Library

The author's nephew, Wenxue Mingzhi, suffered from excessive mental exertion while writing essays, which caused phlegm-fire to rebel upwards. He vomited large amounts of frothy phlegm, leading to hematemesis (vomiting blood), with several bowls gushing out at once. He was unconscious and dizzy, sweating profusely, lying weakly without daring to move; any slight movement triggered vomiting and the subsequent ejection of bright red blood. He dared not consume any food or fluids; upon ingestion, he would vomit and become dizzy, with blood following immediately. A relative, Wu Jun Cheng Wenyе, examined him and fled in horror, stating: "The bleeding is like a gushing spring, the body is hot, the pulse is large, accompanied by dizziness and an inability to retain medicine or food; there seems to be no favorable sign." He then urgently summoned me for treatment. After examining the patient, I told his elder brother, Mianzhi: "He can be saved. Why is the whole family so panicked?" When Mianzhi relayed Cheng's words to me, I replied: "Diagnosis must be flexible and comprehensive, not rigid. According to the classics: The Heart governs the Blood, and the Liver stores the Blood. It also states: Anger causes Qi to ascend. Furthermore: A deficient pulse with body heat indicates injury from Summerheat. Currently, the left pulse is wiry and large, and the right pulse is deficient and large. This indicates that Mingzhi not only injured his Heart with fire due to mental labor from writing, but also injured his Liver through anger, and was further constrained by Summerheat. This led to the ascent of Wood-Fire, causing dizziness and vomiting. The Classics state: All wind-induced tremors and dizziness belong to Liver Wood; all vomiting and rebellious Qi belong to Fire; all movements/agitations belong to Fire. Internally, Wood-Fire rushes upward; externally, it is pressured by Summerheat. Hence, vomiting, excessive sweating, and blood ejection occur together. Physicians must excel in identifying diseases; for every disease, there is a corresponding remedy. I specifically prescribed Bai Wan Zi (White Pill) 3 qian to resolve the Summerheat, clear the phlegm-fluid, and suppress the rebellious Qi. Once vomiting stops and Qi calms, the Blood will naturally return to its vessels. After taking the medicine, he indeed slept peacefully. Upon waking, vomiting ceased, he could eat, and the dizziness soon resolved. Subsequently, using Huashi (Talcum), Xiangru (Elsholtzia Herb) each 3 qian, Gancao (Licorice Root) 5 fen, Huanglian (Coptis Rhizome), Baibian Dou (Hyacinth Bean) each 1.5 qian, Zhuru (Bamboo Shavings) 1 qian, taken over four doses, he made a full recovery.

The author's sister-in-law, Lady Cheng, was nearly fifty years old. She suffered from coughing up foul-smelling purulent blood, approximately one bowl per day and night. Her fever was lighter during the day and heavier at night. Her muscles were severely emaciated, and her six pulses were floating, surging, slippery, and rapid. People said: "Hematemesis with body heat and a large pulse is medically incurable." I said: "This is different from general hematemesis. This case results from lung injury due to winemaking activities, aggravated by anger. Stagnant blood and turbid phlegm are lodged in the lung's Qi orifices, unable to exit. Over time, they transform into pus, forming Fei Yong (Lung Abscess). Treatment should open the lung orifices, invigorate blood, resolve phlegm, and allow the pus to drain completely, after which self-healing will occur. Previous treatments by others for two years were ineffective. I instructed them to use Baiji (Bletilla Tuber), Yiyiren (Coix Seed) each 3 qian, Mudanpi (Moutan Cortex), Jiegeng (Platycodon Root), Qigen (Rubia Root), Guiwei (Angelica Sinensis Tail), Shanzhizi (Gardenia Fruit), Beimu (Fritillaria Bulb), Baishao (White Peony Root) each 1 qian, Gancao (Licorice Root), Tinglizi (Descurainia Seed) each 5 fen, for thirty doses. She recovered fully. She later lived to seventy-three, passing away from another illness, and this disease never recurred."