Library

For the initial stage of dysentery and diarrhea, use 3 qian of fine tea and 3 qian of fresh ginger, add 2 zhong of water, decoct until reduced to 8 fen, and take orally. For severe cases, use 5 qian of each, decoct and take; symptoms will cease. If not cured, administer again.

For red-and-white dysentery (dysentery with both blood and mucus in stool), burn the roots and leaves of *Capsella bursa-pastoris* (Jicai) to ash, mix with boiling water, and take orally. Highly effective.

For unceasing heat dysentery, crush the leaves of *Galium aparine* (Hamacao Cao) to extract one zhan of juice, add half a zhan of honey, warm by decoction, and divide into two doses. Alternatively, use the seeds of *Galium aparine*, stir-fry until fragrant and cooked, grind into powder, and take mixed with rice drink.

For various types of dysentery, decoct mugwort leaves (Ai Ye) and tangerine peel (Chen Pi) in water and take orally.

For chronic dysentery due to intestinal laxity, split a pomegranate, bundle it together, and burn until smoke ceases. Quickly remove it before it turns into white ash. Cover with a bowl and place on the ground overnight. Grind into powder. Take 2 qian with a decoction made from one slice of sour pomegranate and one zhong of water. This method is also used for diarrhea.

For white dysentery with abdominal pain, use 5 qian of rust from a cooking pot burned with weeds, grind into powder, and take mixed with hot wine before meals.

For bloody dysentery, remove the pits from preserved plums (Yanmei), grind one fruit, mix with tea soup, add vinegar, and take orally.

Another prescription: When poppy flowers are unbloomed, they are wrapped by two green leaves outside. Once bloomed, they fall to the ground. Collect them and dry in shade. For patients with red-and-white dysentery who are near death, grind into fine powder, take 1 qian mixed with rice drink. Extremely effective.

For anorexic dysentery (Jinkou Li, where vomiting prevents food intake), for those unable to swallow liquids or grains, use lotus seeds (remove shell but keep red skin and plumule), grind into fine powder, and take mixed with well water. Take 2-3 qian per dose, twice daily until effective.

Another prescription: Proven repeatedly, use 3 qian of Coptis Rhizome (Huanglian) and 1.5 qian of Ginseng Root (Renshen), add 1.5 zhong of water, decoct to 0.7 zhong, take warm. The patient revives as soon as the medicine enters the mouth.

Another prescription named Xiong Su San: Use 1 liang of Sichuan Lovage Rhizome (Chuanxiong) and 1 liang of Poppy Capsule (Yingsu), remove calyx, grind together into fine powder. Take 0.8 qian per dose, mixed with honey water on an empty stomach.

Another prescription: Use lotus seeds peeled and stir-fried, grind into powder. Take 1 qian per dose, mixed with rice drink on an empty stomach.

For relapsing dysentery (Xiuxi Li) and malnutrition-related diarrhea (Gan Xie), break one egg. Melt a piece of beeswax the size of a finger, mix with the egg, stir-fry until cooked, and eat on an empty stomach.

For diarrhea, grind Galla Chinensis (Wubeizi) into powder, take mixed with plain boiled water.

Another prescription: Use two pieces of fresh ginger and a handful of mugwort leaves, decoct in water and take orally.

For sudden severe diarrhea with urinary obstruction, stir-fry Plantago Seed (Cheqianzi) into powder, take 2 qian mixed with rice drink. The roots and leaves can also be crushed for juice and taken.

For watery diarrhea, use one pig stomach. Clean thoroughly, remove fat membrane, insert garlic cloves inside. Cook from morning till night until the stomach and garlic are completely soft/mushy. Pound into paste. Mix with Pingwei San (Calm the Stomach Powder), pound together, and form pills the size of paulownia seeds. Take 30 pills per dose, mixed with salt water or rice water on an empty stomach.

Another prescription: Use one piece of fresh ginger, peel it, cut into two halves, scrape out the ginger heart, stuff full with alum (Baifan). Wrap in paper, roast in fire until dry and cooked. Remove and cover with a vessel on the ground overnight to dissipate fire heat. Mix half a zhong of freshly boiled water (Yangshui) with half a zhong of cold water, called Yin-Yang Water. Chew the ginger finely and swallow with this water.

Another prescription: Crush garlic into paste, apply to the area below the navel and soles of feet. Stops immediately.

Another prescription: Use one he of Sophora Flower (Huaimi), stir-fry until cooked, grind into powder, take with rice drink.