Library

After the recovery from Shanghan (Cold Damage disease), some individuals may suffer from severe eye diseases again. This is due to the failure of Clear Yang Qi (vital energy ascending) to rise, with residual pathogenic factors moving upward into the orifices. The symptoms include eyelid astringency and swelling, redness and distension, formation of corneal opacities (nebulae), photophobia, as well as headache and bone pain. Treatment should assist the ascent and outward movement of Clear Yang Qi, after which the condition will resolve. It is strictly contraindicated to use Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) and Mang Xiao (Natrii Sulfas), bitter-cold purgatives; if misused, the condition becomes incurable.

Women experiencing Ni Jing (retrograde menstruation) where blood floods the pupil, presenting with full-eye redness and astringency, suffer from Blood Heat causing amenorrhea. When the menses are overdue and do not flow, blood reverses its course upward. If a blood nebula forms, it must absolutely not be cut with hooks. One should only use Si Wu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) combined with herbs that promote Qi circulation, break blood stasis, and unblock menstruation. Once menstruation flows, the blood nebula will naturally recede. In severe cases, Jiu Da Huang (Wine-processed Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) must be added to purge downward and curb the pathogenic momentum. Eliminating Fire preserves Yin, which is urgent for addressing Liver deficiency and Blood insufficiency. If Fire is not purged downward, it will scorch True Yin, leading to hyperactive Yang and exhausted Yin. People know only to use Si Wu Tang to tonify Blood, but who knows that Da Huang can also benefit Blood? Using tonic medicines solely because of deficiency is not only useless but akin to carrying firewood to save a burning house.

Eye diseases during pregnancy must be differentiated into Qi-level and Blood-level patterns. Qi-level patterns present with eyelid edema and dilated pupils; Blood-level patterns present with blood stasis coagulating into lipid-like deposits. This is because the Yin and Yang and Qi and Blood circulation in pregnant women is sluggish and different from normal individuals. Internal attacking treatments risk damaging the fetus and depleting Qi, while failing to attack leaves the disease unresolved. However, by skillfully employing methods of internal protection and external binding, success can be achieved consistently.

Childbirth causes all meridians and vessels to move, making it easy for pathogens to invade. The ascending Qi of the Liver is very weak, and the Gallbladder loses nourishment, resulting in insufficient bile juice. Consequently, the fluids of the eye lose their source of transformation. Therefore, postpartum eye diseases are mostly caused by internal deficiency. Generally, postpartum illnesses should be treated early; do not wait until they become chronic. Prolonged illness leads to settled Qi and Blood, deepening the pathology and making treatment difficult. External symptoms that are obviously harmful are recognized and treated early; internal symptoms with slower progression are often ignored. By the time the disease is established, regret comes too late.

When smallpox enters the eyes: at the initial stage, if the eyes are closed and cannot open, or if smallpox lesions appear on the eyelids or on the cornea (Hei Ming), immediately take Yi Mu Cao (Leonuri Herba), decoct it, and fumigate/wash the eyes three times daily. Also apply leech blood (Shan Xue, here referring to eel blood in context) to the eyes. Observe dietary restrictions and prevent infant night crying; the nursing mother must also observe dietary restrictions. Only after the smallpox has healed and the eyes gradually open will the lesions in the eyes heal. For initial smallpox entering the eyes, Jue Ming San (Cassia Seed Powder) or Mi Meng San (Descurainiae Semen Powder) can be used. For smallpox entering the eyes forming opacities, Gu Jing San (Euphrasia Powder) or Shen Gong San (Divine Efficacy Powder) can be selected. Folk prescription: Use Wang Yue Sha (Leporis Faeces) powder, mixed with raw chicken liver pounded into a paste, steamed over rice. Consume on an empty stomach daily for efficacy. Generally, earlier treatment leads to easier resolution without complications; delayed treatment results in slow resolution. Nowadays, people see post-smallpox eye disease and declare it incurable, not knowing that as long as the pupil is not damaged, there is hope for cure even after a long time. Only when the disease lingers, blood settles, essence condenses, and the opacity becomes deep, smooth, and damaging to vision, is it considered incurable. Ni Zhongxian stated that eye damage caused by residual toxins from macules and rashes is slightly similar to but distinct from diseases caused by unconstrained Wind-Heat. Generally, Ling Yang San (Antelope Horn Powder) is the main formula. If the stool is not hard, reduce the dosage of Xiao Shi (Natrii Sulfas) and Da Huang. If the disease occurs within twenty-one days, focus primarily on detoxification and resolving macules. For Wind-Heat opacities and misty obstructions covering the vision after macules/rashes, Xie Qing Wan (Drain Green Pill) for draining heat is highly effective. After the crusts of smallpox/rashes have fallen off and the body is robust, sudden redness in the eyes indicates residual toxins stagnating and erupting. This pattern is most severe; untreated, it often damages vision. Use Che Qian Cao (Plantaginis Herba) ground and extracted with water, administered frequently to drink, to wash out Heat-Toxin from the Liver Meridian. Wash with Yi Mu Cao, and apply eel blood.

Tai Feng Chi Lan Syndrome (Neonatal Ophthalmia with Redness and Ulceration) has three types. First, birth fluids enter the eye, and incomplete washing leads to redness and ulceration; treat with fresh radish (Lai Fu Zi) juice applied to the eye. Second, during gestation, the mother consumed excessive cloying, toxic, acrid, and hot foods, leading to redness and ulceration one hundred days after birth; treat with Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang (Rhino Horn and Rehmannia Decoction) plus Huang Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma), taken by both mother and child. Third, the nursing mother is robust with engorged nipples, and milk sprays into the infant's eyes causing redness and ulceration; wipe clean with Huang Lian Tang, then apply calcined Lu Gan Shi (Halloysitum Rubrum) powder alone.

Xiao Er Gan Yan Syndrome (Infantile Malnutrition Eye Disease) is caused by overeating damaging the Spleen and Stomach, leading to abdominal distension, afternoon fever that subsides at night, sparse hair, and diarrhea over time. Severe diarrhea leads to thirst. Prolonged food-stagnation fever damages the Liver and Gallbladder. The sclera turns red, and opacities gradually form, covering the cornea, protruding like black beans or shiitake mushrooms. Treat with Jue Ming Ji Gan San (Cassia Seed and Chicken Liver Powder), or feed sheep liver dipped in Ye Ming Sha (Tardigrada). Alternatively, use Lv Fan (Chalcanthite) one tael, wrapped in mantou dough (without filling) and baked until the outside is black and inside red. Take out, mix with Mi Tuo Seng (Lithargyrum) and Ye Ming Sha in equal parts, pound into powder, and make pills with jujube meat paste, sized like millet grains. Administer 20-30 pills per dose according to the child's size, with rice soup on an empty stomach. Strictly observe dietary restrictions. Frequent application of human breast milk to the opacity will cause it to fall off spontaneously. If the condition progresses to hoarseness, dry mouth, and swelling of hands and feet, fewer than one in ten can be saved.