Library

Liu Shaojun was nearly thirty years old. In spring, he came from the capital to Huizhou, suffering from an illness for several months. He had reduced appetite and physical fatigue, palpitations with insomnia, rising deficiency fire, and occasional hemoptysis (coughing up blood).
The physician diagnosed it as excessive fire in the liver and lungs, prescribing clearing and descending remedies, but repeated treatments were ineffective. Jin Wenfang Zhonghan recommended me for consultation. I stated: This disease is caused by congenital insufficiency and internal deficiency of the heart and spleen. Zhu Danxi said: Deficiency fire can be treated by tonification, while excess fire can be treated by purgation. Treating a deficiency pattern with methods for excess patterns explains why there was no effect. I prescribed Hei Guipi Tang (Black Spleen-Empowering Decoction) combined with Shengmai San (Generate the Pulse Powder). After a few doses, there was slight improvement. At the follow-up visit, I instructed him to continue with the original prescription. All symptoms gradually subsided, and he subsequently took pill medicines for maintenance. The following spring, when he went north, and we met again in autumn, his appearance was robust and plump, and the previous illness seemed completely gone.

Gongzhan Bao, before passing the imperial examinations, worked as a幕僚 (staff member) in Kunling. He suffered from Yige (dysphagia/obstruction) for half a year, and various treatments failed to cure him. Consequently, he bought a boat to return to his hometown and invited me to treat him. Upon inspection, his cheeks were red and his face blue; his pulse was deficient, wiry, fine, and rapid. He reported that for several months he had been unable to sleep all night, startedle easily at sounds, feared seeing relatives and friends, experienced burning pain in the chest and diaphragm, vomited half of a bowl of porridge after eating, and passed stool resembling sheep dung—green, hard, and dry. Previously, he was quite agile in writing essays, but now he could hardly write a single word. He asked if this had already become severe obstruction (Gezheng). I said: Your constitution is inherently weak, compounded by frequent depression, injuring the heart and spleen. The spleen fails to transport fluids for the stomach, causing food obstruction. The intestines lack nourishment, resulting in dry stool. If this occurred in an elderly person, one would fear it becoming severe Gezheng, but since you are young and vigorous, there is little cause for alarm. The formula was modeled on Xiaoyao San (Free and Easy Wanderer Powder) and Guipi Tang (Spleen-Empowering Decoction), with modifications. After dozens of doses, the condition had not diminished, causing concern among others. I said: Chronic internal injury naturally lacks rapid effects. Moreover, since the disease involves emotional factors, internal observation and quiet rest are necessary; one cannot rely solely on medicinal power. Later, he experienced the joy of having a son. I said: Joy can overcome sorrow, and the illness will recede. Half a month later, he indeed gradually improved. I advised him to stay quietly in a monastery for recuperation. He took 100 doses of decoctions and several jin of pills before recovering. Thereafter, he changed his name to Juesheng, expressing gratitude for having survived near-death.

Xiaolian Hong Chufeng fell ill and sent an envoy to invite me. I asked the envoy: What are the symptoms? He replied: Stroke. I asked: How old is he? He answered: Over eighty years old. I said: This is a critical syndrome. I declined to go, but the envoy insisted. As I approached the gate, I heard neighbors saying: The patient is about to die; what is the doctor coming for? If he can revive him, he must be Lu Yuan (Lu Qian and Bian Que). Upon entering, I examined the patient: his body was stiff like a corpse, consciousness was clouded and he did not speak, eyes were closed and mouth open, snoring with phlegm rales, urinary incontinence, and hand relaxation. His pulse was deficient and large, with intermittent pauses. I said: This is Zhongzang (Stroke affecting the zang organs). In an elderly person, the true qi of the zang organs is already depleted. Furthermore, the signs of the Five Extinctions are present; it is untreatable. His younger brother said: We know the illness is incurable, yet there is still a breath remaining. How can we bear to sit idly by? Please prescribe medicine for one week, hoping for even a one-in-ten-thousand chance. Reluctantly, I prescribed Dihuang Yinzi (Rehmannia Decoction) combined with Dabu Yuanyuan Jian (Great Tonification of the Primal Source Decoction), merely to do my duty. Unexpectedly, after taking the medicine, the phlegm settled, snoring stopped, eyes opened, and he could speak. After two more doses, his spirit cleared, and appetite returned. At the follow-up, I added Heche (Placenta Hominis) and Lurong (Deer Antler Velvet). The pulse and symptoms improved significantly. Subsequently, I prepared a pill formula for him. Half a year later, while attending to another case nearby, I visited his home and saw the old man vigorous and healthy as usual.