六阳六阴脉,分属左右手。心、小肠、肝、胆、肾、膀胱在左,主血;肺、大肠、脾、胃、命门、三焦在右,主气。
男以气成胎,故气为之主;女以血成胎,故血为之主。若男子久病,气口充于人迎者,有胃气也,病虽重可治;女子久
病,人迎充于气口者,有胃气也,病虽重可治。反此者逆。或曰∶人迎在左,气口在右,男女所同,不易之位也。脉法
赞曰∶左大顺男,右大顺女,何子言之悖耶?曰∶《脉经》一部,王叔和谆谆于教医者,此左右手以医者为主而言,若主
于病者,奚止千里之谬!
春,蠢也。阳气升浮,草木萌芽,蠢然而动。前哲谓春时人气在头,有病宜吐。又曰∶伤寒大法,春宜吐。宣之为
言扬也。谓吐之法自上出也。今之世俗,往往有疮痍者,膈满者,虫积以为不于春时宣泻以毒药,不可愈也。医者遂用
牵牛、巴豆、大黄、枳壳、防风辈为丸,名之曰春宣丸。于二月、三月服之,得下利而止。于初泻之时,脏腑得通,时
暂轻快。不知气升在上,则在下之阴甚弱,而用利药戕贼其阴,其害何可胜言!况仲景用承气汤等下药,必有大满,大
实坚,有燥屎,转矢气,下逼迫而无表证者,方行此法。可下之证未悉具,犹须迟以待之。泄利之药,其可轻试乎?
余伯考形肥骨瘦,味浓性沉,五十岁轻于听信,忽于三月半赎春宣丸一帖,服之下两三行。每年率以为常。至五十
三岁时,七月初炎热之甚,无病暴死。此岂非妄认春宣为春泻,而致祸耶?自上召下曰宣,宣之一字,吐也明矣。张子
和先生已详论之,昔贤岂妄言哉!详之审订无疑。后之死者,又有数人,愚故表而出之,以为后人之戒!
The six Yang pulses and the six Yin pulses are distributed to the left and right hands respectively. The Heart, Small Intestine, Liver, Gallbladder, Kidney, and Bladder are on the left, governing Blood; the Lung, Large Intestine, Spleen, Stomach, Mingmen (Gate of Life), and Sanjiao (Triple Burner) are on the right, governing Qi.
Men conceive through Qi, so Qi is primary; women conceive through Blood, so Blood is primary. If a man has been ill for a long time and the Qikou pulse (Cunkou pulse at the right wrist) is fuller than the Yingying pulse (Renying pulse at the left carotid artery), it indicates the presence of Stomach Qi; although the illness is severe, it is treatable. If a woman has been ill for a long time and the Yingying pulse is fuller than the Qikou pulse, it indicates the presence of Stomach Qi; although the illness is severe, it is treatable. The reverse situation is considered adverse (Ni). Someone might ask: "The Yingying pulse is on the left, and the Qikou pulse is on the right; this is the same for both men and women, with fixed positions. The Pulse Classic states: 'A large pulse on the left suits men, a large pulse on the right suits women.' Why does your statement contradict this?" I reply: "In the entire *Mai Jing* (Pulse Classic), Wang Shuhe earnestly instructs physicians that these left and right hands refer to the physician's position during diagnosis. If interpreted from the patient's perspective, the error would be as vast as a thousand miles!"
Spring implies stirring or awakening. Yang Qi ascends and floats, grasses and trees sprout, stirring into motion. Ancient sages stated that in spring, human Qi resides in the head, and illnesses should be treated with emesis (Tui Fa). It is also said: "The general principle for treating Shanghan (Cold Damage) is to use emesis in spring." The term "Xuan" means to raise or spread. Emesis is described as a method where pathogens exit from the upper body. In contemporary secular practice, people often believe that those with skin sores, chest fullness, or intestinal parasites cannot recover unless they undergo purgation with toxic herbs in spring. Physicians therefore prepare pills using Qian Niu Zi (Pharbitidis Semen), Ba Dou (Crotonis Fructus), Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma), Zhi Ke (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), Fang Feng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), etc., naming them Chun Xuan Wan (Spring Spreading Pill). These are taken in February and March until diarrhea occurs. At the onset of diarrhea, the Zang-Fu organs become unblocked, providing temporary relief. However, one fails to realize that when Qi rises to the upper body, the Yin in the lower body becomes extremely weak. Using purgative drugs damages this Yin, a harm too numerous to describe. Moreover, Zhang Zhongjing used Xia Yao (purgative formulas) like Chengqi Tang only when there was severe fullness, solid excess, dry feces, passing flatus, abdominal urgency, and no exterior syndrome. If the indications for purgation are not fully present, one must wait. How can purgative drugs be tried lightly?
My uncle had a fat body but thin bones, favored strong flavors, and had a deep temperament. At fifty years old, he轻信 (lightly believed others) and suddenly bought a dose of Chun Xuan Wan in mid-March, taking it which resulted in two or three bowel movements. He made this a yearly routine. In his fifty-third year, in early July when the heat was intense, he died suddenly without prior illness. Was this not due to mistakenly treating Chun Xuan as a spring purge, thereby bringing disaster upon himself? To summon from above is called "Xuan"; thus, "Xuan" clearly refers to emesis. Mr. Zhang Hezi has already discussed this in detail; how could ancient sages speak falsely? After careful examination and verification, there is no doubt. Several others have since died from this practice. I highlight this case as a warning for future generations!