Library

The *Qianjin Fang* (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold) states that examining various classic medical formulas, there are often discussions on "Jiao Ruo" (weakness of the legs), yet ancient people rarely suffered from this disease. Since the southward migration during the Yongjia era, many members of the scholarly and official classes have been afflicted by it.

Question: Wind-toxin invading the human body can cause illness anywhere; why does it specifically tend to settle in the feet? Answer: In the human five zang organs, the meridians originating from the Heart and Lung are located in the upper body; therefore, wind-toxin easily invades the lower part, leading to foot lesions.

Generally speaking, Hongxiang Jiao (a disease characterized by swelling and weakness of the lower legs and feet) is caused by contracting wind-toxin. Contracting this disease often does not immediately alert the patient; it usually manifests suddenly due to another illness, or one may suddenly feel extreme oppression and discomfort.

For those suffering from Hongxiang Jiao who have not yet perceived obvious abnormalities, but already experience pain in the head, neck, arms, and elbows; or where the whole body feels fine, but the heart, abdomen, and internal organs are already distressed; additionally, when wind-toxin invades the human body, some present with vomiting upon seeing food, aversion to the smell of food, abdominal pain and diarrhea, or obstruction and constipation of stool and urine, or palpitations and rushing sensations in the chest, aversion to bright light, and swelling of the calves... these are all symptom manifestations.

In any of the four seasons, one should not stand or sit for long periods in damp and cold places, nor should one remove clothes, shoes, and socks while drunk and sweating to cool off in the wind; all these actions can lead to Hongxiang Jiao. If one sits or stands for long periods on wet ground during hot summer months, then heat-damp qi will steam into the meridians; upon onset, the limbs will inevitably ache, accompanied by vexation and oppression. If during cold months... [text fragment] ... must ... intend at ... first struck ... below says:

Question: Why do some patients present with cold syndromes while others present with heat syndromes? Answer: The feet contain three Yin and three Yang meridians. When cold invades the three Yang meridians, the resulting condition is necessarily cold; when summer-heat invades the three Yin meridians, the resulting condition is necessarily heat. Thus, there are differences in exterior-interior and cold-heat natures. Heat syndromes are treated with cold medicines, and cold syndromes are treated with hot medicines, requiring careful judgment based on the specific situation. When the Spleen is affected by Yang-toxin, it becomes hot...

Whenever one slightly perceives an abnormality in symptoms, one must be greatly alarmed and resolve to treat it. If the condition is slow, pathogenic qi enters the abdomen; whether swollen or not, there is rebellious fullness in the chest and hypochondrium, and qi rushes upward to the shoulder causing rapid breathing. In acute cases, death occurs swiftly; in chronic/slow cases, death occurs within several days. It is imperative to treat urgently. One need only observe if there is urgency beneath the heart with ceaseless panting, or profuse white sweat...