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Injury from Alcohol. Nausea and vomiting, expelling undigested wine. Dizziness and vertigo, severe headache as if the head were bursting. It is appropriate to use Chonghe Tang (Harmonizing Decoction), Banxia Fuling Tang (Pinellia and Poria Decoction), or Lizhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction) with added Ge Gen (Puerariae Radix) 7 fen. Alternatively, powdered Lizhong Tang can be taken mixed with Suopi Yin (Spleen-Contracting Infusion) or Jiu Ke Suopi Tang (Wine-Thirst Spleen-Contracting Decoction). Or, Ge Gen Tang (Pueraria Decoction) can be decocted to mix with Wuling San (Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria). Long-term alcohol consumption eventually leads to Jiu Ji (Alcohol Accumulation), presenting with abdominal pain and diarrhea. This can also result from binge drinking "Hui Jiu" (Gray Wine containing sediment). In all these cases, Jiu Zhu Huanglian Wan (Alcohol-Boiled Coptis Pill) is appropriate. If excessive drinking forms Jiu Pi (Alcohol Mass), characterized by a lump in the abdomen that moves up and down with Qi, Chonghe Tang (Harmonizing Decoction) with added Peng Zao (Curcumae Rhizoma) 0.5 qian is indicated. If alcohol stagnates in the chest and diaphragm, transforming into Phlegm-Fluids, Zhishi Banxia Tang (Immature Bitter Orange and Pinellia Decoction) with added Shen Qu (Massa Medicata Fermentata) and Mai Ya (Hordei Fructus Germinatus) 0.5 qian each should be used; or Chonghe Tang (Harmonizing Decoction) with added Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) 1 qian and Fuling (Poria) 0.7 fen.

Excessive alcohol intake causes dampness to accumulate in the Spleen, eventually forming Jiu Huang (Alcohol Jaundice); see the Dan Zheng (Jaundice Syndrome) section in the Shiyi Men (Supplementary Chapter).

Syndrome of Injury from Food. Stifling sensation and obstruction in the chest and diaphragm, vomiting and acid regurgitation, belching with a smell of rotten eggs, aversion to food, headache, fever, and aversion to cold. The condition resembles Shang Han (Cold Damage), except for the absence of body pain. Treatment involves Zhizhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction) with added Sha Ren (Amomi Fructus) 1 qian, or Hong Wanzi (Red Pills) and Xiao Qixiang Wan (Small Fragrant Pills) taken together.

Overeating causes injury, with food stagnating in the Zhongwan (Conception Vessel 12) area, leading to vomiting upon smelling food. Erchen Tang (Two-Aged Decoction) with added Sha Ren (Amomi Fructus) 1 qian is suitable. If not cured, add Dingxiang (Caryophylli Flos) 0.5 qian. Alternatively, Zhizhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction) with added Sha Ren (Amomi Fructus) 1 qian and Dingxiang (Caryophylli Flos) 10 grains. For patients with incessant severe vomiting, inducing defecation to expel the accumulation is necessary. Zhishi Banxia Tang (Immature Bitter Orange and Pinellia Decoction) with added Sha Ren (Amomi Fructus) 1 qian and Ba Dou Kou Ren (Cardamomi Semen) 0.5 qian, followed by swallowing Yinggan Wan (Responsive Pill), is indicated.

Initially injured by overconsumption of a specific food, re-consuming it after illness causes the old disease to recur. Regularly taking Yiwu Hong Wanzi (Single-Ingredient Red Pills) is effective.

Food injury causing abdominal pain and distension, with constipation, eventually forms Shi Ji (Food Accumulation). Take one dose of Xiao Qixiang Wan (Small Fragrant Pills), decocted with one cup of water and three slices of fresh ginger until reduced to 0.8 cup. Remove the ginger residue and swallow Yinggan Wan (Responsive Pill).

(See Diarrhea Syndrome in the Large and Small Intestine Chapters)

Injury from raw, cold, or greasy foods stagnating between the diaphragm, where Spleen Qi fails to warm and digest food properly. Or, frequent consumption of glutinous rice foods and other out-of-season, hard-to-digest items. All such cases are suitable for Hong Wanzi (Red Pills) or Jin Shanglao Neixiao Wan (Golden Upper Firm Internal-Dissolving Pill).

Food injury combined with Wind-Cold invasion presents similarly to the above, but adds body pain. This is commonly called Jia Shi Shang Han (Food-Stagnation Cold Damage). Suitable formulas include Shengliao Wuji San (Unprocessed Five-Accumulations Powder), Yangwei Tang (Stomach-Nourishing Decoction), Xiangsu Yin (Aucklandia and Perilla Infusion), or Hejie San (Harmonizing and Resolving Powder), selected according to the case. If the condition does not improve and pathogens enter the interior, purgative methods should be used. Such cases are rare in the Various Injuries Chapter.

Regarding Shang Han (Cold Damage), excessive consumption of crabs causes injury; a single herb, Dingxiang (Caryophylli Flos), is sufficient for treatment.

There are cases where irregular diet and food injury lead to hemiplegia, resembling Zhong Feng (Wind Stroke), but this must not be treated as Wind Stroke. This occurs because food, upon swallowing, enters the Liver, then the Spleen, and finally the Stomach. Due to food injury, the Liver loses its regulatory function, causing Phlegm-Saliva to obstruct, mimicking Zhong Feng (Wind Stroke). Hemiplegia may occur because the Liver governs the sinews. Using Wind-expelling herbs would be a mistake. It is appropriate to use food-resolving agents, including Mugua San (Papaya Powder). One must not recklessly use purgatives on food toxins or out-of-season foods, which typically cause disease. Here, the Spleen and Stomach are not injured, but the Liver is; since the pathology is not in the lower jiao, purgatives should not be used recklessly. (Note: Food swallowed goes directly into the Stomach; the statement that it enters the Liver, then Spleen, then Stomach implies a specific theoretical explanation.)