Library

Hong Kong foot disease (Jiaogong, a term historically referring to beriberi or gout-like conditions) initially originated in the Lingnan region and gradually spread to the Jiangdong area. This disease strikes without gradual onset; symptoms may include slight pain and numbness, swelling and fullness in both calves, sudden weakness when walking, insensitivity or numbness in the lower abdomen, or alternating chills and fever. These are all signs of the condition. If not treated immediately, the pathogen may ascend into the abdomen, causing Qi rebellion that can be fatal. Treatment often involves decoctions, medicinal wines, and massage ointments. There are numerous formulas, not just a single prescription. Here, we select only those with singular efficacy, combined with moxibustion therapy.

Take one sheng of high-quality fermented soybeans (Douchi), steam and sun-dry it three times each. Soak it in three dou of fine wine for three nights before drinking. Administer according to the patient's capacity. For prevention, do not wait for symptoms to appear; simply boil and consume the wine-soaked beans. The leg weakness will improve slightly. Continue preparing and taking other formulas, along with moxibustion.

Next, take the Duhuo Wine formula: Duhuo Radix (Radix Angelicae Pubescentis) five liang, Fuzi Radix Preparata (Prepared Aconite Root) five liang (used raw, sliced). Soak in one dou of wine for three nights. Start by taking one ge per dose, adjusting until a mild sense of numbness is achieved.

Another formula: Bai Fanshi (Alumen, Alum) two jin, or alternatively Zhongru Powder (Stalactite Powder), Fuzi Radix Preparata (Prepared Aconite Root) three liang, Douchi (Fermented Soybeans) three sheng. Soak in three dou of wine for four to five days, drink in small amounts. If Qi rebellion is present, add Erzi (Perilla Seed) two sheng.

Another formula: Youliuhuang (Sulfur) three liang (powdered), Niurou (Cow's Milk) five sheng. First, boil five sheng of water with the milk, then add the sulfur, and simmer until reduced to three sheng. One dose of three ge is also acceptable. Sulfur can be boiled directly in milk without water. If cow's milk is unavailable, sheep's milk is also suitable.

Another formula: First, boil three sheng of cow's milk until reduced by half. Take five ge and immediately take one liang of sulfur powder. After ingestion, cover tightly to induce sweating, avoiding wind exposure. Take another dose in the middle of the day and one more in the evening. If sweating has already occurred, do not force further sweating; instead, focus on proper care and nursing. If not fully recovered, it can be prepared again within a few days after recovery. For long-term use, it can be made into pills. People in the North find this effective for treating leg weakness, but high-quality sulfur is essential; prepare it in advance.

If the calves are swollen and pitting upon pressure, administer two to three sheng of urine from a black ox to promote urination; the swelling will gradually subside. Use a copper vessel to collect fresh urine, which is preferred. If a black ox is unavailable, a pure yellow ox may also be used.

Another formula: Take Qianniuzi (Pharbitidis Semen, Morning Glory Seed), crush it, and mix with honey to form pills the size of small beans, five pills per dose. Urination should be clear; swallowing them directly is also effective. The seeds are black and resemble the pits of Hu Su Zi (Perilla Fruit); they are sold in markets.

Another formula: Take Sanbai Gen (Roots of Three Whites, likely referring to specific local herbs), crush them, and take with wine.

Another formula: Boil Da Dou (Soja Glycines Seeds, Soybeans) in wine or water and drink the juice. Eating Xiao Dou (Adzuki Beans) is also good. Alternatively, grind Sesamum indicum seeds (Huma) raw, mix with wine, and take; this cures the condition.

Another formula: Boil three sheng of soybeans in one dou of water until nine sheng remain. Add nine sheng of clear wine and simmer until nine sheng remain. Drink slowly. Once urination becomes smooth, the swelling will cease.

Formulas containing Fengyin, Baiji, Zhuli (Bamboo Sap), and Duhuo, as well as powders like Bafeng, Shihu (Dendrobium), and Gouji (Cibotium Rhizome), are recorded in larger compendiums. Jinya Jiu (Gold Tooth Wine) is the most important treatment for this condition; its formula is recorded here.

Shujiao (Sichuan Pepper), Yinyu (Berberis Aristolata Stem), Jinya (likely a mineral or herb alias), Xixin (Asarum), [missing character] Cao, Dihuang (Rehmannia Root), Fangfeng (Saposhnikovia Root), Fuzi (Aconite Root), Difukeng (Kochia Fruit), Shuoyang (Dioscorea Hypoglauca Rhizome), and Shengma (Cimicifuga Rhizome) each four liang; Renshen (Ginseng Root) three liang; Qianghuo (Notopterygium Rhizome) one jin; Niuxi (Achyranthes Root) five liang. Cut these fourteen ingredients, soak in four dou of wine for seven days. Drink two to three ge initially, increasing gradually. It also treats inability to speak and severe leg weakness. Cizi Jiu (Side Aconite Wine) is also effective.

For poor rural families, these herbs can be used to brew wine. Babia (Smilax Glabra Rhizome), Songjie (Pine Knots), and Songye (Pine Needles) are all beneficial.

Clean and chop one hu of Babia. Boil in three hu of water until nine dou remain. Use this liquid to steep yeast, boil to remove dregs, and take one hu. Soak rice in it and ferment as per wine-making methods. Drink when ready, in any quantity. One can brew three to five hu at once. If using pine knots and needles, follow the same method; the more concentrated the juice, the better. For chronic leg weakness preventing walking, spinal stiffness and numbness, and abdominal tightness, three to five doses will restore health. If brewing is not possible, Shanglu (Phytolacca Radix) found near water is also good.

Regarding moxibustion, there are many acupoints, but people may not know all locations. We list only the essential ones. Moxibustion must start from the upper body; direct moxibustion on the feet without addressing the upper body can cause dangerous Qi rebellion. First, moxa Dazhui (GV14).

Located at the prominent vertebra in the neck. Moxa the single point on the upper surface. If Qi rebellion is present, first moxa Baihui (GV20) fifty cones; the point is in the depression at the vertex of the head.

Moxa Jianjing (GB21) one hundred cones on each side.

Located in the small depressions near the head on both shoulders. Pinch with fingers to ensure accurate placement.

Next, moxa Danzhong (CV17) fifty cones.

Located between the chest bones opposite the nipples, where pressing induces a sensation of Qi movement. Some say it is the central point of the chest.

Next, moxa Juque (CV14).

One cun below the tip of the xiphoid process. Moxing the upper five points listed above is sufficient to treat Qi rebellion. Moxa Baihui (GV20), Fengfu (GV16), Weiguan (CV12, i.e., Zhongwan), and the Five Zang Back-Shu points for better results, depending on the severity. These points are from the *Jiu Jing* (Classic of Moxibustion) and cannot be fully listed here.

Next, moxa Fengshi (GB31) one hundred cones.

On the lateral aspect of the thigh. When standing with arms hanging straight down, the point is under the tip of the middle finger, on the large tendon. Pressing yields a comfortable sensation.

Next, moxa Zusanli (ST36) two hundred cones.

Using the patient's hand horizontally across the knee, spanning four fingers (one fu), the point is below the knee bone at the midpoint of the finger joint, on the outer edge of the tibia. Pressing yields a concave sensation.

Next, moxa Shanglian (EX-LE7) one hundred cones.

One fu distance below Zusanli (ST36).

Next, moxa Xialian (EX-LE8) one hundred cones.

One fu distance below Shanglian.

Next, moxa Jiexgu (GB39) two hundred cones.

Approximately three cun above the lateral malleolus. Measure from the upper border of the ankle bone, four cun up. It is opposite Xialian. Below these are eighteen essential points, including Futu (ST32) and Dubi (ST35). Do not complete all moxa sessions at once; distribute them over three days.

Another formula: Kong Gong Nie (likely a specific mineral or herb, possibly related to gypsum or similar) two jin, Shihu (Dendrobium Officinale Stem) five liang. Soak in two dou of wine. Consume.

Supplementary Formulas

*Douben Fang* treats acute wind-toxin with swelling, Qi stagnation, and urgent pain. Take one jin of Willow White Bark (Liubai Pi), chop it, and boil in wine until hot. Wrap in cloth and apply as a compress to the swelling. Reheat when cool. This is very effective.

*Shenghui Fang* treats migrating wind-toxin pain. Mix small mustard seed powder with egg white and apply topically.

*Jingyan Houfang* treats wind-toxin causing bone marrow pain. Mix two fen of Shaoyao (Peony Root) and one liang of Hugu (Tiger Bone, note: protected species, historical context only). Roast, powder, and store in a silk bag. Soak in three sheng of wine for five days. Take two ge three times daily.

*Shiyi Xinjing* eliminates all wind-damp bi syndromes and limb contracture.

Take three liang of Cang'erzi (Xanthium Fruit), powder it, boil in one and a half sheng of water until seven ge remain. Strain and sip slowly.

Also treats tendon and vessel contracture, chronic wind-damp bi, descending Qi, expelling evil from bones, benefiting intestines and stomach, reducing edema, and promoting lightness and energy with long-term use.

Take one sheng of Yiyiren (Coix Seed), powder it. Each time, boil two spoonfuls of powder in two sheng of water to make porridge. Eat on an empty stomach.

Also tonifies deficiency and removes wind-damp bi. Mix two large liang of Tiguhu (Clarified Butter/Ghee) with one cup of warm wine and one spoonful of ghee. Drink.

*Jingyan Fang* treats deep-seated pain in skin and flesh. Powder He Shou Wu (Polygonum Multiflorum Root), mix with ginger juice to form a paste. Apply to the painful area, wrap with cloth, and heat a shoe sole with fire to compress/warm the area. Very effective.

Sun Simiao's Formula treats Hong Kong Foot (Jiaogong) and ascending Qi. Take a one-chi long crucian carp, prepare as sashimi (kuai), and eat one liang in one sitting to cure.

*Qianjin Yi* treats Jiaogong rushing to the heart. Take two liang of Bai Fan (Alum), boil in one and a half dou of water for three to five boils. Soak feet in the solution. Effective.

*Guangli Fang* treats Jiaogong causing agitation and confusion/unconsciousness. Boil one sheng of soybeans in three sheng of water until concentrated. Drink half sheng at once. If not stabilized, drink another half sheng. Stabilizes quickly.

Su Gong stated: For Jiaogong patients, eat freely at breakfast, eat less at lunch, and fast at dinner. If hungry, eat bean porridge. If digestion fails at night, risking Huoluan (cholera-like symptoms):

Take two liang of Gaoliangjiang (Galangal Rhizome), crush it, boil in three sheng of water until one sheng remains. Drink all at once to resolve symptoms. Wait until extremely hungry before eating a bowl of thin porridge. This medication requires strict dietary control. If Galangal is unavailable, substitute one liang of Mother Ginger (Zijiang), boil in one sheng of clear wine until thoroughly cooked, and consume with the dregs. Although less effective than Galangal, it is still highly efficacious.

*Tang Ben Zhu* states for Jiaogong:

Boil Hongcao (likely Persicaria hydropiper or similar) to make a concentrated decoction and soak the affected area; often curative.

*Jianyao Jizhong* treats Jiaogong with leg swelling and fullness, chronic and unhealed.

Take one liang of Hei Fuzi (Black Prepared Aconite), remove skin and navel, use raw, powder it. Mix with fresh ginger juice to form a paste. Apply to the swelling. Reapply when dry until swelling subsides.