Library

"Jie" (Restraint) implies saving and tempering. Patients with consumptive disease (Xu Lao, 虚劳) often have imbalanced dispositions and frequently fail to restrain their mental exertion. Therefore, regulation should be tailored to their specific emotional deficits: those prone to anger should restrain anger to nourish the Liver; those who are restless and unable to remain calm should restrain excessive toil to preserve physical strength; those who are meticulous yet lack magnanimity should restrain overthinking to nourish the Heart; those who are overly compassionate yet unable to let go should restrain sorrow to nourish the Lungs. These six conditions all stem from diseases of the Five Wills and Seven Emotions. They cannot be cured by herbs or acupuncture, nor can they be resolved by family members alone. The patient must deeply internalize the stakes of life and death, engage in self-reproach and self-discipline, achieve self-realization and self-liberation. Only then can the physician fully exert their expertise, and the family members fully exert their supportive efforts.

Individuals with deficient constitutions cannot withstand another episode of Cold Damage (Shang Han, 伤寒), dysentery, or malaria lasting half a year or several months. Even mild wind-cold common colds should not be casually contracted. Therefore, throughout the year: in Spring, one must guard against Wind pathogens and Cold pathogens; in Summer, one must guard against Summerheat and Heat, as well as Cold acquired from cooling down excessively due to heat; in Late Summer, one must guard against Dampness; in Autumn, one must guard against Dryness; in Winter, one must guard against Cold and Wind. These eight precautions must be known by both the patient and those caring for them. Physicians must also deeply understand the principles of the Five Movements and Six Qi (Wu Yun Liu Qi, 五运六气). Whenever seasons shift and climatic factors become predominant, preventive regulation and rescue measures should be taken in advance to compensate for deviations in Yin-Yang creation, restrict excesses, and support deficiencies. The Classic states: "Do not assist the prevailing pathogen, do not aid the retaliatory reaction; prevent it before it arises, be cautious when it is about to arise, and treat it properly once it has arisen." This is what is meant.

Cold pathogens typically enter from the feet, while Wind pathogens enter via the Shoulder Shu points (Jian Shu, 肩俞) and the brow area. If patients consistently protect these two areas, unexpected invasions by Wind and Cold will be minimized. In the most critical situations, characterized by instability in standing and dizziness, fasting for one week should be instituted immediately. For slightly more severe cases, a mild decoction to disperse the pathogen suffices for spontaneous recovery. However, if an epidemic pathogen is initially contracted without awareness, and this is compounded by dietary indiscretion, leading to the transmission of external pathogens into the interior, mild cases may involve steaming and burning for several days, while severe cases often result in significant harm.

The aforementioned prevention of the Six Qi (Six Pathogens) across the four seasons represents treating the root to prevent the branch. Among the twenty-four solar terms (Hou, 候), there are specific periods that are particularly antagonistic to the primary condition. There are three such periods: Although the patient may have passed through previous stages, with coughing ceased, vomiting stopped, fire subsided, and phlegm calmed, feeling at ease and believing the illness is over, they remain unaware that climatic interactions involving mutual overcoming exist beyond ordinary regulation. Once these three periods arrive, they create a major reversal relative to the primary condition. Previously stable conditions will inevitably relapse; relapses will inevitably deepen; deepened conditions are incurable. Only by constantly preventing external pathogens, restraining desires, regulating the Seven Emotions, and diligently using medicine—anticipating trouble and preventing it—can one navigate dangers as if on flat ground.