兄恙抱怔忡,久而不愈,每发心旌摇摇,头晕神倦,辗转不安。予诊之曰∶此烦劳郁
伤,
心脾肝三经病也。方定黑归脾汤,去木香,加白芍柴胡,合逍遥散,间参以麦冬、五味、柏
子仁、丹参、牡蛎之属。疾发虽轻,然犹未断, 兄忧之。予曰∶神者伸也,人之神好伸而
恶郁,郁则伤神。孔圣二论,首揭说乐,佛家般若经,首称自在。庄生着南华,首标逍遥,
游情志中,病未可全凭药力,务须屏烦颐养,方能除根。如言闲散半载,服煎药两百剂,至
今疾不复发。
安波按∶郁则伤神一句,妙极。盖心有悒郁,则事事肘掣。虽有乐境当前,变为畏途
。
靖兄乃郎,年甫四龄,禀质向亏,夏冒暑邪,发热便泻。幼科佥用清散消导之品,服
至匝
旬,热泻如故,形疲气馁,食入作呕。医称邪滞未净,仍用前药,乃至食粥泻粥,饮药泻药
。更医以为脾虚,投六君子汤不应,始来逆予。儿卧几上,阖目无神,脉细如丝。予曰∶胃
气告竭,慢惊欲来,不可为矣。靖兄曰∶固知病久属虚,然昨服六君补药,亦无灵效何也。
予曰∶病有倒悬之危,一缕千钧,焉能有济。考古人制六君子汤,原为平时调养脾胃而设,
非为救急拯危而设也。且阅方内并无人参,仅用钱许党参,数分白术,而市中种术味苦性烈
,与苍术等,不能补脾而反燥脾。复有二陈消之,茯苓利之,欲求拨乱反正之功,真蚍蜉之
撼大树矣。靖兄曰∶然则治当如何。予曰∶非真人参不可。盖参者参也,与元气为参赞也。
鱼一刻无水即死,人一刻无气即亡,儿质本薄,泻久气伤,加以医药重戕胃气,经云∶食入
则胃实而肠虚,食下则肠实而胃虚。今肠胃通为一家,幽门阑门洞开不固,饮食入胃,不使
少留,即从肠出。仓廪之官,废弛厥职,此诚危急存亡之秋,惟仗参力,急固其气,气不夺
则命不倾。然须独用,始克见功,古有独参汤可法也。靖兄闻言大悦,即恳立方。专用人参
二钱,令分两次,米水煎服,热退泻稀,次日照方再进,便泻全止,啜粥不呕,更制八仙糕
与服而痊。
The elder brother suffers from *Zhen Tong* (palpitations, characterized by a sense of inner trembling and inability to control oneself), which has persisted for a long time without healing. Each time it attacks, the mind wanders restlessly, accompanied by dizziness, mental fatigue, and tossing and turning in bed. Upon examination, I stated: This is caused by injury due to overexertion and Qi stagnation, affecting the Heart, Spleen, and Liver meridians. Therefore, I prescribed *Hei Guipi Tang* (Black Return to the Spleen Decoction), removing *Muxiang* (Aucklandiae Radix) and adding *Baishao* (Paeoniae Radix Alba) and *Chaihu* (Bupleuri Radix), combined with *Xiaoyao San* (Free and Easy Wanderer Powder), while incorporating herbs such as *Maidong* (Ophiopogonis Radix), *Wuweizi* (Schisandrae Fructus), *Baiziren* (Biota Semen), *Danshen* (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), and *Muli* (Concha Ostreae). Although the severity of the attacks was reduced, the condition had not been eradicated, causing the brother anxiety. I said: "Shen" (Spirit/Mind) implies extension or freedom. The human Spirit prefers expansion and dislikes stagnation; stagnation injures the Spirit. Confucius, in his teachings, first highlighted joy and contentment; the Buddhist *Prajna Sutra* first extols liberation and ease; Zhuangzi, in writing the *Nanhua Jing* (Book of Master Nanhua), first emphasized free wandering. In the realm of emotional regulation, illness cannot be cured solely by medicinal force. One must eliminate disturbances and nourish the body and mind to eradicate the root cause. Following advice to relax and rest for half a year and taking two hundred doses of decoctions, the disease has not recurred to this day.
An Bo's Note: The phrase "stagnation injures the Spirit" is extremely profound. If the heart harbors depression, every action becomes hindered. Even if joyful circumstances are present, they transform into paths of fear.
The eldest son of Brother Jing, only four years old, had always possessed a deficient constitution. In summer, he contracted heat-pathogens, resulting in fever and diarrhea. Pediatric physicians uniformly employed clearing-heat, dispersing, and digestion-promoting agents. After nearly ten days of administration, the fever and diarrhea remained unchanged. His physique became exhausted, Qi energy depleted, and vomiting occurred upon eating. Physicians claimed that pathogenic stagnation had not yet cleared and continued using previous medications, leading to vomiting after drinking porridge and vomiting after taking medicine. Another physician diagnosed Spleen deficiency and administered *Liujunzi Tang* (Six Gentlemen Decoction) without effect, prompting the family to seek my consultation. The child lay on the table, eyes closed, lacking spirit, with a pulse fine as a silk thread. I stated: Stomach Qi is exhausted; slow convulsions (*Man Jing*) are imminent. This case is likely incurable. Brother Jing said: I know that prolonged illness belongs to deficiency, but why did yesterday's dose of the Six Gentlemen tonic yield no miraculous effect? I replied: The condition is critically dangerous, like a thousand-jun weight suspended by a single thread; how could it be aided? Examining ancient texts, *Liujunzi Tang* was originally designed for daily maintenance of the Spleen and Stomach, not for emergency rescue. Moreover, the prescription contained no *Renshen* (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), only a small amount of *Dangshen* (Codonopsis Radix) and a few fen of *Baizhu* (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma). However, cultivated *Baizhu* available in the market is bitter and harsh in nature, similar to *Cangzhu* (Atractylodis Rhizoma); instead of tonifying the Spleen, it dries it out. Furthermore, *Erchen Tang* (Two-Cured Decoction) was used to resolve phlegm, and *Fuling* (Poria) to promote urination. To expect a reversal of chaos through such means is akin to an ant trying to shake a large tree. Brother Jing asked: Then, how should it be treated? I said: Only genuine *Renshen* will suffice. The character "Shen" implies assisting or complementing; it complements the Yuan Qi (Original Qi). A fish dies instantly without water; a person perishes instantly without Qi. The child's constitution was inherently thin, and prolonged diarrhea injured the Qi. Additionally, medical treatments severely damaged the Stomach Qi again. The Classic states: "When food enters, the Stomach is full and the Intestines are empty; when food digests and moves down, the Intestines are full and the Stomach is empty." Now, the Stomach and Intestines function as one unit; the pylorus and ileocecal valve are open and unsecured. Food entering the Stomach does not stay even briefly but passes directly into the Intestines. The official responsible for the granaries (Spleen/Stomach) has neglected its duties. This is indeed a critical moment of survival or destruction. Only relying on the power of Ginseng can we urgently secure the Qi. If Qi is not depleted, life will not collapse. However, it must be used alone to achieve efficacy, as demonstrated by the ancient *Dushen Tang* (Single Ginseng Decoction). Brother Jing was greatly pleased upon hearing this and urgently requested a prescription. I prescribed exclusively 2 qian of *Renshen*, to be taken in two divided doses, decocted with rice water. The fever subsided, and diarrhea became scanty. On the following day, the same prescription was administered again, completely stopping the diarrhea. Vomiting ceased even when consuming porridge. Finally, *Baxian Gao* (Eight Immortals Cake) was prepared and administered, leading to a full recovery.