太阴司天,寒水之胜,心火受郁,内热已甚,则当治内热为急,内热未甚,即当散寒解郁为急。如《宣
明论》立方着于诸症条下者,具治漏风而渴,用牡蛎、防风、白术,先治漏风为急。若心移寒于肺为肺消,
则以心火乘肺伤其气血为急,所移之寒,非正当其邪也,故用参、 、熟地黄、北五味、桑皮、麦门冬、枸杞,
先救血气之衰,故不用寒药泄内热也。若心移热于肺传于膈消,则以肺热为急,用麦门冬治肺中伏火为
君,栝蒌实、知母泄热为臣,甘草、北五味、生地黄、葛根、人参生津液益气血为佐。若心火上炎于肺,必
由心有事会,不得其正,以致其脏气血之虚,故厥阴之火上逆,所以用茯神安心定志养神,竹叶、麦门
冬之凉以安其宅,则火有所归息矣。是三条消渴,便见河间,处方酌量标本缓急轻重之宜、脏腑切当之药也。
因于相火之微甚,微则正治,甚则反治,撩痰出血,三者随宜而施。或于手大指少商出血行气,若肿
达于外,必外敷以药。予尝以鹅翎蘸水醋缴咽中,摘出其痰。盖酸能收其痰,又能消积血。若乳蛾甚而
不散者,以小刀就蛾上出血,皆用马牙硝吹点咽喉,以退火邪,服射干、青黛、甘、桔、栀、芩、恶实、大
黄之类,随其攸利为方,以散上焦之热∶外敷如生地黄、韭根、伏龙肝皆可用。若咽疮白者多涎,赤者多血,
大率与口疮同例,如蔷薇根皮、黄柏、青黛煎噙细咽。先生言理中汤亦可治,详口疮条下。
When Taiyin (Too Yin) governs the heaven, if Cold-Water qi prevails excessively, Heart-Fire becomes constrained internally. If internal heat is already severe, treating internal heat should be the urgent priority; if internal heat is not yet severe, dispelling cold and resolving constraint should be the urgent priority. For instance, in *Xuan Ming Lun Fang* (Treatise on the Declaration of Clarity), prescriptions listed under various symptom categories address "Lou Feng" (Leaking Wind - a condition characterized by abnormal sweating due to wind invasion) accompanied by thirst, using *Muli* (Oyster Shell), *Fangfeng* (Saposhnikovia Root), and *Baizhu* (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome), prioritizing the treatment of Lou Feng as an acute condition. If Heart transfers cold to the Lung, resulting in "Fei Xiao" (Lung Wasting-Thirst), the urgency lies in Heart-Fire overacting on the Lung and damaging Qi and Blood. The "transferred cold" here does not refer to a genuine pathogenic cold, but rather to deficiency; therefore, *Renshen* (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), [missing character, likely Huangqi], *Shudihuang* (Prepared Rehmannia Root), *Beiwuweizi* (Schisandra Chinensis Fruit), *Sangbaipi* (Morus Alba Bark), *Mendong* (Ophiopogon Tuber), and *Gouqi* (Lycium Barbarum Fruit) are used to first rescue the decline of Qi and Blood, hence cold-natured drugs for clearing internal heat are not employed. If Heart transfers heat to the Lung, transmitting it to become "Ge Xiao" (Diaphragm Wasting-Thirst), Lung heat becomes the urgent priority. *Mendong* (Ophiopogon Tuber) is used as the Sovereign herb to treat latent fire in the Lung; *Gualou* (Trichosanthes Fruit) and *Zhimu* (Anemarrhena Rhizome) act as Ministers to drain heat; *Gancao* (Licorice Root), *Beiwuweizi* (Schisandra Chinensis Fruit), *Shengdihuang* (Raw Rehmannia Root), *Gegen* (Pueraria Lobata Root), and *Renshen* (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) act as Assistants to generate fluids and benefit Qi and Blood. If Heart-Fire flares upward to invade the Lung, it must be because the Heart itself has pathology and was not properly regulated, leading to deficiency of Qi and Blood in the Zang organs, thereby causing Jueyin Liver Fire to rebel upward. Therefore, *Fushen* (Poria with Hostwood) is used to calm the mind, stabilize will, and nourish spirit, combined with the cooling properties of *Zhuye* (Bamboo Leaf) and *Mendong* (Ophiopogon Tuber) to settle the "dwelling" of the spirit, allowing the fire to find rest and subside. These three discussions on Wasting-Thirst reflect Liu Hejian’s (Liu Wan-su) approach to prescribing, weighing the appropriateness of addressing root and branch, urgency and slackness, severity and lightness, and selecting herbs that precisely target the affected Zang organs.
Depending on whether the Ministerial Fire (Ministerial Fire refers to the physiological fire that drives metabolic activities) is mild or excessive, mild cases are treated with orthodox methods (treating according to the nature of the disease), while excessive cases may require contrary methods (treating against the apparent symptoms). For symptoms such as phlegm agitation and bleeding, treatment is applied flexibly according to circumstances. Bleeding from Shaoshang (LU-11, located at the radial corner of the thumbnail) on the thumb can be used to move Qi. If swelling extends externally, external herbal applications are necessary. I once used a goose feather dipped in vinegar-water to stimulate the throat and extract phlegm. Sour flavors can astringe phlegm and resolve stagnant blood. If "Ru E" (Goat's Throat - tonsillar hypertrophy) is severe and does not dissipate, minor incisions can be made on the tonsils to release blood. *Mayaxiao* (Niter/Sodium Nitrate) is blown into the throat to reduce fire pathogens. Decoctions containing *Yeyan* (Belamcanda Rhizome), *Qingdai* (Indigo Naturalis), *Gancao* (Licorice Root), *Jiegeng* (Platycodon Root), *Zhizi* (Gardenia Fruit), *Huangqin* (Scutellaria Root), *Eshizi* (Arctium Fruit), and *Dahuang* (Rhubarb Root) are prescribed based on their beneficial effects to disperse Upper Jiao heat. External applications may include *Shengdihuang* (Raw Rehmannia Root), *Jiu Gen* (Chinese Chive Root), and *Fulonggan* (Stove Earth). If throat sores are white with much saliva, or red with much blood, they generally follow the same pattern as mouth ulcers. Decoctions of *Qiangwei Genpi* (Rose Root Bark), *Huangbai* (Phellodendron Bark), and *Qingdai* (Indigo Naturalis) can be held in the mouth and swallowed slowly. My teacher stated that Lizhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction) can also be used for treatment; see details under the Mouth Ulcer section.