经曰∶饮食劳倦即伤脾。饮食自倍,肠胃乃伤。脾胃为仓廪之官,大肠为传导之官,食
伤则
气滞,气滞则上不能散布精华,下不能转输糟粕。然有伤于寒物者,有伤于热物者,其在内
伤,不过为泻为痢而已。若在眼目,则伤于寒者,两胞肿胀,治宜温消。伤于热者,目赤痒
痛,治宜清利。若过食煎炒炙 ,必至火气上攻,则为鸡冠蚬肉,或鱼子石榴,变症不一。
治宜清利肠胃,去其积热,而诸病悉除。此症之易治者。凡在少年童稚,最多此症,惟年老
久病之人,脾虚不能运化,或不能食,或知饥少食,或食入即胀。明是中虚之象,当以补法
行之,谅明哲者,不至于胶柱而鼓瑟也。
经曰∶木郁达之,火郁发之,土郁夺之,金郁泄之,水郁折之。言乎五气之郁也。人之
脏腑
应之,木应肝胆,木主风邪,畏其郁结,故宜达之。火应心与小肠,火主热邪,畏其陷伏,
故宜发之。土应脾胃,土主湿邪,畏其壅滞,故宜夺之。金应肺与大肠,金主燥邪,畏其躁
急,故宜泄之。水应肾与膀胱,水主寒邪,畏其凝溢,故宜折之。然五者之中,皆可通融圆
活,不必拘泥。夫人气血不顺,脉不和平,即是郁症,乃因病而郁也。至若情志之郁,则有
三焉∶一曰怒郁。方其盛气凌人,面赤声厉,多见腹胀。及其怒后,逆气已平,中气受伤,
多见胀满疼痛,倦怠少食之症。一曰思郁。凡芸窗秀士,茅店羁人,以及室女尼姑,心有所
忆而生意,意有所属而生思,思有未遂而成郁,结于心者,必伤于脾,及其既甚,上连肺胃
,为咳喘失血,隔噎呕吐,下连肝肾,为带浊崩淋,不月劳损。一曰忧郁。或因衣食之累,
或因利害之牵,终日攒眉而致郁者,志意乖违,神情萧索,心脾渐至耗伤,气血日消,饮食
日少,肌肉日削,遂至发为目症,前七情论中已详之矣,故不赘述。然五气之郁,因病而郁
者也,情志之郁,因郁而病者也。凡患是症者,宜自为节制,皆非草木所能奏效,所谓妙药
难医心上病也。可不慎之?
The *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) states: Improper diet and overexertion will injure the Spleen. If food intake doubles, the intestines and stomach will be damaged. The Spleen and Stomach are the officials responsible for receiving and rotting/ripening grain; the Large Intestine is the official responsible for conducting transmission. When food causes injury, Qi stagnation occurs; when Qi stagnates, it cannot distribute essence upwards nor transport waste downwards. However, there are injuries caused by cold-natured foods and those caused by heat-natured foods. Internally, these result merely in diarrhea or dysentery. If the pathology manifests in the eyes, injury from cold pathogens causes swelling of both eyelids, which should be treated with warming and resolving methods. Injury from heat pathogens causes redness, itching, and pain of the eyes, which should be treated with clearing and draining methods. Overconsumption of fried, roasted, or grilled foods inevitably leads to fire qi attacking upwards, resulting in conditions such as "chicken crest clam flesh" (a type of ocular pterygium or fleshy growth) or "fish roe pomegranate" (another type of ocular growth), with various manifestations. Treatment should focus on clearing and draining the intestines and stomach, removing accumulated heat, thereby eliminating all diseases. These cases are relatively easy to treat. Such conditions are most common in youths and children. In contrast, elderly individuals or those with chronic illnesses suffer from Spleen deficiency failing to transform and transport, manifesting as inability to eat, feeling hungry but eating little, or immediate abdominal distension after eating. These are clearly signs of Middle Jiao deficiency, requiring tonification methods. Wise practitioners do not remain rigid and inflexible.
The *Huangdi Neijing* states: For Wood depression, promote its free flow; for Fire depression, vent it; for Earth depression, purge it; for Metal depression, drain it; for Water depression, control it. This refers to the depression of the Five Qi. The human Zang-Fu organs correspond to these: Wood corresponds to the Liver and Gallbladder; Wood governs Wind pathogens and fears stagnation, so it is appropriate to promote its free flow. Fire corresponds to the Heart and Small Intestine; Fire governs Heat pathogens and fears sinking/trapping, so it is appropriate to vent it. Earth corresponds to the Spleen and Stomach; Earth governs Damp pathogens and fears obstruction/stagnation, so it is appropriate to purge it. Metal corresponds to the Lung and Large Intestine; Metal governs Dryness pathogens and fears restlessness/haste, so it is appropriate to drain it. Water corresponds to the Kidney and Bladder; Water governs Cold pathogens and fears coagulation/overflow, so it is appropriate to control it. However, among these five, flexibility and adaptability are possible; one need not be dogmatic. Generally, if a person's Qi and Blood are not smooth and the pulse is not harmonious, this constitutes Depression Syndrome (Yu Zheng), which is depression caused by disease. As for emotional depression, there are three types: First, Anger Depression. When one is arrogant and imposing, with a red face and harsh voice, abdominal distension is often seen. After the anger subsides, although the rebellious Qi calms down, the Middle Qi is injured, leading to symptoms of distension, fullness, pain, fatigue, and reduced appetite. Second, Pensive Depression. This affects scholars, travelers, young unmarried women, and nuns who harbor memories that generate intent, and intent that generates thought. When thoughts are unfulfilled, depression forms. If knotted in the Heart, it inevitably damages the Spleen; when severe, it connects upward to the Lung and Stomach, causing cough, asthma, hemoptysis, dysphagia, and vomiting; downward to the Liver and Kidney, causing leukorrhea, turbid urine, metrorrhagia, menorrhagia, amenorrhea, and consumptive disease. Third, Melancholy Depression. Caused by burdens of livelihood or entanglements of profit and loss, one frowns daily, leading to depression. Will and intention go against norms, spirit and demeanor become desolate. The Heart and Spleen gradually deteriorate, Qi and Blood diminish day by day, food intake decreases, muscles waste away, eventually leading to eye disorders. This was detailed in the previous discussion on Seven Emotions, so it is not repeated here. Thus, the depression of the Five Qi is disease-caused depression, whereas emotional depression is depression-causing disease. Those suffering from this condition should exercise self-restraint, as herbal medicines alone cannot achieve efficacy; as the saying goes, "Miraculous drugs cannot cure the disease of the mind." Can one not be cautious?