戴人曰。昔庄先生治一人。以喜乐之极而病者。庄切其脉。为之失声。佯曰。吾取药去
数日更不来。病者悲泣。辞其亲友曰。吾不久矣。庄知其将愈。慰之。诘其故。庄引素问
曰。惧胜喜。可谓得元关者也。然华元化以怒郡守而几见杀。文挚以怒齐王而竟杀之。欲活
他人。反戕厥躬。悲夫。
戴人路经古亳。逢一妇。病喜笑不止。已半年。众医治之术穷。戴人以沧盐成块者二两
余。火烧通赤。放冷研细。以河水一大碗。同煎三五沸。稍温。与饮之。以钗探咽中。吐去
热痰五升。次服火剂。火主苦。解毒汤是也。不数日而笑定矣。内经曰。神有余则笑不休。
所谓神者。心火是也。火得风而成焰。即笑之象也。
项关令之妻。病怒。不欲食。常好叫呼怒骂。欲杀左右。恶言不辍。众医处药。半载无
功。戴人视之曰。此难以药治。乃使二娼。各涂丹粉。作伶人状。其妇大笑。次日又令作角
抵。又大笑。复于其旁。常以两个能食之妇。夸其食美。此妇亦索其食一尝之。不数日。怒
减食增而瘥。
丹溪治一妇人。年十九岁。气实。多怒不发。忽一日大发叫而欲厥。盖痰闭于上。火起
于下。上冲故也。与香附末五钱。甘草三钱。川芎七钱。童便、姜汁煎。又与青黛、人中白
香附末为丸。稍愈。后大吐乃安。复以导痰汤加姜炒黄连、香附、生姜。下当归龙荟丸。
Dai Ren said: In the past, Master Zhuang treated a person who fell ill due to extreme joy. Master Zhuang palpated his pulse and was so moved that he lost his voice. He feigned saying, "I will go to fetch medicine." Several days passed without him returning. The patient wept bitterly and bid farewell to relatives and friends, saying, "My time is short." Master Zhuang knew he would recover and comforted him. When asked for the reason, Master Zhuang cited the *Su Wen* (Basic Questions), stating, "Fear overcomes Joy." This can be called grasping the key to medical art. However, Hua Yuanhua (Hua Tuo) nearly got himself killed by angering the Commandery Governor to cure him; Wen Zhi actually got himself killed by angering the King of Qi to cure him. Desiring to save others, yet harming oneself—how sad!
While passing through ancient Bo, Dai Ren encountered a woman suffering from incessant laughter for half a year. All physicians had exhausted their methods. Dai Ren took over two taels of block-form Cangyan (Halite), heated it until red-hot, let it cool, and ground it into fine powder. He mixed it with one large bowl of river water, boiled it three or five times, and when slightly warm, gave it to her to drink. He then used a hairpin to stimulate her throat, inducing vomiting of five sheng of hot phlegm. Next, he administered Huoji (Fire Agents, bitter substances), which are governed by bitterness and detoxify; Jiedu Tang (Detoxification Decoction) belongs to this category. Within a few days, her laughter ceased. The *Nei Jing* (Inner Canon) states: "When Shen (Spirit) is in excess, laughter does not cease." The so-called Shen refers to Heart Fire (Xin Huo). Fire becomes flame when encountering wind; this is the image of laughter.
The wife of Xiang Guanling suffered from anger, loss of appetite, frequent shouting, cursing, wanting to kill those around her, and unceasing abusive language. Physicians prescribed medicines for half a year with no effect. Dai Ren examined her and said, "This is difficult to treat with medicine." He then had two courtesans apply rouge and powder, acting like performers, causing the woman to laugh heartily. The next day, he arranged for her to watch Jiaodi (wrestling/acrobatics), causing her to laugh again. He also placed two women known for good appetites beside her, praising the deliciousness of their food, prompting the sick woman to ask for a taste. Within a few days, her anger subsided, her appetite increased, and she recovered.
Danxi treated a nineteen-year-old woman who had robust Qi but suppressed anger. Suddenly, one day she erupted in shouting and felt faint. This was due to Phlegm obstructing above and Fire arising below, rushing upward. He prescribed Xiangfu Mo (Cyperi Rhizoma Powder) 5 qian, Gancao (Licorice Root) 3 qian, and Chuanxiong (Szechwan Lovage Rhizome) 7 qian, decocted with Tongbian (Child's Urine) and Jiangzhi (Ginger Juice). He also prepared pills from Qingdai (Indigo Naturalis), Renzhongbai (Calcinatus Human Bone), and Xiangfu Mo. Her condition improved slightly. After a massive vomit, she stabilized. Subsequently, he used Daotan Tang (Phlegm-Expelling Decoction) added with Jiangchao Huanglian (Ginger-fried Coptis Rhizome), Xiangfu, and Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger), followed by Danggui Longhui Wan (Angelica Sinensis and Gardenia Elixir).