Library

There are cases where a person suddenly flows clear fluid from the nose. After a long time, it becomes runny nose; after even longer, it flows yellow and turbid substances, like pus or marrow, with an unbearable fishy and foul odor. If this persists for ten years, the person will die. This disease arises from excessive drinking and sleeping in the wind. Wind enters the Gallbladder (Dan, 胆), and the alcohol toxin within the Gallbladder cannot be excreted outward, thus transferring its heat to the Brain (Nao, 脑). The orifice of the Brain connects to the nose. How does the Qi of the Gallbladder connect to the Brain, and how does the Qi of alcohol enter the Gallbladder? Those who are skilled at drinking have naturally vigorous Gallbladder Qi and often shout loudly; therefore, alcohol Qi first enters the Gallbladder. When the Gallbladder cannot withstand the alcohol, failing to transform it promptly, fire toxins remain within. The Gallbladder belongs to Wood and most fears cold wind. External cold invasion makes internal heat more severe. The Gallbladder is Yang, and the head is also Yang. When the Gallbladder transfers heat upward to the head, and since the Brain is located within the head, which has no place to store heat, the heat enters upon encountering acupoints. Moreover, the Gallbladder and Brain are originally connected. The acupoints of the Brain are much larger than those of the Gallbladder, so the heat prefers to reside in the Brain rather than return to the Gallbladder. After residing in the Brain for a long time, seeking change due to extreme movement, it seeks an orifice to exit, following the path to the nose. Shallow fire toxins result in clear nasal discharge; deep fire toxins result in turbid discharge. The longer it lasts, the more it flows and the heavier the condition becomes. Eventually, there is no more discharge, and even the brain marrow is completely expelled, making death inevitable. Treatment targeting the Brain is feasible, but treating the Brain requires still treating the Gallbladder, which is a root-seeking treatment. Use Qu Yuan Tang (Cavern-Draining Decoction): Xin Yi (Magnolia Flower) (2 qian), Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis Root) (2 liang), Chai Hu (Bupleurum Root) (1 qian), Chao Zhi Zi (Fried Gardenia Fruit) (3 qian), Xuan Shen (Scrophularia Root) (1 liang), Bei Mu (Fritillaria Bulb) (1 qian). Decoct in water and take orally. One dose reduces discharge; two doses reduce it further; three doses cure the disease completely.

Xin Yi enters the Gallbladder meridian best, guiding Dang Gui to tonify Brain Qi, and guiding Xuan Shen to resolve Brain Fire. Adding Chai Hu and Zhi Zi soothes stagnant heat in the Gallbladder, so the Gallbladder does not assist the fire and naturally benefits from qi tonification. Not directly stopping the nasal discharge, but clearing Brain Fire and benefiting Brain Qi is precisely the method to stop it. Since there is no original discharge in the nose, blocking the source upstream renders cutting off the downstream flow unnecessary. This is the divine efficacy of this treatment. Some doubt the large dosage of Dang Gui, unaware that when brain marrow is fully expelled, massive tonification is needed to generate Brain Qi. Xin Yi is a dispersing herb and should not be used long-term; thus, leveraging its guiding action, a large dose of Dang Gui is used to tonify the Brain and replenish essence, avoiding the need for later use. If Xin Yi is reduced later, heavy use of Dang Gui would be ineffective. This is the key to the sequence of medication, which must be understood. People suspect Dang Gui cannot be used in large amounts because they dislike its slippery nature interfering with the Spleen. However, one who suffers from direct brain marrow leakage surely has marrow that fails to transform into essence. If essence fails to transform, essence is scarce; if essence is scarce, it cannot distribute to the Large Intestine, leading to dryness. Therefore, using Dang Gui to moisten is exactly what is desired, leaving no cause for worry.

This condition can also be treated effectively with Tan Yuan Dan (Cavern-Exploring Pill).
Xin Yi (1 qian), Dang Gui (5 qian), Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber) (2 liang), Fu Ling (Poria) (3 qian), Huang Qin (Scutellaria Root) (2 qian), Bai Shao (White Peony Root) (1 liang), Tian Hua Fen (Trichosanthes Root) (3 qian), Sheng Di (Rehmannia Root) (5 qian), Jie Geng (Platycodon Root) (2 qian). Decoct in water and take orally. Four doses cure completely.

Some people have clear nasal discharge persisting for a year without healing. This is Lung Qi deficiency and cold, not Brain Leakage (Nao Lou). Brain Leakage is synonymous with Nasal Pool (Bi Yuan). There are originally cold and hot syndromes, not solely caused by Gallbladder heat. However, for the same Nasal Pool, how to distinguish cold from hot? Generally, foul-smelling discharge indicates heat; clear, non-foul discharge indicates cold. Heat belongs to excess heat; cold belongs to deficiency cold. Here, only clear discharge without fishy odor indicates a deficiency-cold disease. Hot syndromes should use cooling herbs; cold syndromes should use mild-warm formulas. If all use dispersing herbs without tonification, Lung Qi is damaged, and Lung Metal becomes colder, causing more clear discharge. Use Wen Fei Zhi Liu Dan (Lung-Warming Discharge-Stopping Decoction): He Zi (Chebula Fruit) (1 qian), Gan Cao (Licorice Root) (1 qian), Jie Geng (Platycodon Root) (3 qian), Shi Shou Yu Nao Gu (Stonefish Brain Bone) (5 qian, calcined to retain character and ground into powder), Jing Jie (Schizonepeta Spike) (0.5 qian), Xi Xin (Asarum Root) (0.5 qian), Ren Shen (Ginseng Root) (0.5 qian). Decoct in water and mix with powder for oral administration. One dose stops the flow immediately; no further doses are needed.

This formula has a mild-warm aroma, naturally warming the Lung, while its nature carries dispersing properties, further expelling pathogens, hence achieving miraculous results. Some ask: Stonefish Brain Bone was used by ancients to treat internal-heat Nasal Pool as it is a cold-natured substance. Why use it for cold-syndrome Nasal Pool? It is unknown that Nasal Pool indeed has cold and hot syndromes, and Stonefish Brain Bone treats both. But hot syndrome discharge connects to the Brain, while cold syndrome discharge originates from the Lung. I use herbs entering the Lung meridian, all of mild-warm nature. Since the Lung is cold-cool, it resolves itself with mild-warmth. Assisted by Stonefish Brain Bone to block the path from the Brain, Brain Qi does not sink, and Lung Qi closes tighter. Thus, one dose stops the flow.

Some have nasal congestion, thick sticky turbid discharge for years. All assume it is Nasal Pool with fire knotting in the Brain. Who knows it is actually Lung Meridian stagnant fire not venting, resembling Nasal Pool but not being Nasal Pool. Stagnation diseases exist in all five Zang organs, not just Liver Wood. *Neijing* states: All Qi stagnations belong to the Lung. Lung Qi stagnation causes Qi obstruction; the nose is the gateway of the Lung Meridian. Thus, if Lung Qi is obstructed, nasal Qi is also obstructed. *Nan Jing* states: Severe Lung heat causes nasal discharge. The Lung is originally a clear-empty organ, most hating heat. Lung heat makes Lung Qi rough, and fluids in the Lung boil upward, condensing into discharge. Severe heat makes discharge yellow; extreme heat makes discharge turbid. Turbid,败坏 substances cannot remain in the clear-empty organ and must exit through the nasal gateway. Use Xiao Yao San (Free and Easy Wanderer Powder) with modifications.
Chai Hu (2 qian), Dang Gui (3 qian), Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome) (2 qian), Chen Pi (Citrus Peel) (0.5 qian), Gan Cao (1 qian), Huang Qin (1 qian), Fu Ling (2 qian), Bai Shao (3 qian), Bai Zhi (Angelica Dahurica Root) (1 qian), Jie Geng (3 qian), Ban Xia (Pinellia Tuber) (1 qian). Decoct in water and take orally. One dose brings relief; two doses bring further relief; eight consecutive doses cure completely.

This formula treats Liver Wood stagnation. Why is it effective for Lung stagnation? Unknown is that Xiao Yao San excels at treating Five Stagnations, not merely Liver Meridian stagnation. Furthermore, assisted by Jie Geng to disperse Lung pathogens, and Huang Qin to drain Lung heat, guiding all herbs directly into the Lung Meridian, what stagnation cannot be vented? Thus, congestion clears, and turbidity transforms.

Using Xuan Fei San (Lung-Ventilating Powder) is also excellent for this condition.
Chai Hu, Huang Qin, Zi Wan (Aster Root) (2 qian each), Bai Shao (1 liang), Dang Gui, Mai Dong (5 qian each), Fu Ling, Bai Jie Zi (White Mustard Seed) (3 qian each), Gan Cao, Kuan Dong Hua (Farfusa Flower) (1 qian each), Zi Su (Perilla Leaf) (1 qian), Xin Yi (0.5 qian). Decoct in water and take orally. Four doses cure.