桃仁苏木诸药。乃破瘀行血之峻剂也。但妇人经水不通有二。一由风寒冷湿。客抟冲任
。致
血气凝滞不通者。则宜用前药宣利之。若血海干枯。无经可行者则当纯补脾肝肾三经以滋生
化之源此治虚之道也若益母续断丹皮等药性主生新消瘀。犹属补泻兼行盖丹皮白色者可凉血
。同熟地当归参术尚能生血。其赤色者仅只清瘀而已无瘀则耗好血不可不知木槿紫荆兼解烦
热疮癣有验。
以上皆滑利之品。凡命门火衰滑泄。及素患梦遗者忌用之。枣仁治少阳胆热不眠。若风
秘及
热客大肠闭结者。则宜火麻郁李桃仁之属。若血涸津枯。致大便干涩者。则宜滋阴之味。但
火麻性最峻利。须酌之。蕤仁决明佐治肝虚风热目赤。亦有效。郁仁兼疗眼痛及水肿病。葵
子利二便。皆治实之物也。
姜生者同葱白主疗外感。初症发汗通经。所必用也。煨者主温暖脾胃性主守。炮者性却
平。
止呕吐。燥太阴之寒湿。及治产后发热有功。但患阴虚咳嗽。及病久阳虚者禁之。误用必致
脱汗。姜皮性平。能引药达表。
生栀性太寒。古方用为吐药。疗上膈之实热。经炒者性凉祛热解烦。保肺抑心。其炮黑
者
性平。除郁滞。理肝气。济生逍遥散加之亦止血窍此一物而有三用也性寒凉平随火变化耳。
此药方书谓疗中风惊风诸风。口眼 邪切牙闭齿四肢抽搐诸病为有功。但中风主脏病多
不治
。又有似中风而非真中风。若河涧主于热。丹溪主于湿。东垣主于气者是也。大都真中风实
由元气素虚故得乘虚召感所谓肝虚风自生者是也此须急投温剂。峻补真元。庶可望苏。若误
用前药辛窜耗散之物。只速其死耳。里人姜郢雪年六十余。素不谨酒色。一日因积劳远归。
醉鼾当风。遽病亡阳。面色如妆。闭目摇头。时醒时昏。遗尿足冷。绝无痰涎。此真气暴脱
。十有九死危症也。余令亟投大剂参附等药。谓或救万一。迟则不治矣。渠次郎即往市参。
许久未回。余与王遂生辞归。未几有一老医至。诊之曰。此病风痰何妨。予治之多矣。奈何
妄议参附燥毒助气之剂。少俟明日病愈。用参调理未晚。遂投驱风攻痰之药。至晚即殁。其
明验也。
Peach Kernel (Taoren) and Sappan Wood (Sumu), among other herbs, are harsh agents for breaking blood stasis and promoting blood circulation. However, there are two causes for amenorrhea in women: one is due to the invasion of wind-cold-damp pathogens, which bind to the Chong and Ren vessels, causing qi and blood stagnation and obstruction; in this case, it is appropriate to use the aforementioned herbs to promote free flow and unblock. The other cause is a dryness of the Blood Sea with no menstrual blood available to flow; in this instance, one should purely tonify the Spleen, Liver, and Kidney meridians to generate the source of transformation, which is the method for treating deficiency. As for herbs such as Motherwort (Yimucao), Dipsacus (Xuduan), and Moutan Cortex (Danpi), their properties mainly focus on generating new blood and eliminating stasis, still belonging to agents that both tonify and purge. Specifically, white Moutan Cortex can cool the blood; when combined with Rehmannia (Shudi), Angelica Sinensis (Danggui), Ginseng (Renshen), and Atractylodes (Baizhu), it can also generate blood. Red Moutan Cortex, however, only clears stasis; if used without stasis, it will consume healthy blood, a fact that must not be ignored. Hibiscus Mutabilis Flower (Mujin Hua) and Cercis Chinensis Bark (Zijing Pi) both relieve irritability and heat and treat sores and tinea, with verified efficacy.
All the above-mentioned substances are slippery and lubricating in nature. They are contraindicated for those with decline of Mingmen Fire leading to slippery discharge, and for those who habitually suffer from nocturnal emissions. Sour Jujube Seed (Suanzaoren) treats insomnia caused by Shaoyang Gallbladder heat. If constipation is due to wind obstruction or heat pathogen lodging in the Large Intestine, herbs such as Hemp Seed (Huomaren), Prunella Fructus (Yuliren), and Peach Kernel (Taoren) are appropriate. If dryness and roughness of stool result from depletion of blood and drying of fluids, nourishing yin substances should be used. However, Hemp Seed (Huomaren) has the most harsh and lubricating nature, so its dosage must be carefully considered. Prunus Persica Seed (Ruiren) and Cassia Seed (Juemingzi) assist in treating red eyes caused by Liver deficiency and wind-heat, and are also effective. Prunella Fructus (Yuliren) additionally treats eye pain and edema, while Abutilon Seed (Kuixi) promotes urination and defecation; these are all substances for treating excess conditions.
Fresh Ginger (Shengjiang) combined with Scallion White (Congbai) primarily treats exterior syndromes. In the initial stage, they are essential for inducing sweating and unblocking the meridians. Baked Ginger (Weijiang) primarily warms the Spleen and Stomach, with a property of retaining warmth. Processed Ginger (Paojiang) has a mild nature, stops vomiting, dries damp-cold of the Taiyin Spleen, and is effective in treating postpartum fever. However, it is contraindicated for Yin deficiency cough and chronic Yang deficiency; misuse will inevitably lead to collapse sweating. Ginger Skin (Jiangpi) has a neutral nature and can guide medicinal effects to the exterior.
Raw Gardenia Fruit (Shengzhi) is excessively cold. Ancient formulas used it as an emetic to treat excess heat in the upper jiao. Stir-fried Gardenia has a cooling nature, dispels heat, relieves irritability, protects the Lung, and suppresses Heart fire. Charred Gardenia has a neutral nature, removes stagnation, regulates Liver qi, and when added to Jisheng Xiaoyao San, can also stop bleeding from various orifices. This single herb has three uses because its cold, cool, and neutral properties change according to the processing fire.
This text states that the formula treats stroke, convulsive disorders, and various wind diseases, being effective for facial paralysis, lockjaw, and limb spasms. However, true stroke often involves internal organ pathology and is mostly incurable. There are also conditions resembling stroke but not true stroke, such as those attributed to heat by Liu Hejian, dampness by Zhu Danxi, and qi deficiency by Li Dongyuan. Most true strokes actually arise from inherent weakness of Yuan Qi, allowing pathogens to invade via deficiency, as described by "Liver deficiency generates internal wind." In such cases, warm tonifying agents must be urgently administered to severely tonify True Yuan, offering a chance of recovery. Misusing the aforementioned acrid, dispersing, and qi-consuming herbs will only hasten death. A townsman named Jiang Yingxue, over sixty years old, who was usually immoderate in alcohol and sexual activity, returned home exhausted one day. Falling asleep drunk facing the wind, he suddenly developed Yang Collapse syndrome: his face appeared flushed like makeup, he closed his eyes and shook his head, alternating between consciousness and coma, suffered urinary incontinence and cold feet, and had no phlegm secretions. This was a critical condition of sudden collapse of True Qi, with nine chances of death out of ten. I ordered the immediate administration of large doses of Ginseng (Renshen) and Aconite (Fuzi), stating that perhaps one in ten could be saved, but delay would make it untreatable. His second son went to the market to buy Ginseng and did not return for a long time. Wang Suisheng and I took our leave. Shortly after, an old physician arrived, diagnosed the pulse, and said, "This is Wind-Phlegm disease, what harm is there? I have treated many such cases. Why do you recklessly criticize Ginseng and Aconite as toxic, qi-assisting agents? Wait until tomorrow when the illness subsides, then tonify with Ginseng; it will not be too late." He then administered wind-dispelling and phlegm-resolving drugs. By evening, the patient died. This serves as clear proof.