从侄培俊，号君彦，遇拂意事，肝本郁，饱食后游留园，见有市蟹粉馒头者，素所嗜，又食五枚．，返家而厥，食厥也，旋醒，医来用消导药。余曰"食在胃中则宜消?转入大肠则宜下，今满填至膈，盍用吐法?"医曰"吐则气逆，其如再厥何?"余曰"诚哉，是言也。但膈与胃肠食滞充塞，气道艰通，转输亦钝，必俟大肠之宿垢下，而后胃之宿食动，必俟胃之宿食化而转入肠，而后胸膈胃口之新食入于胃，入于胃仍必俟化而转入肠，恐病去而!气液与之俱去耳，因知吐法非万全也。但考古谓新食宜吐，宿食宜消亦非无见，使吐而不再厥，或厥而即醒，食去其半，气得其通，便易于措治矣。，，未敢试，滞尽下而脱。侄妇程氏，即君彦之室也，曾有血症，亦不常发，患虚信补，但闻补者即嗜之，余劝曰"虚有阴阳气血之分，即物有补阴、补阳、补气、补血之别，况血症未必即届虚乎?"不听，常服紫河车。余又劝曰"紫河车之为物，罕可用者，以其或有霉病蕴毒之胞，食反有害。"，亦不听，某日与其母其兄会饮，有辛辣物，食过量，饱食填膺，息骤涌，狂吐，继以血，血不止，医治之无效。后余在济阳，得家报，知再从侄成懋，系君彦之次子也，亦以伤食失治而殒。夫妇父子三人，均死于食，语曰"祸从口出，病从口入"，谓言之不可不慎，食之不可不节也，可不儆哉!
以上八则，丙辰阴历九月十二日在济阳署，公余之暇，寂坐衙斋，默计十年前三姊于是日身故，为之怆然，因追忆情状；，沘笔为记，并连及数事，医愈者少半，医死者反大半，宜乎古人谓"不服药为中医"哉。医 谈 录 旧[陆晋笙弁言]阅旧小说家往往记载医事，其间颇有中肯要处， 因而掇拾，辑为一帙， 兹者印鄙著：《景景医话》，以其相类也，故附编于后。
三焦有名无形辨
明·仁和姜蓉塘南《半村野人闲谈》载苏黄门《龙川志》云：彭山有隐者，通古医术，与世诸医所用法不同，人莫知之。单骧从之学，尽得其术，遂以医名于世。治乎中，予与骧遇于广都，·论古今术同异，骧既言其略，复叹曰"古人论五脏六腑，其说有谬者，而相承不察，今欲以告人，人谁信者，古说左肾其府膀胱，右肾命门其府三焦，丈夫以藏精，女子以系包，以理言之，三焦当如膀胱，故可以藏有所系，若其无形，尚可以藏系哉?且其所以谓之三焦者何也?三焦分布人体中，有上中下之异，方人心湛寂，欲念不起，则精气散在三焦，荣华百骸，及其欲念一起，心火炽然，翕撮三焦精气，入命门之府，输泻而去，故号此腑为三焦耳。世承叔和之谬而不悟，可为长叹息也。"予甚异其说，后为齐州从事，有一举子齐遁者，石守道之婿也，少尝学医于卫州，闻高敏之遗说，疗病有精思，予为道骧之言，遁喜曰"齐尝大饥，群句相脔割而食，有一人皮肉尽而骨脉全者，遁以学医，往观其五脏，见右肾下有脂膜如手大者，正与膀胱相对，有二白脉自其中出，夹脊而上贯脑，意此即导引家所谓夹脊双关者，而不悟脂膜如手大者之为三焦也。单君之言，与所见悬合，可以正古人之谬矣。今医家者流，皆执叔和三焦无状空有名以自信，不闻有此说，故录之。燧按：谓三焦有名无形始于秦越人，然愚以为乃躯壳内脏腑外之脂膜高处，焦者高也，非气也，但以气道所流通，用药则宜气药而不宜血药耳。
病笑
德清陈云瞻尚古《簪云楼杂说》载：先达李其姓，归德府鹿邑人也，世为农家。癸卯获隽于乡，伊父以喜故，失声大笑，乃春举进士，其笑弥甚，历十年擢谏垣，遂成痼疾，初犹间发，后宵旦不能休，大谏甚忧之，从容语太医院某，因得所授，命家人绐乃父云"大谏已殁。"乃父恸绝几殒，如是者十日，病渐瘳。佯为邮语云"大谏治以赵大夫，绝而复苏。"李因不悲，而笑症永不作矣。盖医者意也。过喜则伤，济以悲而乃和，技进乎道矣。燧按：此深得《内经》"喜伤心，恐胜喜；恐伤肾，思胜恐；思伤脾，怒胜思；怒伤肝，悲胜怒；忧伤肺，喜胜忧"之旨；，知此可与言治七情病矣。
过食辛辣成毒
又载乌程顾文虎，累叶簪缨，习享丰豫，忽一日，促家人持竹批，解裤受杖，后习为故常，用稍轻，辄加呵责，或反以杖杖之，必重下乃呼快心，如是数年，渐觉疼痛而止。医者闻之曰"过嗜辛辣发物，则热毒内讧?因成奇痒，适打散不致上攻，否则疽发背而死矣。"此富贵之人炯鉴也。
头痛
《谭瀛》云：山右傅青主征君山，精医，今所传世者，仅妇科书，顾不徒精妇科也。有同乡某，客都中，忽患头痛，经多医不效。闻太医院某公为国手，断人生死不爽，特造请诊治，公按脉毕，命之曰："此一月症也，可速归家料理后事，迟无及矣。"某闻怏怏归寓，急治任兼程旋里。会征君入都，遇诸途，问某归意，以疾告，曰太医院某君，今国手也，盍请治之?某叹曰"仆此归，正遵某公命也。"乃具告所言。征君骇；曰："果尔奈何?试为汝咏之。"按脉良久，叹曰："某公真国手也，其言不谬。"某固知征君技不在某公下，泫然泣曰："诚如君言，某真无生望矣。然君久著和缓名，竟不能生死人而肉白骨乎?"征君又沉思久之，谓曰；"汝疾万无生理，今思得一法，愈则不任功，不愈亦不任过，汝如法试之何如?"某大喜求方，征君命归家遍觅健少所着旧毡笠十余枚，煎浓汤，漉成膏，旦夕服之。疾果瘥。寻至都中，见征君，喜慰异常。趋往谒某公，公见某至，瞿然曰"君犹无恙耶。"具以征君所治之法告之，公叹曰："傅君神医，吾不及也。吾初诊汝疾，系脑髓亏耗，按古方唯生人脑可疗，颐万不能致，则疾亦别无治法。今傅君以健少毡笠多枚代之，真神手，吾不及也，若非傅君，汝白骨寒矣，谓非为鄙人所误耶！"
解卤汁
纪晓岚昀《如是我闻》载：饮卤汁者，血疑(凝)而死，无药可医。里有妇人饮此者，方张皇莫措，忽一媪排阖入曰"可急取隔壁卖豆腐家所磨豆浆灌之。卤得豆浆，则凝浆为腐，而不至于凝血。我是前村老狐，曾闻仙人言此方也。"
经阻腹大呕不纳谷
上海毛祥麟对山《快心醒睡录》，载治缪理堂司马细君，经阻年余，腹形渐大，呕不纳谷，日仅饮藕汁一二杯，已待毙矣。延余往诊，见其弱不胜衣，喘不成语，按脉左三部细若游丝，而右关独大，知疾在厥阴而损及太阴，阅前医立案，或言气言聚，或言症瘕，杂投辛香燥散，以至危殆，爰以甘缓之剂，一进而逆止，再进而食增，继以育阴益气，经月而胀满悉除矣。是症初不过液枯气结，木乘中土，惟攻伐过甚，阴液日涸，遂至肝阳莫制，阳明受困，夫阳土喜柔，甘能缓急，进甘缓者，治肝即所以救胃，此一举兼备法也。
浮肿
毛又云："癸丑寓乡，有舵工子，夏患疮痒，医投苦寒之品，至秋渐至浮肿，继延幼科，更进利导，肿势日甚，病及半年，仅存一息，绝食已二日矣。或谓余知医，其父遂踵门求治。余鉴其诚，往视，肿势已甚，面目几不可辨，脉亦无从据按，因思病久必虚，且多服寒凉，脾土益衰，而及于肾，肾水泛溢，三焦停滞，水渗皮肤，注于肌肉，水盈则气促而欲脱，拟急进独参汤以助肺气，盖肺主一身气化，且有金水相生之义也，时乡间无以觅参，乃以仙居术一两，令浓煎，尽一器服之，喉间痰声觉渐退，于是特进六君[子汤]，重用参术，甫半月而肿尽消。此二症皆以平淡取效，可见方不在奇，在用之得当耳。
霍乱吐泻
毛又云：夏令暑热炎蒸，湿浊上腾，人在蒸淫热迫中，设或正气不足，最易感病，矧南方地卑气薄，更多中痧吐泻之症。推其致病之原，或过于贪凉，风寒外受，或困于行路，暑湿相干，或口腹不慎，为冷腻所滞，或饮食不节，使输化失宜，或感时行疫疠之邪，或触秽恶不正之气，皆能致脾土不运，阴阳反戾，升降失司，卒然腹痛，上下奔迫，四肢厥冷，吐泻并作，津液顿亡，则宗筋失养，故足挛筋缩，先起两腿，或见四肢，名曰霍乱转筋，生死瞬息。年来此症大行，我色地窄人稠，互相传染，甚有一家数人，同时告毙，深可畏也。兹故不揣鄙陋，爰拟一方，名曰圣治，入夏可预合备用，如遇疫疠时行，痧暑并触，或感秽，或入病家心怀疑虑，胸觉痞闷时，藉以一丸入口，以解秽却邪，勿乱其气。方用正号仙居野术，烘燥勿令焦黑二两，真川厚朴二两，白檀香研细末一两，真降香研细末一两，新会皮用盐水炒二两，以上五味，再同研为极细末，以广藿香六两煎浓汤，泛丸如大黄豆大，每服二三丸，细嚼和津咽下。按术味甘能和脾，苦能燥湿，定中止呕，扶正却邪，开胃气以除积饮，故用以为君；朴苦辛能泻实而化湿，平胃调中，消痰行水，兼治泻痢呕恶；陈皮为脾肺气分之药，能快膈导滞，宣通五脏并可除寒散表，故用此二味为臣；檀香调脾利膈，正气驱邪；降香能辟秽恶怪异之气，故用为佐使，藿香禀清和芬芳之气，为达脾肺之要药，气机通畅，则邪逆自定，故用为引，其曰圣治者，以圣人有治病治未病之旨，盖思患预防，莫若服药于未病之先，使轻者解散，而重者化轻，未必非却病养生之一助云。
生螺鲠喉
《谭瀛》载富翁某，中年举二雄，甫周啐，忽终日啼哭，滴乳不食，举家忧惶，延多医商治，筹商立方，药不下咽，束手无策，次第散去，中有某医，素专治小儿，其术甚精，再三谛视指纹，知儿固无病，窃希厚酬，独留不去，而展转思维，卒不喻其啼哭不乳之故，偶游后园，见乳姆于荷池为儿洗濯衣袴，蓬头悲泣，问其何泣之哀，答曰"妾一家老幼不下十口，皆赖妾在此乳儿，得不冻馁，今儿疾不治，一家断难存活，那得不哭，"医闻是乳姆，其心忽动，乃曰"我医也，再四谛视指纹，儿实无病，但不喻其啼哭不乳之故，汝若知之，可悉告我，我当设法治之。若是则汝家温饱，我亦得厚酬矣，未审汝知之否?"乳姆闻之，惶遽投地，悄语之曰"先生必秘勿告翁，妾乃敢言。"医曰"诺。"乃曰"前日抱儿戏池畔，儿掬石上生螺，纳诸口中，妾急以指掬之．已鲠喉际，从此啼哭，滴乳不食，此致病之由，惟妾一人知之，先生未审果能治之否?"医抚掌笑曰"得之矣。"见翁，笑贺曰"顷思得一良法，疾可立愈。"嘱翁速购肥鸭百头，绳系其足而倒悬之，以盎承鸭嘴所流渔(涎)沫若千，用铫频挹注儿口中，不炊许时，儿啼哭顿止，且以手索乳哺矣。
转女为男
天长宣鼎瘦梅《夜雨秋灯录》载：吾乡史苕楣明经，为人慷慨好施，老年望孙念切，子妇怀孕，未卜男女，时有精岐黄之迫，不屑以医名者，苕楣延诊，其人曰"脉主得女，然吾翁之善，可回天意，请竭吾术，使转为男，以报知己。第阳茎须移一肢改造，得男必缺一肢，翁愿之否?"苕楣诧曰"先生之学，素所敬佩，不意竟能化女为男，无已，请移其足趾?无碍观瞻，更妙。"其人曰"不能。上可移下，下不能移上。再三筹度，惟两手小指无用，可以挪借。"苕楣欣然诺谢，遂设炉炼药，佩服兼行，及期，果产男孩，手仅八指，见客腼腆，宛若闺阁中人。
又载姑苏有老翁，富而无嗣，仅生一女，及笄病笃，医皆束手，聘名医叶天士诊之，笑曰："是非病也。肯以若女为我女，且从我游，百日后，还阁下以壮健者，如迟疑不决，是翁自杀之，死非正命，良可哀也。"翁诧曰："诚如是，愿以千金为寿。"天士携归，另洁密室选婢之美而艳者，使伴女宿，嘱曰"此汝姑也，终身依依在是，顺姑无违，稍有拂逆，致增其病，惟汝是间。"于是日给药饵，恒往困之，见女体渐壮，容渐舒，与婢情纤日密，形影相随，知事已遂，遽入其室，迫喝婢日"汝与姑所作何事?我窥觇洞彻，必尽言之，如敢隐讳，将以刑求，毋自苦也。"婢视女而泣，女忸怩曰："婢之伴我，翁之严命，如违应责，顺何罪耶?"婢因曰："是主陷奴耳。以郎君伪称义女，而使奴同衾枕，违既不敢，从又获咎，使奴置身何地?"天士大笑曰"已顺从姑耶，方为汝喜，岂汝责耶，速女改装，去发而辫之，以药展其弓足，衣冠履舄，居然男子。延其父至，而告曰："阁下以子为女，伪疾诳我，误使义女伴之，今为其所乱，将如之何?"翁愕然，不解所谓，乃使两人出拜，顾而大乐，愿以婢为儿妇，与天士结为姻娅，往来无间。
《乡序》曰："变女为男之法，见于医经，史以盛德而遇良医，理所应得，无足怪者·，惟叶所治之女，其医经所载之五不男耶，名曰"天捷妬变半"。任冲不盛，宗筋不成曰天；值男即女，值女即男曰捷；男根不满，似有似无曰妬；半月为男，半月为女曰变；虽有男根，不能交媾曰半。此五等人，状貌血气，本具男形，惟任冲二脉不足，似男而不成其男，为父母者，误以作女，年至十六，气足神旺，阳事兴矣，郁不得发，是以病笃，幸遇名医，充以妙药，诱以所欲，自然阳茎突出，不复女矣。吾意五不男中，除天阉外，皆可以药救也。
环唇疔
My nephew Peijun, courtesy name Junyan, encountered frustrating matters, causing his Liver Qi to be stagnant. After a full meal, he strolled in the Liuyuan Garden and saw someone selling crab roe steamed buns, which he had always loved, so he ate five more. Upon returning home, he suffered from Jue syndrome (sudden fainting with loss of consciousness), known as Food Jue (Jue syndrome caused by food stagnation). He soon regained consciousness, and a doctor arrived to prescribe digestive aids. I said, "If food is in the stomach, it should be treated with digestion methods; if it has moved to the large intestine, purgative methods should be used. Now the food is filling and blocking up to the diaphragm. Why not use emetic methods?" The doctor replied, "Emesis causes Qi to rebel upwards. What if another Jue episode occurs?" I said, "That is indeed true. However, the diaphragm and gastrointestinal tract are blocked by food stagnation, making the airway difficult to clear and transport sluggish. We must wait for the accumulated feces in the large intestine to descend before the old food in the stomach can move; we must wait for the old food in the stomach to digest and enter the intestines before new food at the chest and stomach entrance can enter the stomach. Once in the stomach, it still must digest and enter the intestines. I fear that by the time the disease is gone, the Qi and body fluids will have been depleted along with it. Therefore, I know that emesis is not a perfect method. But examining ancient texts, saying that new food is suitable for emesis and old food for digestion is not without merit. If emesis prevents further Jue episodes, or if Jue resolves quickly, removing half the food and unblocking the Qi would make treatment easier." I dared not try it, resulting in the stagnation descending completely leading to collapse. His wife, Lady Cheng, who was Junyan's spouse, had previously suffered from Blood diseases (hemorrhagic conditions), though they were not frequent. Suffering from deficiency, she believed in tonification and eagerly consumed any tonic she heard of. I advised her, "Deficiency is categorized into Yin, Yang, Qi, and Blood, just as remedies differ for tonifying Yin, Yang, Qi, and Blood. Moreover, blood disorders are not necessarily due to deficiency." She did not listen and frequently consumed Placenta Humanum (Ziheche, human placenta). I advised again, "Placenta Humanum is rarely suitable for use, as it may contain toxins from moldy or diseased placentas, doing more harm than good." She still did not listen. One day, while dining with her mother-in-law and brother-in-law, she consumed spicy foods in excess. The fullness obstructed her chest, causing sudden surging of breath, violent vomiting followed by hematemesis (vomiting blood) that would not stop. Medical treatment was ineffective. Later, while I was in Jiyang, I received news that my second cousin once removed, Cheng Mao, Junyan's second son, also died due to untreated food injury. The husband, wife, father, and son—three generations—died due to dietary issues. As the saying goes, "Disaster comes from the mouth, illness enters through the mouth." This warns us to be cautious in speech and moderate in diet. Is this not a warning!
The above eight cases were recorded on the 12th day of the ninth lunar month in the Bingchen year at the Jiyang government office. During spare time after official duties, sitting quietly in the yamen study, I silently calculated that ten years ago, my third sister passed away on this very day, feeling sorrowful. Thus, recalling the circumstances, I wrote this down, linking several events. Fewer than half were cured by doctors, while more than half died under medical care. No wonder the ancients said, "Not taking medicine is the practice of a medium-level physician." [Preface to *Yi Tan Lu* by Lu Jinsheng]: Reading old novels often records medical affairs, many of which hit the mark. I have collected them into one volume. Now printing my work, *Jingjing Yihua*, because of its similarity, it is appended here.
**Discussion on the Named but Formless Sanjiao**
Ming Dynasty scholar Jiang Rongtang Nan of Renhe, in *Ban Cun Yeren Xiantan*, cites Su Huangmen's *Longchuan Zhi*: There was a recluse in Pengshan who understood ancient medical arts, using methods different from contemporary physicians, unknown to others. Shan Xiang studied under him, mastering all his techniques, and became famous as a physician. When treating Middle Jiao diseases, I met Shan Xiang in Guangdu. Discussing similarities and differences between ancient and modern arts, after Shan Xiang explained briefly, he sighed and said, "Ancient discussions on the Five Zang and Six Fu organs contain errors that have been passed down unnoticed. I wish to inform others, but who would believe? Ancient theory states the Left Kidney's Fu organ is the Bladder, and the Right Kidney's Fu organ is Mingmen, with the Sanjiao as its Fu. Men store Essence in it, women attach their Bao (uterus) to it. Logically, Sanjiao should be like the Bladder, capable of storage and attachment. If it is formless, how can it store or attach? Also, why is it called Sanjiao? Sanjiao distributes throughout the body with Upper, Middle, and Lower distinctions. When the mind is tranquil and desires absent, Essence and Qi scatter in the Sanjiao, nourishing the body. When desires arise, Heart Fire blazes, gathering Sanjiao Essence and Qi into the Mingmen Fu for discharge. Hence, this Fu is called Sanjiao. People follow Wang Shuhe's error without realizing it, which is lamentable." I found his view surprising. Later, serving as an official in Qizhou, I met a successful candidate, Qi Dun, son-in-law of Shi Shoudao, who had studied medicine in Weizhou and heard Gao Min's teachings, showing profound insight in treating diseases. I recounted Shan Xiang's words. Qi Dun rejoiced, saying, "During a great famine, people ate each other. I observed a corpse where skin and flesh were gone but bones and vessels remained. Being a student of medicine, I examined the internal organs and saw a fatty membrane the size of a hand below the right kidney, opposite the bladder, with two white vessels emerging from it, running up the spine to the brain. I thought this was the 'Double Passages along the Spine' mentioned in Daoyin practices, but failed to realize this fatty membrane was the Sanjiao. Master Shan's words perfectly matched my observations, correcting ancient errors. Modern physicians cling to Wang Shuhe's claim that Sanjiao is formless and only a name, unaware of this account, so I record it." Sui notes: The idea that Sanjiao is named but formless originated with Qin Yueren (Bian Que). However, I believe it refers to the high fatty membranes outside the viscera within the body shell. 'Jiao' means high, not Qi. It functions via Qi pathways; thus, treatments should use Qi-moving herbs rather than Blood-invigorating ones.
**Laughing Syndrome**
Chen Yunzhan Shanggu of Deqing, in *Zanyun Lou Zasuo*, records: A senior official surnamed Li from Luyi, Guidé Prefecture, came from a farming family. In the Gui Mao year, he passed the provincial examination. His father, overjoyed, burst into uncontrollable laughter. When Li passed the metropolitan examination, his laughter worsened. Ten years later, promoted to Censor, it became a chronic ailment. Initially intermittent, it eventually persisted day and night. The Censor was deeply worried and calmly spoke to a certain official in the Imperial Hospital, obtaining a prescribed method. He instructed his family to deceive his father, saying, "The Censor has died." His father fainted from grief, nearly dying. This lasted ten days, during which the illness gradually improved. They then spread false news that "The Censor was treated by Doctor Zhao and revived." Li's father no longer grieved, and the laughing syndrome never recurred. This illustrates that medicine relies on intent. Excessive joy injures the Heart; balancing it with sorrow brings harmony. Skill advances to the Dao. Sui notes: This deeply aligns with the *Neijing* principle: "Joy injures the Heart, Fear conquers Joy; Fear injures the Kidney, Thought conquers Fear; Thought injures the Spleen, Anger conquers Thought; Anger injures the Liver, Sorrow conquers Anger; Sorrow injures the Lungs, Joy conquers Sorrow." Understanding this allows one to discuss treating Seven Emotions disorders.
**Toxicity from Overconsumption of Spicy Foods**
It is also recorded that Gu Wenhuh of Wucheng, from a wealthy official family accustomed to luxury, suddenly ordered his servants to strip and receive bamboo cane beatings. He grew accustomed to this; if the beating was too light, he would scold them or beat them himself, only feeling satisfied with severe punishment. After years, he gradually felt pain and stopped. A physician remarked, "Overindulgence in spicy stimulating foods causes internal heat toxicity, leading to strange itching. Fortunately, the beating disperses the heat preventing it from attacking upward; otherwise, he would have died of back carbuncle." This serves as a warning for the wealthy.
**Headache**
*Tan Ying* states: Fu Qingzhu, a recluse from Shanxi, was proficient in medicine. Only his gynecological books survive, but he was not limited to gynecology. A fellow townsman residing in the capital suddenly suffered from headache. Many doctors failed to cure him. Hearing that a certain official in the Imperial Hospital was a national expert whose diagnosis of life and death was infallible, he sought treatment. After palpating the pulse, the official ordered him, "This is a fatal condition within one month. Return home immediately to settle your affairs; delay will be too late." Depressed, the man returned to his lodging and hurried home. On the way, he met Fu Qingzhu entering the capital. Fu asked why he was returning. Upon hearing the diagnosis, Fu suggested, "Doctor [Imperial Official] is now a national master. Why not consult him?" The man sighed, "I return precisely following his order," and recounted the conversation. Fu was shocked, asking, "What if it is true? Let me chant a poem for you." After long palpation, Fu sighed, "He is truly a national master; his words are correct." Knowing Fu's skill rivaled the Imperial Official's, the man wept, "If true, I have no hope. Yet you bear the fame of Bian Que and Hua Tuo. Can you not bring the dead back to life and flesh to bone?" Fu pondered deeply and said, "Your case is hopeless. I have devised a method. If cured, I take no credit; if not, I take no blame. Try it." Delighted, the man requested the prescription. Fu instructed him to find over ten old wool hats worn by healthy young men, boil them into a thick decoction, filter into a paste, and take morning and evening. The illness indeed resolved. Later in the capital, seeing Fu, he was overjoyed. He visited the Imperial Official, who exclaimed in surprise, "You are still alive!" The man explained Fu's treatment. The Official sighed, "Master Fu is a divine physician; I am inferior. My initial diagnosis was depletion of brain marrow. Ancient formulas suggest only fresh human brain could treat this, which is impossible to obtain. Thus, I had no other option. Now Master Fu substitutes healthy young men's hats. Truly a divine hand. Without him, you would be cold bones. Did I not mislead you?"
**Resolving Halogen Juice Poisoning**
Ji Xiaolan Yun, in *Ru Shi Wo Wen*, records: Drinking halogen juice causes blood coagulation and death, with no cure. A woman in the village drank it and was in panic when an old woman burst in saying, "Quickly get soy milk ground by the tofu seller next door and force-feed her. Halogen juice coagulates soy milk into tofu rather than blood. I am an old fox from the previous village who heard this prescription from an immortal."
**Amenorrhea with Abdominal Distension and Vomiting**
Mao Xianglin Duishan of Shanghai, in *Kuaixin Xingshui Lu*, records treating Lady Miao, wife of Sima Mitang. Amenorrhea had lasted over a year, abdomen enlarged, vomiting prevented food intake. She drank only one or two cups of lotus root juice daily, awaiting death. I was summoned. She was frail, unable to speak, panting. Pulse on the left three positions was thread-like, while the right Guan position was distinctly large. I determined the disease was in the Jueyin channel affecting the Taiyin. Reviewing previous records, doctors had used Qi-regulating, phlegm-resolving, or mass-breaking herbs, including pungent, aromatic, and drying agents, worsening her condition. I prescribed a sweet and緩缓 (soothing) agent. After one dose, rebellious Qi ceased; after two, appetite increased. Subsequently, nourishing Yin and boosting Qi eliminated distension within a month. Initially, this was fluid depletion and Qi stagnation, with Liver Wood overacting on Spleen Earth. Excessive attack dried Yin, allowing unchecked Liver Yang to困 (trap) the Yang Earth (Stomach). Yang Earth prefers softness; Sweet flavors relieve spasm. Treating the Liver with soothing agents saves the Stomach—a dual-purpose approach.
**Edema**
Mao adds: In the Gui Chou year, staying in the countryside, a boatman's son developed itchy sores in summer. Doctors administered bitter-cold herbs. By autumn, edema developed. Pediatricians added diuretics, worsening swelling. After six months, he was near death, having fasted for two days. His father sought my help. Seeing the severe edema obscuring facial features and undetectable pulse, I reasoned that chronic illness implies deficiency, exacerbated by cold herbs weakening Spleen Earth and affecting the Kidneys. Kidney water overflowed, Sanjiao stagnated, water seeping into skin and muscles. Fullness caused shortness of breath and impending collapse. I planned urgent Ginseng Decoction (Dushen Tang) to boost Lung Qi, as the Lung governs Qi transformation and Metal generates Water. Lacking Ginseng locally, I used one tael of Xianju Atractylodes macrocephala Rhizoma, decocted strongly. Phlegm sounds subsided. Then I advanced Liu Junzi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction) with heavy doses of Ginseng and Atractylodes. Swelling vanished in half a month. These cases show efficacy with plain formulas, proving prescriptions need not be exotic but appropriate.
**Huo Luan (Colic with Vomiting and Diarrhea)**
Mao adds: In summer, heat steams and damp turbidity rises. In such oppressive heat, weak Zheng Qi (Upright Qi) easily contracts disease. Southern regions, low and thin in Qi, see more Huo Luan with vomiting/diarrhea. Causes include excessive cooling (external Wind-Cold), travel fatigue (Summerheat-Damp), careless eating (cold/greasy stagnation), irregular diet (impaired transport/transformation), epidemic pathogens, or foul miasmas. All disrupt Spleen Earth, invert Yin-Yang, disrupt ascending/descending, causing sudden abdominal pain, rushing bowel movements, cold limbs, simultaneous vomiting/diarrhea, sudden fluid loss, tendon malnourishment, leg cramps (Huo Luan convulsions), deciding life/death instantly. Recently prevalent in our dense population, spreading rapidly, even killing families simultaneously, it is terrifying. I propose a formula named Shengzhi (Holy Cure), prepared in early summer for epidemics, Sha heat, or foul smells causing chest stuffiness. One pill clears miasma, expels evil, stabilizes Qi. Formula: Two taels of roasted Xianju wild Atractylodes macrocephala Rhizoma (not burnt), two taels of genuine Sichuan Magnolia Bark, one tael of fine White Sandalwood powder, one tael of genuine Red Rosewood powder, two taels of New Hui Tangerine Peel stir-fried with salt. Grind these five into fine powder. Decoct six taels of Guang Huoxiang (Patchouli) in strong tea, mix into pills the size of large soybeans. Take 2-3 pills, chew finely with saliva. Atractylodes is sweet to harmonize Spleen, bitter to dry Damp, stops vomiting, supports Zheng Qi, opens Stomach Qi to remove fluid retention (Monarch). Magnolia Bark is bitter/pungent, drains excess, transforms Damp, regulates Stomach, resolves phlegm/water, treats dysentery/vomiting (Minister). Tangerine Peel regulates Spleen/Lung Qi, opens chest, moves stagnation, dispels Cold (Minister). Sandalwood harmonizes Spleen/chest, drives out evil; Rosewood repels foul odors (Assistant/Envoy). Patchouli has pure fragrant Qi, reaches Spleen/Lung, unblocks Qi mechanism, settling rebellion (Guide). Named 'Holy Cure' reflecting the Sage's principle of treating disease before onset, preventing disaster, dissolving mild cases, lightening severe ones, aiding health preservation.
**Living Snail Lodged in Throat**
*Tan Ying* records: A wealthy man's two-month-old son cried constantly, refusing milk. Doctors failed. One pediatrician, knowing the child was healthy but seeking reward, stayed. Observing the wet nurse crying by the pond, he learned the child had swallowed a living snail from the pool edge, lodged in the throat. The doctor devised a cure: Buy 100 fat ducks, hang them upside down by their feet, collect saliva dripping from their mouths into a basin, and drip it into the infant's mouth. Within a meal time, crying stopped, and the infant sought milk.
**Transforming Female to Male**
Xuan Ding Shoumei of Tianchang, in *Yeyu Qiudeng Lu*, records: Shi Tiaomei, a generous scholar, desperately wanted a grandson. His daughter-in-law was pregnant. A skilled physician, disdainful of fame, diagnosed a girl but promised to transform the fetus to male in gratitude for Shi's kindness, requiring amputation of a limb to construct a penis. Shi suggested moving a toe. The doctor refused, stating upper cannot become lower, but offered to use the little fingers. Shi agreed. Pills were prepared. A boy was born with eight fingers, shy like a maiden.
Another record: An old man in Suzhou, wealthy but childless, had a sick eldest daughter. Ye Tianshi diagnosed her, saying, "This is not illness. Give me your daughter as mine, follow me for 100 days, and I will return her healthy. Hesitate, and you kill her." The old man agreed. Ye took her to a clean room, paired her with a beautiful maid, instructing the maid to act as her aunt. Ye gave medicine and tormented the girl psychologically. As the girl recovered and bonded with the maid, Ye entered, confronting the maid about their intimacy. The maid claimed obedience to the master's orders. Ye laughed, revealing the trick: He had dressed the girl as a man, shaved her head, tied her hair, and bound her feet. He invited the father, explaining the deception. The father was delighted, marrying the maid to his son and becoming in-laws with Ye.
*Xiang Xu* comments: Transforming female to male appears in medical classics. Shi's virtue attracted a good doctor, which is natural. Ye treated a case of the 'Five Types of Male Infertility' (Tian, Jie, Du, Bian, Ban). Specifically, 'Du' (underdeveloped genitalia) or 'Bian' (intersex characteristics). Due to insufficient Ren and Chong meridians, appearing male but incomplete, parents mistook them for females. At sixteen, with abundant Qi and Spirit, sexual desire arose but was suppressed, causing severe illness. With proper medicine and psychological suggestion, the penis developed, resolving the female appearance. Among the five types, except Tian Yan (congenital absence), most can be treated with medicine.
**Perioral Carbuncle**