刘河间曰∶带下,由下部任脉湿热甚,津液溢而为带下也。如以火炼金,热极反兼水化。如六月热极,则
物反出液而湿润,林木流津。故肝热甚则出泣,心热则出汗,脾热则出涎,肺热则出涕,肾热则出唾。犹煎汤
热甚则沸溢,及热气熏蒸于物而生津也。俗医治白带用辛热药,病微者或令郁结开通,流湿润燥,重者反加病
剧。莫若以辛苦寒药,按法治之,使微甚者,得郁结开通,湿去燥除而愈也。
张洁古曰∶带下证,皆任脉经虚也。赤
者热入小肠,白者热入大肠,原其本,皆湿热结于任脉,故津液涌溢,为赤白带下。本不病结,缘任经脉虚,
结热滞于带脉,故脐下痛,阴中绵绵而下,此湿热冤结不散为病也。先以十枣汤下之,后服苦楝丸、大延胡
索散,热去湿除,病自愈矣。
张戴人曰∶有病白带如水,窈漏中绵绵不绝,臭秽不可近,诸医皆云积冷,以阳起石、硫黄、姜、附燥补
之,污水转多。此带本浊水,热乘太阳经,寒水不禁故也。经云,少腹冤热,溲出白液。带病溶溶然若在水中,
故治带必从湿热,治宜逐水利小便。夫水自高而趋下,宜先绝其上源,乃涌痰二三升,次用寒凉之剂。
罗周彦曰∶带下者,荣卫滞气所成也。皆因喜怒忧思,产育房劳,伤其荣卫,或素有湿热,使浊气渗入膀
胱,故秽白之物,如涕而下流不止,面色无光,腰腿酸疼,精神短少。世徒知中焦之虚寒,不知中焦之湿热,
反用燥热温补之剂,偏助心火,心火既盛,阴血渐烁。譬如猪膏,烹之则熔,冷则凝。中焦湿热,淫气不清,
则为白带。所以火升水降,则上热下寒,下焦虚冷,凝结浊物。若热气熏蒸,则为腥腐之气,安得独言虚寒乎。
法当清上实下,清浊自分;理脾养血,湿热自解也。
Liu Hejian stated: Leukorrhea arises from severe damp-heat in the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) of the lower part, where body fluids overflow to form leukorrhea. It is like using fire to smelt gold; when heat reaches its extreme, it paradoxically assumes the transformation of water. Just as in the sixth month, when heat is extremely intense, objects exude moisture and become wet, and trees flow with sap. Therefore, when Liver heat is severe, tears are produced; when Heart heat is present, sweat is secreted; when Spleen heat exists, saliva flows; when Lung heat is present, nasal mucus is discharged; when Kidney heat is present, spit is produced. This is analogous to soup boiling over when heat is excessive, or body fluids being generated by the steaming effect of heat on objects. Empirical physicians treat white leukorrhea with acrid-hot medicines. In mild cases, this may open up stagnation, promoting fluid flow and drying dampness; however, in severe cases, it exacerbates the disease. It is better to use bitter, acrid, and cold medicines, treating according to proper principles, so that whether mild or severe, the stagnation opens, dampness is removed, dryness is eliminated, and recovery occurs.
Zhang Jiegu stated: Leukorrhea syndromes are all due to deficiency in the Ren Mai meridian. Red leukorrhea indicates heat entering the Small Intestine, while white leukorrhea indicates heat entering the Large Intestine. Tracing to the root, both are caused by damp-heat knotting in the Ren Mai, causing body fluids to surge and overflow, resulting in red and white leukorrhea. Originally, there was no pathological knotting; rather, because the Ren Mai meridian is deficient, knotted heat stagnates in the Dai Mai (Girdle Vessel), causing pain below the umbilicus and a continuous, dripping discharge from the vagina. This is a disease caused by unresolved damp-heat entrapment. First, administer Shizao Tang (Ten Date Decoction) to purge downward, then administer Kulian Wan (Melia Pills) and Da Yanhusuo San (Major Corydalis Powder). Once heat is removed and dampness cleared, the disease heals itself.
Zhang Dairen stated: There is a condition of white leukorrhea resembling water, flowing continuously without cessation from the vaginal canal, with a foul odor that is unbearable. All physicians claimed it was accumulated cold and treated it with warming and tonifying agents such as Yangqishi (Opisae Semen), Liuhuang (Sulfur), Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma), and Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata), yet the turbid discharge increased. This leukorrhea is essentially turbid water; heat has invaded the Taiyang Bladder Meridian, and the cold water cannot be controlled. The Classics state: "Resentful heat in the lower abdomen causes white fluid to exit via urination." Leukorrhea patients feel as if they are immersed in water. Therefore, treating leukorrhea must address damp-heat; the treatment should focus on draining water and promoting diuresis. Water flows from high to low; one must first cut off its upper source. Thus, induce vomiting to expel two or three sheng of phlegm, followed by the administration of cold-cooling formulas.
Luo Zhouyan stated: Leukorrhea is formed by stagnant Qi in the Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) levels. It is caused by anger, joy, worry, and thought, as well as childbirth and sexual fatigue, which damage the Ying and Wei levels, or by pre-existing damp-heat, allowing turbid Qi to infiltrate the Bladder. Consequently, foul white substances flow out incessantly like nasal mucus, accompanied by a lusterless complexion, soreness and pain in the waist and legs, and diminished spirit. People only know of deficiency-cold in the Middle Jiao, but do not recognize damp-heat in the Middle Jiao. Instead, they use drying, hot, and warming-tonifying formulas, which improperly assist Heart Fire. Once Heart Fire is abundant, Yin Blood is gradually scorched. It is like pig fat: it melts when cooked and solidifies when cooled. Damp-heat in the Middle Jiao creates turbid Qi that is not clear, resulting in white leukorrhea. Thus, when Fire rises and Water descends, upper heat and lower cold occur, leading to deficiency-cold in the Lower Jiao and condensation of turbid matter. If heat steams and cooks, it produces a fishy, putrid odor; how can one speak solely of deficiency-cold? The method should be to clear the upper and solidify the lower, so that clear and turbid separate naturally; regulate the Spleen and nourish Blood, so that damp-heat resolves itself.