典藏书目

Treatment for metrorrhagia (menstrual bleeding that does not stop) with bright red blood, accompanied by stiffness and tension of the tendons in the neck, headache, and stiffness/pain in the spinal column.

Zhi Gancao (Prepared Licorice Root), Danggui Shen (Body of Angelica Sinensis), Gegen (Kudzu Root) (each 3 fen); Duhuo (Angelica Pubescens), Gaoben (Ligusticum Wallichii), Shengma (Cimicifuga Rhizome) (each 5 fen); Chaihu (Bupleurum Root) (7 fen); Qianghuo (Notopterygium Rhizome), Cangzhu (Atractylodes Rhizome) (each 1 qian); Honghua (Carthamus Flower) (a small amount).

Crush the above herbs to the size of hemp seeds. Generally, prepare as one dose. Decoct in four cups of water until reduced to one cup. Strain the dregs. Take warm on an empty stomach. Induce a slight sweating; the bleeding will stop immediately.

A female patient had menstrual blood coagulating into black clots, with a blood mass (Xue Jia) in the left hypochondrium/abdomen, incessant watery diarrhea, and occasional indigestion of food grains. Subsequently, the blood clots were discharged violently along with the watery stool from both the anterior and posterior orifices.

Due to prolonged depletion of blood and Qi in the lower jiao, menstruation remained irregular. Watery diarrhea occurred two to three times daily. After eating, she experienced vexation and irritability, reduced appetite, and eventually emaciation. Dongyuan stated: The sage treats diseases based on the principles of ascending, descending, floating, and sinking according to the four seasons, adapting to changes appropriately. One must first consider the annual climate (Sui Qi) without violating the Heavenly Harmony; do not exacerbate excess conditions or deplete deficiency conditions, thereby avoiding premature death; do not allow pathogenic factors to invade nor lose the righteous Qi, thus preserving longevity. Therefore, Zhang Zhongjing said: In cases of Yang excess and Yin deficiency, purgation leads to recovery while diaphoresis leads to death; in cases of Yin excess and Yang deficiency, diaphoresis leads to recovery while purgation leads to death. Broadly speaking, the laws established by sages, such as using agents to raise Yang or induce dispersion, assist the Yang Qi of Spring and Summer to ascend, thereby draining the cold and storing energy of Autumn and Winter. This disease is exactly of this nature and should be treated accordingly, embodying the ultimate principle of ascending, descending, floating, and sinking. The Qi of Heaven and Earth relies on ascending, descending, floating, and sinking to follow the four seasons. Treating disease must not go against this rule. Hence, the Classic states: Those who follow Heaven prosper; those who oppose Heaven perish. Can one not revere this?

The human body also mirrors the four seasons. The Qi of Heaven and Earth cannot be regarded solely as external; humans are congruent with Heaven and Earth. Now, metrorrhagia indicates that the Qi and Blood of the anterior orifice have already sunk and depleted. Watery diarrhea persisting for years indicates that the Qi and Blood of the posterior orifice have sunk and depleted. The posterior orifice primarily governs tangible substances, while the anterior orifice is the gateway of essence and Qi. Depletion at the lower end means the patient's systemic Qi and Blood operate under the killing/minuting influence of Autumn and Winter, where Yin dominates destruction. Such storage-related diseases involve the generation of Yang and growth of Yin, corresponding to Spring and Summer. In the human body, it is the Grain Qi (Gu Qi) ascending that causes Qi to float and rise. Since the patient's systemic Qi and Blood fail to grow, and Grain Qi fails to nourish the muscles, leading to muscle wasting, the Qi of the Two Poles (Yin and Yang) are on the verge of extinction. With the depletion of the lower Yuan and both orifices, and Qi and Blood nearing exhaustion, even if the original condition was Heat, long-term depletion in the Lower Jiao would transform into Cold. This disease has been deep and sinking for a long time, with excessive Cold-Dampness. Urgent rescue is required: use hot herbs to drain Cold and drying herbs to remove Dampness. Greatly raise and lift to assist growth, tonify and nourish Qi and Blood to prevent partial depletion. The therapeutic method established by sages, given the overwhelming Dampness, uses the overcoming element to treat it, assisting the Wind-Wood (Jia Wood) to ascend. This aligns with the Classic stating "Wind overcomes Dampness," using the overcoming element to pacify it. First, harmonize the Stomach Qi. Second, use herbs like Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome) to dry Dampness and nourish Original Qi. If it persists, subsequently use wind-dispelling herbs to overcome Dampness. This constitutes the supreme treatment of greatly raising and lifting to assist the Qi of Spring and Summer, addressing the long-term sinking of Dampness.