Library

Sanhe San (Harmonizing 150 cases, Qi Constipation) Yixue Dan (Tonifying 157 cases, Prolonged Deficiency after Blood Loss) Renshen Guben Wan (Tonifying 160 cases, Yin Deficiency)
Runchang Tang (Harmonizing 333 cases, Blood Dryness) Tongyou Tang (Harmonizing 334 cases, Dryness Accumulation Pain) Banshu Wan (Warming 187 cases, Cold Constipation due to Deficiency) Zaogao San (Harmonizing 337 cases, Unblocking Constipation) Danggui Chengqi Tang (Purging 6 cases) Shiquan Dabu Tang (Tonifying 20 cases, Deficiency Constipation) Xijiao Wan (Purging 90 cases, Phlegm-Fire Constipation) Yixue Runchang Tang (Harmonizing 342 cases, Constipation in the Elderly) Diaoying Huoluo Yin (Harmonizing 283 cases) Da Yihan Wan (Warming 171 cases, Cold Constipation) Muxiang Binglang Wan (Purging 50 cases, Accumulated Heat Constipation) Shaoyao Qinggan San (Cooling 61 cases) Danggui Longhui Wan (Cooling 167 cases) Taoren Chengqi Tang (Purging 4 cases) *Shenghui* Soushun Fengqi Wan (Harmonizing 344 cases, Blood Dryness with Heat)

Illness is not something people desire, so why does feigned illness occur? It may arise from litigation, fighting, jealousy among a wife's natal family members, or conflicts over fame and profit. Thus, human deceit and hypocrisy emerge from these situations. If one does not see through them, one will inevitably be deceived. The method of treating such conditions involves using their own deception against them, so that the true condition reveals itself and the feigned illness heals. This is an indispensable skill for physicians.

Zhang Zhongjing said: "When a patient lies facing the wall, does not startle up nor look when the physician arrives, speaks hesitantly ('three words, three pauses'), and swallows saliva during pulse diagnosis, this is feigned illness. If the pulse appears harmonious at certain points, or if the patient yawns while the physician holds the pulse, there is no disease. One should merely state that the illness is severe and requires emetic or purgative medicines, as well as acupuncture on dozens or hundreds of acupoints to cure."

Previously, I stayed with several friends in Yuguan (Shanhaiguan). In our lodging, a friend who was usually fond of entertainment venues suddenly knocked urgently on my door shortly after the evening drum sounded in mid-winter. Upon opening the door, he asked for help in a panic, saying, "The prostitute I frequent has suddenly fallen critically ill. If she dies, disaster cannot be resolved." I went to examine her immediately. She was foaming at the mouth, stiff and collapsed on the ground. Her mouth, nose, and limbs were cold to the touch, and her breath was faint, as if extinguished. Seeing this state startled me greatly. I pulled her wrist to check the pulse but found the Cun Kou (radial artery) pulse was peaceful and did not match the symptoms. I thought, "If the pulse is so peaceful, why are the symptoms so critical?" Since we had just met, I did not yet suspect feigning. However, after deep contemplation, feeling skeptical, I re-examined the pulse, which remained calm and unchanged. It was like a sudden realization—was this what Zhang Zhongjing described? I then loudly declared beside the feigning prostitute: "This illness is critical. Unless fire therapy is used, she cannot survive; unless large moxa cones the size of dates or chestnuts are used, she cannot survive; unless continuous moxibustion is applied to the glabella (Yintang), Renzhong, and lower abdomen, she cannot survive. I have moxa at my residence; fetch it quickly." However, moxibustion takes time. Let us first give a medicine to ensure she can swallow. If she makes sounds after swallowing, life force has returned, and moxibustion may not even be needed. If she cannot swallow or makes no sound afterward, moxibustion must be performed immediately." I gave her a dose of medicine and instructed her to report back after taking it. Hearing my words, the cunning woman was secretly terrified, fearing the large moxa cones. She swallowed the medicine immediately. Shortly after, she groaned, moved slowly, and sat up. The next day, when I asked for the cause, I learned it was triggered by eating fermented bean paste (Hais). I laughed heartily, realizing that women in the entertainment trade could be so deceitful.

Furthermore, when I was in the capital, a nobleman named Jinwu Gong, who kept two concubines, one of whom was a Yan girl accompanied by her mother, witnessed a dispute between the two concubines. The Yan girl was in the wrong, and her mother encouraged the aggression, shouting and throwing herself about until she suffered Qi syncope and appeared dead. A maid held her seated from dusk till dawn, with no sign of recovery. At dawn, they invited me to treat her. Upon entering the room, I saw she was fleshy with dark skin, face blue, eyes closed, hand relaxed, and breath faint. Her pulse was deep, minute, and seemingly absent, leading me to believe she was truly critical. At that moment, I wanted to apply warming tonification but feared the rebellious Qi from anger might not have dissipated; I considered using aromatic opening agents but worried her extreme deficiency could not tolerate them. Hesitating, I requested a second examination. Upon re-entering, I noticed her hands were no longer relaxed but crossed tightly, clutching her belly and leaning back into the maid's embrace. I suspected that since she could cross her hands now, the previous relaxation might have been feigned. When I touched her again, she seemed to resist, and pulling her arm required significant force. Suddenly, I pulled her arm unexpectedly and forcefully, hearing a snap and feeling strong resistance. My doubts vanished; how could a dying person have such strength? I reasoned that her deep pulse might be due to fleshiness causing Qi stagnation, common in Northern constitutions, or simply because she was clenching her arms in deceit. Her blue face and faint breath were merely results of anger. With this insight, I loudly proclaimed her condition critical and mentioned moxibustion to frighten her. I then administered a dose of medicine, which cured her upon ingestion. The next day, meeting the nobleman, he asked: "Yesterday, I predicted her critical state. But if it was real, why did the medicine work so swiftly upon touching her lips? If it was fake, why did she perform so convincingly all night? Was there any secret in your prescription?" I replied: "My secret lies in speech. By making her fearful, she recovered quickly. The Classics say: 'Worry can overcome anger.' This illustrates how difficult human nature is to fathom. Had I not examined her twice, I too would have been deceived. Therefore, such cases require careful scrutiny."

Another relative, a scholar, was beaten by a eunuch's household and lay ill for ten days, vomiting blood full of basins. Rumors of homicide spread, implicating many others. Several physicians visited, seeing his critical appearance, and avoided him out of fear of liability. Finally, I went to examine him. His complexion showed no signs of distress, and his pulse was harmonious and slow, as usual. I began to doubt, then realized the truth, and whispered to him: "Others may be deceived, but can you deceive me? Is this your blood, or poultry blood?" He was stunned. He begged me to keep quiet. I then provided harmonizing treatment, and both parties reconciled gratefully. Another neighbor woman caused a scene due to jealousy over a concubine, cursing her husband until she fell into a fit, grinding teeth, staring wide-eyed, stiff and unconscious, appearing on the verge of death. Her husband was panicked, and her relatives suffered humiliation. I treated her, finding the pulse inconsistent with the symptoms, and used the previous method. After recovery, her husband thanked me, unaware he had been tricked. These two cases represent common human behaviors. Without clear discernment, feigned illnesses could prolong into real diseases, and minor grievances could escalate into major disasters. I dismiss such deceptions easily, like shaking off dust. By doing so, I benefit others and prevent deception, so I record them for urgent reference.