大肠传导糟粕,通调为顺,溏泄则有阴伤之患,秘结则有阳亢之虞。昔人治便频无度,
多以
补脾为主,亦扶土生金之义也。有火则闭塞不通,须用攻下之品,釜底抽薪,诚妙法也。稍
涉虚者,如景岳济川煎,亦可采用。凡目病在肺经者,治其大肠,以其表里相应,所谓上病
治下也。
膀胱为巨阳,其经脉最长,统束一身。凡外感症皆太阳受之,羌防发汗,治其经,五苓
利水
,治其腑。更有湿热下注,二便不调,专治膀胱,其病自愈。与肾为表里,肾无泻法,泻膀
胱即所以泻肾。沟渎既清,水泉不竭,肾精自然充足。目珠上属太阳,见症甚多,如头风损
目,垂帘成障皆是。故凡治目,不可不细究膀胱也。
病之发也,有因外感内伤,前已详论之矣。至于杂症,不过气血痰食郁五者而已。然五
者之
中,惟气血为甚。盖人有阴阳,即为气血,阳主气,故气全则神旺。阴主血,故血盛则形强
。然而身形之中,有营气,有卫气,凡人受气于谷,谷入于胃,以传于肺,五脏六腑,皆得
受气。清者为营,浊者为卫。营行脉中,卫行脉外。其所以统摄一身,环流不息者,全赖元
气为之主持。元气者,先天之气,命门之主也。卫气者,后天之气,生命之原也。元气为卫
气之母,母能益子,子赖谷气之津以养生。故元气衰,则营卫之气皆有不充矣。夫血生于心
,统于脾,藏于肝,布于肺,泄于肾,灌溉一身,为七窍之灵,四肢之用。润颜色,充营卫
,津液得以通行,二便得以调畅。然血为气化,亦能助气,故一气一血,相为表里也。痰饮
一症,内经止有积饮之说,本无痰症之名。盖痰涎之化,本由中气衰弱,水谷入胃,不能尽
化,留而为痰,使脾强胃健则随食随化,皆成津液,焉能成痰。故肥人多痰者,因中气不能
健运所致。经云∶形盛气虚,此之谓也。若实痰者,或因风因热因湿因寒,郁结于脏腑经络
之间,血气不能通达,凝而为痰。祛其外感,而痰自消也。内经之不言痰者,正以痰必因病
而生,非病之因痰而致也。经云∶人以水谷为本,人绝水谷则死,脉无胃气亦死。又曰∶谷
盛气盛,谷虚气虚,此其常也。反此者病。盖五味入口,脏受于胃,游溢精气,散布于五脏
,酸入肝,苦入心,甘入脾,辛入肺,咸入肾,此五脏各归所喜也。凡人偶食生冷油浊之物
,积滞于肠胃之间,此邪气之实也。若食入即胀,或胸胁作痛者,乃中气不旺之故也。盖脾
胃为仓廪之官,职司化食,脾胃强壮者,即滞亦易化。如其不能化者,皆由脾胃之虚也。郁
病者,滞而不通之义也。经言五郁者,乃五行之化,气运有乖,则五郁之病生焉。滑氏曰∶
木性本条达,火性本发扬,土性本冲和,金性本整肃,水性本流通。五者一有所郁,斯失其
性矣。至于情志之郁,不过忧思怒三者而已。盖忧则气聚,思则气结,怒则气逆也。初病宜
顺宜开,若郁久则伤及中宫,神志日消,心脾日耗,非补不可也。余谓痰食郁三者,总由气
血不调之故。若气血和平,则神魂安静,肤腠固密,外来之邪无隙可乘,内生之郁无由而起
。即使寒温不测,世事无常,或外犯客邪,或内为郁病,只宜祛其外感,调其郁气则安矣,
宁有大病之足虑哉!
The Large Intestine is responsible for conducting waste; smooth and harmonious flow constitutes normalcy. Loose stools (loose, watery bowel movements) pose a risk of Yin injury, while constipation (hard, dry stool) carries the danger of Yang hyperactivity. In the past, treating frequent and uncontrolled defecation primarily focused on tonifying the Spleen, which also embodies the principle of "Supporting Earth to Generate Metal" (strengthening the Spleen to benefit the Lung). If fire pathogens cause obstruction and blockage, purgative agents must be used to remove the fuel from under the pot (clearing heat from the source), which is indeed a brilliant method. For cases involving slight deficiency, such as Jichuan Jian (Jingyue's Decoction for Crossing the River) by Zhang Jingyue, it may also be adopted. Whenever eye diseases belong to the Lung Meridian, treat the Large Intestine, because they are exterior-interior partners, corresponding to each other; this is what is meant by "treating upper disorders from below."
The Bladder is called the Great Yang; its meridian is the longest, governing and binding the entire body. All external contraction syndromes are first affected by the Taiyang (Greater Yang) channel. Using Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix) and Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix) to induce sweating treats the meridian; using Wuling San (Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria) to promote urination treats the fu organ. Furthermore, when damp-heat flows downward causing irregularities in both urine and stool, specifically treating the Bladder allows the disease to heal spontaneously. The Bladder and Kidney are exterior-interior partners. Since there is no draining method for the Kidney, draining the Bladder serves to drain the Kidney. Once the ditches are clear, the water springs will not dry up, and Kidney Essence will naturally become sufficient. The eyeballs are superiorly connected to the Taiyang channel, presenting many symptoms, such as head wind damaging the eyes or ptosis forming cataracts/opacities. Therefore, whenever treating eye diseases, one cannot fail to investigate the Bladder carefully.
Diseases arise from either external contractions or internal injuries, which have been discussed in detail previously. As for miscellaneous syndromes, they are merely five categories: Qi, Blood, Phlegm, Food, and Stagnation. However, among these five, only Qi and Blood are most significant. Generally, humans possess Yin and Yang, manifested as Qi and Blood. Yang governs Qi, so abundant Qi leads to vigorous spirit; Yin governs Blood, so abundant Blood leads to strong physique. Within the physical form, there is Ying (Nutritive) Qi and Wei (Defensive) Qi. Humans receive Qi from food; once food enters the Stomach, it is transmitted to the Lung, allowing all Zang and Fu organs to receive Qi. The clear and light portion becomes Ying Qi, while the turbid and heavy portion becomes Wei Qi. Ying Qi circulates within the vessels, while Wei Qi circulates outside the vessels. Their ability to govern the whole body and circulate endlessly relies entirely on Yuan Qi (Original Qi) to preside. Yuan Qi is congenital Qi, governed by the Gate of Life (Mingmen). Wei Qi is acquired Qi, the origin of life. Yuan Qi is the mother of Wei Qi; the mother benefits the son, and the son relies on the fluids of grain Qi to nourish itself. Thus, if Yuan Qi declines, both Ying and Wei Qi will be insufficient. Blood is produced in the Heart, governed by the Spleen, stored in the Liver, distributed by the Lung, and excreted via the Kidney. It irrigates the whole body, serving as the basis for the sensitivity of the seven orifices and the function of the four limbs. It moistens the complexion, fills Ying and Wei Qi, allows body fluids to flow freely, and ensures smooth passage of urine and stool. However, Blood is generated by Qi transformation and can also assist Qi; thus, Qi and Blood are exterior-interior partners. Regarding the syndrome of Phlegm and Fluid Retention, the *Neijing* (Classic of Internal Medicine) only mentions accumulated fluid retention and originally had no name for "Phlegm Syndrome." The formation of phlegm saliva originates from the weakness of Middle Qi. When food and water enter the Stomach but cannot be fully transformed, they remain and become phlegm. If the Spleen is strong and the Stomach healthy, food is digested immediately and transforms into body fluids, how could it become phlegm? Therefore, obese people often have phlegm due to the inability of Middle Qi to transport and transform effectively. The Classics state: "A robust physique with deficient Qi," referring to this condition. If it is excess phlegm, it may be due to Wind, Heat, Dampness, or Cold stagnating between the Zang-Fu organs and meridians, preventing the free flow of Qi and Blood, condensing into phlegm. Removing the external contraction causes the phlegm to dissipate naturally. The reason the *Neijing* does not discuss phlegm is precisely that phlegm arises from disease, not that disease is caused by phlegm. The Classics say: "Humans rely on water and grain as their foundation; without water and grain, humans die; without Stomach Qi in the pulse, death occurs." It also says: "Abundant grain leads to abundant Qi; deficient grain leads to deficient Qi." This is the normal pattern. Deviating from this results in disease. Generally, the five flavors enter the mouth, are received by the Zang organs via the Stomach, overflow with essence and Qi, and distribute to the five Zang organs: Sour enters the Liver, Bitter enters the Heart, Sweet enters the Spleen, Pungent enters the Lung, Salty enters the Kidney. This represents each Zang organ returning to its preference. If a person occasionally consumes cold, raw, greasy, or turbid foods, accumulating stagnation in the intestines and stomach, this is an excess of pathogenic factors. If bloating occurs immediately after eating, or pain arises in the chest and hypochondrium, it is due to weak Middle Qi. The Spleen and Stomach are the officials of the granaries, responsible for digesting food. Those with strong Spleen and Stomach can easily resolve even stagnation. If digestion fails, it is always due to Spleen-Stomach deficiency. "Yu" (Stagnation) means blockage and lack of flow. The "Five Yu" mentioned in the classics refer to the transformations of the Five Elements; when the movement of Qi deviates, diseases of the Five Yu arise. Mr. Hua (Huashi) stated: The nature of Wood is naturally flexible and spreading; Fire is naturally uplifting and radiant; Earth is naturally balanced and mild; Metal is naturally orderly and solemn; Water is naturally flowing and permeable. If any of these five properties becomes stagnant, they lose their nature. As for emotional stagnation, it is limited to Worry, Pensiveness, and Anger. Worry causes Qi to gather; Pensiveness causes Qi to knot; Anger causes Qi to rebel. In early stages, treatment should facilitate flow and open blockages. If stagnation persists, it damages the Middle Palace (Spleen/Stomach), gradually depleting Shen (Spirit) and exhausting Heart and Spleen, requiring tonification. I believe that Phlegm, Food, and Stagnation all stem from the imbalance of Qi and Blood. If Qi and Blood are harmonious, then Hun and Po (Soul and Spirit) are calm, skin and pores are secure, external pathogens have no gap to exploit, and internal stagnation has no cause to arise. Even if temperature changes unpredictably or worldly affairs are irregular, whether suffering from external pathogens or internal stagnation, one should only dispel external contractions and regulate stagnant Qi to achieve peace. Where would there be major diseases worthy of concern!