Library

When using cold and cool herbs, except for Yang-pattern Cold Damage (Yang Zheng Shang Han), dysentery with accumulated heat (Ji Re Li Zheng), and other excess-heat patterns, the use of such herbs to subdue flaming fire ascending upward or to clear fire in the blood level involves the principle of "treating cold with hot" (Han Yin Re Yong). It is most crucial to follow the methods of wine-frying (Jiu Chao) and wine-processing (Jiu Zhi). In cases of smallpox, if various cooling and detoxifying herbs are used beforehand or afterwards because toxic fire has dried up the blood, requiring blood-level herbs to cool and invigorate the blood, they must also be processed according to standard methods. Therefore, Scutellariae Radix (Huang Qin), Coptidis Rhizoma (Huang Lian), Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (Zhi Mu), Phellodendri Cortex (Huang Bai), Trichosanthis Radix (Hua Fen), and Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (Da Huang) must be fried with wine; Fructus Arctii (Niu Bang Zi) must be fried until fragrant and ground into powder; Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Dang Gui), Paeoniae Radix Alba (Bai Shao), Rehmanniae Radix (Sheng Di), Carthami Flos (Hong Hua), Lithospermi Radix (Zi Cao), Moutan Cortex (Mu Dan Pi), and Lycii Cortex (Di Gu Pi) must be washed with wine immediately before use. This is an important method. However, contemporary physicians are often negligent, careless, and rough, frequently using cold and cool herbs raw without proper frying or processing. This not only fails to benefit but actually causes harm. Such errors are significant, yet people are unaware; neither do patients' families know, nor do contemporary physicians realize it. If they realized this error, would they not spare this minor labor to avoid such great harm? Thus, I reveal this to instruct future generations.

In cases with heat signs, Licorice Root (Gan Cao), Astragalus Root (Huang Qi), and White Peony Root (Bai Shao) are all used raw. In cases of deficiency-cold, Astragalus Root (Huang Qi) and Licorice Root (Gan Cao) are both honey-fried (Zhi Shu), and White Peony Root (Bai Shao) is wine-fried.

My fourth son developed smallpox at forty days old. Initially, there were only three or five spots on his head and body, his body temperature was not very high, and he nursed normally. The practitioners observed that his smallpox was extremely sparse, predicting fewer than one hundred lesions. I believed this was uncertain and ordered wind avoidance and conditioning. Three days later, the eruption became widespread over his entire body. His head, chest, abdomen, lower back, hands, and feet were densely covered. His forehead, face, and scrotum turned a uniform pure red, with no distinct papules distinguishable. There were many lesions inside the umbilicus, which swelled and protruded. His tongue was also covered with lesions resembling white rice pus, filling the entire surface. Practitioners concluded that given the child's young age and the high density of lesions, along with unfavorable symptoms, recovery was impossible. However, observing that his lesions were vibrant red and he could still nurse, I considered him treatable. My concern was that his Qi and Blood might not sustain the process. Therefore, I decocted concentrated juices of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Ren Shen), Astragalus Root (Huang Qi), and Honey-fried Licorice Root (Zhi Gan Cao), administering them alternately with breast milk to assist in pustule formation and swelling. By the fifth or sixth day, lesions on his head mostly contained pus, interspersed with vesicles. On his body and extremities, however, vesicles accounted for the majority, with only a minority containing pus. I reasoned that since children have limited Qi and Blood, this outcome was expected and not worrying. My sole concern remained the uniform pure redness on his forehead and face, lacking any pustular development. Pus under the skin is necessary for the dispersion of toxic factors. I continued to administer Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Ren Shen), Astragalus Root (Huang Qi), and Licorice Root (Gan Cao) decoction frequently. At the first watch of the seventh day, patches of the pure red forehead suddenly turned black. I was greatly alarmed, suspecting toxic excess transforming into adverse symptoms. Yet, upon examining his spirit and diet, he showed no signs of exhaustion. At the third watch that night, I noticed his scrotum had also turned black and formed scabs. Realizing this, I rejoiced, saying: "This is not a malignant sign, but rather the resolution and scabbing of smallpox. Because the child is small, his Qi and Blood circulate readily, allowing resolution after seven days, contrary to the common nine-day expectation." Indeed, at the Yin-Mao hours of the eighth day, scabs fell from top to bottom across his entire body. That evening, he developed a high fever again. I stated: "The smallpox toxin was not fully expelled due to rapid scabbing and falling, leaving residual toxins prone to causing carbuncles. Urgent detoxification is needed." I prescribed Dalianqiao Yin (Great Detoxification Decoction) as a strong decoction, administered slowly by spoonfuls. He took three wine cups over twenty-four hours, after which the fever subsided, his body cooled, and carbuncle complications were avoided. Scabs on his nose fell off layer by layer, blocking nasal airflow. I moistened the scabs with honey and used a silver ear pick to open the nostrils for air passage. For the area of pure redness where scabs had fallen but pus remained wet, I applied a powder of Phellodendri Cortex (Huang Bo), Coptidis Rhizoma (Huang Lian), Licorice Root (Gan Cao), Lycii Cortex (Gu Pi), and Chinese Gallnut (Bei Zi), resulting in cure. His scrotum oozed clear fluid for several days without improvement despite various medicines; applying Mian Jian San (Cocoon Powder) cured it. For such a tiny infant with such a critical condition, treating according to symptoms yielded miraculous effects, clearly visible. Ancient texts and contemporary treatments often abandon cases presenting with dense smallpox, umbilical involvement, uniform redness, or vesicles. Is this not a great injustice? Countless lives perish prematurely. While past events cannot be changed, future cases can still be saved urgently. Those bearing responsibility for life and harboring benevolence toward children should understand this.

A woman, aged twenty-three, pregnant for over three months, was startled by thieves at night. A few days later, she suffered a miscarriage, followed by two days of fever and then smallpox eruption. By the fourth or fifth day, lesions erupted completely, densely and fearfully, accompanied by vomiting. Her lesions were pale white. Physicians, noting her weak constitution, loss from miscarriage, and dense eruption, dared not treat her. I said, "How can we sit and wait for death?" I used Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Ren Shen), Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Bai Zhu), and Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi) to harmonize Stomach Qi and stop vomiting. Her lesion color slightly improved to vibrant red. I rejoiced, saying, "This can be treated with warming and tonifying." I repeatedly administered major tonifying formulas containing Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Ren Shen), Astragalus Root (Huang Qi), Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizome (Chuan Xiong), Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Dang Gui), Honey-fried Licorice Root (Zhi Gan Cao), Cinnamon Twig (Guan Gui), and Clove (Ding Xiang). After each dose, her lesions turned vibrant red; if she skipped a day, they faded to pale white. Thus, I administered two large doses daily. When lesions were actively forming pus, I learned her postpartum bleeding had not ceased. I said, "This is unceasing leakage." I promptly modified the previous tonifying formula by removing Cinnamon Twig (Guan Gui) and Aucklandia Root (Mu Xiang), adding Black Ginger (Hei Jiang), Cimicifugae Rhizoma (Sheng Ma), and Bupleuri Radix (Chai Hu) at 1.5 qian each, and Donkey-hide Gelatin (E Jiao) and Mugwort Leaf (Ai Ye) at 0.8 qian each. After two doses, bleeding stopped immediately. I removed these five herbs and continued frequent administration of the original formula. Pus gradually filled the lesions. After more than twenty days, scabbing occurred. Later, severe eye swelling and corneal opacities developed, which resolved after dozens of doses of Qingdu Boyi Tang (Detoxification and Opacity-Removing Decoction). During the tonifying phase, each dose contained 2 qian of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Ren Shen) and Astragalus Root (Huang Qi), and 1 qian of Clove (Ding Xiang) and Cinnamon Twig (Guan Gui), with other herbs adjusted accordingly. She consumed over twenty doses in total. For such extreme deficiency, how could survival be possible without such potent tonification? Those adhering rigidly to conventional protocols should reflect on this!

A fifteen-year-old boy developed smallpox with dense eruptions over his body. By the eighth or ninth day, during the pus-filling stage, his lesions sank inward, forming pits. Physicians treated him with Yigong San (Yi Gong Powder), worsening the sinking and depression, leaving only awaiting death. Upon examination, I found his lesions were red-purple, and his physical strength was robust. I stated, "This is not deficiency, but toxic factors obstructing Qi and Blood, causing sinking failure to form pus." I administered Qingdu Huoxue Tang (Detoxification and Blood-Invigorating Decoction). One dose in the Chen hour resulted in immediate lifting of the sinking lesions by noon. A second dose filled them with pus. At the scabbing stage, he developed steaming fever. Administration of Ganlu Huitian Yin (Sweet Dew Heaven-Returning Decoction) brought peace.

A thirteen-year-old boy developed smallpox. After three to four days of fever, only a few faint lesions appeared. Suddenly, he experienced convulsions, mania, delirium, and attempted to run outside. Physicians intended to use toxic drugs... [Text interrupted]

A ten-year-old boy developed extremely dense smallpox, particularly on the neck, commonly known as "Lock Neck Smallpox." Several rapidly swollen lesions appeared elsewhere, called "Thief Irrigation"... [Text interrupted] ...said... good... thereafter administered Shen Gui Lu Rong Tang (Ginseng, Angelica, and Deer Antler Decoction) once, resulting in full pus formation. During resolution, residual toxins were strong, with dry constipation. Dalianqiao Yin (Great Detoxification Decoction) plus Wine-fried Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (Da Huang) at 1.2 qian cured him in one dose.

A four-year-old boy developed smallpox. During the swelling stage, severe diarrhea occurred. Treatment with Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Ren Shen), Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Bai Zhu), Chebulae Fructus (He Zi), and Cardamomi Fructus (Dou Kou) failed to stop it, creating a critical situation. I administered Shen Zhu San (Ginseng and Atractylodes Powder). After several doses, diarrhea stopped, and the smallpox stabilized.

A six-year-old girl developed smallpox. She was physically weak and had taken many tonifying medicines previously. Even after scabbing, sudden unceasing diarrhea occurred. Yigong San (Yi Gong Powder) added with Chebulae Fructus (He Zi) and Cardamomi Fructus (Dou Kou) failed to stop it. Physicians planned to use Qiw Wei Dou Kou Wan (Seven-Ingredient Cardamom Pill). I reasoned that since she had been taking tonics, why did she become so deficient and slippery now? Observing that she strained during defecation and the stool was scanty and yellow, I used Jiawei Siqin San (Modified Four-Scooling Powder). One dose stopped the diarrhea. Later, due to constipation, I added Areca Seed (Bing Lang), Green Tangerine Peel (Qing Pi), and Aurantium Fructus Immaturus (Zhi Ke). One dose brought relief. My use of Jiawei Siqin San (Modified Four-Scooling Powder) to treat heat-toxin diarrhea in smallpox yields miraculous results.

A three-year-old boy experienced unceasing diarrhea during smallpox resolution. Various medicines failed, and Qiw Wei Dou Kou Wan (Seven-Ingredient Cardamom Pill) also failed, passing through stool undigested. Knowing his deficiency and slipperiness were severe, I ground the Cardamom Pill into powder and mixed it with a little porridge for him. Diarrhea stopped immediately, and smallpox resolved safely. My use of Shen Zhu San (Ginseng and Atractylodes Powder) combined with this formula to treat deficiency-cold diarrhea in smallpox is highly effective.