Library

Background Information:
Book: *Bian Zheng Lu* (Record of Syndrome Differentiation)
Author: Chen Shiduo
Dynasty: Qing
Chapter: Wu Ming Zhong Du Men (Chapter on Nameless Swelling and Toxins, Two Cases)
Category: Comprehensive

[Translation]

There are cases where a person suddenly develops small sores on the head and face without any apparent cause, with severe itching. By the second day, the head feels as heavy as a mountain; by the third day, the face and eyes turn blue-purple. Most people in the world do not recognize this syndrome. It is an extremely critical and urgent disease. If not rescued quickly, within a few days, the entire body will turn blue-black, leading to death. However, if the blueness does not reach the chest and heart area, it can still be treated. This occurs because the patient has been taking hot-tonic medicines for sexual enhancement. Extreme heat transforms into toxin. In sexual intercourse, when one engages in prolonged activity without ejaculation, although Qi governs the movement, it is actually Fire that dominates. When Qi is vigorous but not stimulated by Fire, it is insufficient to arouse desire and sustain the joy of prolonged intercourse. Tonifying Qi medicines cannot replace Ginseng (*Ren Shen*) with other ingredients. Those who crave pleasure are numerous, and those who are stingy with money are also many. They use hot medicines to assist Fire, believing that only by adding large amounts of Ginseng can they control its fierce power. However, since Ginseng is expensive and difficult to stock in large quantities, practitioners, out of necessity to accommodate patients, reduce the amount of Ginseng, causing the efficacy to weaken. Consequently, they add more hot medicines to strengthen Fire, resulting in the chaotic use of mineral and fire-heating substances, claiming that this is necessary to boost the Fire of the Gate of Life (*Ming Men*). The Fire of the Gate of Life is Kidney Fire, which requires True Yin Water to nourish it; it differs from Spleen and Stomach Fire, which can be cooled by external water. Moreover, once Kidney Fire is vigorous, the external demeanor becomes strong, leading to frequent sexual encounters. Once pleasure is obtained, occasional indulgence causes no harm. However, lust is endless; the more intense the intercourse, the fiercer the Fire burns, drying up the Water. When Fire boils, Water dries up. Even if semen is not frequently ejaculated, it is insufficient to restrain the Fire, allowing Heat-Toxin to accumulate in the Intestines and Stomach. Furthermore, prolonged arousal leads to deep sexual excitement, rarely ending without massive ejaculation. Excessive loss of essence makes Fire even stronger, causing the Yang to rise again for further intercourse. Some blame the previous prescription for being too weak and take more to boost their momentum. Little do they know that the more medicine they take, the fiercer the Fire becomes; the more frequent the intercourse, the more depleted the Water becomes. Over time, Water dries up and Fire flares upward. Although Yang rises easily, it cannot last long. There are times when one endures ejaculation, lingering in缠绵 (lingering intimacy). Forcing intercourse while holding back essence causes the essence to fail to transform properly and instead become toxic. This toxicity accumulates in Yin areas, forming carbuncles (*Yong*), or in Yang areas, forming toxins (*Du*). The head is a pure Yang area, making conditions here more terrifying than those in Yin areas. Without using abundant detoxifying herbs, how can one bring the dying back to life? The prescription used is Hui Sheng Zhi Sheng Dan (Revival Supreme Holy Pill):
Sheng Gan Cao (Raw Licorice Root, 5 qian), Jin Yin Hua (Honeysuckle Flower, 0.5 jin), Xuan Shen (Scrophularia Root, 3 liang), Pu Gong Ying (Dandelion, 3 liang), Tian Hua Fen (Trichosanthes Root, 3 qian), Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizome, 1 liang).
Decoct in water and take orally.
After one dose, the head feels lighter, and the blue-purple color fades. After two more doses, the blue-purple color disappears completely, and the sores heal entirely; a third dose is unnecessary. This formula resolves toxins without depleting Qi and defeats toxins without damaging Essence, hence its miraculous efficacy. This toxin originates from extreme depletion of Kidney Water. Most purgative herbs damage both Yin and Yang. Only Jin Yin Hua offers both attacking and tonifying benefits, making it the Sovereign herb. However, a small dose yields single flavor and weak power, while a large dose provides heavy flavor and strong power. Xuan Shen is added to clear Fire, Gan Cao to purge toxins, Pu Gong Ying to clear heat, Tian Hua Fen to disinfect, and Chuan Xiong to dissipate nodules. These naturally assist each other to achieve efficacy.

Another type of Wu Ming Zhong Du (Nameless Swelling and Toxin) appears in unexpected places, with a vicious势头 (momentum) involving life-and-death stakes. All such cases can be named Wu Ming Zhong Du, regardless of upper, middle, or lower locations. The previous case only discussed the head, not the left, right, front, back of the body, or limbs. Knowing the treatment method allows for universal application. Lacking it, upper lesions cannot be treated for middle ones, middle for lower, and lower for upper-middle. What is this treatment method? Generally, Wu Ming Zhong Du arising in upper, middle, or lower regions stems from individuals with excessive lust. Combined with anger and depression, Fire exploits these vulnerabilities, accumulating and knotting toxins. Thus, once manifested, it is incurable. Therefore, all Wu Ming Zhong Du are Yin Syndromes, with absolutely no Yang Syndromes. The treatment should use herbs that resolve Yin Toxins. However, most Yin-toxin-resolving herbs consume True Yin. Since the toxin formed due to deficiency, resolving it further damages Yin, offering no help. Hence, Wu Ming Zhong Du often proves untreatable. I received transmission from an extraordinary person: treat by tonifying Yin while dispersing stagnation, assisted by detoxifying agents and mild meridian-circulating flavors, thereby achieving good results. I dare not hide this transmitted book and betray humanity for generations. The prescription is:
Xuan Shen (Scrophularia Root, 1 jin), Chai Hu (Bupleurum Root, 3 qian), Sheng Gan Cao (Raw Licorice Root, 1 liang). Decoct these three in ten bowls of water as the main decoction. If located on the head/face, add Chuan Xiong (2 liang) and Fu Zi (Aconite Lateralis Radix Praeparata, 2 qian); decoct again to obtain three bowls, divided over two days. Unruptured lesions will dissipate; ruptured ones will regenerate flesh and heal spontaneously, requiring no more than two doses. If located on the torso (front/back/left/right), add Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis Radix, 2 liang), Gan Ju Hua (Chrysanthemum Morifolium Flos, 1 liang), and Fu Zi (3 fen), decocting and administering as before. If located on limbs, add Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome, 2 liang), Fu Zi (5 fen), and Fu Ling (Poria, 1 liang), decocting and administering as before, with guaranteed success.

This formula is named Shou Hei Hu Tang (Black Tiger Gathering Decoction), implying that even the most vicious person would feel chilled seeing a black tiger; thus, vicious toxins are completely dispersed. Xuan Shen best retreats floating Fire. Assisted by Gan Cao, it neutralizes rapid aggression; aided by Chai Hu, it soothes depressed Qi. Additionally, guiding herbs direct the action to the site of toxin accumulation for significant removal. The brilliance lies in using one jin of Xuan Shen, maximizing potency. Another brilliance is tonifying while dispersing, resolving Yin toxins without injuring Yin Qi, thus achieving miraculous results. Do not be startled by the heavy dosage and hesitate to try it, thereby deeply betraying my intention to save the world. For minor mild cases or non-Yin toxin sores, this heavy dosage is unnecessary, a fact one must know.