Library

When a woman contracts a cold, presenting with fever and aversion to cold, and her menses happen to commence, after seven or eight days, if the heat subsides, the pulse becomes slow, and the body feels cool, yet she experiences fullness in the chest and hypochondrium along with delirium, this is termed "Heat Entering the Blood Chamber" (Re Ru Xue Shi). One should puncture Qimen (LR14) and apply the reducing method according to the excess condition.

Generally, if fever and aversion to cold persist for seven or eight days, followed by the subsidence of heat, a slow pulse, and a cool body, the condition should resolve spontaneously. However, if instead there is fullness in the chest and hypochondrium resembling the Jie Xiong syndrome (Knotting Chest), accompanied by delirium, it is because the menses have just started, the Sea of Blood is open, and pathogenic heat has entered the empty space of the Liver (Jue Yin), which stores blood. The Liver houses the Hun (Ethereal Soul); when pathogenic heat disturbs the Spirit internally, it causes chest fullness and delirium, even hallucinations of seeing ghosts. Therefore, puncturing Qimen, the Shu-stream point of the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian, helps to drain the heat and allow it to exit externally.

If a woman suffers from a cold for seven or eight days, subsequently developing alternating chills and fever that occur at regular intervals, and her menses have just ceased, this also constitutes "Heat Entering the Blood Chamber." The blood must be congealed, causing symptoms similar to malaria, or being clear during the day and worse at night, with delirium as if seeing ghosts. In such cases, one must not injure the Stomach Qi, nor use treatments targeting the Upper and Middle Jiao; the disease will heal itself.

The previous clause described a slow pulse and cool body, requiring only puncture of Qimen. This clause describes the recurrence of alternating chills and fever after seven or eight days, occurring at regular intervals, with menses just stopped. Since the Blood Chamber is not yet closed and blood is likely congealed, bitter-cold and stagnating drugs are contraindicated. Previously, the daughter-in-law of Lu Tianxiang from Daba had her menses cease. A physician administered a large dose of Huanglian (Coptis Rhizome), resulting in a mass forming in the lower abdomen, leading to her death.

For Heat Entering the Blood Chamber where only the head sweats, Zhang Zhongjing used Xiaochaihu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) to harmonize. Our family secret formula doubles the dosage of Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) and Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), heavily increases Guizhi (actually Guibai/Guidan usually implies Danggui/Baishao in this context, but text says Gui/Shao - Danggui/Baishao: Angelicae Sinensis Radix/Paeoniae Radix Alba) [Note: Text says 归芍, referring to Danggui and Baishao], making its action most specific. Adding Mudanpi (Moutan Cortex) and Digupi (Lycii Cortex) facilitates the reduction of body heat.

Fever due to Heat Entering the Blood Chamber, which is quiet during the day and severe at night, can differ in deficiency and excess. Fever due to Blood Deficiency arises from insufficient Ying and Blood, similar to Yin Deficiency with internal heat; the pulse must be fine and rapid, and treatment should tonify blood and cool blood. Fever due to Blood Heat occurs when pathogenic heat enters the Blood level; the pulse must be rapid and large. There is no need to tonify blood; formulas such as Guishao Chaihu Tang (Angelica, Peony, and Bupleurum Decoction) or Daochi Geban Tang (Half-and-Half Daochi Decoction) may be used.

Daochi Geban Tang (Half-and-Half Daochi Decoction): Indicated for post-illness conditions where the epigastrium is not hard, the abdomen is not distended, urination and defecation are normal, there is no body heat, but the patient is comatose and silent, or speaks alone, has red eyes, dry mouth without desire to drink, swallows food if given but does not seek it if not offered, and appears intoxicated.

Ingredients: Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Xijiao (Rhinocerotis Cornu), Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), Huashi (Talcum), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Tuber), Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Fushen (Poria with Hostwood), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma).
Preparation: Decoct with Dengxin (Junci Medulla), Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma), and Zao (Jujubae Fructus).