Library

Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata), Chuanwu (Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix) (each processed, ban liang), Quanxie (Scorpio, cleaned), Jiangcan (Bombyx Batryticatus, 1 fen), Ruxiang (Olibanum, 3 qian, ground), Caowutou (Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix, boiled in water until soft, skin and tip removed, ban liang), Xionghuang (Realgar), Moyao (Myrrha, 1 qian, ground). The above are made into powder. Honey pills the size of Sophora japonica seeds. Take 20 pills with Bohe Tang (Mint Decoction). If the onset is urgent, take only as powder. Take 1 qian each time, with tea or wine as desired.

Neijiesan Powder
Chuanwu (Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix, processed, 1 liang), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, half raw, half roasted), Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba, 1 liang), Chenxiang (Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum), Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), Bixie (Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma, 1 fen), Duzhong (Eucommiae Cortex, roasted, ban liang). The above are made into powder. Take 2 qian each time. Add 3 slices of Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens), 1 Zao (Jujubae Fructus), 1 zhen of water. Decoct to 6 fen, remove dregs, take warm. The above two formulas must be used after the ulcer has ruptured and pus has emerged, and only when the interior deficiency has occurred.

Another Case
Xiang Youzheng was the son of Yuan Zhong. In the eighth year of Chunxi, he served as the Assistant Administrator of Jiangling and acted as the Magistrate of Jiangling. An abscess developed between his chest and epigastrium, causing extreme pain. It did not heal for half a year. Often after bathing, the pain would intensify, leaving him exhausted and lying down, in a state between sleep and wakefulness. He dreamed of a man who bowed slightly and sat down, transmitting a prescription to him saying: "Use Moyao (Myrrha), Gualou (Trichosanthis Fructus), and Ruxiang (Olibanum). Decoct with wine and take." He also said that Xu Zhen, the Magistrate of Taoyuan, had this same prescription but did not use Gualou, so its effect was not as rapid. Youzheng respectfully thanked him and immediately followed the advice. He recovered before finishing one dose. Later, he went to Yuquan to pray for rain and visited the Temple of Guan Yu at Shouting Pavilion. The person who appeared in his dream was indeed Guan Yu, so he painted his portrait at home.

Clinical Experience in Treating Sores and Ulcers
In the Wushen year, due to excessive drinking, the pulse was deep and rapid. On September 17th, I arrived in Zhending. A small sore appeared below the brain and above the neck. It was neither painful nor itchy. I thought it was Baibang (Psoriasis) and paid no attention to it. That night, I stayed at Shanfu's house. Two days later, I felt slight pain. I visited the National Physician Li Gong Mingzhi three times, but he never mentioned anything. Two days later, my head and neck felt numb, the swelling spread outward, and heat-toxin erupted. Moreover, I heard that Commander Liu of this prefecture had recently died from a carbuncle on the back of the head, so I suspected I had the same disease. Within three days, the pain became severe, and I could not sleep at night. On the 22nd, I invited a surgeon from Zhen to treat me. He prescribed Wuxiang Liaoqiao Decoction. The next day, I went again and invited a fellow physician to examine me together. Both said it was a ju (deep-seated abscess). However, it could not be cured quickly. Pus was discharged on the 18th. Wait for the pus to come out, then apply medicine or use bianci (stone needle therapy). It would take three months to heal and four months to return to normal. I remembered that medical classics state that seeing pus in sores means nine deaths and one life. Indeed, if what these two doctors said was true, I would have regretted waiting helplessly for death. So I went to the home of my maternal cousin, Staff Officer Han Yanjun, and asked Mingzhi to diagnose me. Mingzhi saw the sore, talked and laughed as usual, and told me: "Although the sore is severe, you should rely on me and have no fear." For diseases caused by rich and greasy food, Wuxiang San should not be used. It is too late for Wuxiang San now. Moreover, since the ju has lasted eight days, fire therapy should be used first, followed by medicine. In the afternoon, large moxa cones the size of a jujube pit were applied, totaling 100 moxibustions, until pain was felt. Then he prescribed: This is a disease of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian. The pathology is rebellious, so reverse treatment is required. The pulse is wiry and tight; pressing it reveals a surging, large, and rapid quality, and it is forceful. One must subdue the dominant pathogen and address the cause first. The beginning may seem similar, but the end will differ. One can break accumulations, soften hardness, harmonize qi and blood, and ensure recovery. One must first consider the seasonal qi and not damage the harmony of heaven and humanity. From the perspective of the season, sweating is contraindicated. The meridian and disease prohibit purgation. The method dictates that stagnation should be dispersed, and salty flavors should soften hardness. However, cold evil prohibits salty flavors. Bitter-cold herbs serve as Sovereign and Minister drugs, sweet-cold herbs as Assistant drugs, hot wine as Guide drugs, and specific herbs as Envoy drugs. Acrid-warm herbs harmonize blood; highly acrid herbs resolve knots as Ministers. Three acrid and three sweet herbs benefit primordial qi and harmonize blood vessels. Bland-draining herbs guide dampness from wine, supporting the autumn energy, benefiting qi, draining fire, using herbs entering the primary meridian to harmonize blood, and serving as guides. Having established unblocking the meridian as the main function, the Sovereign herbs are Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex), Shengdihuang (Rehmanniae Radix), and Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), all prepared with wine. Ben-meridian herbs Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix), Duhuo (Angelicae Pubescentis Radix), Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), Gaoben (Ligustici Rhizoma et Radix), Fangji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), and Liaoqiao (Forsythiae Fructus) resolve knots. Huangqi (Astragali Radix), Renshen (Ginseng Radix), and Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) are combined with one-third of the bitter-cold herbs; too much would cloy the Ying qi and tonify Earth. Raw Gancao drains Kidney fire and benefits Lower Jiao primordial qi. Renshen and Ju pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) tonify the Stomach. Sumu (Sappan Lignum) and Dangguiwei (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) eliminate bad blood. Shengdihuang (Rehmanniae Radix) and Dangguishen (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) nourish blood. Wine-prepared Hanfangji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix) removes retained heat in the Bladder. Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma) assists autumn energy and removes damp-heat from wine. All these herbs must have Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix) as a boat and oar to prevent sinking. After taking the medicine, the ju should become painless and not burst, Jing qi will flourish greatly, appetite will increase, and the body will become robust. I took the medicine as instructed. After taking it, I fell into a deep sleep in bed and woke up at sunrise. Touching the sore, the swelling had reduced by seven or eight parts. Suspecting the timing of the sore opening, I urgently invited Mingzhi to see it. Mingzhi was surprised and delighted, saying: "The sore has flattened." Counting on his fingers, he said: "In five to seven days, scabs will form, and you can go out." Three days passed like this. Suddenly, there was a disturbance during nocturnal sleep. I feared it was a sign of death and was very worried, but had no one to tell. Just then, Mingzhi entered the door and jokingly said to me: "You have three signs of efficacy after taking the medicine, why didn't you tell me?" He then listed them: "Have you been eating well these past two or three days?" I said yes. He asked again: "Your legs and knees were previously weak; do you walk with strength now?" I said yes. He asked again: "You had a nocturnal disturbance last night; why didn't you say so yourself?" I smiled, but ultimately did not tell him about the disturbance. On the 29th, the sore pain completely disappeared. Pus came out from the moxa scars, and scabs soon formed. Initially, people in Zhen saw the suffering of Commander Liu's carbuncle, and those who spoke of it felt tragic. Hearing that I had contracted this sore again, relatives and old friends who missed me raised their hands to their foreheads, praying for peace. On October 17th, Mingzhi invited me to his home. Riding a horse through the market, people saw me and some were overjoyed. From the administration of the medicine to the healing of the scab, it took only fourteen days. I lived in Liaocheng and saw Mingzhi treating Yang Feiqing's flank abscess in Liang County, Guo Wen's father's carbuncle on the back of the head, and Yang Shuneng's back carbuncle. None of them took more than ten or twenty days to recover. However, none were as miraculous as the treatment of my sore. Medicine is not difficult; treating sores on the back and head is especially difficult. Do worldly physicians not achieve results with their skills? Beyond achieving therapeutic effects, being able to enumerate the secrets of the body that are not spoken of—throughout my life, I have seen only Mingzhi. In the autumn of Yiwei year, returning from Jinan, I suffered from excessive cold, my qi seemed to cease and I was near death. Mingzhi administered medicine, and I recovered instantly. He brought me back from death; this and the previous case make two. Another day, I advised Liu Sili to write a biography of Qian Yi; it should be supplemented then. On July 25th of the following autumn, recorded by Yuan Haowen of Hedong.

Huanglian Xiaodu San (Coptis Detoxification Powder)
Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma, 1 qian), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix, 5 fen), Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex, 5 fen), Shengdihuang (Rehmanniae Radix, 4 fen), Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma, 4 fen), Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix, 1 qian), Duhuo (Angelicae Pubescentis Radix, 4 fen), Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix, 4 fen), Gaoben (Ligustici Rhizoma et Radix, 4 fen), Dangguiwei (Angelicae Sinensis Radix, 4 fen), Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix, 5 fen), Huangqi (Astragali Radix, 2 fen), Renshen (Ginseng Radix, 3 fen), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, 3 fen), Liaoqiao (Forsythiae Fructus, 4 fen), Sumu (Sappan Lignum, 2 fen), Fangji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix, 5 fen), Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma, 2 fen), Ju pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, 2 fen). The above ingredients are cut like hemp beans. Make into one dose. Add 2 zhen of water, decoct to 1.5 zhen, remove dregs, take warm after meals. Another formula adds Shanzhizi (Gardeniae Fructus, 2 fen), Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus, 2 fen), Maimendong (Ophiopogonis Radix, 2 fen), Zhike (Aurantii Fructus, 2 fen), Zhuling (Polyporus, 2 fen), named Xiaodu Kuijian Tang (Detoxification and Hardness-Resolving Decoction). It treats carbuncles, swellings, scrofula, and breast abscesses. Depending on the patient's deficiency or excess, and the weight of the prescription, it is invariably effective.