一、金宅少妇,宦门女也,素任性,每多胸胁痛及呕吐等证,随调随愈。后于秋
尽时,前证复作,而呕吐更甚,病及两日,甚至厥脱不省如垂绝者。再后延予,至,见数医
环视,佥云汤饮诸药皆不能受,入口即吐,无策可施。一医云∶惟用独参汤,庶几可望其生
耳。余因诊之,见其脉乱数甚,而且烦热躁扰,莫堪名状,意非阳明之火,何以急剧若此。
乃问其欲冷水否?彼即点首,遂与以半钟,惟此不吐,且犹有不足之状,乃复与一钟,稍觉
安静。余因以太清饮投之,而犹有谓此非伤寒,又值秋尽,能堪此乎?余不与辩,及药下咽
,即酣睡半日,不复呕矣。然后以滋阴轻清等剂调理而愈。大都呕吐多属胃寒,而复有火证
若此者,经曰∶诸逆冲上,皆属于火,即此是也。自后凡见呕吐,其有声势涌猛,脉见洪数
,证多烦热者,皆以此法愈之,是又不可不知也。
一、胡宅小儿,年甫三岁,偶因饮食不调,延幼科延医,所用之药,无非清火化滞等剂
,因而更损胃气,反致呕吐溏泄,复加清利,遂致吐蛔,初止数条,渐至数十条,细如灯草
,甚至成团搅结而出,早晚不绝。所下者,亦如之,羸困至极,求治于予。因与温胃饮二三
剂,其虫朝夕不止,其多如故。初不识其何所从来,而神化之速,一至如此。乃翁切恳曰∶
止此一儿,死生在公矣,万望先逐此虫,虫不尽则病日甚,其能生乎。予弗之听,但以前药
倍加人参,仍加附子二三剂,而呕吐渐稀,泻亦随止。泻止后乃以理阴煎、温胃饮出入间
用,十余日而虫渐少,一月余而饮食进,肌肉生,复元如故矣。其翁积诚称谢,因问曰∶小
豚之病诚然危矣,令何以不治虫,不治呕泻,而三者俱愈,可闻教乎?予曰∶公之所畏者,
虫也;予之所畏者,胃气也。且凡逐虫之药,无有不伤胃气者,向使胃气再伤,非惟不能逐
虫,而命必随之矣,其害孰甚。故保生之权,全在知本知末,但使脾胃日强,则拔去化虫之
源,而三病同归一得矣,尚何虫泻之敢横哉。闻者叹服,因附着按于此。
又一王宅少妇,年未二旬,素喜瓜果生冷,因常病心腹疼痛,每发必数日不食;后及二
旬之外,则每发必至吐蛔。初吐尚少,自后日甚日多,每吐必一二十条,每发必旬日不食。
所经诸医,但知攻虫,旋去旋生,百药不效。予为诊视脉证,并察病因,知其伤于生冷,以
致脾胃虚寒,阴湿气聚,故为此证。使不温养脾胃,以杜寒湿化生之源,而但事攻虫,虫去
复生,终无济也,因制温脏丸与之,药未完而病随愈矣。后因病愈,而少年任意,仍耽生果
,旧病复作,再制丸服,乃得全愈。观此二证,如前之小儿,乃因凉药伤脾,所以生虫;后
之女人,乃因生果伤胃,所以生虫,可见阴湿内淫,而脾胃虚寒,是即生虫之由也。故凡治
虫之法,但察其别无疳热等证者,悉当以温补脾胃为主。
1. A young wife in the Jin family, a daughter of an official's household, had a willful nature and frequently suffered from chest and hypochondriac pain accompanied by vomiting, which resolved promptly after treatment. Later, at the end of autumn, these symptoms recurred with more severe vomiting. The illness persisted for two days, progressing to cold extremities, unconsciousness, and a critical state resembling impending death. I was subsequently consulted. Upon arrival, I found several physicians surrounding the patient, all stating that decoctions and other medicines could not be retained; anything taken was vomited immediately, leaving them without recourse. One physician remarked, "Only by using *Dushen Tang* (Single Ginseng Decoction) is there hope for survival." I then examined her pulse and found it chaotic and extremely rapid, accompanied by vexation, heat, and restlessness beyond description. I surmised that unless it was Fire of the Yangming channel, how could it be so acute? I asked if she desired cold water. She nodded immediately. I gave her half a *zhong* (a unit of measure), and this was the only thing she did not vomit; indeed, she seemed to desire more. I then gave her another *zhong*, after which she felt slightly calmer. I then administered *Taiqing Yin* (Supreme Clarity Drink). Others questioned whether this was appropriate since it was not a *Shanghan* (Cold Damage) disease and it was late autumn, asking if her constitution could withstand such cold medicine. I did not argue. After the medicine was swallowed, she slept soundly for half a day, and the vomiting ceased. Subsequently, she recovered after being regulated with light, yin-nourishing formulas. Most vomiting cases belong to Stomach Cold, but here we have a Fire syndrome. As the Classics state: "All upward rushing and counterflow symptoms belong to Fire," which applies exactly to this case. From then on, whenever I encountered vomiting characterized by vigorous and forceful expulsion, a洪数 (Hong-Shu / Surging-Rapid) pulse, and symptoms of vexation and heat, I cured them using this method. This is something one must not fail to know.
2. A three-year-old child in the Hu family accidentally suffered from irregular diet. The pediatrician prescribed medicines primarily for clearing fire and resolving stagnation, which further damaged the Stomach Qi. Consequently, vomiting and loose stools ensued. Additional diuretic and clearing treatments were applied, leading to the expulsion of roundworms (*Ascaris*). Initially, only a few worms were expelled, gradually increasing to dozens, thin as rush grass, sometimes clumping together and emerging continuously day and night. The stool contained similar worms. The child became extremely emaciated and weak, seeking my treatment. I prescribed *Wenwei Yin* (Warm the Stomach Drink) for two or three doses. However, the worms continued to appear morning and evening in large numbers. I initially did not understand their origin or their rapid proliferation. The father pleaded earnestly, "This is our only son; his life depends on you. I implore you to expel these worms first. If the worms are not eliminated, the disease will worsen daily, and he cannot survive." I did not heed his request. Instead, I doubled the amount of Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) in the previous formula and added Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata). After two or three doses, vomiting gradually decreased, and diarrhea stopped. Following the cessation of diarrhea, I alternated between *Liyin Jian* (Nourish Yin Decoction) and *Wenwei Yin* with modifications. Over ten days, the number of worms diminished. After more than a month, appetite returned, muscle mass increased, and health was fully restored. The grateful father asked, "The child's condition was indeed critical. Why did you treat neither the worms nor the vomiting and diarrhea, yet all three conditions resolved? Please instruct me." I replied, "What you fear is the worms; what I fear is the Stomach Qi. Moreover, all vermifuges damage the Stomach Qi. Had the Stomach Qi been further damaged, not only would the worms not have been expelled, but life itself would have been lost. What harm could be greater? Therefore, the key to preserving life lies in understanding the root and the branch. If the Spleen and Stomach are strengthened daily, the source of worm generation is eradicated, and all three diseases are resolved simultaneously. How dare the worms and diarrhea persist?" Those who heard this sighed in admiration and recorded this commentary.
Another case involved a young wife in the Wang family, under twenty years old, who habitually enjoyed melons and raw/cold foods. She frequently suffered from heart and abdominal pain, during which she abstained from food for several days. After turning twenty, each episode was accompanied by vomiting roundworms. Initially, few worms were vomited, but the frequency and quantity increased daily, often expelling ten to twenty worms per episode, accompanied by ten days of fasting. Previous physicians focused solely on attacking the worms; the worms were expelled but regenerated, rendering various medicines ineffective. I examined her pulse and symptoms and investigated the cause, determining that injury from raw/cold foods led to Spleen and Stomach Deficiency-Cold, causing Yin-Dampness to accumulate. Thus, this syndrome arose. Without warming and nourishing the Spleen and Stomach to cut off the source of Cold-Dampness generation, merely attacking the worms would result in their recurrence without benefit. I prepared *Wenzang Wan* (Warm the Viscera Pill) for her. The illness resolved before the medication was finished. Later, due to her youthful indiscretion, she resumed consuming raw fruits, causing a relapse. Taking the pill again led to complete recovery. Observing these two cases: the boy developed worms because cold medicines injured the Spleen; the woman developed worms because raw fruits injured the Stomach. This demonstrates that internal invasion of Yin-Dampness and Spleen-Stomach Deficiency-Cold are the causes of worm generation. Therefore, in treating worm syndromes, provided there are no other signs like Childhood Malnutrition Heat (*Ganre*), the primary approach should always be warming and tonifying the Spleen and Stomach.