《素问·奇病论》帝曰∶人生而有病癫疾者,病名曰何?安所得之?岐伯曰∶病名为胎病,此得之在母腹
中时,其母有所大惊,气上而不下,精气并居,故令子发为癫疾也。
此言初生时即有癫疾,近时所名癫痫者也。忽然暴仆,昏不知人,手足抽掣,少顷痰涌而吐,吐出痰涎,
则渐苏。此在胎时,母受大惊而动肝风,儿禀其气,与精气并居,如油入面矣。每遇风气动,则鼓其痰涎,上
蒙心窍,即神昏暴仆,风动而手足抽掣也。因其气闭不通而作猪羊声,故有羊癫、猪癫之名。其病得之胎元,
故难治也。
《灵枢·邪客篇》帝曰∶邪气之客人也,或令人
目不瞑,不卧出者,何气使然?伯高曰∶五谷入于胃也,其糟粕、津液、宗气,分为三隧。故宗气积于胸中,
出于喉咙,以贯心脉,而行呼吸焉;营气者,泌其津液,注之于脉,化以为血,以荣四末,内注五脏六腑,以
应刻数焉;卫气者,出其悍气之 疾,而先行于四末、分肉、皮肤之间,而不休者也,昼日行于阳,夜行于阴,
常从足少阴之分间,行于五脏六腑。今厥气客于五脏六腑,则卫气独卫其外,行于阳,不得入于阴,行于阳则
阳气盛,阳气盛则阳跷陷,不得入于阴,阴虚,故目不瞑。
营卫流行,义理已详营卫经络门。卫气昼行于阳,如日行天,夜行于阴,如日入地,此人身阴阳应天地之
阴阳而流行也。今厥逆之气客于脏腑,与卫气格拒,卫气不得入阴,则阴阳不交,而阳独盛于外,阴分之气虚,
阴虚阳盛,故目不瞑也。厥气者,或因外邪,或因内伤,致阴阳厥逆不和,通名厥气。故凡内伤、外感之病,
皆有不寐者,必审其因而治之,方能见效也。
帝曰∶治之奈何?伯高曰∶补其不足,泻其有余,调其虚实,以通其道,而去其邪。饮以半夏汤一剂,阴
阳已通,其卧立至。帝曰∶此所谓决渎壅塞,经络大通,阴阳和得者也。愿闻其方。伯高曰∶以流水千里以
外者八升,扬之万遍,取其清五升,煮之,炊以苇薪,火沸,置秫米一升,治半夏五合,徐炊,令竭为一升半,
去其滓,饮汁一小杯,日三,稍益,以知为度。故其病新发者,覆杯则卧,汗出则已矣;久者,三
饮而已也。
脾胃为中土,阴阳升降之道路也。阳根于阴而主升,脾为阴而气升也,升者,由内而行外;阴根于阳而主
降,胃为阳而气降也,降者,由外而内联。卫气不得入于阴,是外气不能行于内者,由胃气不得通降故也。饮
以半夏汤,通降胃气,则阴阳交通,其卧立至。取长流水而又扬之万遍,取其清,炊以苇薪猛火者,用其轻
扬滑利而流走,以通壅滞也。半夏通胃生津,秫米和脾生液,一举两得,故虽久者,三饮可已也。此交通阴阳
之法,而从脾胃主治者,以脾胃统一身之阴阳也。
《素问·病能论》帝曰∶人有卧而有所不安者,何也?岐伯曰∶脏有所伤,及精有所之,寄则安,故人
不能悬其病也。
此言卧有所不安,即不成寐也。以思虑情欲而伤脏,其精神有所之之处,执着不释,故卧不得安。如将执
着之心寄放,则自安矣。但未知其所执何事,所伤何脏,如思则气结而伤脾、怒则气逆而伤肝之类,故人不能
悬揣其病,必问其所因而治之也。
In the *Suwen: Qibing Lun* (Treatise on Rare Diseases), the Yellow Emperor asked: Those who are born with Dianji (epilepsy/seizure disorder), what is this disease called? How is it acquired? Qibo replied: This disease is named Taibing (fetal disease). It is acquired while in the mother's womb. At that time, the mother suffered a great fright, causing Qi to ascend and fail to descend. Jingqi (Essence-Qi) gathered together, thus causing the child to develop Dianji after birth.
This refers to Dianji present at birth, which is what is near-termly called Dianxian (epilepsy). Suddenly collapsing unconscious, not knowing people or surroundings, with convulsions of the hands and feet; after a short while, phlegm surges and vomiting occurs. After the phlegm-drool is vomited out, consciousness gradually returns. This is because during the fetal stage, the mother's great fright stirred up Liver Wind (Liver Wind). The fetus inherited this Qi, which combined with Essence-Qi within the body, like oil penetrating into flour. Whenever Wind Qi moves, it stirs up Phlegm-Drool, which rises to cloud the Heart Orifices, resulting in unconsciousness and sudden collapse; Wind movement causes convulsions of the hands and feet. Because Qi closure prevents normal sound production, pig-like or sheep-like sounds are made, hence the names Yangdian (Sheep Epilepsy) and Zhudian (Pig Epilepsy). Since this disease originates from the Fetal Origin (Ta Yuan), it is difficult to treat.
In the *Lingshu: Xieke Pian* (Chapter on Evil Qi Invasion), the Yellow Emperor asked: When Evil Qi invades the person, sometimes it causes inability to close the eyes and insomnia. What Qi causes this? Bo Gao replied: When five grains enter the stomach, their dregs, Jin Ye (Body Fluids), and Zong Qi (Gathering Qi) are divided into three pathways. Thus, Zong Qi accumulates in the chest, emerges from the throat, penetrates the Heart vessels, and governs respiration; Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi) secretes Jin Ye, injects them into the vessels, transforms them into Blood, to nourish the four extremities, and internally irrigates the Zang-Fu organs, corresponding to the time markers of the day and night; Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) emits its fierce, swift, and slippery Qi, proceeding first among the four extremities, interstices of muscles, and skin, without rest. During the day, it travels in the Yang aspects; at night, it travels in the Yin aspects. It often passes through the divisions of Foot-Shaoyin (Kidney Meridian) and travels through the Zang-Fu organs. Now, if Jue Qi (Rebellious Qi) lodges in the Zang-Fu organs, then Wei Qi can only guard the exterior, traveling in the Yang, and cannot enter the Yin. Traveling in the Yang leads to excess Yang; excess Yang leads to stagnation/excess in the Yang Qiao Mai (Yang Heel Vessel), preventing entry into Yin, resulting in Yin deficiency, thus causing inability to close the eyes.
The circulation of Ying and Wei Qi has been detailed in the "Ying Wei Jing Luo Men" (Gate of Nutritive and Defensive Qi and Collaterals). Wei Qi travels in Yang during the day, like the sun traversing the sky; it travels in Yin at night, like the sun setting into the earth. This is how human Yin and Yang circulate in correspondence with the Yin and Yang of Heaven and Earth. Now, Jue Qi lodges in the Zang-Fu organs, conflicting with Wei Qi. Wei Qi cannot enter Yin, leading to a failure of Yin-Yang interaction, with Yang exclusively excessive on the exterior and Qi in the Yin aspect deficient. Yin deficiency and Yang excess cause inability to close the eyes (insomnia). Jue Qi may be due to external pathogens or internal injury, causing Yin-Yang rebellion and disharmony, collectively termed Jue Qi. Therefore, in all diseases caused by internal injury or external contraction, insomnia may occur. One must examine the etiology to treat it for efficacy.
The Yellow Emperor asked: How should it be treated? Bo Gao replied: Tonify the deficiency, drain the excess, regulate emptiness and fullness, unblock the pathways, and eliminate the evil. Administer one dose of Banxia Tang (Pinellia Decoction); once Yin and Yang are unblocked, sleep will follow immediately. The Yellow Emperor said: This is what is meant by dredging waterways blocked by obstruction, allowing collaterals to flow freely, and harmonizing Yin and Yang. I wish to hear the prescription. Bo Gao replied: Take eight sheng of running water from over a thousand li away, toss it ten thousand times, take five sheng of the clear part, boil it using reed firewood. When the fire boils, add one sheng of Shumi (Sorghum) and five he of processed Banxia (Pinellia Rhizome). Simmer slowly until reduced to one and a half sheng. Remove the dregs. Drink one small cup, three times a day, gradually increasing the dose until therapeutic effect is achieved. For newly onset cases, sleep comes as soon as the cup is set down; sweating indicates recovery. For chronic cases, three doses are sufficient for cure.
Spleen and Stomach belong to Central Earth and are the pathways for the ascent and descent of Yin and Yang. Yang roots in Yin and governs ascent; Spleen is Yin but its Qi ascends. Ascent means moving from interior to exterior. Yin roots in Yang and governs descent; Stomach is Yang but its Qi descends. Descent means connecting from exterior to interior. Wei Qi failing to enter Yin is because external Qi cannot move inward, due to the failure of Stomach Qi to descend and unblock. Drinking Banxia Tang descends Stomach Qi, allowing Yin-Yang communication, so sleep follows immediately. Taking long-flowing water and tossing it ten thousand times, taking the clear part, and boiling with reed firewood on strong heat utilizes its light, ascending, slippery, and flowing nature to unblock stagnation. Banxia unblocks Stomach and generates fluids; Shumi harmonizes Spleen and generates fluids. This achieves two goals with one action, so even for chronic cases, three doses suffice. This is a method to communicate Yin and Yang, treating primarily from the Spleen and Stomach, because Spleen and Stomach unify the Yin and Yang of the whole body.
In the *Suwen: Bingneng Lun* (Treatise on Disease Capabilities), the Yellow Emperor asked: Why do some people feel uneasy when lying down? Qibo replied: If Zang organs are injured, and the Spirit (Shen) has something to cling to or lodge upon, it finds peace there. Therefore, one cannot arbitrarily guess the disease.
This refers to uneasiness during sleep, i.e., inability to fall asleep. Due to excessive thinking and desires injuring the Zang organs, the Spirit lingers on certain obsessions and cannot let go, thus preventing peaceful sleep. If the obsessive mind is released/lodged elsewhere, it will naturally become peaceful. However, since we do not know what the obsession is or which Zang organ is injured—for example, excessive thought knots Qi and injures the Spleen, anger causes Qi rebellion and injures the Liver—one cannot speculate on the disease. One must inquire about the etiology to treat accordingly.