Library

This disease is caused by the seven emotions and six desires, which damage the Spleen and Kidney. It is relatively easy to treat if addressed early, but difficult to cure if delayed. Moxibustion must be employed to restore life. Using only mild and neutral medicines, such as Huangqi Jianzhong Tang (Astragalus Decoction for Building the Middle) or Biejia Yin (Turtle Shell Drink), will not benefit the condition and will instead damage the Yuan Qi (Original Qi). The initial symptoms include fatigue, poor appetite, frequent sweating on the forehead, spontaneous sweating, night sweats, dry mouth, cough, and cold limbs. Gradually, it progresses to coughing up fresh blood or expectorating blood with excessive phlegm. This occurs because the Kidney meridian ascends through the Liver and diaphragm into the Lung; since the Kidney is deficient and cannot nourish the Lung from below, these symptoms arise. The treatment method should follow that of Yin syndromes. First, apply 200 moxa cones to the Guanyuan (CV4) acupoint to consolidate Kidney Qi, then administer Baoming Yanshou Dan (Life-Preserving Longevity Pill) or Zhuru Fen (Gypsum Powder), taking 3 to 5 liang per dose. The illness will reduce by half, and full recovery will occur within one month. If Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena Rhizome), Huang Bai (Phellodendron Bark), Di Huang (Rehmannia Root), Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis), and similar herbs are used, they severely damage the Spleen and Kidney, hastening death. Sexual intercourse must be strictly avoided. However, this disease requires early moxibustion; if delayed, it becomes ineffective, and the body cannot accept the pills. Ingestion may cause fever and irritability due to the collapse of True Qi. If children or adolescents contract this disease, it is due to weak congenital constitution; they should remain at home for life. If they marry and engage in sexual activity, recurrence will inevitably lead to death.

Case Records:
One patient suffered from cough, night sweats, fever, fatigue, reduced appetite, and cold extremities. The pulse was string-taut and tight in all six positions, indicating Kidney Qi deficiency. First, 500 moxa cones were applied to Guanyuan (CV4). He took 20 pills of Baoming Yanshou Dan (Life-Preserving Longevity Pill) and 2 qian of Zhuru Fen (Gypsum Powder). Every other day, he took 100 pills of Jinye Dan (Golden Fluid Pill). Full recovery occurred within one month.

Another patient had a cough with identical symptoms and pulse as the previous case, but feared moxibustion. He took only 50 pills of Yanshou Dan (Longevity Pill), 100 pills of Jinye Dan (Golden Fluid Pill), and 2 liang of Zhuru Fen (Gypsum Powder). Symptoms improved after five days; by the tenth day, the pulse became deep and slow, indicating the restoration of True Qi. Continuing the previous medication led to full recovery within one month. Generally, early treatment allows for cure without moxibustion, but delay necessitates moxibustion; otherwise, it is difficult to treat.

A young girl presented with cough, fever, hemoptysis, and anorexia. First, 100 moxa cones were applied below the navel. She recovered after taking Yanshou Dan (Longevity Pill) and Huangqi Jianzhong Tang (Astragalus Decoction for Building the Middle). She was warned against marriage and sexual activity, as violation would be fatal. Four years later, she married, and the previous illness recurred. I stated, "This girl has a inherently weak constitution and should have remained celibate until death." Disregarding my advice, she depleted her congenital essence and Yuan Qi (Original Qi), leading to imminent collapse and incurable condition. Insisting on medicinal pills, she ultimately died.

One patient exhibited frequent sweating on the forehead, a sign of Kidney Qi deficiency. Without treatment, it would develop into Laozai (Consumption/Tuberculosis). After applying 100 moxa cones below the navel and taking Jinye Dan (Golden Fluid Pill), he recovered.

One patient suffered from nocturnal spontaneous sweating, also due to Kidney Qi deficiency. He recovered after taking Quanzhen Dan (Complete Truth Pill) and Huangqi Jianzhong Tang (Astragalus Decoction for Building the Middle).

A woman suffered from persistent postpartum spontaneous sweating due to Spleen and Kidney deficiency. She recovered after taking Jinye Dan (Golden Fluid Pill), Quanzhen Dan (Complete Truth Pill), and Danggui Jianzhong Tang (Angelica Decoction for Building the Middle). Children and adolescents with weak constitutions and excessive sweating should be treated similarly.

One patient sweated four to five times daily. Moxibustion at Guanyuan (CV4) failed to stop it. This was caused by drinking cold beverages after sexual intercourse, damaging Spleen Qi. Applying 100 moxa cones to Zuomingguan (Left Life Gate) cured him.

A woman developed Xu Lao (Deficiency Consumption) after recovering from Shanghan (Cold Damage). This resulted from previous physicians using cold purgative medicines that damaged her Yuan Qi (Original Qi). She presented with fever, cough, hemoptysis, and anorexia. Two hundred moxa cones were applied to Guanyuan (CV4), and she took Jinye Dan (Golden Fluid Pill), Baoming Yanshou Dan (Life-Preserving Longevity Pill), Sishen Dan (Four Spirits Pill), and Zhuru Fen (Gypsum Powder). Full recovery occurred within one month. (The Spleen and Kidney are the roots of the acquired and congenital foundations and the source of Yuan Qi (Original Qi). Although Xu Lao (Deficiency Consumption) manifests differently across the Five Viscera, its origin lies in Spleen and Kidney pathology. Treatment of Spleen and Kidney is often ineffective because practitioners fail to recognize that Kidney Yuan Qi (Original Qi) stems from Sheng Yang (Generating Yang), while the Spleen's root lies in Jiao Huo (Burning Fire). With continuous warmth, Yuan Qi (Original Qi) replenishes daily, allowing True Water to circulate, fluids to distribute, Shen Jing (Spiritual Essence) to remain inward, and false fire to cease. Thus, the Five Viscera remain balanced, and Water and Fire interact harmoniously, making treatment straightforward. Alas, people do not observe this, habitually using cold and cooling remedies until destruction occurs. Those who understand the need to protect Spleen and Kidney merely use mild agents like Yuzhu (Polygonatum Rhizome), Shashen (Glehnia Root), Shengmai San (Generate the Pulse Powder), or Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill). How few know the methods of the ancient masters! I regret that Qishi (Arsenic Orpiment) lacks authenticity and Zhuru (Stalactite) is often fake, rendering herbal pill remedies futile. Only moxibustion can truly save lives, yet people refuse to endure pain and count the moxa cones accurately. Hence, among hundreds or thousands, only one or two recover. I possess a warm heart and often defy vulgar norms. Knowing diseases are difficult to cure, I reluctantly prescribe Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig) and Fuzi (Aconite Root), saving one or two out of ten. Those who do not recover invite criticism, but I need not defend myself. Heaven surely witnesses my sincere intent to save lives. Therefore, I briefly list several cured cases below as models for our colleagues, so they know warming and tonifying methods can save lives, avoiding confusion by popular trends or hesitation due to slander.)

(Friend Shen Yinchang contracted Futu Ju (Abscess on the Thigh), losing excessive pus and blood, which damaged his fundamental Yuan Qi (Original Qi), transforming into Xu Lao (Deficiency Consumption). Excessive use of Yin-nourishing agents caused wheezing, hemoptysis, and reduced intake. His pulse was string-taut and rapid, beating seven to eight times per breath. His complexion was pure blue. He suffered from wheezing, cough, shortness of breath, inability to lie flat, fever, sweating, and uncontrollable salivation. Signs of collapse were fully present. Due to poverty, he could not afford Ren Shen (Ginseng Root). I prescribed Jianzhong Tang (Decoction for Building the Middle) with heavy doses of Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig). After one dose, wheezing ceased, sleep returned, and salivation and bleeding decreased significantly. However, due to chronic illness and severe Spleen-Kidney damage, Stomach Qi was hard to restore. Adding a small amount of Ren Shen (Ginseng Root) to Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) led to recovery after over a month.)

(Wang Zaiting’s wife suffered from Xu Lao (Deficiency Consumption) for over ten years, presenting with wheezing, expectoration of froth, hematemesis, anorexia, and emaciation resembling bones. Physicians were helpless. Upon examination, I found her usual prescriptions consisted of Yin-nourishing, Lung-moistening, and mild neutral agents. I said, "With such a disease, using such drugs naturally leads toward death; how can you expect vitality? Have you not considered Zhang Zhongjing’s teaching: severe cough with frequent expectoration of froth indicates Spleen deficiency? Nor the ancients’ words: when Kidney Sheng Yang (Generating Yang) fails to ascend to the Lung, wheezing occurs; or when Spleen deficiency causes the Lung to lose its source of transformation and generation, wheezing results. Now, with Spleen and Kidney failing, using such medications, how can she survive?" I heavily administered Ren Shen (Ginseng Root), Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger), Fu Zi (Prepared Aconite Root), etc., for two doses, stopping the wheezing. Due to worsening diarrhea, I added Shan Zhu Yu (Cornus Fruit) and Dou Kou (Black Cardamom) for over ten doses, reducing the illness by seventy percent. Moxibustion was applied to Guanyuan (CV4); fearing pain, only 50 cones were used. Over the next ten-plus years, her physique became robust.)

(A middle-aged woman suffered from nighttime fever and cough, initially a minor ailment. However, after one month of combined Yin-nourishing and heat-clearing prescriptions from Doctors Zhang and Li, she developed a blue complexion, rapid pulse, wheezing, hemoptysis, vomiting of froth (several sheng daily), and anorexia. The two physicians gave up. I treated her with heavy doses of Ren Shen (Ginseng Root) and Fu Zi (Prepared Aconite Root) for over ten doses, achieving stability. This was not due to original deficiency but iatrogenic error, hence the easy recovery.)