罗谦甫治不 吉歹元帅夫人。年逾五旬。身体肥盛。值八月中霖雨不止。因饮酒及潼乳
过度。遂病腹胀喘满。声闻于外。不得安卧。大小便涩滞。气口脉大。两倍于人迎。关脉沉
缓
而有力。因思霖雨之湿。饮食之热。湿热大盛。上攻于肺。所谓盛则为喘也。邪气盛则实。
实者宜下之。为制平气散。内经曰。肺苦气上逆。急食苦以泻之。白牵牛苦寒。泻气分湿热
上攻喘满。故用二两。半生半熟以为君。陈皮苦温。体轻浮理肺气。用五钱。青皮苦辛平。
散肺中滞气。用三钱以为臣。槟榔辛温。性沉重。下痰降气。亦用三钱。大黄苦寒。荡涤满
实。用七钱以为使。末服三钱。生姜汤调下。两服而喘愈。止有胸膈不利。烦热口干。时时
咳嗽。以泻白散加知母、黄芩、桔梗、青皮全愈。
程明佑治张丙中满气喘。众医投分心气饮、舟车丸。喘益甚。一医作气虚治。以参、
补
之。喘急濒死。程诊其脉沉而滑。曰。此痰病也。痰滞经络。脏腑痞塞。致生 胀。投滚
痰
丸。初服。腹雷鸣。再服。下如鸡卵者五六枚。三服。喘定气平。继以参苓平胃散出入。三
十日而安。
一富翁素强健。忽病喘满。不咳不吐痰。日久腿脚阴囊尽水肿。倚卧肩息。困极。王中
阳曰。非水证也。但胸膈有败痰。宜服滚痰丸。彼不信。针刺放水。备尝诸苦。年余。忽吐
臭痰。复诣王。王与龙脑膏一料。服未尽而愈。
震按胀而兼喘。病热急矣。必非轻剂所能治。此三条是实证治法。若虚寒证。当重用桂
附。如天真丸、黑锡丹、金液丹之类。皆可类推。不得以五子五皮沉香椒目等。为稳当法
也。
沈宗常治卢陵人。胀而喘。三日食不下咽矣。视脉无他。问何食饮。对以近食羊脂。沈
曰。得之矣。脂冷则凝。温熨之所及也。温之。得利而愈。
震按是案较沈诚庄治肃藩嗜乳酪致病。用浓茶频饮得愈。彼如昭文之鼓琴。此如师旷之
杖策矣。
Luo Qianfu treated the wife of Marshal Bu Jidai. She was over fifty years old and had a robust, obese physique. During the mid-autumn season, continuous heavy rains persisted. Due to excessive consumption of alcohol and Tongru (a type of dairy product), she developed abdominal distension, fullness, wheezing, and chest oppression. The sound of her wheezing could be heard outside, and she could not lie down comfortably. Her urination and defecation were obstructed and sluggish. The Qi Kou pulse was large, twice as strong as the Ying Chou pulse; the Guan pulse was deep, slow, yet forceful. Luo reflected that the dampness from the prolonged rain combined with the heat from dietary excess resulted in an overwhelming accumulation of damp-heat attacking the Lung upwards, which is what is meant by "excess leads to wheezing." When pathogenic factors are exuberant, it constitutes an Excess syndrome; Excess syndromes should be treated with purgation. Therefore, he formulated Pingqi San (Calming Qi Powder). As stated in the *Neijing* (Inner Canon): "The Lung dislikes rebellious Qi; urgently consume bitter substances to drain it." Bai Qianniu (Bitter Morning Glory Seed) is bitter and cold, capable of draining damp-heat from the Qi level that attacks upward causing wheezing and fullness; thus, two liang were used, half raw and half processed, as the Sovereign herb. Chenpi (Aged Tangerine Peel) is bitter and warm, with a light and floating nature, able to regulate Lung Qi; five qian were used. Qingpi (Green Tangerine Peel) is bitter and acrid, neutral in nature, able to disperse stagnant Qi in the Lung; three qian were used. These two served as Minister herbs. Binglang (Areca Seed) is acrid and warm, with a heavy nature, able to descend phlegm and Qi; three qian were also used. Dahuang (Rhubarb Root) is bitter and cold, capable of scouring away accumulated fullness and excess; seven qian were used as the Envoy herb. The herbs were powdered, and three qian were taken each time, mixed with ginger decoction. After two doses, the wheezing ceased. Only chest and diaphragmatic discomfort remained, accompanied by irritability, heat sensation, dry mouth, and occasional coughing. Subsequently, Xiebai San (Draining White Powder) was administered with additions of Zhimu (Anemarrhena Rhizome), Huangqin (Scutellaria Root), Jiegeng (Platycodon Root), and Qingpi (Green Tangerine Peel), resulting in complete recovery.
Cheng Mingyou treated Zhang Bing's middle-fullness and wheezing. Other physicians prescribed Fenxin Qi Yin (Dividing Heart Qi Decoction) and Zhouche Wan (Boat Cart Pill), but the wheezing worsened. Another physician diagnosed it as Qi deficiency and treated it with Ginseng and other tonics, leading to critical wheezing and near-death state. Cheng examined the pulse, finding it deep and slippery, and said, "This is a Phlegm disease." Phlegm stagnates in the meridians, causing organ blockage, leading to distension and wheezing. He administered Gutan Wan (Rolling Phlegm Pill). Upon the first dose, thunderous sounds were heard in the abdomen. After the second dose, several egg-sized masses of phlegm were expelled. After the third dose, the wheezing stabilized and breathing normalized. Subsequently, Shenling Pingwei San (Ginseng, Poria, and Stomach-Calming Powder) was modified and administered. Within thirty days, the patient recovered.
A wealthy merchant, who was usually robust, suddenly suffered from wheezing and fullness without coughing or expectorating phlegm. Over time, his legs, feet, and scrotum became severely edematous. He could only sit leaning against something to breathe, exhausted and extremely fatigued. Wang Zhongyang stated, "This is not a Water syndrome." It is merely败痰 (decayed phlegm) in the chest and diaphragm, suitable for treatment with Gutan Wan (Rolling Phlegm Pill). The patient did not believe this and opted for acupuncture drainage of water, enduring much suffering. More than a year later, he suddenly vomited foul-smelling phlegm and visited Wang again. Wang prescribed Longnao Gao (Borneol Paste). The patient recovered before finishing the course.
Yu Zhen commented: Distension accompanied by wheezing indicates a severe and urgent Heat pathology. It certainly cannot be treated with mild agents. These three cases illustrate the treatment of Excess syndromes. If it were a Deficiency-Cold syndrome, one should heavily use Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig) and Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root). Formulas such as Tianzhen Wan (True Origin Pill), Heixi Dan (Black Tin Elixir), and Jin Ye Dan (Golden Fluid Elixir) can be inferred analogously. One must not consider Wuzi Wupi San (Five Seeds and Five Skins Powder), Chenxiang (Agarwood), or Jiaomu (Zanthoxylum Seed) as safe or standard methods.
Shen Zongchang treated a patient from Luling who suffered from distension and wheezing, unable to swallow food for three days. The pulse showed no other abnormalities. Asking about diet, the patient replied that he had recently consumed sheep fat. Shen said, "The cause is identified." Fat congeals when cold; it requires warming and moxibustion/irrigation to resolve. By applying warmth, the patient achieved free movement of bowels and recovered.
Yu Zhen commented: This case, compared to Shen Chengzhuang's treatment of the Prince of Su who fell ill due to excessive consumption of milk and cheese, cured by frequent drinking of strong tea, differs in style. Shen Chengzhang's approach was like Zhaowen playing the lute—subtle and refined; Shen Zongchang's approach was like Shikuang using his cane—keen and insightful.