《内经》谓任脉为病,男子内结七疝,女人带下瘕聚;冲脉为气逆里急(云云)。又云∶少阴脉滑,
肺风疝;太阴脉滑,脾风疝;阳明,心风疝;太阳,肾风疝;少阳脉滑,肝风疝。由外邪入于木,木阳脏,
起动风也,
故滑脉曰风。然连称疝者,盖肾肝同居下焦,而足厥阴佐任脉之生化,固肝肾之气并逆,所以肾之阴
气为疝,肝之阳气为风。又有茎垂者,身中之机,阴阳之候,津液之道,或饮食不节,喜怒不时,津液内
溢,下流于睾,血道不通,血道不通则俯仰趋翔不便,又巢氏(云云)。而张戴人非之曰∶此俗工所立谬
名也。盖环阴器,上抵少腹,属足厥阴肝经部分,此是受病之处。或在泉寒胜木气,挛缩禁于此经;或司天
燥胜木气,抑郁于此经;或忿怒悲哀,忧抑顿锉;或药淋外固,闭尾缩精壅于此经,与膀胱、肾、小肠了
不相干也。且疝者,非肝木受邪,则肝木自甚也。由是于阴疝中亦立七名,曰寒疝、水疝、筋疝、血疝、气
疝、狐疝、 疝也。寒疝,囊冷结缩如石,阴茎不举,或连控丸而痛,得于坐卧湿地及砖石,或冬月涉水,
或值雨雪,或风冷处,使内过劳,宜以温剂下之,久而无子。水疝,肾囊肿痛,阴汗时出,囊肿如水品,
或囊痒搔出黄水,或小腹按之作水声,得之饮水醉酒,使内过劳,汗出而遇水寒,湿气聚于囊中,故水多
令人为卒疝,宜以逐水之剂下之。筋疝,阴茎肿胀,或溃,或脓,或痛而里急筋缩,或茎中痛,痛极则痒,
或挺纵不收,或
白物如精随溲而下,得之于房室劳伤及邪术所使,宜以降心火之剂下之。血疝,状如黄瓜,在小腹
横骨两端约中,俗云便痈,得于重感春夏大燠,劳于使内,气血流溢渗入脬囊不去,结成痈肿,
脓少血多,宜以和血之剂下之。气疝,其状上连肾区,下及阴囊,或因号泣忿怒,郁而胀,怒号罢则气
散是也,宜以散气之剂下之。小儿亦有此疾,俗曰偏气,得于父已年老,或年少多病,阴痿精怯,强力入
房,因而有此,乃胎病也,此病不治。狐疝,其状如丸,卧则入腹,行立则出小腹入囊中,狐则昼出穴而
溺,夜则入穴不溺,此疝出入上下往来,与狐相似,亦与气疝大同小异,今人带钩钤是也,宜以逐气疏
经之药下之。 疝,囊肿缒如升斗,不痒不痛是也,得之地气卑湿,故江淮湫溏之间多此,宜以去湿之剂
下之,诸下去后,可调则调,可补则补,各量病势,勿执俗法,经谓阴盛腹胀不通者, 癃疝也,不可不
下。虽然戴人既用《内经·灵枢》、《明堂》之论,止从足厥阴分,而不及任脉,盖因力辨阴器属厥
阴部分受病,故未暇及任脉也。其治法因病在下皆先下之,不问虚实,欠于周悉。丹溪常论睾丸连小腹急
痛者,或有形无形,或有声无声,人皆为经络得寒则收引不行而作痛,不知此痛始于湿热郁
遏至久,又感外寒,湿热被郁而作痛也。初致湿热之由,盖大劳则火起于筋,醉饱则火起于胃,
房劳则火起于肾,大怒则火起于肺,火郁之久,湿气便盛,浊液凝聚,并入血隧,流于厥阴,肝木性
急,火又暴烈,为寒所束,宜其病甚而暴也。此则发明戴人之未至。又 疝不离三者之邪,热则纵,
寒则痛,湿则肿,须分三者多少而治之。两丸俱病固然也,更有偏于一者。肾有两,分左右,左属水,
水生肝木,木生心火,三部皆司血,统纳左之血,肝木之职也;右属火,火生脾土,土生肺金,三部皆司气,
统纳右之气,肺金之职也。是故诸寒收引则血泣,所以寒血从而归肝,下注于左丸∶诸气 郁则湿聚,
所以气湿从而归肺,下注于右丸。且睾丸所络之筋非尽由厥阴,而太阳、阳明之筋亦入络也,往往见患偏
左则痛多肿少,偏右则痛少肿多,可验也。
一人病后饮水,病左丸痛甚,灸大敦,以摩腰膏摩囊上,上抵横骨,炙温帛覆之,痛即止,一宿
肿亦消。予旧有甘橘积,后山行饥甚,食橘、芋,橘动旧积,芋复滞气,实时寒热,右丸肿大。先服调胃
剂一二帖,次早注神使气至下焦,觉积动,呕逆,吐
之复吐,后和胃气、疏通经络而愈。
The *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) states: When the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) is diseased, men suffer from seven types of internal hernia (Shan), and women suffer from leukorrhea and Jia Ju (abdominal masses); when the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) is diseased, it causes Qi rebellion and abdominal urgency. It further states: A slippery pulse at Shaoyin indicates Lung Wind Shan; a slippery pulse at Taiyin indicates Spleen Wind Shan; [a slippery pulse at] Yangming indicates Heart Wind Shan; [a slippery pulse at] Taiyang indicates Kidney Wind Shan; a slippery pulse at Shaoyang indicates Liver Wind Shan. This is because external pathogens enter the Wood organ (Liver, which corresponds to Wood and is a Yang organ), stirring up Wind, hence a slippery pulse signifies Wind. However, the repeated mention of "Shan" likely exists because the Kidney and Liver both reside in the Lower Jiao, and the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian assists the Ren Mai in generating and transforming Qi. Indeed, it is the simultaneous rebellion of Kidney and Liver Qi that manifests as Shan due to Kidney Yin Qi and Feng (Wind) due to Liver Yang Qi. Furthermore, the penis and scrotum are the mechanism of the body, indicators of Yin and Yang, and pathways for fluids. If diet is irregular, or emotions like joy and anger are untimely, fluids overflow internally and flow downward to the testicles. If the blood channels are blocked, mobility such as bending, stretching, walking, and flying becomes inconvenient. This is the view of Chao Yuanfang et al.
However, Zhang Congzheng (courtesy name Dairen) refutes this, stating: These are erroneous names established by mediocre physicians. The area surrounding the genitalia, extending upward to the lower abdomen, belongs to the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian; this is where the disease resides. It may be that Cold Water Qi overcomes Wood Qi, causing spasms and constriction in this meridian; or Dryness Metal Qi overcomes Wood Qi, causing depression in this meridian; or anger and sorrow cause Qi stagnation and frustration; or external astringent treatments cause closure and retention of essence, blocking this meridian. It has nothing to do with the Bladder, Kidney, or Small Intestine. Moreover, Shan disease involves either the Liver Wood being invaded by pathogens or the Liver Wood becoming excessive itself. Therefore, he established seven names within Yin Shan: Han Shan (Cold Shan), Shui Shan (Water Shan), Jin Shan (Sinew Shan), Xue Shan (Blood Shan), Qi Shan (Qi Shan), Hu Shan (Fox Shan), and Pi Shan (Flaccid Shan).
Han Shan (Cold Shan): The scrotum is cold, hard, and contracted like stone; the penis does not erect; pain may radiate to the testicles. It results from sitting/lying on wet ground or bricks, wading in winter, exposure to rain/snow/wind-cold, or excessive sexual exertion. Treatment requires warming and purgative formulas; otherwise, infertility may result.
Shui Shan (Water Shan): Swelling and pain of the scrotal sac; intermittent sweating from the yin region; the scrotum swells like a water-filled bag; itching may yield yellow fluid; pressing the lower abdomen produces a water sound. It results from drinking alcohol/water excessively, sexual exhaustion, sweating followed by exposure to cold water, leading to dampness accumulation in the scrotum. Excess water can cause sudden Shan. Treatment requires diuretic and purgative formulas.
Jin Shan (Sinew Shan): Swelling of the penis, ulceration, pus formation, pain with internal tension and sinew contraction, penile pain that becomes itchy when severe, priapism, or white discharge resembling semen during urination. It results from sexual exhaustion or malicious arts. Treatment requires formulas that descend Heart Fire.
Xue Shan (Blood Shan): Shape resembles a cucumber, located between the two ends of the Henggu acupoint in the lower abdomen, commonly called Bian Yong (urinary abscess). It results from exposure to extreme heat in spring/summer combined with sexual exhaustion, causing Qi and Blood to overflow into the bladder and scrotum, forming an abscess with little pus and much blood. Treatment requires blood-nourishing and regulating formulas.
Qi Shan (Qi Shan): Extends from the kidney region to the scrotum. It arises from weeping or anger, causing Qi stagnation and distension; the distension resolves when the emotional outburst ceases and Qi disperses. Treatment requires Qi-dispersing formulas. Children also suffer from this,俗称 Pian Qi (Lateral Qi), often due to an aged father, or a young father who was frequently ill, impotent, or weak in essence, engaging in forced intercourse. This is a congenital defect and is difficult to cure.
Hu Shan (Fox Shan): Resembles a ball; retracts into the abdomen when lying down, and protrudes from the lower abdomen into the scrotum when standing or walking. Like a fox that exits its burrow to urinate by day and returns without urinating by night, this Shan moves up and down, similar to Fox behavior, and is closely related to Qi Shan. It corresponds to conditions treated with hooks or supports today. Treatment requires formulas that expel Qi and unblock meridians.
Pi Shan (Flaccid Shan): The scrotum hangs heavily like a measuring vessel, without itching or pain. It results from low-lying, damp environments, common in the Jianghuai region. Treatment requires damp-draining formulas. After using purgatives for these conditions, one should regulate or tonify according to the condition, avoiding rigid adherence to folk methods. The Classics state that Yin excess causing abdominal distension and blockage is Long Shan (Urine Retention Shan), which must be purged.
Although Zhang Dairen cited the *Lingshu* chapter of the *Neijing* and the *Mingtang*, focusing solely on the Foot-Jueyin division and neglecting the Ren Mai, it was because he strongly argued that the genitalia belong to the Jueyin domain. His treatment method, applying purgatives indiscriminately regardless of deficiency or excess due to the lower location of the disease, lacked thoroughness. Zhu Danxi often discussed pain connecting the testicles and lower abdomen, whether palpable or not, audible or silent. People attribute this to Cold contracting the meridians, but fail to realize the pain originates from long-standing Damp-Heat stagnation exacerbated by external Cold. The initial cause of Damp-Heat is: fatigue generates Fire in the sinews; drunkenness/full meals generate Fire in the Stomach; sexual excess generates Fire in the Kidneys; great anger generates Fire in the Lungs. Prolonged Fire stagnation leads to abundant Dampness; turbid fluids condense and enter the blood vessels, flowing into the Jueyin channel. Since Liver Wood is swift and Fire is fierce, constrained by Cold, the disease becomes severe and acute. This elaborates on Zhang Dairen's omissions. Furthermore, Pi Shan involves Wind, Cold, and Dampness: Heat causes flaccidity, Cold causes pain, Dampness causes swelling. One must distinguish their proportions. While both testicles can be affected, unilateral involvement is also common. The Kidneys are paired, left and right. The Left belongs to Water, which generates Liver Wood, which generates Heart Fire; all three govern Blood, and the Liver manages the Blood on the left. The Right belongs to Fire, which generates Spleen Earth, which generates Lung Metal; all three govern Qi, and the Lung manages the Qi on the right. Thus, Cold causing contraction leads to blood stasis, so Cold-Blood follows the Liver and descends to the left testicle. Qi stagnation leads to Dampness accumulation, so Qi-Dampness follows the Lung and descends to the right testicle. Moreover, the tendons connecting the testicles are not exclusively Jueyin; Taiyang and Yangming tendons also connect. Often, left-sided lesions present with more pain and less swelling, while right-sided lesions present with less pain and more swelling, which serves as verification.
A patient suffered severe pain in the left testicle after drinking water post-illness. Da Dun (LR1) was moxibusted, and Yao Gao (Waist Rubbing Paste) was applied to the scrotum up to Henggu (ST30), covered with warm cloth. Pain ceased immediately, and swelling subsided overnight. I previously had a chronic accumulation from citrus fruits. Once, while hiking and starving, I ate oranges and taro. The oranges disturbed the old accumulation, and the taro stagnated Qi, causing immediate chills and fever, and swelling of the right testicle. I first took one or two doses of Tiao Wei (Regulate the Stomach) formula. The next morning, I used Yishi (Mind Instruction) to guide Qi to the Lower Jiao. Feeling the accumulation move, I experienced retching and vomiting repeatedly. Finally, harmonizing the Stomach Qi and unblocking the meridians led to recovery.