Jing and Shanghan Lun define "Jue" as cold extremities, distinguishing between Cold Jue and Hot Jue. Modern usage of "Jue" refers to syncope/fainting, often accompanied by cold extremities, but primarily characterized by coma resembling death. Historically, these were conflated, misleading students. Here, only syncope cases are selected, excluding simple extremity coldness, to clarify distinctions. Thus, Zhu Danxi’s case is Anger Jue (Liver Jue); Dai, Wang, and Jiang’s cases are Deficiency Jue; Sun’s case is Blood Jue (also known as Bo Jue); Li’s case is extreme Deficiency Jue, i.e., Collapse Jue; Yu’s case is Phlegm Jue, also involving Anger Jue. The therapeutic methods are thus comprehensively covered.