缺盆疽者,生肩前陷中。初起肩背拘急,寒热大作,饮食少进,小水不利,即 红肿痛
,有头如水泡,后遂旁生数头,根盘坚硬。此足阳明、手足少阳经积热聚湿所发。宜急治之
,若稍缓必致溃烂。是经少血多气,疮口遂有难合之患。初宜蟾酥丸发汗解毒,更与荆防败
毒散,溃后宜用补托。
痈在肩下膊上,结核如桃,如鹅鸭卵,色赤痛甚, 臂表里俱肿,惟肘节处差小,有
似藕形,故又名藕包毒。属手三阳经,外感风温风火而成。红肿之外无晕者,顺;有晕者,
逆。初起,即当发散解毒;成脓后,治以清营彻热;溃后,以扶脾养阴为主。
胛痈生肩膊后下,胁后外层岐骨缝间,或在左臂,或在右臂。同属手太阳小肠经,由风
火凝结而成。如生在肩前下、胁前外之上骨缝开合空凹陷中,或在左,或在右,同属心包络
经,名曰乐疽,乃血热气郁而成。初起有核,渐肿坚硬,大如鹅卵,疼痛入骨,头疼寒热,
治以荆、防、夏枯草、贝母、丹参、地丁、银花、连翘、丹皮、黄芩、山栀之属。
谨按经云∶西风生于秋,病在肺俞,在肩背,故秋气者,病在肩背,然则肩背之痛,当
责之于肺无疑矣。但有风寒、风热、气盛、气虚、痰饮之别。盖肺主皮毛,皮毛受邪,以传
于肺,郁遏经络,因而作痛,当以辛温之药散之;或风热乘其肺,使气郁甚者,当泻风热,
以辛凉之药解之。又肺主气化,而治节一身,或气盛有余,则壅而不行,阻塞经络,肩背则
痛;或气血不足,则少气不足以息,亦令肩背作痛。盛则苦辛泻之,虚则甘温补之。又肺为
贮痰之器,肺中素有积痰,随气流注经络,以致隧道壅遏为痛,此又当理痰而顺气,盖气清
则痰自化也。外此又有肾气上逆作痛一证,此逆气即阴气也。肾中阳虚,浊阴之气始得上干
清阳之位,此当甘辛温药峻补真阳,而驱逐阴邪。若专理肺气,反为诛伐无过。臂痛之证,
或为风寒湿所搏;或痰饮流入经隧,或因挈重伤筋所致,或因气血凝滞经络不行而作痛。其
于治法,风则散之,寒则温之,痰则理之;若因伤筋而血瘀,治以通经而活血。诸法之内,
总当佐以姜黄、桂枝,以其横行,为手臂之引经也。
Juepen Ju (Abscess at the Clavicular Fossa) arises in the depression anterior to the shoulder. Initially, there is stiffness and tension in the shoulder and back, severe alternating chills and fever, reduced appetite, and difficult urination. Subsequently, redness, swelling, and pain occur; the sore head resembles a blister, followed by the emergence of several additional heads with a hard, indurated base. This condition is caused by the accumulation of heat and dampness in the Foot-Yangming, Hand-Yangming, Hand-Shaoyang, and Foot-Shaoyang meridians. It requires urgent treatment; otherwise, delay will inevitably lead to ulceration. As this meridian is characterized by scanty blood and abundant Qi, the sore mouth may be difficult to heal. In the initial stage, Chansu Wan (Toad Venom Pill) should be used to induce sweating and detoxify, followed by Jingfang Baidu San (Schizonepeta and Saposhnikovia Decoction for Overcoming Toxins). After ulceration, a tonifying and expelling method is appropriate.
Yong (Carbuncle) located below the shoulder and above the upper arm presents as a nodule resembling a peach pit or a goose/duck egg. The skin is red and painful, with swelling throughout the arm both superficially and deeply, except at the elbow joint which is slightly smaller, giving it a lotus-root-like shape; hence it is also called "Oubao Du" (Lotus-Packet Poison). This belongs to the Hand-Taiyang meridians and results from external contraction of Wind-Warmth or Wind-Fire. If the redness and swelling lack an areola, it is a favorable sign (Shun); if an areola is present, it is an unfavorable sign (Ni). At the onset, dispersing and detoxifying measures should be taken immediately. Once pus forms, treatment focuses on clearing the Ying (Nutritive) level and penetrating heat. After ulceration, the primary approach is supporting the Spleen and nourishing Yin.
Jia Yong (Scapular Carbuncle) arises below the posterior shoulder, in the intercostal spaces between the lateral ribs behind the hypochondrium, affecting either the left or right arm. It belongs to the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian and is formed by the coagulation of Wind-Fire. If it occurs in the depression at the opening and closing of the bone seams anterior to the lower shoulder and lateral anterior hypochondrium, on either side, it belongs to the Pericardium Meridian and is named Le Ju (Joy Abscess), caused by Blood-Heat and Qi Stagnation. Initially, a nodule appears, gradually becoming swollen and hard, the size of a goose egg, with pain penetrating to the bone, accompanied by headache, chills, and fever. Treatment involves herbs such as Jingjie (Schizonepeta Herba), Fangfeng (Saposhnikovia Root), Xiakucao (Prunella Spica), Beimu (Fritillaria Bulb), Danshen (Salvia Miltiorrhiza), Dideng (Viola Herba), Yinhua (Lonicerae Flos), Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus), Danpi (Moutan Cortex), Huangqin (Scutellaria Radix), and Shanzhi (Gardeniae Fructus).
As stated in the Classics: "West wind arises in autumn; disease affects the Lung-Shu point and the shoulder/back." Therefore, diseases in autumn affect the shoulder and back. Consequently, shoulder and back pain should undoubtedly be attributed to the Lung. However, distinctions must be made among Cold-Damp, Wind-Heat, Excess Qi, Deficient Qi, and Phlegm-Fluid retention. The Lung governs the skin and hair; when pathogens invade the skin and hair and transmit to the Lung, they obstruct the meridians, causing pain. This should be treated with acrid-warm herbs to disperse them. If Wind-Heat attacks the Lung, causing severe Qi stagnation, Wind-Heat should be drained using acrid-cool herbs to resolve it. Furthermore, the Lung governs Qi transformation and regulates the whole body. If Qi is excessive, it becomes congested and fails to circulate, blocking the meridians and causing shoulder and back pain. If Qi and Blood are deficient, shortness of breath occurs, also leading to shoulder and back pain. Excess conditions are treated with bitter-acid draining methods, while deficiency conditions are treated with sweet-warm tonifying methods. Additionally, the Lung is the vessel storing Phlegm. Pre-existing Phlegm in the Lung flows with Qi into the meridians, causing obstruction and pain. This requires regulating Phlegm and smoothing Qi, as clear Qi leads to the resolution of Phlegm. Another syndrome involves pain due to rebellious Kidney Qi. This rebellious Qi is Yin Qi. When Kidney Yang is deficient, turbid Yin Qi ascends to disturb the Clear Yang position. This requires strong tonification of True Yang using sweet-acrid-warm herbs to drive out Yin pathogens. Specifically treating only Lung Qi would constitute an unjustified attack on healthy tissue. Arm pain may result from the binding of Cold-Damp-Wind, Phlegm-Fluid flowing into the meridians, injury to sinews from lifting heavy objects, or Qi-Blood stasis obstructing the meridians. Therapeutic methods include dispersing for Wind, warming for Cold, and resolving Phlegm. For blood stasis due to sinew injury, the treatment is to unblock the meridians and invigorate Blood. Among these methods, Jianghuang (Curcuma Longae Rhizoma) and Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus) should always be added as guiding herbs because their action spreads horizontally, targeting the arms.