Library

Zha Liangben's wife, after experiencing anger, accidentally ate fish head. A bone got stuck in her throat. She then used hard foods such as steamed buns and zongzi meat to press it down. Although the bone went down, she immediately felt discomfort in the chest and diaphragm. She took bone-dissolving medicine for two days, and seven days have passed since then. The distending pain in the chest and diaphragm is severe. Food and drink seem to pass down through the back. She experiences aversion to cold and fever. The six pulses are wiry and rapid. I reasoned that after the bone was stuck, using hard objects to press it caused injury to the stomach region, leading to blood stasis stagnating between the diaphragm. This likely compressed the esophagus backward, which is why food feels like it passes from behind. Now, one only needs to eliminate the blood stasis so that the esophagus returns to its normal position, and the pain in the chest and diaphragm can be cured. The prescription uses Lingzhi (Trogopterus Dung) as the sovereign herb, Hawthorn Fruit (Shanzha), Corydalis Rhizome (Yanhusuo), Peach Kernel (Taoren), and Bitter Orange (Zhike) as minister herbs, Red Peony Root (Chishao), Moutan Cortex (Mudanpi), Cyperus Rhizome (Xiangfu), and Gardenia Seed (Shanzhiren) as assistant herbs, Bupleurum Root (Chaihu) and Acorus Rhizome (Shichangpu) as guide herbs. Decoct with water, and before taking, add one wine cup of Chinese Leek Juice (Jiu Zhi). That night, the chest and diaphragm felt relaxed and comfortable. There was one bowel movement, and the pain decreased by more than half. Food still passed down on the right side. The right chest and throat were slightly painful. Swallowing was very difficult. The expectorated phlegm had a bloody odor. The prescription was changed to Gardenia Seed (Shanzhi), Red Peony Root (Chishao), Angelica Sinensis Tail (Guiwei), Peach Kernel (Taoren), Liuji Nu, Lingzhi (Trogopterus Dung), Moutan Cortex (Mudanpi), and Pangolin Scales (Chuanshanjia) decocted together, taken with Chinese Leek Juice. After two doses, she was completely cured.

Houxi's wife, Lady Dai, was a diligent, earnest, and rigorous person. In autumn, she suffered from dysentery. What she passed consisted of blood and dirty fluid resembling dripping roof water. Inside were blood clots like red adzuki beans, countless in number. She defecated fifty to sixty times day and night, experiencing tenesmus (li ji hou zhong), and continuous hiccups and nausea for five days. I prescribed Shaoyao Decoction (Shaoyao Tang) by Liu Shouzhen. After three doses, there was no improvement or worsening. Coincidentally, Houxi was in Zhejiang. His nieces always believed that Dr. Huang, who was knowledgeable in medicine and specialized in gynecology, was an expert. They invited her to treat the patient. Dr. Huang administered herbs such as Scutellaria Root (Huangqin), Coptis Rhizome (Huanglian), Bitter Orange (Zhike), Areca Seed (Binglang), Gardenia Fruit (Shanzhi), Sanguisorba Root (Diyu), Phellodendron Bark (Huangbai), and Talcum (Huashi). After five days of taking these, although there was initially hiccups and nausea, she could still eat a bowl of porridge a day. Now, she cannot take even a grain of rice. Abdominal pain has worsened, requiring heavy pressure on the abdomen to find slight relief. Her mental state is confused and weak; she lies in bed unable to rise. She has afternoon fever. The gynecologist continued with the previous formula adding Green Tangerine Peel (Qingpi) and Immature Bitter Orange (Zhishi). Nephew Erjia brought the medicine to me and said: "My aunt strongly believes Dr. Huang is a specialist. She has been treating her for five days now, but her spirit is much more exhausted than before. Uncle, you are a close friend of my grandfather. Do you not have a word of advice?" I said: "I am not unwilling to speak, but if I criticize Dr. Huang, I fear being slandered by jealous tongues. Now that you have come, I can examine her." The six pulses were slippery, large, and powerless. After finishing the diagnosis, I anxiously told Erjia: "The situation is urgent. Quickly send someone to urge your grandfather to return. Otherwise, my aunt is a woman unfamiliar with medicine. How can I apply my skills?" At this time, a tutor named Wang Daichuan heard this and advised Erjia: "This matter requires careful mediation. Keep Dr. Huang to soothe the lady's mind. Do not administer Dr. Huang's dispersing agents. Instead, administer Dong Su's (Sun Yikui's) prescription as if it were Dr. Huang's. If there is no suspicion inside and outside, it will be proper." I agreed with his words. I prescribed Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen), Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome (Baizhu), and White Peony Root (Baishao) stir-fried with wine, each 3 qian; Licorice Root (Gancao) roasted, 1.5 qian; Ginger Rhizoma (Shengjiang) processed, Cinnamon Twig (Rougui), each 1 qian; Poria (Fuling), and Tangerine Peel (Chenpi), each 8 fen; Amomum Fruit (Sharen), 5 fen; and Jujube (Dazao), 2 pieces. Decoct with water and drink. Hiccups and nausea decreased by half. That night, dysentery decreased by five-tenths. Only abdominal pain did not decrease significantly. The next morning, upon examination, the pulse had slightly converged. Dr. Huang claimed credit for this, boasting loudly, and kept prescribing Scutellaria and Coptis-like formulas. I continued with my previous formula, adding additional [herb name missing in source]. On the afternoon of that day, she finally consumed a teacup of porridge, and abdominal pain gradually decreased. The following morning, Dr. Huang examined her. Seeing that dysentery had decreased by seven-tenths overnight, she became extremely proud. She told those around her: "My family has practiced medicine for five generations. Such a severe illness is rarely seen." She assumed that without her, no one could cure it. Erjia questioned: "Malaria and dysentery are common ailments. Why do you call this a major illness?" Dr. Huang said: "Danxi stated: Those with dysentery and cool body temperature survive; those with fever die; those with pure blood discharge die; those with surging-large pulses die; those with discharge like dripping roof water are half-dead, half-alive. Now, all these conditions are present, hence I say it is difficult." Erjia said: "If so, what prescription should be used today?" Dr. Huang said: "The medicine has been administered, and the disease persists. We must strictly adhere to the previous formula. How dare I change it lightly?" Erjia smiled and nodded, then sought a prescription from me again. I prescribed Lizhong Decoction (Lizhong Tang) with doubled Wine-processed White Peony Root (Jiu Chao Baishao), assisted by Cinnamon Twig (Rougui). Abdominal pain and fever completely resolved. Dysentery improved by nine-tenths. When Houxi returned from Zhejiang, Erjia narrated the cause of the illness and presented both Dr. Huang's prescription and mine to him. Houxi sighed deeply. He then dismissed Dr. Huang and questioned me: "People say that passing red dysentery indicates heat, hiccups and nausea indicate heat, and fever with large pulses indicate heat. Why did you alone consider it cold and succeed with such hot-natured prescriptions? What is the reason?" I said: "This is the pitfall of 'deficiency creating deficiency' and 'excess creating excess,' which easily misleads people. The heat in your sister-in-law is not true excess heat. It is internal deficiency-cold forcing deficient fire upward, causing hiccups, nausea, and tidal fever. A large but powerless pulse should still be viewed as deficiency. Moreover, previous treatment with cold-natured herbs was ineffective. One should learn caution from this." Houxi said: "Without you, brother, I would have nearly ruined the case."