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Ancient and modern treatments for dysentery all state: For heat syndromes, use clearing methods; for cold syndromes, use warming methods; if heat is excessive at the onset, use purgation; if exterior symptoms are present, use sweating methods; if urination is red and difficult, use diuresis (promoting urination). These five methods are universally trusted as unchangeable as compasses and squares. I assert that among these five, only the method of clearing heat has no contraindications; the others fall into four major taboos and should not be used. Details follow.

First is the taboo against warming tonification. Dysentery arises from damp-heat accumulation, adhering in the intestines and stomach. It should be treated by clearing evil heat, guiding out stagnation, and moving blood stasis, after which the disease will resolve. If warming tonics like Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen) and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu) are used, heat will intensify, qi stagnation will worsen, and blood will coagulate. Over time, righteous qi becomes deficient while evil qi becomes excessive, making it incurable. This is the most severe disaster caused by using warming tonics.

Second is the taboo against drastic purgation. Dysentery results from evil heat adhering in the intestines and stomach, similar to a blocked canal. Only scraping and dredging can cure it. Using Da Cheng Qi Tang (Major Order the Qi Decoction) for drastic purgation is like trying to clear a blocked canal by pouring raging water into it; the blockage cannot be removed, leading inevitably to bank collapse and dike failure. Drastic purgation in treating dysentery fails to remove adhesions, merely damaging Stomach qi and Yuan qi. With damaged righteous qi, evil qi cannot be eliminated. The robust may survive, but the weak face danger.

Third is the taboo against sweating. Dysentery patients with headache, dizziness, chills, and fever do not have an external contraction; rather, internal toxins steaming outward create these signs. Although exterior symptoms appear, they are not due to exterior pathogens. Sweating consumes righteous qi, allowing evil qi to flourish further. Wind-dispelling herbs are dry and hot, aiding heat pathogens, leaving the exterior deficient and internal evil blazing. Death is common.

Fourth is the taboo against diuresis (promoting urination). Diuresis is an excellent method for watery diarrhea but is entirely inappropriate for dysentery. Dysentery forms from heat adhesion and fluid depletion/dryness. Using formulas like Wu Ling San (Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria) to promote urination depletes fluids further and worsens stagnation, leading to lingering illness. Clearing heat and guiding out stagnation cures dysentery naturally, clearing urine without needing diuretics. Having feared the severity of this condition, I have carefully treated it for over twenty years with hundred-percent success. After suffering from it myself, my testing became more refined, allowing me to break through misconceptions and propose unique prescriptions. I record this to alleviate suffering and promote longevity. The above is excerpted from Ni Hanchu's collection.

Another prescription: Dysentery often originates from summer-heat depression combined with dampness and rain. Stools are mixed red and white, resembling blood and pus; severely, they look like leaking roof water or fish jelly. There is tenesmus (straining with little output), bursting pain from stasis, inability to pass stool despite urgency, occurring dozens to hundreds of times daily. The patient lies dying. This is the general presentation. Abruptly stopping the discharge causes immediate death; failing to expel evil leads to critical weakness. Tonifying qi aggravates evil; clearing fire worsens downward flow. Here, only following the trend to guide out evil works. Skeptics worry that draining a depleted patient is intolerable. However, as long as evil remains, righteous qi is unsettled. Ancients said there is no "stopping" method for dysentery, which is true. Use White Peony Root (Baishao) and Angelica Sinensis Radix (Danggui) 3 liang each, Raphani Semen (Luobozzi) 1 liang, Aurantii Fructus (Zhiqiao, stir-fried with flour), Areca Seed (Binglang), Plantaginis Semen (Cheqianzi), and Licorice Root (Gancao) 3 qian each. Decoct in water. One dose stops it; two doses restore health, allowing food intake. The miracle lies in heavy use of Danggui and Baishao. While slippery Danggui is avoided in watery diarrhea, it is beneficial in dysentery. Sour Baishao pacifies Liver Wood, preventing invasion of Spleen Earth. Zhiqiao and Binglang eliminate damp-heat; Cheqianzi drains dampness without consuming Yin, surpassing Poria (Fuling). Uniquely, Luobozzi is pungent, expelling evil and dampness, promoting qi movement in the blood level, assisting Danggui and Baishao in generating new blood and cleansing filth. Mild Gancao harmonizes the middle, avoiding harshness. This efficacy is truly miraculous.

Another prescription: Treats both watery diarrhea and dysentery with high accuracy. Do not underestimate it. Almond Seeds (Xingren) 71 grains (remove skin/point, remove oil, grind); Atractylodis Rhizoma (Cangzhu, bran-fried, ground) 2.5 qian... [Text fragment].

Another prescription: Treats red, white, chronic, or acute dysentery. A patient suffered continuous day and night dysentery for 28 nights, unable to sleep, awaiting death despite medicine. One dose brought relief; three doses cured completely. Radish (fresh juice) 2 cups, Fresh Old Ginger (fresh juice) half wine cup, Raw Honey 1 wine cup, Fine Tea... [Text fragment].

Another prescription: Pepper 1 grain per year of age (crushed). Large Crucian Carp (remove head/tail/bones/guts), mix with pepper powder, mash thick, apply to navel. Very effective.

Another prescription: Croton Seed (Badou) 1 grain, Mung Bean (Lvdou) 3 grains, Pepper 3 grains. Wrap in cloth, crush. Mix with 2 Red Dates, form pills, apply to navel. Dysentery stops immediately; remove medicine afterwards.

Another prescription: See "Wood Turtle Pill" under Diarrhea section.

Another prescription: Eye-drop method: Infant feces (first stool, dried on tile) 1 qian, Realgar (Xionghuang) 4 fen, Borneol (Meibingpian) 5 li. Grind to fine powder, mix with water... [Text fragment].

Another prescription: Coarse toilet paper, rolled tight, burned. Collect black ash when cool. Add brown sugar, melt on stone slab, form pills size of Go stones. Adults take 20-30 pills, divided into 3-5 doses per day. Children take ~10 pills, cured in 3 days. Dysentery involves cold/heat differentiation and sticky intestinal obstruction. Harsh purgatives damage Yuan qi. This formula scrapes accumulation without injury, stable and effective for all types.

Another prescription: Corydalis Rhizome (Yanyhusuo) powder 3 qian, taken with wine. A man over 50 suffered fatal dysentery and abdominal pain, coffin ready. Cured by this.

Another prescription: True Sichuan Magnolia Bark (Chuan Houpo) 1 qian, decocted. Taken 3 times daily. Cured in 2 days. Divine effect.

Another prescription: Fresh Lotus Node mashed, taken with boiling rice wine. Extremely effective.

Another prescription: Honeysuckle Flower (Jinyinhua) 5 qian, stir-fried until charred, ground. For any type, mix with white sugar in boiled water, taken on empty stomach. Dysentery may worsen initially, then cured in 2 days. Extraordinary effect. Infants 1 sui take 1 fen.

Another prescription: Charred Hawthorn Fruit (Shanzhata) ground. Red dysentery + white honey pills; White dysentery + brown sugar pills; Mixed + honey and brown sugar pills. Taken with plain water on empty stomach. Adults 8 qian, children 3 qian, 3 times daily. Cured in 3 days. Hawthorn removes accumulation and tonifies Spleen. Effective regardless of deficiency/excess or duration. Do not underestimate.

Another prescription: Aged fine tea leaves, Charred Hawthorn, Brown sugar, White sugar each 3 qian, Old Ginger 1 qian. Decoct. Cure in one day. Very effective.

Another prescription: Black Fungus (Mu'er) 1 liang. Red dysentery stir-fried with brown sugar; White dysentery with white sugar; Mixed with both. Take. Extremely effective.