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On Mania, On Dullness Disease, On Flower Madness, On Sheep Epilepsy

The Heavenly Master said: The method of "treating the living" refers to patients who are not yet dead but appear to be dying, where medication is used to restore their vitality. For example, mania and dullness disease fall into this category. Mania is mostly caused by heat diseases; patients climb high and sing, discard their clothes and run, jump into water when they see it, and continuously utter curses and threats of killing. Their tongues feel like thorns, they eat and drink without stopping, their phlegm is glossy, and their faces are swollen red as if on fire. The prescription uses Banxia Decoction (Pinelliae Rhizoma) 3 liang, Baizijie (White Mustard Seed) 3 liang, Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma) 1 liang, Gancao (Licorice Root) 1 liang, Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix) 5 liang, Zhuye (Bamboo Leaf) hundreds of pieces, and Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) 1 liang. First, boil 8 ounces of glutinous rice in a pot of water, remove the rice grains, take half a pot of the rice water, and decoct the aforementioned herbs in it to obtain half a bowl of liquid. [Annotation: Named Jiwei Zifen Tang (Rescue Stomach from Self-Burning Decoction).] When the patient asks for water, give it to them, providing it as soon as they ask. After drinking it all, they will inevitably fall asleep. Immediately prepare another decoction using 1 jin of Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix) and 0.5 jin of Maidong. [Annotation: Named Xuanmai Zhishen Tang (Mysterious and Wheat Supreme Spirit Decoction).] Once they wake up and call for water, give them this decoction immediately; they will likely drink it gladly. After finishing it, they will sleep again. Decoct the dregs of the previous medicine for later use. If they do not want to take it as before, do not force them; let nature take its course. Subsequently, use Shudi (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata) 3 liang, Maidong 3 liang, Xuanshen 6 liang, and Shanzhuyu (Corni Fructus) 1 liang, decocted in two bowls, for them to consume. [Annotation: Named Shenghuo Shendan (Fire-Supreme Divine Elixir. Excellent.)] One dose will surely cure the condition; no further doses are needed. This is one method of treating the living.

Dullness disease requires a different treatment. Dullness disease arises from emotional depression and stagnation, or from anger, or from shame and indignation. The prescription uses Renshen 1 liang, Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) 1 liang, Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) 1 liang, Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) 4 liang, Banxia 1 liang, Gancao 5 qian, Sheng Zaoren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen) 1 liang, Tiannanxing (Arisaematis Rhizoma) 5 qian, Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata) 1 qian, Changpu (Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma) 1 liang, Shenqu (Massae Fermentatae Medicinatae) 5 qian, Fuling (Poria) 3 liang, and Yujin (Curcumae Radix) 5 qian. Add ten bowls of water, decoct until one bowl remains, and administer forcibly. [Annotation: Named Jiudai Zhishen Tang (Rescue Dullness Supreme Spirit Decoction).] The patient will certainly refuse to drink. Hold their hair with both hands, have two people hold their left and right arms, one person support their chin, and another insert a horn (with the tip removed) into their mouth. One person holds the head steady while another pours the medicine into the horn to灌 (administer). If they vomit, it does not matter; it may even be better. Continue until the full amount is administered. They will likely curse. After a short while, they will feel sleepy. Let them wake up naturally; do not startle them. If they wake up naturally, they will be fully cured; if startled awake, they will only recover partially. This is another method of treating the living.

The brilliance of the prescription for mania lies in the large dosage of Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum) to pacify the fire of the Yangming channel. However, relying solely on Shigao is too harsh, so it is supplemented with Xuanshen. Xuanshen can also pacify the floating fire of the stomach, removing not only the fire of the heart and kidney. It is also ingenious to use Maidong to assist, so that the Metal of the Lung is not afraid of the upward flaming fire, allowing it to naturally descend and generate Kidney Water. Once Kidney Water is generated, the fire in the stomach heals itself without direct treatment. However, when mania progresses to unconsciousness, it is evident that phlegm surges with the fire. The prescription uses Baizijie and Banxia to expel phlegm; once phlegm is removed, the Heart becomes clear. Moreover, with Zhuye clearing the Heart, the fire is easily extinguished, and recovery is swift. After one dose, supplementing with large doses of Xuanshen and Maidong further extinguishes fire and deepens water. Subsequently, using herbs like Shudi to nourish the Kidney and Lung creates a balance of mutual restriction and generation, truly mirroring the work of creation.

Regarding the prescription for dullness disease, its brilliance lies in using Chaihu to soothe and drain stagnant Qi; Baishao assists, so when Liver Qi is relaxed, Heart vessels disperse naturally. It ingeniously combines phlegm-resolving agents within Renshen and Fuling, strengthening righteous Qi so evil Qi disperses naturally. Most notably, it uses Changpu, a divine herb for opening orifices, which opens blockages upon contact. A person previously sealed off suddenly enjoys the joy of spring breeze again. Who deserves the credit? How can the methods of treating the living be exhaustively listed? Learn one case to understand the rest.

Master Zhang said: Yuan Gong understands deeply and finds spiritual joy; what more needs to be said? There is another point: although mania is mostly a heat syndrome, it is not always purely heat, so differentiation is necessary. The symptoms of mania are similar, but the nature (cold vs. heat) differs. For heat-type mania, the Heavenly Master's prescription is suitable. But how to treat cold-type mania? If a patient rants at others but does not feel thirsty or desire water, and refuses water even when offered, it is cold-type mania. This results from Qi stagnation and unexpressed anger. Such individuals are usually weak and lacking in vigor, but suddenly manifest mania. The treatment should focus on resolving phlegm, assisted by Qi-tonifying herbs. The prescription uses Renshen 1 liang, Fushen (Poria with Hostwood) 1 liang, Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) 5 qian, Banxia 1 qian, Nanxing (Arisaematis Rhizoma) 1 qian, Fuzi 1 qian, and Changpu 3 fen. Decoct in water and take orally. [Annotation: Named Sujiu Han Kuang Dan (Rapid Rescue Cold Mania Elixir).] The brilliance of this formula lies in tonifying Qi rather than aggressively resolving phlegm. Cold-type mania is treated similarly to epilepsy. Adding Fuzi eliminates cold, and Changpu guides the action to the Heart channel, leading to natural swallowing, sleep, and disappearance of the illness. Adding Chaihu 1 qian to soothe Liver Wood stagnation enhances efficacy. Yuan Gong's medical skill is divine; how could he not know the brilliance of Chaihu? Dullness disease has no heat syndrome, so there is no need to elaborate further.

Master Hua said: Two examples suffice for analogy; there is no need to transmit everything. I shall pass it on. My master transmitted two additional prescriptions. For instance, flower madness: a woman suddenly suffers from epilepsy-like symptoms, hugging men tightly and refusing to let go. This stems from unfulfilled longing for a man, causing sudden onset like a storm, devoid of shame, mistaking men for lovers. This indicates dry Liver Wood and blazing internal fire, with a wiry pulse emerging at the Cun position. The treatment should use herbs to pacify the Liver, dissipate stagnation, and expel evil. One prescription, also from the Heavenly Master, uses Chaihu 5 qian, Baishao 1 liang, Danggui 5 qian, Chao Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus) 3 qian, Gancao 1 qian, Fushen 3 qian, Changpu 1 qian, Maidong 5 qian, Xuanshen 3 qian, and Baizijie 5 qian. Decoct in water and take orally. [Annotation: Named Sanhua Qudian Tang (Dispel Flower Remove Epilepsy Decoction).] If she refuses to drink, force-feed her; she will curse incessantly, eventually becoming tired and wanting to lie down. Upon waking, she feels ashamed, closes her door for three days, and recovers with slight dietary intake. No further medication is needed after one dose. This is one method of treating the living.

There is also sheep epilepsy: sudden collapse, making sheep or horse sounds, vomiting profuse phlegm. This is phlegm confusing the Heart orifice, caused by cold, triggered by cold exposure. The Heavenly Master transmitted a highly effective prescription. It uses Renshen 3 qian, Baizhu 1 liang, Fushen 5 qian, Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma) 3 qian, Yiren (Coicis Semen) 5 qian, Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex) 1 qian, Fuzi 1 qian, and Banxia 3 qian. Decoct in water and take orally. This formula strengthens righteous Qi to generate Heart Blood, adds Rougui and Fuzi to dispel cold, and Banxia to resolve phlegm and drain water. Naturally, Qi returns and epilepsy stops. One dose cures completely, preventing recurrence. Cherish this carefully. Sheep epilepsy often originates in childhood due to internal Spleen/Stomach injury and external Wind-Cold invasion, forming phlegm in the chest/diaphragm. Thus, any Wind-Cold triggers old phlegm. By purely using righteousness-tonifying herbs without aggressively resolving phlegm, the root cause is eliminated. Treating it merely as Wind-Phlegm may yield temporary results but cannot prevent recurrence permanently. This is why the Heavenly Master's prescription is both unique and orthodox.

Master Lei said: I also have a prescription to teach you. To treat ox/horse epilepsy: although treated similarly to sheep epilepsy, the symptoms differ. The prescription uses Renshen 3 liang, Baizhu 5 liang, Gancao 1 liang, Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) 3 qian, Sheng Nanxing 1 liang, Banxia 1 liang, and Fuzi 1 qian. Grind into powder, form pills with honey. Administer before the attack occurs to prevent recurrence permanently. [Annotation: Heavenly Master says: Very excellent.] Strengthening Stomach Qi prevents phlegm generation naturally, especially with the aid of powerful phlegm-resolving generals. If applied to sheep epilepsy first, it also self-cures. When a patient makes ox/horse sounds during an attack, it is ox/horse epilepsy. Sheep epilepsy is mostly seen in children, while ox/horse epilepsy accounts for half of adult cases.