Library

The author's cousin married into the Xu family in a neighboring village. After bathing in summer, she suddenly felt dizzy and collapsed. When her family helped her up, she immediately developed fever, which intensified at night. She experienced irritability, thirst, vomiting, delirium, restlessness, and twitching of the fingers; medical treatment was ineffective. Upon examination, her pulse was wiry and rapid, her tongue tip was crimson with a yellow coating. I told her father-in-law: "This illness is caused by the interaction of Summerheat (Shu) and Wind pathogens, with fierce pathogenic heat. It is urgent to clear heat and resolve the exterior to prevent complications such as spasms or syncope (Jing Jue). The prescription used Coptis Rhizoma (Chuanlian), Moslae Herba (Xiangru), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao), Pinelliae Tuber (Banxia), Poria (Fuling), Uncaria Ramulus cum Uncis (Gouteng), Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fangfeng), Artemisiae Annuae Herba (Qinghao), Cornu Saigae Tataricae (Lingyangjiao), Nelumbinis Folium (Heye), and Dolichoris Lablabis Folium (Bianjianye). After two doses, the fever subsided, consciousness cleared, and vomiting and thirst ceased. From the formula, Coptis Rhizoma, Moslae Herba, Uncaria Ramulus cum Uncis, Saposhnikoviae Radix, and Pinelliae Tuber were removed; Adenophorae Radix (Shashen), Ophiopogonis Tuber (Maidong), Dendrobii Caulis (Shihu), and Rice Dew (Daolu) were added. After another two days, symptoms decreased by 70-80%. Then, Artemisiae Annuae Herba, Cornu Saigae Tataricae, Nelumbinis Folium, and Dolichoris Lablabis Folium were removed; Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma (Yuzhu), Dolichos Lablabis Semen (Sheng Bian Dou), Ligustri Lucidi Fructus (Nvzhenzi), Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui), and Paeoniae Radix Alba (Baishao) were added. She recovered after recuperation.

The daughter of my brother Bingbing, who was unmarried and had just reached the age of fifteen (Ji Ji), had an irritable and depressed temperament. In early spring, she suffered from hematemesis. In summer, she suddenly fainted. After regaining consciousness, she vomited incessantly, had cold sweats and numbness in the limbs, spoke weakly with shortness of breath, and felt distension and oppression in the chest and diaphragm. Her pulse was fine and choppy, and her condition appeared deficient. The physician administered tonifying agents, which exacerbated the condition. I examined her and said: "This is a Qi Stagnation disease." The Classic says: "Great anger causes the form and Qi to sever, and blood stagnates above, causing Bo Jue (syncope due to Qi and Blood rushing upward)." It also says: "When Blood and Qi rush together to the upper part, it results in Da Jue (severe syncope)." I proposed treating her with Yueju Pill (Cross-Tie Pill) augmented with Curcuma Aromatica Rhizome (Yujin), Aurantii Fructus (Zhike), Poria, Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Chenpi), and Pinelliae Tuber. Her brother said: "My daughter has been bedridden for several days, unable to eat a single grain of rice. Her pulse is fine and her voice is weak; I fear she is suffering from deficiency collapse (Xu Tuo). What should we do?" I replied: "If you follow my medication, she will live; otherwise, rescue will be difficult. This pulse indicates Qi stagnation and lack of flow, not true deficiency and weakness. Her hesitation in speech is due to the obstruction of Qi mechanism. Observing her frequently pounding her chest, it is entirely due to middle Jiao Qi stagnation and discomfort. Moreover, her shouting penetrates outside; how could this be a sign of collapse? Please prepare the medicine quickly. I will stay here; do not hesitate." The medicine was taken and decocted. Shortly after, gurgling sounds were heard in the diaphragm, followed by several belches, and the chest felt slightly relieved. After the next dose, vomiting stopped, and sleep and appetite returned to normal. The treatment was then switched to Bawei Xiaoyao San (Eight-Ingredient Powder for Soothing the Liver), removing Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu) and adding Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiangfu), Curcuma Aromatica Rhizome, and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium. The illness was cured, and the bleeding disorder also disappeared.