Library

During a Shanghan (Cold Damage) disease, if purgation is administered too early before food has been digested, it may inadvertently draw cold pathogens into the stomach, transforming into heat. The heat pathogen firmly binds with the undigested food, preventing digestion, thereby forming Jie Xiong (Chest Binding). If Sha Zhang (Sha Distension) occurs alongside recently ingested food, emesis should indeed be the primary treatment. However, if the food was ingested some time ago and Sha Zhang suddenly appears, even if the food is not fully digested, purgation is harmless. This is because Sha Zhang does not suffer from the complication of cold pathogens entering the stomach and turning into heat binding as seen in Shanghan. Rather, Sha toxins reside in the intestines and stomach, causing swelling and distension of the intestinal and gastric muscles, accompanied by severe abdominal colic that spreads to the viscera. Therefore, externally, Gua Sha (scraping therapy) and bloodletting are suitable to vent toxins from the surface, while internally, purgation can be used immediately to attack toxins within. Consequently, the swelling will gradually subside, and food stagnation will also be cleared, eliminating the worry of developing Jie Xiong. Nevertheless, Sha Zhang is certainly not comparable to the heat binding of Shanghan; when using purgation, one must ensure there is concurrent food stagnation, proceed gradually, and stop once the disease is addressed.

After the Sha rash subsides, treating miscellaneous diseases is appropriate. However, residual Sha toxins may still linger slightly. At this stage, the pulse may no longer be distinct, and symptoms may appear resolved. When prescribing medication at this time, if one assumes it is merely a miscellaneous disease and treats it solely with remedies for miscellaneous conditions, any slight contraindication might endanger the patient's life. The condition after Sha illness is particularly critical; just as one cannot ignore residual toxins from smallpox (Dou) to treat miscellaneous diseases alone, how can one ignore residual Sha toxins after Sha illness? Thus, when treating miscellaneous diseases post-Sha, deep consideration is required. One must incorporate detoxification and blood-invigorating methods into the formula for miscellaneous diseases to achieve complete success.

Generally, when people are ill, they should be treated; when near death, they should be rescued. However, those who contract Sha but refuse to believe it suffers from a lack of wisdom and exhausted destiny. If one contracts slow Sha, the illness may linger for months and deepen daily; if one contracts tight Sha (Jin Sha), death often follows immediately with critical danger. Such disbelief indicates a person whose fate is sealed. Even if informed of the dangers of Sha, they remain oblivious, rendering well-intentioned advice useless. Therefore, individuals must recognize the error caused by disbelief. I once witnessed a scholar who disbelieved in Sha suddenly contracting hidden tight Sha. He suffered from sore throat, wheezing like a saw, fever, heavy body, chest fullness, and worsening pain upon applying medicated powder or taking medicine, with pain radiating to the ears, alternating sides, accompanied by phlegm, swelling, and coma, reaching extreme peril. Fortunately, after careful diagnosis confirming Sha, emergency bloodletting released abundant toxic blood, whole-body scraping was performed, and evening medication brought relief, resolving phlegm, swelling, and throat pain. However, due to violating Sha dietary taboos by drinking warm wine and hot tea, the condition relapsed instantly, leading to his death. This truly demonstrates the harm of Sha toxins. Alas, what a pity! I also observed three women simultaneously: one recovered via scraping, one via bloodletting, and one died after being misdiagnosed with Hou E (Goose Throat/Epiglottitis) and treated accordingly. Those who believe fare thus, those who do not fare otherwise. How can Sha be neglected!