(论三首 方十八首 灸法七首)
论曰∶夫上焦如雾(雾者霏霏起上也),其气起于胃上脘,并咽以上贯膈布胸中走腋,
循
足太阴之分而行,还注于手阳明,上至舌下注足阳明,常与营卫俱,行于阳二十五度,行于
阴亦二十五度,为一周,日夜五十周身,周而复始,大会于手太阴也。主乎少阳心肺之病内
而不出。人有热则饮食下胃,其气未定,汗则出或出于面,或出于背,身中皆热,不循卫气
之道而出者何也?此外伤于风,内开腠理,毛蒸理泄,卫气走之,固不得循其道,此气剽悍
滑疾见开而出,故不得从其道,名曰漏气,其病则肘挛痛。食先吐而后下,其气不续,膈间
厌闷,所以饮食先吐而后下也。寒则精神不守,泄下便痢,语声不出。若实则上绝于心。若
虚则引气于肺也。
通脉泻热治上焦,饮食下胃,胃气未定汗出,面背身中皆热,名曰漏气方
泽泻 半夏 柴胡 生姜(各三两) 桂心 甘草(各一两) 人参 茯苓(各二两) 骨
皮
(五两) 石膏(八两) 竹叶(五合) 心(一升)
上十二味 咀,以水二斗,煮取六升,分五服。
治上焦热腹满,不欲饮食,或食先吐而后下,肘挛痛方。
麦冬 生芦根 竹茹 廪米(各一升) 心(五合) 甘草 茯苓(各二两) 橘皮 人
参葳蕤(各三两) 生姜(四两) 白术(五两)
上十二味 咀,以水一斗五升,煮取三升,分三服。
治胸中膈气聚痛好吐方∶
灸厥阴俞,穴在第四椎,两边各相去一寸五分,随年壮。
(Comprising three treatises, eighteen prescriptions, and seven moxibustion methods)
The treatise states: The Upper Jiao (Upper Triple Burner) is like a mist (mist refers to fine vapor rising from above). Its Qi originates from the upper epigastrium of the Stomach, ascends along the pharynx, penetrates the diaphragm, spreads in the chest, moves to the axillae, follows the distribution of the Foot-Taiyin Lung Meridian, returns and pours into the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, ascends to below the tongue, then descends into the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. It usually travels together with Ying-Qi (Nutritive Qi) and Wei-Qi (Defensive Qi), circulating twenty-five cycles in the Yang aspect and twenty-five cycles in the Yin aspect, constituting one complete cycle. Throughout day and night, it circulates fifty times around the body, repeating endlessly, and converges at the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. It primarily governs diseases of the Shaoyang meridian, Heart, and Lungs, where pathogenic factors remain internal and do not exit externally. If there is heat in the body, after food enters the stomach, before the Stomach Qi has settled, sweat may appear, either on the face or the back, causing heat throughout the body. Why does it not follow the pathway of Wei-Qi? This is because external wind pathogens injure the exterior, opening the Couli (pores and interstices), causing steam from hair follicles and leakage through skin textures. The Wei-Qi scatters and indeed cannot follow its proper course. This Qi is fierce, rapid, and slippery; upon encountering open pores, it exits outwardly, thus failing to follow its correct path. This condition is named "Leaking Qi," manifesting as spasm and pain in the elbows. Food is vomited first and then passes downward, with Qi failing to continue, causing aversion and stifling sensation in the epigastrium; this explains why food is vomited before passing down. If cold is present, spirit fails to reside, leading to diarrhea and dysentery, and inability to speak. If excess, Qi cuts off at the Heart; if deficiency, it draws Qi into the Lungs.
Prescription for unblocking vessels and draining heat to treat Upper Jiao conditions, characterized by sweating after food enters the stomach before Stomach Qi settles, with heat in the face, back, and whole body, named Leaking Qi:
Alisma Rhizoma (Zexie), Pinellia Tuber (Banxia), Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu), Fresh Ginger Rhizome (Shengjiang) [each 3 liang]; Cinnamon Twig (Guixin), Licorice Root (Gancao) [each 1 liang]; Ginseng Radix (Renshen), Poria (Fuling) [each 2 liang]; Cortex Dictamni (Gupi), Gypsum Fibrosum (Shigao) [5 liang]; Bamboo Leaves (Zhuye) [5 he]; Porcine Heart (Xin) [1 sheng].
The above twelve ingredients are cut into pieces, boiled in two dou of water until six sheng remain, divided into five doses.
Prescription for treating Upper Jiao heat causing abdominal fullness, anorexia, vomiting followed by defecation, and elbow spasm:
Ophiopogon Tuber (Maidong), Reed Rhizome (Sheng Lugeng), Bamboo Shavings (Zhuru), Rice (Linmi) [each 1 sheng]; Porcine Heart (Xin) [5 he]; Licorice Root (Gancao), Poria (Fuling) [each 2 liang]; Tangerine Peel (Chenpi), Ginseng Radix (Renshen), Polygonatum Rhizome (Weirui) [each 3 liang]; Fresh Ginger Rhizome (Shengjiang) [4 liang], Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome (Baizhu) [5 liang].
The above twelve ingredients are cut into pieces, boiled in one dan five sheng of water until three sheng remain, divided into three doses.
Prescription for treating pain due to Qi accumulation in the chest and epigastrium with frequent vomiting:
Moxibustion on Jueyin Shu (BL-19), located 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the fourth thoracic vertebra. The number of moxa cones should correspond to the patient's age (Sui Nian Zhuang).