鸡属酉金,又为巽木,具金木之气,本有伐土之长。用其水谷所化之矢白,则尤能化滞
消积,领浊下趋。故脾土职复,则鼓胀以消;风木气平,则转筋自止。利小便并止遗溺者,
以遗溺故小便不利也。用白者,取其得金气多,无白亦可不拘。
圣惠方用原蚕沙治霍乱转筋,是从鸡矢白散脱胎,亦以蚕沙能胜风去湿,领浊下趋耳。
卵白为阳黄为阴,白气轻而黄气重,故白能解散浮阳,疗目热赤痛,与咽中生疮。黄能
涵育真阴,主心中烦不得卧,与百合病吐后,孩子热疮,妊娠胎漏。
本经卵白止小儿下泄一语,最宜体会。小儿热泄,只以气清微寒之卵白治之即效。若丈
夫则宜于苦寒矣。今人治泄,不知有热壅经隧,水谷不能化赤而直趋大肠一证,概从事于淡
渗温燥,读此能无惘然。
伤寒论∶少阴病下利脉微者,与白通汤;利不止、厥逆无脉、干呕烦者,白通加猪胆汁
汤主之。是胆汁明为干呕烦而加。干呕烦者,少阳木火上冲心胃所致。若但寒,则不烦不干
呕也。霍乱下利清谷、里寒外热、汗出而厥者,通脉四逆汤主之。吐已下断、汗出而厥、四
肢拘急不解、脉微欲绝者,通脉四逆加猪胆汁汤主之。于四肢拘急下又益之曰不解,必已依
法治之而犹不解也。以白通加猪胆汁汤之例推之,其所先与,当即为通脉四逆汤,服之而汗
出肢厥如故,更见拘急不解,脉微欲绝,非治之不得其当也。盖四肢为诸阳之本,阴邪充斥
于四肢,则阳被阴缚,欲伸不得,投以姜附热药,则阳拒于内,阴争于外,拘急何自而解。
夫拘急乃筋脉之收引,筋属肝,肝与胆为表里,其姜附之不任受者,胆为之也。相火不治,
君火何能独治。故或为呕烦,或为拘急,此猪胆汁所以并加之也。胆汁苦寒,施于垂绝之微
阳,岂尚能堪此。不知其阴中之火,愤而思竞,正非胆汁不靖,故从治亦即正治。抑仲圣用
此为至慎矣。少阴寒邪直中,乃阳气暴虚非本虚,且内寓元阳,故当其下利而呕烦,可加胆
汁。霍乱亦吐亦下,正中气散乱之际,胆汁甚忌,故必拘急不解,并吐已下断而后加之。且
不解者,如故之谓。拘急之始,何尝不宜胆汁,而仲圣不遽用者,又有可旁通以见之者焉。
在桂枝加附子汤曰四肢微急,在四逆汤曰内拘急、曰四肢拘急,在芍药甘草汤曰微拘急,皆
不用胆汁;独拘急而至不解则用之,非以其苦寒伤正而慎之乎。乃张隐庵谓胆汁能起肾脏之
汁,资心主之血。果尔,则仲圣方当不止一二见矣。何不察之甚哉。
胆脏肝叶,病每相连,医家亦多连称。否则偏注于肝,动云肝气肝阳,鲜有别之为胆病
者。然肝为阴经,胆为阳经;肝为风木,胆为相火。凡见上升与火之证,肝必挟胆,或竟属
胆病。李濒湖谓猪胆去肝胆之火,此即余从治亦正治之说,第与肝并举之耳。成无己则谓通
脉四逆加胆汁,是补肝而和阴,又称肝而不及胆。以两说权之,李自较胜于成。刘潜江却扬
成而抑李。曰∶予见一医治或泻或止,每以猪胆汁炒黄连柴胡和他药用之遂止,不以胆汁炒
则不应。若不有以补肝,令血和而风静,仅如时珍所云平肝胆之火,则黄连辈何以鲜功。甚
矣刘氏之暗也!胆汁与姜附并用,语人以胆汁是正治胆火,人固未必肯信。今以胆汁与柴连
偶,去胆汁即不应,则不啻胆汁自表其功矣。何则?胆汁苦寒而滑,极利大便。若是肝泻,
自应加胆汁而泻作,何以无胆汁则泻反不止,非所谓肝病挟胆者欤。治肝以连,是以寒胜热,
以苦燥湿也。治胆以胆,则平胆中壮火以扶生气,不使随肝下走也。治肝而不治胆,所以无
效。况柴胡为少阳药,显系相协以挽少阳之气。成氏之说,凿空无据,刘氏辄从而和之,医
道诚难言尔。
The chicken belongs to You Metal in the Five Elements and corresponds to the Xun (Wind/Wood) trigram in the Eight Trigrams, possessing both Metal and Wood qi characteristics. It inherently has the advantage of controlling Spleen Earth. Using its feces, specifically the white part formed from the transformation of water and grain, is particularly effective in resolving stagnation, eliminating accumulations, and guiding turbid qi downward. Therefore, when the function of Spleen Earth is restored, abdominal distension (Gu Zhang) subsides; when the Qi of Wind Wood is pacified, muscle twitching (Zhuan Jin) stops naturally. Its ability to promote urination and treat enuresis (Yi Ni) exists because enuresis is often accompanied by difficulty in urination. Using the white part of the feces is to take advantage of its greater acquisition of Metal qi; using non-white parts is also acceptable without strict adherence.
*Shenghui Fang* uses silkworm sand (Yuancan Sha) to treat convulsions caused by Huoluan (Cholera-like syndrome), which is derived from *Jishi Bai San*, also relying on the ability of silkworm sand to overcome wind and remove dampness, guiding turbidity downward.
Egg white represents Yang, while egg yolk represents Yin. The qi of egg white is light and ascending, while that of egg yolk is heavy and descending. Thus, egg white can dissipate floating Yang and treat eye heat, redness, pain, and sores in the throat. Egg yolk can nourish True Yin and primarily treats vexation in the heart with inability to sleep, as well as conditions following vomiting in Baihe Bing (Lily Disease), infantile heat sores, and fetal leakage during pregnancy.
The statement in *Ben Jing* ("Egg white stops diarrhea in children") deserves careful consideration. For pediatric heat-induced diarrhea, treating it with the clear, slightly cold nature of egg white alone is effective. For adults, bitter-cold herbs are more appropriate. Modern practitioners, unaware of the pattern where heat obstructs the collaterals, preventing water and grain from transforming into blood and causing them to rush directly to the Large Intestine, generally resort to bland-leaching or warm-drying methods. Reading this, one cannot help but feel bewildered.
In *Shanghan Lun*: "In Shaoyin disease, if there is diarrhea and a faint pulse, give Baitong Tang. If diarrhea persists, accompanied by cold limbs, absence of pulse, dry retching, and vexation, Baotong Jia Zhuyedan Tang should be used." This indicates that bile is added specifically for dry retching and vexation. These symptoms arise from the upward rushing of Shaoyang Wood Fire affecting the Heart and Stomach. If it were merely cold, there would be no vexation or dry retching. In Huoluan, if there is diarrhea with undigested food, interior cold with exterior heat, sweating, and cold limbs, Tongmai Sini Tang is indicated. If vomiting and diarrhea cease, yet sweating and cold limbs persist, along with unrelieved limb cramping/tetany and a faint pulse nearly imperceptible, Tongmai Sini Jia Zhuyedan Tang is indicated. The addition of "unrelieved" after "limb cramping" implies that previous treatments failed. By analogy with the case of Baotong Jia Zhuyedan Tang, the initial treatment was likely Tongmai Sini Tang. After administration, sweating and cold limbs remained, and new symptoms of unrelieved cramping and a faint pulse emerged. This does not necessarily indicate incorrect treatment. The limbs are the root of all Yang meridians. When Yin pathogens fill the limbs, Yang is bound by Yin and cannot extend. Administering hot herbs like Ginger and Aconite causes Yang to be rejected internally and Yin to contend externally, making it impossible to resolve cramping. Cramping is the contraction of sinews, which belong to the Liver. Since Liver and Gallbladder are interior-exterior pairs, the intolerance to the heat of Ginger and Aconite is due to the Gallbladder. If Ministerial Fire (Xianghuo) is unchecked, how can Sovereign Fire (Junhuo) be regulated? Hence, sometimes presenting as retching/vexation, sometimes as cramping, this is why Pig Bile is added. Pig bile is bitter and cold; applied to failing Yang, how can it be tolerated? The principle is that the fire within Yin becomes agitated and seeks resolution, which only bile can pacify. Thus, "following the nature" (Congzhi) is effectively "correct treatment" (Zhengzhi). However, Zhang Zhongjing's use of this method was extremely cautious. In Shaoyin cold pathogen direct invasion, Yang qi is suddenly deficient but not fundamentally weak, and Primordial Yang resides within. Thus, when diarrhea is accompanied by retching and vexation, bile can be added. In Huoluan, with simultaneous vomiting and diarrhea, the Middle Qi is scattered, making bile contraindicated. It is only added when cramping is unrelieved and vomiting/diarrhea have ceased. "Unrelieved" means "as before." Why did Zhongjing not use it immediately at the onset of cramping? This can be inferred from other cases. In Guizhi Jia Fuzi Tang, "slight cramping" is mentioned; in Sini Tang, "internal cramping" and "limb cramping"; in Shaoyao Gancao Tang, "slight cramping"—none used bile. Only severe, unrelieved cramping warrants its use, showing caution against its bitter-cold nature damaging healthy Qi. Zhang Yinan claimed bile stimulates Kidney fluids and assists Heart Blood. If true, Zhongjing would have used it more frequently. Why such a lack of scrutiny?
The Gallbladder is located within the Liver lobes, and diseases often co-occur, leading physicians to conflate them. Often, focus is placed solely on the Liver, discussing Liver Qi or Liver Yang, rarely distinguishing Gallbladder disease. However, the Liver is a Yin meridian, while the Gallbladder is a Yang meridian; the Liver corresponds to Wind-Wood, and the Gallbladder to Ministerial Fire. In any condition involving rising or fire, the Liver invariably involves the Gallbladder, or it may even be primarily a Gallbladder disorder. Li Binhu stated that Pig Bile removes Liver-Gallbladder fire, aligning with my view of "conforming treatment as correct treatment," though he grouped them together. Cheng Wuji argued that adding bile to Tongmai Sini Tang tonifies the Liver and harmonizes Yin, mentioning only the Liver. Comparing the two, Li is superior. Liu Qianjiang, however, praised Cheng and criticized Li, stating: "I saw a physician treat intermittent diarrhea using Pinellia-bile fried Coptis and Bupleurum; it worked. Without bile, it failed. If not to tonify the Liver and calm wind, but merely to clear fire as Li Shizhen said, why would Coptis fail?" Liu is profoundly mistaken! When bile is used with Ginger and Aconite, claiming it treats Gallbladder fire directly, people may doubt it. But when paired with Bupleurum and Coptis, removing bile renders it ineffective, proving its efficacy. Why? Bile is bitter, cold, and slippery, promoting bowel movements. If it were purely Liver purgation, adding bile should worsen diarrhea. Yet, without bile, diarrhea persists. This confirms Liver disease involving the Gallbladder. Treating the Liver with Coptis uses cold to overcome heat and bitterness to dry dampness. Treating the Gallbladder with bile pacifies excessive fire to support vital Qi, preventing it from descending with the Liver. Treating only the Liver fails. Moreover, Bupleurum is a Shaoyang herb, clearly assisting in restoring Shaoyang Qi. Cheng’s theory is baseless, and Liu’s endorsement is misguided. Medicine is indeed difficult to discuss.