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Xia Ziyi recorded in *Qiji Fang* (Prescriptions for Strange Diseases): A person suffered from a phenomenon where light emitted from the head and face; when others' hands approached, it felt as hot as blazing fire. This is caused by Gu poison (Gu poisoning). Take half tael of garlic juice, mix with wine, and ingest. The patient should expectorate something resembling a snake, at which point the illness ceases.

It is also recorded: A person suffered from trembling eyebrows, inability to close the eyes (inability to cross eyelids), unresponsiveness to calls, yet able to eat and drink normally. This is also Gu poisoning causing heart-mind confusion. Use the same prescription as above; the patient should also expectorate snake-like matter to recover.

[Shen Yuan's Note] *Meishi Fang* records: In cases of Gu poison, one may experience hematochezia resembling goose liver, hematemesis, or severe cutting pain in the heart and abdomen, as if being bitten. If not treated immediately, the Gu will consume the five zang organs, leading to death. To confirm Gu poisoning, have the patient vomit water; what sinks is true Gu, what floats is not. Burn old drum skin to ash, take one cun-bi (a square-inch measure) of powder, and soon the patient will spontaneously call out the name of the person who cast the Gu. *Soushen Ji* records: Jiang Shixian, my wife's cousin, suffered from hematochezia, claiming he was poisoned by Gu. His family secretly placed lotus leaves under his mat. He suddenly laughed loudly and said, "The one who poisoned me with Gu is Zhang Xiaoxiao." They arrested Zhang Xiaoxiao, who fled. Since then, using lotus leaves to resolve Gu poison has often proven effective. I have verified in materia medica that 'He' refers to what is now called Ganlu grass, also known as banana plant.

It is also recorded: A person suffered from sores on the face presenting five colors. Soak cotton in salt water and apply to the sores; after five or six applications, the condition heals.

[Shen Yuan's Note] The *Classic of Internal Medicine* states: Colors predominantly blue indicate pain; black indicates bi-syndrome (obstruction); yellow and red indicate heat; white indicates cold. If all five colors appear, it indicates mixed cold and heat. This symptom of sores showing five colors indicates heat containing cold. Salt clears fire and resolves toxicity. Generally, salt is refined using soap pod to collect it, giving salt a slightly acrid taste. Acridity disperses cold and searches for wind, hence the cure.

Ding Zhi recorded: In Linchuan, a person had a tumor on the cheek, intolerably itchy. Burning it provided temporary relief, but it recurred, causing great suffering. A physician told him, "This is truly a louse-tumor; it must be incised and removed." Cover the top of the head with oiled paper, then use bian-shi (stone needle) therapy. The tumor ruptured, and countless small lice gushed out. Finally, two large lice emerged, one white and one black, each the size of a bean shell, hollow inside with no blood, completely unrelated to the cheek flesh, leaving no scar, only the area where the tumor was appeared pale white.

Zhang Dejun recorded: Recently, a man named He from Yuhang, preparing to take up an official post, steamed Jiangzhen wood and musk rose fragrance. Opening the steamer himself, he leaned his face onto the lid and was steamed by the hot vapor. His face swelled, and his mouth and eyes were closed by the heat. Several physicians failed to treat him. The last physician said, "There is no such disease in ancient texts; let me treat it according to my judgment." He took cloth used by temple monks for cooking over a long period, burned it to ash, applied it, and it dissolved upon application. Within half a day, the patient recovered. Presumably, because the cooking cloth absorbed much steam vapor, it was used inversely to draw out toxicity, similar to extracting salinity from saltwater. The wisdom of physicians is commendable.

Madam Quan Zhe suddenly developed several black spots on her face one day. After a few days, her entire face turned black. Physicians everywhere failed to produce results. A folk doctor passed by and said, "Madam has ingested food toxin. Treat it for one month, and she will recover." Later, checking his prescription, it contained only ginger juice. When asked why, he replied, "Madam eats turtle doves daily. This bird often eats Pinellia seedlings, thus causing poisoning. Therefore, ginger is used to resolve it."

Luo Qianfu treated a woman, nearly thirty years old, who suffered from endless worry and thought, irregular diet, and damaged spleen-stomach. Her complexion was dark and lusterless, especially around the lips. She felt her heart hanging as if hungry. She had no appetite, shortness of breath, and rapid respiration. Generally, Heart and Lung are superior, circulating Ying and Wei qi and manifesting luster externally; they should be revealed, not hidden. Liver and Kidney are inferior, nourishing sinews and bones internally; they should be concealed, not visible. Spleen and Stomach are central, governing transmission and transformation of essence and qi to irrigate the four directions, harmonious and ceaseless. Once their qi is injured, the four zang organs lose their support. Endless worry causes qi stagnation and failure to move. Irregular diet causes qi consumption and insufficiency. This allows Yin qi to overflow into Yang, hence black color appears on the face. Also, the *Classic* states: Spleen qi connects to the mouth, its brilliance manifests on the lips. Now Water insults Earth (Kidney water counter-acting Spleen earth), hence black color appears on the lips. This is Yin-Yang reversal, a contrary disease state. *Shanggu Tianzhen Lun* states: Yangming channel declines superiorly, causing the face to turn black. Thus, we know Yangming qi is insufficient. Without agents aiding Yangming's generation and ascent, color cannot be restored. Therefore, Chonghe Shunqi Tang (Harmonizing and Qi-Smooth Decoction) is used as the main formula. *Neijing* states: When superior qi is insufficient, push and elevate it. Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma), bitter and neutral, and Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix), sweet and warm, ascend from earth to heaven, unblocking Yangming qi as Sovereign herbs. Human qi is named after heaven-earth wind; qi that stays and does not move is dispersed by acrid substances. Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), acrid and warm, and Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix), acrid and sweet, disperse stagnant qi as Minister herbs. Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), bitter and acrid, eliminates cold in the Yangming channel; Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), sour and cold, calms the weakness of the Taiyin channel. *Shi Ji* states: Tonification dispels weakness; Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix) and mutton belong here. Ren Shen, Huang Qi (Astragali Radix), and Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix), sweet and warm, tonify righteous qi as Assistant herbs. *Zhizhen Dayao Lun* states: Acrid and sweet disperse and generate Yang. Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens), acrid and hot, and Dazao (Jujubae Fructus), sweet and warm, harmonize Ying and Wei, open cou-li (pores), deliver fluids to restore Yang, thus serving as Envoy herbs. Take orally after breakfast and before lunch, selecting the time when Yang qi ascends, making human Yang qi easier to reach. After several doses, the patient recovered.

Sun Zhao treated a man who, while using the toilet, was exposed to foul odor and endured it for a long time. The next day, his entire face turned black, remaining so for over a month. A physiognomist predicted, "You will die after next month." When the time came, he did not die. Sun Zhao treated him with Chenxiang (Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum), one tael each, crushed and placed in a furnace, burning to fumigate inside a tent, covered tightly with a quilt. The patient sat with eyes closed. Only after the incense was exhausted could he exit the tent. The next day, looking in a mirror, the blackness on his face gradually dissipated.

Chen family of Pingjiang, after being startled, frequently pinched both cheeks with fingernails until the cheeks were broken. Feeling inner restlessness and agitation, pulse was rapid and excess. Various medicines failed. Niu Huang Liang Ge Wan (Bovis Calculus Cooling Diaphragm Pill) was used, but several doses yielded no change.

Another person suffered from facial numbness, unaware of pain or itch, named Mu Bi (Wood Bi-syndrome, caused by Cold invading Yangming collaterals). Apply Niujiao (Asini Corii Colla, Donkey-hide Gelatin) melted with Gui Mo (Cinnamomi Cortex Powder) thickly, one or two fen in thickness, to heal.

My cousin Tu Xueshan treated Wang Dianjue of Wujiang, who suffered from facial swelling accompanied by lumps, resembling wooden puppets or yakshas, with no pain or itch. Treated for years without effect. Tu Xueshan examined him and said, "The face belongs to the Yangming region. This is phlegm generated by Damp-Evil entering Yangming collaterals. *Neijing* states: All diseases begin in the skin and hair. When Evil strikes, cou-li opens, allowing entry into collaterals. If it remains, it enters channels; if still retained, it enters fu-organs, accumulating in intestines and stomach. It also states: When Evil first enters skin, lanugo rises, cou-li opens. Entering collaterals, collaterals become full, color changes. Entering channels, deficiency is sensed, sinking occurs. In this case, channels are not deficient; Damp-Evil remains in collaterals without sinking, hence only the face is affected. However, this cannot be treated by medicine alone; bian-shi (stone needle) puncture is required. Use a small knife to puncture the gap above the teeth inside the lip, named Duanjiao acupoint. Phlegm flows out externally, several bowls of thick phlegm discharged. Face and eyes returned to normal. Subsequently, administer Spleen-tonifying and regulating agents to achieve stability.

Niu Huang Liang Ge Wan (Bovis Calculus Cooling Diaphragm Pill)
Yaxiao (Natrii Sulfas), Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum), Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix) (each 5 fen); Danning (Arisaematis Cum Bile), 2 qian 5 fen; Niuhuang (Bovis Calculus), Zhi Shiyin (Psilomeli Pulvis) (each 1 qian); Shexiang (Moschus), Bingpian (Borneolum Syntheticum) (each 5 fen); Hanshuishi (Halloysit Rubrum), 5 qian.
Grind all into powder. Form pills using Gan Cao paste, size of mung beans. Administer one pill per dose with Chenpi decoction (Tangerine Peel Decoction).