Library

The Master stated that Yang is in excess and Yin is insufficient. If one indulges in sexual activity excessively, depleting essence without limit, by summer the Yang Qi will inevitably become light and floating, leading to ailments such as headache, softness of the legs, poor appetite, and fever; this is called "Zhu Xia" (Summer-Induced Exhaustion). "Zhu" means pouring or irrigating. This occurs because Yin deficiency initially fails to withstand the summer heat, which pours into the body aggravating the illness; it is not caused by Zhong Re (Heat Stroke). Zhang Zhongjing stated that for diseases of exhaustion (Lao), the pulse is floating and large, with vexation of the hands and feet, worsening in spring and summer and improving in autumn and winter; this refers to such cases. Li Dongyuan mentioned that when Spleen-Stomach Yuan Qi is first damaged, disease manifests in summer, treated with Huangqi Renshen Tang; this also belongs to Zhu Xia. Generally, Summer Heat Qi not only damages Yin but also impairs Yang. Li Dongyuan’s treatment of Yang impairment focuses on the Stomach, emphasizing Qi tonification; whereas the Master’s (Zhu Danxi) treatment of Yin injury focuses on the Spleen and Kidney, emphasizing Essence and Blood. Essence is stored in the Kidney, and Blood is transformed by the Spleen; both are Yin Zang organs. Although the name "Zhu Xia" is the same, the differentiation of Yin and Yang and subsequent medication differ. For treating Yin deficiency, if one does not use Jun (Chief) herbs belonging to the Spleen and Stomach that are heavy in substance and rich in flavor, how can one secure the root of Yang and astringe the light-floating Qi?

This is also Zhong Shu (Summer Heat Stroke), and vomiting methods may be used. The patient must internally possess Fire-Heat and Phlegm-Density beforehand; due to seeking coolness and avoiding heat, Wind pathogen invades and attacks, becoming stagnant and causing disease. Symptoms may include body heat or mental confusion/dizziness. Therefore, vomiting is employed. Vomiting induces sweating; Fire-Stagnation resolves through sweat, Wind disperses through sweat, and Phlegm is expelled through surging vomit, achieving three benefits with one action. This was the Master’s method at that time for patients complicated by Phlegm, not the general principle for all Summer Wind cases. For those without Phlegm complication, only diaphoretic dispersal is suitable.

Dampness includes Heavenly Dampness, Earthly Dampness, Dietary Dampness, Sweat Dampness, and Qi Dampness. Heavenly Dampness, such as fog, dew, and rain, originates from Qi; thus, it first injures the exterior Ying and Wei. Water and mud are Earthly Dampness, originating from Form; thus, they first injure skin, flesh, sinews, bones, blood, and vessels. Wine, water, milk, and cheese are Dietary Dampness; since the Stomach is the Sea of Grain and Water, they first damage the Spleen and Stomach. Sweat Dampness also belongs to Qi, affecting only the exterior. Qi Dampness belongs to the transformation of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder channel. To treat Heavenly Dampness, one should follow the Si Tian (Sovereign Heaven) method: for Dampness severe above with Heat, treat with bitter-warm substances, assist with sweet-acrid ones, aiming for sweating as the resolution. To treat Earthly Dampness, follow the Zai Quan (Inferior Earth) method: for Dampness flooding internally, treat with bitter-hot substances, assist with sour-bland ones, using bitterness to dry dampness and blandness to drain it. For Dietary Dampness, if located above, induce vomiting; if in the middle, purge it; if below, guide it to exhaust it. Sweat Dampness is treated similarly to Si Tian. Only Human Qi Dampness, transformed by Taiyin Spleen Earth, exists at the intersection of Qi, differing from and sharing similarities with the previous four treatments. Why? Because Earth combines the Four Qi (Cold, Heat, Warmth, Coolness), containing ascending, descending, floating, and sinking properties. The Spleen and Stomach are the positions of Yin and Yang, alternating between deficiency and excess, compliance and opposition. Thus, when Yang is excessive, Wood prevails, combining to form Wind-Dampness; extreme Yang excess leads to Fire prevalence, combining to form Heat-Dampness; when Yin is excessive, Metal prevails, combining to form Dryness-Heat; extreme Yin excess leads to Water prevalence, combining to form Cold-Dampness. Because it combines the Four Qi, Dampness floods up, down, inside, and outside, reaching everywhere. Above, it causes vomiting, heavy head, and chest fullness; externally, it causes heavy body and swelling; below, it causes edema of the shins and dorsum of feet, and abdominal fullness/obstruction. One must adjust according to upper, middle, lower locations, and external Cold, Heat, Warmth, or Coolness as assistants and guides. As for cases where Spleen deficiency and fluid accumulation cause Dampness due to overacting/restricting relationships, first treat the overacting pathogen; if Spleen-Stomach intrinsic deficiency generates Dampness, prioritize tonifying deficiency; if Heat stagnation generates Dampness, prioritize dissipating Heat; if Spleen-Stomach Dampness floods into the Four Zang, sinews, bones, skin, flesh, blood, and vessels, generally Dampness primarily causes obstruction/stagnation, causing Qi stagnation in the affected Zang, preventing smooth flow, thereby triggering the primary organ's pathology. When sinews, bones, skin, flesh, blood, and vessels are affected, it manifests as Wei Bi (Atrophy and Obstruction syndromes), flaccidity, weakness, pain, and heaviness, rendering the limbs unusable. Medications for treatment have specific affinities; whatever fits the treatment is a key herb. Can it be that only Cang Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma) is universally applicable? Would the Master ever speak such words to demonstrate to others? Treatments and medications for various Dampness flooding symptoms are listed under respective disease categories.