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(Three Discourses, Forty-Five Prescriptions)

Discourse: There is a "Corpse Worm" (Shi Chong) in the human abdomen. This creature is born with humans but poses a great harm to them. The shape of the Corpse Worm resembles a large horse's tail or a thin tendon. It resides attached to the Spleen, possessing both head and tail, and measures three cun in length. Additionally, there are nine types of worms: First is the Hidden Worm (Fu Chong), measuring four fen; second is the Roundworm (Hui Chong), measuring one chi; third is the White Worm (Bai Chong), measuring one cun; fourth is the Flesh Worm (Rou Chong), resembling a rotten apricot; fifth is the Lung Worm (Fei Chong), resembling a silkworm; sixth is the Stomach Worm (Wei Chong), resembling a toad; seventh is the Weak Worm (Ruo Chong), resembling a melon seed; eighth is the Red Worm (Chi Chong), resembling raw meat; ninth is the Pinworm (Tiao Chong), extremely minute, resembling a vegetable worm. The Hidden Worm is the leader of all worms. If the Roundworm penetrates the Heart, it causes death. The White Worm reproduces, its offspring multiplying, while the mother grows larger, reaching four or five zhang in length, also capable of causing death. The Flesh Worm causes irritability and fullness. The Lung Worm causes coughing. The Stomach Worm causes vomiting and a tendency for stomach qi to rebel, resulting in hiccups. The Weak Worm, also known as the Diaphragm Worm (Ge Chong), causes excessive salivation. The Red Worm causes borborygmus (intestinal rumbling). The Pinworm resides between the intestines; if numerous, it causes hemorrhoids; if severe, it causes leprosy-like conditions. Due to human sores and wounds, various boils (Yong), carbuncles (Ju), tinea (Xuan), scabies (Suo), and dental caries arise; worms do everything possible. Humans do not necessarily have all these worms, nor must those present be numerous. Some may have specific worms, others none. Similar to women, who often have more of these worms, these creatures are fierce and represent a major affliction for humans. Bathing frequently with Baiyan Grass (Bai Yan Cao) is beneficial; both roots and leaves can be used, as it is both an aromatic herb and feared by the Corpse Worm.

Discourse: Whenever one wishes to take tonic medicines or treat various diseases, one must first eliminate all worms from the body and thoroughly clear out phlegm-fluid retention (Tan Yin) and retained food/wine. Only then can tonic medicines be taken; otherwise, the medicinal efficacy will certainly fail.

Prescription for Liver Exhaustion (Gan Lao) with long worms causing fear, unease, and red eyes:
Beeswax (La), Root bark of Evodia rutaecarpa (Wu Zhu Yu) growing eastward (each 2 liang), Dried Resin of Toxicodendron vernicifluum (Gan Qi) (4 liang), Chicken eggs (5, removing yolks), Rice flour (Jing Mi Fen) (0.5 jin).
Pulverize the root bark of Wu Zhu Yu, mix with other drugs, and decoct in a copper vessel until pillable. Form pills the size of small beans. Fast overnight, and take 100 pills with warm water at dawn. Children take 50 pills. The worms should rot and pass out. (The *Ji Yan Fang* lacks Wu Zhu Yu root and names this Ji Zi Wan [Chicken Egg Pill].)

Prescription for Heart Exhaustion Heat Injury, where long worms named Gu (蛊) reside in the heart, measuring one chi and penetrating the heart:
Polyporus umbellatus (Lei Wan), Tangerine peel (Ju Pi), Peach kernel (Tao Ren, alternatively peach skin), Stone Silkworm (Shi Can), Wild Wolf Tooth (Ye Lang Ya) (each 5 fen), Cyathula officinalis (Guan Zhong) (2 pieces), Bombyx batryticatus (Jiang Can) (37 pieces).
Pulverize the twelve ingredients, honey-combine into pills the size of wetapod seeds. Take 7 pills on an empty stomach with water or wine, increasing to 14 pills, twice daily. (One version excludes Shi Can.)

Prescription for Spleen Exhaustion Heat, with White Worms in the spleen causing frequent vomiting and passage of worms:
Hemp seed (Da Ma Zi) (8 sheng), Eastward-growing root of Evodia rutaecarpa (Wu Zhu Yu) (one chi, thick ones), Tangerine peel (Ju Pi) (2 liang).
Chop the three ingredients, decoct in water, and take appropriate amounts as needed. When preparing the medicine, strictly avoid speaking about the preparation process, lest the worms hear and refuse to descend. This is crucial.

Prescription for Lung Exhaustion Heat generating worms in the lungs:
Wild Wolf Tooth (Ye Lang Ya) (3 liang), White bark of Eastward-growing Evodia rutaecarpa (Wu Zhu Yu) (5 he), White bark of Eastward-growing Mulberry root (Sang Bai Pi) (chopped, 1 sheng).
Chop the three ingredients, decoct in seven sheng of wine until one sheng remains. Take all at once at dawn.

Prescription for Kidney Exhaustion Heat, with swollen and tight limbs, Pinworms resembling vegetable worms residing in the kidneys:
Myrobalan (Wu Ti), Lead carbonate (Hu Fen), Sophora root bark (Huai Pi) (each 1 liang), Dried Resin of Toxicodendron vernicifluum (Gan Qi) (2 liang), Cyathula officinalis (Guan Zhong) (3 pieces), Apricot kernel (Xing Ren) (40 pieces), Evodia fruit (Wu Yu) (50 pieces).
Process the seven ingredients, sieve, and take one fang cun bi (square-inch spoonful) with well water at dawn, increasing to one and a half bi, stopping when cured.

Prescription for Pinworms:
Mix two liang of fine salt powder with half a sheng of vinegar in a copper vessel, boil several times. Fast overnight, and take on an empty stomach in one dose.

Another Prescription: Pearl (Zhen Zhu) (2 liang), Human hair (Luan Fa) (size of a chicken egg, burned to ash).
Process the two ingredients, sieve, mix with vinegar, and take at once upon rising in the morning. (*Zhou Hou Bei Ji Fang* uses this for treating three types of worms.)