疟之为病,其名有五∶一曰瘅疟,二曰寒疟,三曰湿疟,四曰牝疟,五曰牡疟。名虽不
同,其感皆由六淫七情,所伤饥饱劳逸。经云∶夏伤于暑,秋必 疟,体虚之人易感,发则
一发者易治,又有二三日一发者难愈。夫瘅疟,阴气独微,阳气独发,但热不寒,里实不泄
,烦渴且呕,肌肉消瘦也。寒疟自感寒而得,无汗恶寒,挛痛面惨,先寒后热也。湿疟冒袭
雨湿,汗出澡浴得之,身体重,肢节烦疼,呕逆胀满也。牝疟久受阴湿,阴胜阳虚,不能
制阴,所以寒多不热,气虚而泄,凄惨振振也。牡疟饮食不节,饥饱有伤,表里俱虚,致使
然也,病由邪气交争,阴阳二气,更相胜负,邪正相搏而作焉。卫气与邪气相离,故汗而解
。卫气昼行阳,夜行阴,得阳而外出,故发于日间。得阴则内搏,故发于暮夜。若邪气内搏
于五脏,横连于募原,其道远不能与卫气交并,故有隔日发之,又有三四日一发。卫气之行
迟行速,病作有早有晏。甚者内外失守,真邪不分,阴阳失胜,寒热互起,则休作无定时也
。《素问》论六经疟∶足太阳疟,令人腰痛头重,寒从背起,先寒后热, ,然热止
汗出,难已;足少阳疟,令人身体解 ,寒不甚,热不甚,恶见人,见人心惕惕然,热多汗
出甚;足阳明疟,令人先寒洒淅,洒淅寒甚,久乃热,热去汗出,喜见日月光火,气乃快然;
足太阳疟,令人不乐,好安息,不嗜食,多寒热汗出,病至则善呕,呕已乃衰;足少阴之疟
,令人呕吐,甚多寒热,热多寒少,欲闭户牖而处,其病难已;足厥阴之疟,令人腰痛,少
腹满,小便不利,如癃状,非癃也,数便,意恐惧,气不足,腹中悒悒。虽此之分,皆是五
脏之受病。夫心疟者,令人烦心,甚欲得清水,反寒多不甚热;肝疟者,令人色苍苍然大息
,其状若死者;脾疟者,令人寒,腹中痛,热则肠中鸣,鸣已汗出;肺疟者,令人心寒,寒
甚热,热间善惊,如有所见;肾疟者,令人洒洒然,腰脊痛宛转,大便难,目 然,手足寒
;又有胃疟者,令人且病也,善饥而不能食,食而支满腹大。大率治法,疟脉多弦数则热,
弦迟则寒,风以散之,寒以温之,不虚不实,以经取之,痰以涤之,停滞疏利之,虚则补之
,不可便用断截之药,截之太早,邪气薄于五脏,传留日久,变证多端,用药次序,无不效
矣。
Malaria (Nue) as a disease has five names: the first is Dan Nue (Febrile Malaria), the second is Han Nue (Cold Malaria), the third is Shi Nue (Damp Malaria), the fourth is Pin Nue (Yin Malaria), and the fifth is Mu Nue (Yang Malaria). Although the names differ, the causes are all due to the Six Evils (Wind, Cold, Summerheat, Dampness, Dryness, Fire) and Seven Emotions (Joy, Anger, Worry, Pondering, Sorrow, Fear, Fright), as well as dietary irregularities and overexertion or lack of exercise. The Classics state: Summerheat injured in summer leads to malaria in autumn; those with weak constitutions are prone to infection. Attacks occurring once daily are easy to treat, while those occurring every two or three days are difficult to cure.
Dan Nue is characterized by deficient Yin Qi and hyperactive Yang Qi, manifesting as fever without chills, internal excess heat without discharge, irritability, thirst, vomiting, and emaciation. Han Nue results from contracting cold pathogens, presenting with anhidrosis, aversion to cold, spasmodic pain, pale complexion, and a pattern of chills preceding fever. Shi Nue arises from exposure to rain and dampness or bathing while sweating, presenting with heavy body sensation, painful joints, nausea, regurgitation, and abdominal distension. Pin Nue results from prolonged exposure to Yin-dampness, where Yin excess and Yang deficiency fail to control Yin, leading to predominant chills with little fever, Qi deficiency causing diarrhea, and a miserable, trembling appearance. Mu Nue is caused by dietary irregularities damaging the interior and exterior, resulting in dual deficiency of Ying and Wei. The pathology involves the struggle between pathogenic factors and healthy Qi, where Yin and Yang energies contend. When Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) separates from the pathogen, sweating resolves the condition. Wei Qi travels through Yang during the day and Yin at night; encountering Yang leads to daytime attacks, while encountering Yin leads to evening or nighttime attacks. If pathogens invade the Five Zang Organs internally or connect horizontally to the Mo Yuan (Sea of Origin), far from the path of Wei Qi, they cannot intersect with it, leading to intermittent attacks every other day or every three to four days. The speed of Wei Qi circulation varies, causing attacks to occur early or late. In severe cases, internal and external defenses fail, true and pathogenic Qi are indistinguishable, Yin and Yang lose balance, and cold and heat alternate chaotically, resulting in irregular attack times.
The *Su Wen* discusses Malaria of the Six Meridians: Taiyang Malaria causes lower back pain, heaviness of the head, cold starting from the back, chills preceding fever, stiffness of the waist and spine, sweating after fever subsides, and is difficult to cure. Shaoyang Malaria causes flaccidity of the body, mild chills and fever, aversion to people, palpitations upon seeing others, abundant fever and sweating. Yangming Malaria causes initial shivering chills, severe cold followed by delayed fever, sweating after fever subsides, and a preference for sunlight or moonlight to feel comfortable. Taiyin Malaria causes melancholy, desire for rest, anorexia, frequent chills, fever, and sweating; vomiting occurs at onset and subsides afterward. Shaoyin Malaria causes vomiting, severe chills and fever (more heat than cold), desire to stay behind closed doors, and is difficult to cure. Jueyin Malaria causes lower back pain, fullness in the lower abdomen, difficulty urinating resembling Gong syndrome (dysuria) but not actually Gong, frequent urination, fear, Qi deficiency, and abdominal oppression.
Although divided by meridians, these are all diseases of the Five Zang Organs. Xin Malaria (Heart Malaria) causes mental agitation, strong desire for cold water, predominant chills with mild fever. Gan Malaria (Liver Malaria) causes a pale greenish complexion, frequent sighing, and a demeanor resembling death. Pi Malaria (Spleen Malaria) causes chills, abdominal pain, intestinal borborygmi during fever, and sweating after borborygmi cease. Fei Malaria (Lung Malaria) causes cold sensations in the heart, severe chills followed by fever, fright during fever intervals, and visual hallucinations. Shen Malaria (Kidney Malaria) causes shivering cold, lower back and spine pain with turning restlessness, difficulty defecating, blurred vision, and cold extremities. Wei Malaria (Stomach Malaria) causes hunger before onset, inability to eat despite hunger, and abdominal distension/fullness after eating.
Generally, the treatment principles are: A wiry and rapid pulse indicates heat; a wiry and slow pulse indicates cold. Wind is dispersed, cold is warmed, deficiency-excess patterns are treated via the affected meridian, phlegm is cleared, stagnation is regulated, and deficiency is tonified. Do not hastily use antimalarial drugs to cut off the disease; cutting too early allows pathogens to penetrate the Five Zang Organs, lingering for long periods and causing various complications. Following the correct order of medication ensures efficacy.