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When people reach the summer season, they often feel a heavy and fatigued body, weakness in the four limbs, a constant desire to sleep, complete lack of spirit, soreness in the legs and softness in the knees. People consider this to be Zhuxia disease (a chronic weak condition occurring in summer), but who would know that it is actually due to a deficiency of Kidney Water (Jing-Yin). In summer, Fire flares up, relying entirely on the moistening of Kidney Water, so that the Zang-Fu organs can be irrigated and avoid dryness. However, summer is precisely when Water energy declines, and no one's Kidney Water is fully flourishing. When people arrive at summer, although many feel tired, it is not as severe as Zhuxia disease. Zhuxia disease results from a deficiency of Kidney Water, which is caused by failing to store Jing (Essence) during winter. If Essence is not stored in winter, Fire cannot flourish in summer, hence the fatigue.

Although Summer Fire is dominant and often damages Spleen-Stomach, human fatigue is naturally due to the decline of Spleen-Stomach Qi. This seems unrelated to Kidney Water, but how could it be? Without Water in the Kidneys, there is no distribution to nourish the Spleen-Stomach, causing the Spleen-Stomach fluids to dry up. How then can it control the external blazing Fire? Without Water to restrain Fire, the Spleen-Stomach suffers from the punishment of Fire, leaving them without Jin-Ye (Body Fluids). They can only attend to themselves, making it difficult to transport nutrients to the hands and feet. Thus, weakness in the four limbs and mental fatigue are indeed appropriate outcomes. The treatment method must focus primarily on strengthening the Spleen and opening the Stomach. When the Spleen is strong and the Stomach opens, ingested food naturally transforms into fine essences to generate Kidney Water. Combined with herbs that tonify the Kidneys to vaporize and stimulate Spleen-Kidney Qi, Earth and Water will no longer overcome each other but instead generate each other. Why worry about Zhuxia disease? Use Shengxia Dan: Baizhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma, 2 qian), Fuling (Poria, 2 qian), Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, 3 fen), Renshen (Ginseng Radix, 5 fen), Bei Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus, 3 fen), Shudi (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata, 5 qian), Shanzhuyu (Corni Fructus, 2 qian), Shenqu (Massa Medicata Fermentata, 3 fen), Baijiezi (Sinapis Semen, 1 qian), Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma, 3 qian), Qianshi (Euryales Semen, 3 qian), Chao Zaoren (Ziziphi Spinosomi Semen, fried, 1 qian). Decoct in water and take orally. One dose daily. After ten doses, spirit will be revitalized. After another ten doses, the body will become robust. This prescription appears ordinary, but its balance of weight and quantity is exquisitely matched. It avoids the danger of excessive Yang and the drawback of deficient Yin, awakens Spleen-Stomach Qi, and generates Heart-Kidney fluids. It can be taken long-term for effect or short-term for quick results.

This syndrome is also effectively treated with Gushen Tang: Shudi (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix) (each 5 qian), Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Digupi (Lycii Cortex), Shashen (Glehniae Radix) (each 2 qian), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Beimu (Fritillariae Bulbus) (each 3 fen), Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Shenqu (Massa Medicata Fermentata) (each 5 fen), Baizhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma, 3 qian), Danpi (Moutan Cortex, 1 qian). Decoct in water and take orally. One dose daily. After one month, spirit will naturally flourish, and fatigue will cease.

During the Sanfu period (the hottest days of summer), people may feel lethargic, reluctant to eat, completely lacking strength. If they slightly indulge in delicious food, their abdomen becomes bloated; if they encounter slight wind or coolness, their stool becomes loose. People think this is Zhuxia disease, but who knows it is actually due to Spleen Qi being trapped and deficient? The human congenital foundation is the Kidney, and the acquired foundation is the Spleen. When Spleen Qi is healthy, ingested food naturally transforms into fine essences, sufficient to supplement Kidney Water. If the Spleen Earth is injured first during spring and winter, the weakened Earth cannot transform food, causing ingested matter to stagnate in the Stomach. Without Spleen Earth to nourish it, Kidney Water lacks support, causing Kidney Qi to dry up further. How can it then distribute to the sinews and bones? This is why spirit and strength become fatigued. It might seem that the treatment should urgently tonify the Spleen. However, Spleen Earth is not generated without Kidney Fire, and Kidney Fire does not grow without Kidney Water. Therefore, those who tonify the Spleen must tonify both Water and Fire within the Kidneys. Use Bawei Wan: Shudi (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata, 8 liang), Shanzhuyu (Corni Fructus, 4 liang), Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma, 4 liang), Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma), Danpi (Moutan Cortex), Fuling (Poria) (each 3 liang), Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, one piece, processed with Glycyrrhizae water), Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex, 2 liang). Make pills with honey. Take 8 qian every evening. After half a month, appetite improves; after one month, fullness and bloating disappear; after two months, Zhuxia disease is completely cured.

Rougui tonifies Fire, while Liuwei Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia) purely tonifies Water. Since the ingredients tonifying Water exceed those tonifying Fire, Fire benefits from Water and does not become dry, while Earth benefits from Fire and does not become damp. This is still the method of tonifying the congenital foundation to benefit the acquired foundation.

This syndrome is also effectively treated with Jianpi Yin: Baizhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Weirui (Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma) (each 5 qian), Fuling (Poria), Shanzhuyu (Corni Fructus), Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) (each 3 qian), Renshen (Ginseng Radix, 2 qian), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, 5 fen), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix) (each 3 qian), Bei Wuwei (Schisandrae Fructus, 3 fen), Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex, 1 qian). Decoct in water and take orally. Take continuously for one month, and spirit will naturally strengthen.