再论三焦不得从外解,必致成里结。里结于何在?阳明与胃肠也。亦须用下法,不可以
气血
之分,就不可下也。但伤寒热邪在里,劫烁津液,下之宜猛。此多湿邪内搏,下之宜轻。伤
寒大便溏,为邪已尽,不可再下。湿温病,大便溏,为邪未尽,必大便硬,慎不可再攻也,以
屎燥为无湿矣。人之体脘在腹上,其地位处于中,按之痛,或自痛,或痞胀,当用苦泄,以
其入腹近也。然必验之于舌,或黄或浊,可与小陷胸汤或泻心汤,随症治之。倘或白不燥,
或黄白相兼,或灰白不渴,慎不可乱投苦泄。其中有外邪未解,里先结者,或邪郁未伸,或
素属中冷者,虽有脘中痞痛,宜从开泄,宣通气滞,以达归于肺。如近俗之杏、蔻、橘、桔
、等,是轻苦微辛,具流动之品可耳。再前之舌黄或浊,须要有地之黄。若光滑者,乃无形
湿热,中有虚象,大忌前法。其脐以上为大腹,或满或胀或痛,此必邪已入里矣,表症必无
,或十只存一,亦要验之于舌。或黄甚,或如沉香色,或如灰黄色,或老黄色,或中有断纹
,皆当下之。如小承气汤,用槟榔、青皮、枳实、元明粉、生首乌等,若未现此等舌,不宜
用此等法。恐其中有湿聚太阴为满,或寒湿错杂为痛,或气壅为胀,又当以别法治之。再黄
苔不甚浓而滑者,热未伤津,犹可清热透表,若虽薄而干者,邪虽去而津受伤也,苦寒之药
当禁,宜甘寒轻剂可也。
Furthermore, it is discussed that when the pathogenic factors of the Sanjiao (Triple Burner) cannot be resolved from the exterior, they inevitably lead to internal accumulation. Where does this internal accumulation occur? It occurs in the Yangming channel and the stomach and intestines. In such cases, purgation (a method using laxatives to evacuate pathogens) must also be employed; one should not refrain from purgation simply because the pathology involves the distinction between Qi and Blood. However, in Cold Damage (Shanghan), heat pathogens residing internally consume and dry up body fluids, so purgation should be applied vigorously. In contrast, damp-warmth diseases often involve internal struggle with dampness pathogens, so purgation should be applied gently. In Cold Damage, loose stools indicate that the pathogen has been exhausted, and purgation should not be repeated. In damp-warmth disease, loose stools indicate that the pathogen is not yet exhausted; one must wait until the stool becomes hard before cautiously refraining from further aggressive purgation, as dry stool signifies the absence of dampness. The upper part of the abdomen is called the "wan" (epigastrium), located in the middle jiao. If it is painful upon pressure, or spontaneously painful, or feels obstructed and distended, bitter-draining methods (using bitter-cold herbs to clear heat and drain excess) should be used because the location is close to the abdomen. However, this must be verified by inspecting the tongue. If the coating is yellow or turbid, Xiaoxianzhong Decoction (Small Trap Chest Decoction) or Xiexin Decoction (Drain the Epigastrium Decoction) may be administered according to the specific symptoms. If, however, the coating is white but not dry, or a mixture of yellow and white, or grayish-white without thirst, bitter-draining drugs must strictly not be administered indiscriminately. In such cases, there may be unresolved exterior pathogens with prior internal accumulation, or depressed pathogens failing to expand, or the patient may have a constitutionally cold middle jiao. Even if there is epigastric obstruction and pain, an opening and draining method (dispersing Qi stagnation) should be used to ventilate the Qi stagnation and restore its flow to the Lung. Herbs commonly used in modern secular practice, such as Xingren (Apricot Seed), Doukou (Black Cardamom), Jupi (Tangerine Peel), and Jiegeng (Platycodon Root), which are lightly bitter, slightly acrid, and possess mobile properties, are suitable. Regarding the previously mentioned yellow or turbid tongue coating, the yellow color must have a root (i.e., firmly attached to the tongue). If the tongue surface is smooth, it indicates formless damp-heat accompanied by deficiency signs, and the aforementioned bitter-draining method is strictly contraindicated. The area above the navel is called the "da fu" (large abdomen). If there is fullness, distension, or pain, it indicates that the pathogen has entered the interior. Exterior symptoms will certainly be absent, or only one or two out of ten may remain; the tongue must still be inspected. If the coating is deeply yellow, like the color of agarwood, grayish-yellow, old yellow, or has cracks in the center, purgation is indicated. For example, Xiao Chengqi Decoction (Minor Order the Qi Decoction) uses Binglang (Areca Seed), Qingpi (Green Tangerine Peel), Zhishi (Immature Bitter Orange), Yuanmingfen (Natrii Sulfas), and Sheng Shouwu (Raw Polygonum Multiflorum Rhizome). If these tongue signs do not appear, these methods should not be used. One must fear that the fullness might be due to dampness accumulating in the Taiyin spleen, pain due to mixed cold-dampness, or distension due to Qi congestion, in which case other methods should be employed. Furthermore, if the yellow coating is not thick but slippery, it indicates that heat has not yet damaged body fluids, and clearing heat and venting through the exterior can still be attempted. If the coating is thin but dry, it indicates that although the pathogen has departed, body fluids have been injured; bitter-cold medicines should be prohibited, and mild sweet-cold agents are appropriate.