Library

1. A woman was eating when she suddenly experienced a fit of violent anger, fell to the ground, and her breath ceased abruptly. Soap pod ash (Gleditsiae Sinensis Fructus Spine Ash) was blown into her nose to induce sneezing, but it failed; decoctions were forced down her throat, but she could not accept them. By midnight, everyone believed she was beyond saving. Zhuang Yisheng examined her and found that all six pulses were still present, but the Qi Kou pulse (radial artery at the wrist) was deep and hidden; upon careful palpation, it felt remarkably slippery. He said, "This is caused by violent anger. Anger causes Qi to rebel and rush into the stomach. Since the patient has phlegm in the stomach normally, combined with food causing obstruction at the gastric opening, Qi cannot circulate, leading to sudden syncope. However, since time has passed and decoctions cannot enter, we must urgently induce vomiting to save her." He instructed someone to dip an goose feather in tung oil and probe the throat. After one mouthful of phlegm and food was vomited, her Qi circulation resumed. After probing and vomiting two or three more times, she smelled the oil odor, pushed away the feather with her hand, but could no longer speak. Zhuang Yisheng said, "No harm done." Knowing her constitution was weak and unsuitable for excessive vomiting, he hastily decocted a pushing and purging agent containing Zhi Shi (Immature Bitter Orange) and Chen Pi (Tangerine Peel), administered it, and she regained consciousness after finishing the dose. Later, she was regulated with liver-pacifying and stomach-harmonizing herbs, and after several doses, her condition stabilized.

2. An unmarried maiden had been ill for many years, suffering from reduced appetite and emaciation. During pulse diagnosis, her fingers twitched, muscles trembled, her body was fatigued, and her Qi was deficient. Jiayan prescribed tonifying herbs such as Fu Shen (Poria with Hostwood) and Zao Ren (Ziziphus Seed), but after several doses, there was no improvement. He suspected that although an unmarried girl typically lacks domestic burdens, why did her spirit appear so depleted, resembling post-collapse exhaustion? Upon asking about her complexion, she replied that her face turned red or yellow intermittently. Every night after falling asleep, white foam flowed from her mouth, followed by shivering and loss of consciousness; ginger decoction was administered, and she recovered only after a long while. Jiayan said, "This condition indeed involves evil spirits invading the Zang-Fu organs. I have divine medicine to expel them, which will cure her in one dose." He then used powder made from Xi Jiao (Rhinoceros Horn), Ling Yang Jiao (Antelope Horn), Long Chi Gu (Dragon Teeth Bone), Hu Wei Gu (Tiger Power Bone), Mu Li Fen (Oyster Shell Powder), Lu Jiao Shuang (Deer Antler Frost), Ren Shen (Ginseng), and Huang Qi (Astragalus). Half a jin (approx. 500g) of mutton was decocted to yield three bowls of concentrated broth, into which the herb powder was mixed and taken at once. She indeed slept peacefully and never relapsed.

At the onset of hernia disease (Shan Bing), it invariably arises from cold and dampness. The pathogen may accumulate in the lower abdomen, in the scrotum (Yin Wan), or above, below, left, or right of the scrotum, causing tendon urgency and twisting pain due to the contracting nature of cold. The Classics state: "All cold-induced contractions belong to the Kidney." Furthermore, since the Kidney governs Yin, Zhongchun attributes hernia disease to Kidney deficiency, where cold-damp pathogens invade due to this deficiency. Additionally, according to the Classics: "The Foot Jueyin (Liver) meridian enters the pubic region, passes through the genitalia, and reaches the lower abdomen." It also states: "Diseases of the Foot Jueyin meridian manifest as hernia in men and swelling of the lower abdomen in women." 'Hernia' refers to hard, swollen, and insensate areas. Hernia is a disease of the anterior genitals and lower abdomen, affecting both men and women. Thus, swelling of the lower abdomen in women constitutes hernia disease. It is also stated that diseases generated by the Liver include Fox Hernia (Hu Shan), named because its appearance is unpredictable like a fox. Furthermore, rebellion of Foot Jueyin Qi causes testicular (Yin Wan) swelling and sudden hernia pain; excess conditions result in penile erection, while deficiency leads to sudden itching. Therefore, ancient discussions on hernia disease all attribute it to the Liver Meridian. In summary, although the Classics mention involvement of the Five Zang organs, Bladder, and Small Intestine in hernia, none are unrelated to the Liver and Kidney meridians. Ji advocated for Danxi's view, believing hernia stems from damp-heat in the Liver meridian constrained by external cold, preventing dispersion, thus causing severe pain. Treatment should eliminate Liver damp-heat and guide Stasis in the Lower Jiao, employing the method of "treating heat with cold" (Han Yin Re Yong), which innovatively expanded upon previous theories. Jingyue noted that medical texts contain numerous, conflicting discussions on hernia. Seeking the essence, he summarized: Cold causes pain, Heat causes flaccidity, Dampness causes swelling and heaviness, and Deficiency presents similarly. Blood-level issues remain fixed, while Qi-level issues move frequently. By identifying causes (cold, heat, damp), distinguishing their proportions, and differentiating deficiency/excess and Qi/blood involvement, treatment will be effective. Furthermore, Zihe criticized Chao Yuanfang's Seven Hernias and proposed his own classification: Cold, Water, Tendon, Blood, Qi, Fox, and Kui (scrotal enlargement). He described Cold Hernia as cold, hard scrotum with impotence or testicular pain, treated with warming dispersal. Water Hernia features a shiny, swollen scrotum with sweating or fluid sounds in the lower abdomen, treated with damp-draining. Tendon Hernia involves penile swelling, ulceration, urgency, tendon contraction, pain, itching, flaccidity, or discharge resembling semen with urine, treated with fire-clearing. Blood Hernia presents as cucumber-shaped masses in the lower abdomen sides, blood seeping into the bladder/scrotum forming abscesses with more blood than pus, treated with blood-invigorating. Qi Hernia extends to the shoulders and scrotum, distending with anger/crying and dissipating afterwards, treated with depression-resolving and Qi-moving. Fox Hernia moves between the lower abdomen and scrotum depending on posture, similar to a fox, treated with Qi-dispersing agents. Kui Hernia features a large, non-painful, non-itchy scrotum, treated with damp-draining agents. Although later critics mocked this as absurd and similar to Chao's views, Danxi's followers respected these methods, which should be integrated in practice.

Fen Xiang Wu Yao Tang (Anise and Lindera Decoction) [Self-made]. Treats early-stage hernia affected by cold or cold-damp, before heat accumulation. Modify as needed.
Fen Xiang (Fennel Fruit) [Stir-fried and ground, approx. 3g.] Wu Yao (Lindera Root) [6g.] Wu Zhu Yu (Evodia Fruit) [Soaked in hot water, 1-2g.] Po Gu Zhi (Cibotium Rhizome) [Herbs treating cold-deficiency hernia. Stir-fried and ground, approx. 3g.] Chuan Bi Xie (Dioscorea Hypoglauca Rhizome) [Removes lower body dampness. 15g.] Mu Gua (Chaenomeles Fruit) [Relaxes tendons and relieves spasm. 6g.] Mu Xiang (Aucklandia Root) and Sha Ren (Amomum Fruit) [Stop cold-Qi abdominal pain. Each approx. 3g.] Li Zhi He (Lychee Seed) [Sweet-warm, disperses stagnation, stops hernia pain. Stir-fried and ground, 15g.] Optionally add Zhu Bao (Pig Bladder) [Used as a guiding vehicle. Roasted and ground, approx. 3g.] If pain radiates to the waist and spine, add Niu Xi (Achyranthes Root) and Du Zhong (Eucommia Bark); if cold is severe, add Rou Gui (Cinnamon Bark) [1.5-3g]; if deficiency is severe, add Ren Shen (Ginseng), or take as wine infusion.
This is a pungent-warm formula to scatter cold and dispel dampness. Do not use if heat has accumulated over time. According to *Jin Gui Yao Lue*, Da Wu Tou Jian (Great Aconite Decoction) treats Cold Hernia with periumbilical colic, rigidity preventing turning, profuse salivation/sweat, cold limbs, retracted penis, and deep-tight pulse. It uses Aconite alone to drive out cold, modified with Honey to mitigate its acrid-hot nature, offering rapid efficacy. Do not use for damp-heat cases.

Guang Bi Ji Fang (Broad Notes Prescription) [Revised]. Treats hernia pain.
Qi Wei Wan (Seven-Ingredient Pill) without Yu Rou (Cornus Fruit), plus Gou Qi (Goji Berry) [120g], Ba Ji Tian (Morinda Root) and Niu Xi (Achyranthes Root) [Each 60g], Fen Xiang (Fennel Fruit) and Chen Xiang (Aquilaria Wood) [Each 30g]. Mix herbs with one sheng (approx. 1 liter) of glutinous rice. Brew like white wine. When fermentation is complete, add 50 jin (approx. 25 kg) of distilled liquor to the lees. Seal in a large jar for one month. Drink 1-2 cups on an empty stomach for miraculous results.
This formula suits kidney-deficient individuals with hernia pain caused by cold-damp.

Jin Ling Huang Bo San (Melia and Phellodendron Powder) [Self-made]. Treats various hernias belonging to damp-heat. Modify as needed.
Jin Ling Zi (Melia Fruit) [Guides Small Intestine and Bladder, key herb for damp-heat hernia. Remove seeds.] Huang Bo (Phellodendron Bark) [Bitter-cold, drains damp-heat.] Che Qian Zi (Plantago Seed) and Fu Ling (Poria) [Each 6g.] Ze Xie (Alisma Rhizome) [Promotes urination to leach damp-heat. Approx. 3g.] Chuan Bi Xie (Dioscorea Hypoglauca Rhizome) [Paired with warm herbs to remove cold-damp; paired with cool herbs to remove damp-heat. 15g.] Yan Hu Suo (Corydalis Rhizome) and Shan Zha (Hawthorn Fruit) [Invigorate blood, each 6g.] Qing Pi (Green Tangerine Peel) [Moves stagnant Qi, approx. 3g.] Ju He (Tangerine Seed) [Bitter-neutral, directs Qi downward, best for stopping hernia pain. Stir-fried and ground, 15g.] If damp-heat is internal with external cold constraint, add Fen Xiang (Fennel Fruit) and Wu Zhu Yu (Evodia Fruit) [To scatter external cold, approx. 3g. External wash with strong Perilla decoction.] For sinking/rebellious Qi, use Bing Lang (Areca Seed) and Dai Zhe Shi (Hematite). To disperse blood stasis, use Pu Huang (Typha Pollen) and Wu Ling Zhi (Trogopterus Feces). To clear Liver fire, use Long Dan Cao (Gentian Root) and Hei Zhi Zi (Black Gardenia Fruit). To relax tendons, use Ling Yang Jiao (Antelope Horn). To dry dampness, use Cang Zhu (Atractylodes Rhizome). Select based on suitability.
This is a bitter-cold formula to clear heat and drain dampness, aligning with Danxi's hernia treatment principles.

Hai Zang Xie Shen Tang (Sea Storehouse Kidney-Purging Decoction) [See Fire section]. Treats hernia pain.
Original formula should be added with Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena Rhizome), Huang Bo (Phellodendron Bark), Niu Xi (Achyranthes Root), Che Qian Zi (Plantago Seed), and Ju He (Tangerine Seed).
This formula suits kidney-deficient individuals with damp-heat hernia pain.

Long Dan Xie Gan Tang (Gentian Liver-Purging Decoction) [See Hypochondriac Pain section]. Treats Liver meridian damp-heat and fire hyperactivity, causing penile pain, urgency, tendon contraction, itching, flaccidity, or discharge resembling semen with urine, known as Tendon Hernia. Modify as needed.
This formula targets Liver meridian damp-heat fire hyperactivity and is suitable when the Kidney is not deficient.