治诸疟疾。
上用蛇蜕一条,或三五条,用炭火烧存性,研为细末,每服一字,无根水下,未发前一
时服,忌鸡鱼冷物。一方用蛇皮塞两耳中,临发服少许。
昔黄帝问歧伯曰∶疟多方少,愈者何?歧伯答曰∶疟有十二种。帝曰∶疟鬼字何,可得
闻乎?歧伯曰∶但得疟鬼字便愈,不得其字,百方不愈。曰∶愿闻之。
寅时发者,狱死鬼所为,疗之以疟人着窑上,灰火一周,莫令火灭,即瘥。
卯时发者,鞭死鬼所为,疗之用五色衣烧作灰,三指撮着酒中,无酒用清水服之。
辰时发者,堕木死鬼所为,疗之令疟人上木高危处。
巳时发者,烧死鬼所为,疗之令疟人坐地,以周匝然火。
午时发者,饥死鬼所为,疗之令疟人持脂火,于田中无人处烧脂香,假拾薪去。
未时发者,溺死鬼所为,疗之令疟人临发时,三渡东流水。
申时发者,自刺死鬼所为,疗之令疟人欲发时,以刀刺冢上,使得姓名字,咒曰∶若瘥
,我与汝拔却。
酉时发者,奴婢死鬼所为,疗之令疟人碓稍上卧,莫令人道姓字。
戍时发者,自绞死鬼所为,疗之左索绳系其手脚腰头。
亥时发者,盗死鬼所为,疗之以刀子一口,箭一枝,灰一周,安疟人腹上,其箭横着底
下。
子时发者,寡妇死鬼所为,疗之令疟人脱衣东厢床上卧,左手持刀,右手持杖,打令声
不绝,瓦盆盛水着路边。
丑时发者,斩死鬼所为,疗之令疟人当户前卧,头向东。
Treatment for various types of malaria.
Method: Take one strip of snake skin (She Tui), or three to five strips, calcine them over charcoal fire until the medicinal properties are preserved (Cun Xing), and grind into a fine powder. Administer one "yi zi" (a traditional small unit of weight) per dose, taken with Wugen Shui (water without roots, such as rain or dew water). The medicine should be taken one shichen (two hours) before the onset of symptoms. Avoid consuming chicken, fish, and cold/raw foods. An alternative method is to plug both ears with snake skin and take a small amount of medicine just before the attack.
In ancient times, the Yellow Emperor asked Qibo: "There are many prescriptions for malaria, yet few result in cure. Why is this?" Qibo replied: "Malaria has twelve types." The Emperor asked: "What are the names of these 'malaria ghosts'? May I hear them?" Qibo said: "If you know the name of the malaria ghost, it will be cured; if not, even a hundred prescriptions will fail." The Emperor said: "I wish to hear about them."
Onset at Yin hour (03:00–05:00): Caused by a ghost who died in prison. Treatment: Have the patient sit on a kiln, allowing the ash and fire to surround them for one cycle, ensuring the fire does not go out, and the illness will subside.
Onset at Mao hour (05:00–07:00): Caused by a ghost who died from whipping. Treatment: Burn clothes of five colors into ash, take an amount held by three fingers, mix into wine. If wine is unavailable, use clear water for administration.
Onset at Chen hour (07:00–09:00): Caused by a ghost who died falling from a tree. Treatment: Have the patient climb to a high place on a tree.
Onset at Si hour (09:00–11:00): Caused by a ghost who died by burning. Treatment: Have the patient sit on the ground, surrounded by fire.
Onset at Wu hour (11:00–13:00): Caused by a ghost who died of hunger. Treatment: Have the patient hold a fat torch, go to an uninhabited area in the fields, burn the fat to create fragrance, and pretend to gather firewood to leave.
Onset at Wei hour (13:00–15:00): Caused by a ghost who died by drowning. Treatment: Have the patient cross flowing eastward water three times just before the onset of symptoms.
Onset at Shen hour (15:00–17:00): Caused by a ghost who died by self-stabbing. Treatment: When the patient feels the urge for the fever to start, stab a tomb with a knife, ascertain the deceased's surname and given name, and chant: "If you recover, I will remove your grievance/marker for you."
Onset at You hour (17:00–19:00): Caused by a ghost who was a slave/servant and died. Treatment: Have the patient lie on the edge of a mortar/pounding trough, and do not let anyone speak their name.
Onset at Xu hour (19:00–21:00): Caused by a ghost who died by hanging themselves. Treatment: Tie the patient's hands, feet, waist, and head with a rope from the left side.
Onset at Hai hour (21:00–23:00): Caused by a ghost who was a robber/thief and died. Treatment: Use one knife and one arrow, burn ashes around the body for one cycle, and place the arrow horizontally under the abdomen.
Onset at Zi hour (23:00–01:00): Caused by a ghost who was a widow and died. Treatment: Have the patient undress and lie on a bed in the eastern wing. Hold a knife in the left hand and a staff in the right hand, striking continuously to make noise, and place a clay basin filled with water by the roadside.
Onset at Chou hour (01:00–03:00): Caused by a ghost who was executed/beheaded. Treatment: Have the patient lie facing the doorway, with the head pointing East.