Library

The *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) states that "sweating will cure sores," referring to scabies and tinea caused by the predominance of warm-heat pathogens affecting the skin. Treatment should involve internal administration of herbs that cool the skin, harmonize the blood, and dissipate damp-heat stagnation in the skin; externally, herbs that kill parasites, moisten dryness, and resolve phlegm-saliva condensation in the couli (interstices) should be applied as a poultice. Zhang Zhongjing stated: "Sores must not be treated with sweating; if sweating is used, it will induce convulsions." This is because heat is stagnant in the muscles, causing blood corruption and sore formation, which requires resolving the stagnant heat. Alternatively, it may be caused by food accumulation; in all these cases, sweating is contraindicated due to the varying depth of heat.

Head sores refer to sores on the head, caused by fire-heat flaming upward. Treatment should focus on clearing fire from the upper body, causing it to descend internally and disperse externally, while also applying external agents that kill parasites and reduce heat. Common prescriptions in the world can treat this condition, so there is no need for deep discussion.

Is alcoholic rhinophyma (red nose) caused by excessive alcohol consumption? The answer is: No. Those who do not drink also suffer from this disease. The nose is the orifice of the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin (Lung). The Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian runs alongside the nose up to the inner canthus of the eye. Its location is in the center of the face, belonging to Earth, serving as the gateway for the entry and exit of breath. The essence of Qi and Blood ascends to the face and enters its orifices. Therefore, damp-heat in the Stomach and blood transformed by heat in the Middle Jiao ascend to the Lung, and through respiration, steam the nasal tip, condensing in the skin, resulting in redness, which may even cover the entire face, not just the nose. I once used powder of Lonicera Japonica Flos (Lingxiao Hua) mixed with Lithargyri Pulvis (Mituo Seng), adjusted with saliva for topical application, which was very effective.

Apart from calming the Spirit, is there anything else to discuss? The answer is: Although medical texts state that fright, fear, and overthinking damage the Heart-Spirit, and that excessive worry and desire deplete the Heart, leading to forgetfulness when the Heart is injured, I have pondered this. People are born with different constitutions. Those who receive clear Qi have sharp mental perception; those who receive turbid Qi have dull mental perception. A sharp mind has no limits; even events from thousands of years ago, once seen, are remembered for life without forgetting. A dull mind, even without injury, cannot remember current events. Liu Wansu said water is clear and bright, while fire is dim and turbid. Thus, the wise are like water, and the foolish are like fire; this is determined by innate constitution. If one's constitution is a mix of clear and turbid, they cannot endure mental disturbance; disturbance causes the loss of mental clarity, leading to forgetfulness.

Blood and Qi constitute the substance of the human Shen (Spirit). The Classics state: "Stillness allows the Shen to reside within; agitation causes the Shen to perish." Stillness is the nature of Water; agitation is the function of Fire. Therefore, a calm nature keeps the Heart-Spirit within, while an agitated nature causes the Heart-Spirit to wander outward. Continuous agitation leads to continuous forgetting; persistent forgetting depletes the Shen stored within. Hence, one forgets immediately after speaking, unable to last until the end of the day. The elderly often suffer from forgetfulness because their days are filled with busy distractions and chaotic interactions. Their Yin Essence of Qi and Blood is nearly exhausted, making it rare for them to maintain clarity and remain undisturbed by external affairs. From this perspective, although medicines have the merit of calming the Heart and nourishing Blood, they are inferior to calming the mind and regulating Qi, and cultivating one's own nature. If forgetfulness is caused by Phlegm, it is a temporary condition, but not solely due to Phlegm. Any situation where the Heart is attached to something or disturbed by various Heat pathogens results in forgetfulness. The *Lingshu* states that excessive anger injures Zhi (Will), and injury to Zhi leads to forgetfulness. The *Neijing* states that when Blood congregates below and Qi congregates above, confusion arises, leading to a tendency to forget. Should we not treat each case according to its specific cause?