治下痢赤白，腹疼，里急后重初起者。若服药后病未全愈，继服后方。
生杭芍（一两） 当归（五钱） 山楂（六钱） 莱菔子（五钱，炒捣） 甘草（二钱） 生姜（二钱）
若身形壮实者，可加大黄、朴硝各三钱下之。
方中之意∶用芍药以泄肝之热，甘草以缓肝之急，莱菔子以开气分之滞，当归、山楂以化血分之滞，生姜
与芍药并用又善调寒热之互相凝滞，且当归之汁液最滑，痢患滞下而以当归滑之，其滞下愈而痢自愈也。
治下痢服前药未全愈者。若下痢已数日，亦可迳服此汤。又治噤口痢。
生山药（八钱） 金银花（五钱） 生杭芍（六钱） 牛蒡子（二钱，炒捣） 甘草（二钱） 黄连（钱半） 肉
桂
（一钱半，去粗皮将药煎至数十沸再入）
单赤痢加生地榆二钱，单白痢加生姜二钱，血痢加鸭蛋子二十粒（去皮），药汁送服。
痢证古称滞下。所谓滞下者，诚以寒火凝结下焦，瘀为脓血，留滞不下，而寒火交战之力又逼迫之，以使
之下也。故方中黄连以治其火，肉桂以治其寒，二药等分并用，阴阳燮理于顷刻矣。用白芍者，《伤寒论》诸
方，腹疼必加芍药协同甘草，亦燮理阴阳之妙品。且痢证之噤口不食者，必是胆火逆冲胃口，后重里急者，必
是肝火下迫大肠，白芍能泻肝胆之火，故能治之。矧肝主藏血，肝胆火戢，则脓血自敛也。用山药者，滞下久
则阴分必亏，山药之多液，可滋脏腑之真阴。且滞下久，则气化不固，山药之收涩，更能固下焦之气化也。又
白芍善利小便，自小便以泻寒火之凝结。牛蒡能通大便，自大便以泻寒火之凝结。金银花与甘草同用，善解热
毒，可预防肠中之溃烂。单白痢则病在气分，故加生姜以行气。单赤痢则病在血分，故加生地榆以凉血。至痢
中多带鲜血，其血分为尤热矣，故加鸭蛋子，以大清血分之热。拙拟此方以来，岁遇患痢者不知凡几，投以此
汤，即至剧者，连服数剂亦必见效。
痢证，多因先有积热，后又感凉而得。或饮食贪凉，或寝处贪凉，热为凉迫，热转不散。迨历日既多，又
浸至有热无凉，犹伤于寒者之转病热也。所以此方虽黄连、肉桂等分并用，而肉桂之热，究不敌黄连之寒。况
重用白芍，以为黄连之佐使，是此汤为燮理阴阳之剂，而实则清火之剂也。
或问∶以此汤治痢，虽在数日之后，或服化滞汤之后，而此时痢邪犹盛，遽重用山药补之，独无留邪之患
乎？答曰∶山药虽
饶有补力，而性略迟钝，与参、 之迅速者不同。在此方中，虽与诸药同服，约必俟诸药之凉者、热者、通者、
利者，将痢邪消融殆尽，而后大发其补性，以从容培养于诸药之后，俾邪去而正已复，此乃完全之策，又何至
留邪乎？且山药与芍药并用，大能泻上焦之虚热，与痢之噤口者尤宜。是以愚用此汤，遇痢之挟虚与年迈者，
山药恒用至一两，或至一两强也。
或问∶地榆方书多炒炭用之，取其黑能胜红，以制血之妄行。此方治单赤痢加地榆，何以独生用乎？答曰∶
地榆之性，凉而且涩，能凉血兼能止血，若炒之则无斯效矣，此方治赤痢所以必加生地榆也。且赤痢之证，其
剧者，或因肠中溃烂。林屋山人治汤火伤，皮肤溃烂，用生地榆末和香油敷之甚效。夫外敷能治皮肤因热溃烂，
而内服亦当有此效可知也。鸭蛋子一名鸦胆子，苦参所结之子也。不但善治血痢，凡诸痢证皆可用之。即纯白
之痢，用之亦有效验，而以治噤口痢、烟后痢、尤多奇效，并治大小便因热下血。其方单用鸭蛋子（去皮），
择成实者五六十粒，白沙糖化水送服，日两次，大有奇效。若下血因凉者，亦可与温补之药同用。其善清血热，
而性非寒凉，善化瘀滞，而力非开破，有祛邪之能，兼有补正之功，诚良药也。坊间将鸭蛋子去皮，用益元散
为衣，治二便下血如神，名曰菩提丹。
一人，年五十余，素吸鸦片。当霍乱盛行之时，忽然心中觉疼、恶心呕吐、下痢脓血参半。病家惧甚，以
为必是霍乱暴证。诊其脉毫无闭塞之象，惟弦数无力，左关稍实。愚曰∶此非霍乱，乃下焦寒火交战，故腹中
作疼，下痢脓血。上焦虚热壅迫，故恶心呕吐，实系痢证之剧者。遂投以白芍六钱，竹茹、清半夏各三钱，甘
草、生姜各二钱，一剂呕吐即愈，腹疼亦轻，而痢独不愈，不思饮食。俾单用鸭蛋子五十粒，一日连服两次，
病若失。审斯，鸭蛋子不但善理下焦，即上焦虚热，用之亦妙，此所以治噤口痢而有捷效也。
一人，年四十八，资禀素弱，亦吸鸦片。于季秋溏泻不止。一日夜八九次，且带红色，心中怔忡，不能饮
食。日服温补之药，分毫无效。延愚延医，其脉左右皆微弱，而尺脉尤甚，知系下焦虚寒。为其便带红色，且
从前服温补之药无效，俾先服鸭蛋子四十粒，泻愈其半，红色亦略减，思饮食。继用温补下焦之药煎汤，送服
鸭蛋子三十粒，后渐减至十粒，十剂全愈。盖此证虽下焦虚寒，而便带红色，实兼有痢证也。故单服鸭蛋子，
而溏泻已减半。然亦足征鸭蛋子虽善清热化瘀，而实无寒凉开破之弊，洵良药也。
沧州友人滕××，壬寅之岁，于中秋下赤痢，且多鲜血。医治两旬不愈。适愚他出新归。过访之，求为诊
治。其脉象洪实，知其纯系热痢。遂谓之曰∶此易治。买苦参子百余粒，去皮，分两次服下即愈矣。翌日愚复
他出，二十余日始归。又访之，言曾遍问近处药坊，皆无苦参子。后病益剧，遣人至敝州取来，如法服之，两
次果愈。后滕××旋里，其族人有适自奉天病重归来者，大便下血年余，一身悉肿，百药不效。滕××授以此方，
如法服之，三次全愈。
附录∶
直隶青县张××来函∶
芦台李××，年四十二岁，壬戌五月间，因劳碌暑热，大便下血，且腹疼。医者多用西洋参、野于术、地榆
炭、柏叶炭温涩之品投之，愈服愈危。小站王××，余友也，代寄函询方，并将病源暨前方开示。余阅毕，遂为
邮去菩提丹四服。每服六十粒，日服一次。未几，接复函，谓服毕血止，腹疼亦愈，极赞药之神妙。近年用此
丹治赤痢及二便下血，愈者甚多。
山东德州卢××来函∶
××族嫂，因逃荒惊恐，又兼受暑，致患痢两月余，服药无
效，益加沉重。侄为开乌梅六个，山楂两半，煎汤送服益元散四钱，去皮鸭蛋子四十粒。煎药渣时，亦如此送
服。一剂病若失。
治疗下痢（痢疾，表现为大便带有脓血）且伴有腹痛、里急后重（腹部紧迫疼痛，排便时肛门坠胀感强烈，急于排便但排便不畅）初起阶段的患者。如果服用此方后病情未完全痊愈，可继服后方（燮理汤）。
生杭芍（一两） 当归（五钱） 山楂（六钱） 莱菔子（五钱，炒制后捣碎） 甘草（二钱） 生姜（二钱）
本方之意：用芍药来清泄肝经之热，用甘草来缓解肝气之急迫，用莱菔子来疏通气分之郁滞，用当归、山楂来化解血分之瘀滞，生姜与芍药并用又能善于调理寒热相互凝滞之证，且当归的汁液最为滑润，痢疾病人因气滞血瘀导致排便不畅，用当归使其滑利，则瘀滞解除而痢疾自愈。
治疗下痢服用前方（化滞汤）后未完全痊愈的患者。如果下痢已经持续数日，也可以直接服用此汤。此外还治疗噤口痢（痢疾重症，患者不能进食或见食即吐）。
生山药（八钱） 金银花（五钱） 生杭芍（六钱） 牛蒡子（二钱，炒制后捣碎） 甘草（二钱） 黄连（一钱半） 肉桂（一钱半，去除粗皮，在药煎煮至沸腾数十次后再加入）
单纯赤痢（便下脓血偏多）加生地榆二钱，单纯白痢（便下黏液偏多）加生姜二钱，血痢（便下鲜血为主）加鸭蛋子二十粒（去皮），用药汁送服。
痢证在古代称为“滞下”。所谓滞下，确实是因为寒邪与火邪凝结于下焦，血液瘀阻化为脓血，留滞不下，而寒火交争的力量又逼迫其下行，从而导致腹泻。因此方中用黄连来治火，用肉桂来治寒，两药等量并用，顷刻间即可燮理阴阳。使用白芍的原因，《伤寒论》中的各方，凡有腹痛必加芍药协同甘草，这也是燮理阴阳的妙品。而且痢证中出现噤口不食的症状，必定是胆火逆冲胃口；出现里急后重的症状，必定是肝火下迫大肠，白芍能泻肝胆之火，故能治疗这些症状。况且肝主藏血，肝胆之火平息，则脓血自然收敛。使用山药的原因，滞下日久则阴分必然亏损，山药富含汁液，可以滋养脏腑的真阴。而且滞下日久，则气化功能不固，山药的收涩作用，更能巩固下焦的气化功能。另外白芍善于通利小便，从小便排出寒火之凝结；牛蒡子能通畅大便，从大便排出寒火之凝结；金银花与甘草同用，善于解除热毒，可预防肠道溃烂。单纯白痢则病在气分，所以加生姜以行气；单纯赤痢则病在血分，所以加生地榆以凉血；至于痢疾中多带鲜血，说明血分热势更盛，所以加鸭蛋子，以大清血分之热。我拟定此方以来，每年遇到患痢疾的人不知有多少，投以此汤，即使是病情严重的，连续服用几剂也必定见效。
痢证，多因为先有积热，后又感受凉邪所致。或者是饮食贪凉，或者起居贪凉，热邪被凉邪逼迫，热邪反而无法消散。等到经过的日子多了，又逐渐演变为只有热邪没有凉邪，就像伤于寒邪的人转化为热病一样。所以此方虽然黄连、肉桂等量并用，但肉桂的热性，终究不敌黄连的寒性。何况重用白芍，作为黄连的佐使药，因此此汤虽然是燮理阴阳的药剂，但实际上是清火的药剂。
有人问：用此汤治疗痢疾，虽然在发病数日后，或者服用化滞汤之后，此时痢邪仍然强盛，突然重用山药补益，难道没有留滞邪气的隐患吗？回答说：山药虽然富有补益之力，但药性略微迟钝，与人参、黄芪等迅速作用的药物不同。在此方中，虽然与诸药同服，大约一定要等待诸药的凉性、热性、通利之性，将痢邪消融殆尽之后，然后才大发其补性，从容地在诸药之后培养正气，使邪气去除而正气恢复，这是完善的策略，又何至于留滞邪气呢？况且山药与芍药并用，大能清泻上焦的虚热，对于痢疾导致的噤口不食尤为适宜。所以我用此汤，遇到兼有虚证和年迈的患者，山药常用到一两，甚至超过一两。
有人问：地榆在方书中多炒炭使用，取其黑色能胜红色，以制约血液妄行。此方治疗单纯赤痢加地榆，为何单独生用呢？回答说：地榆的性质，既凉又涩，能凉血兼能止血，如果炒炭则失去这种功效了，此方治疗赤痢所以必须加生地黄榆。而且赤痢的病症，严重的，可能是因为肠道溃烂。林屋山人治疗汤火烫伤，皮肤溃烂，用地榆末调和香油外敷非常有效。既然外敷能治疗皮肤因热导致的溃烂，那么内服也应该有此效果可知。鸭蛋子一名鸦胆子，是苦参所结的种子。不但善于治疗血痢，凡是各种痢疾证候都可以使用它。即使是纯白色的痢疾，使用它也有效验，而以治疗噤口痢、烟后痢（指吸烟后引发的痢疾或类似症状），尤其多有奇效，并治疗大小便因热而下血。其方单用鸭蛋子（去皮），选择成熟饱满的五六十粒，用白沙糖化水送服，每日两次，大有奇效。如果是因寒凉导致的下血，也可以与温补的药物同用。它善于清血热，而性质并非寒凉；善于化瘀滞，而力量并非开破峻猛，有祛除邪气的能力，兼有补益正气的功效，确实是良药。坊间将鸭蛋子去皮，用益元散为衣，治疗二便下血如神，名叫菩提丹。
有一人，五十多岁，平时吸食鸦片。当霍乱盛行期间，忽然心中觉得疼痛、恶心呕吐、下痢脓血参半。病人家属非常恐惧，认为一定是霍乱暴证。诊察他的脉象毫无闭塞之象，只是弦数无力，左关脉稍实。我说：这不是霍乱，乃是下焦寒火交战，所以腹中作痛，下痢脓血。上焦虚热壅迫，所以恶心呕吐，实际上是痢疾的重症。于是投以白芍六钱，竹茹、清半夏各三钱，甘草、生姜各二钱，一剂后呕吐即愈，腹痛也减轻，唯独痢疾未愈，不思饮食。让病人单用鸭蛋子五十粒，一日连服两次，病若失。审视此例，鸭蛋子不但善于治理下焦，即使上焦虚热，用它也很奇妙，这就是治疗噤口痢而有捷效的原因。
有一人，四十八岁，资质禀赋素来虚弱，也吸食鸦片。在深秋时节溏泻不止。一天一夜八九次，且大便带红色，心中怔忡（心慌悸动），不能饮食。每天服用温补药物，分毫无效。请我去诊治，其脉左右皆微弱，而尺脉尤其严重，知道是下焦虚寒。因为其大便带红色，且从前服用温补药物无效，让他先服鸭蛋子四十粒，泻下减半，红色也略减，开始思食。继用温补下焦的药物煎汤，送服鸭蛋子三十粒，后来逐渐减少至十粒，十剂后全愈。这个证候虽然下焦虚寒，但大便带红色，实际上兼有痢疾证候。所以单服鸭蛋子，溏泻已减半。这也足以证明鸭蛋子虽然善于清热化瘀，但实际上没有寒凉开破的弊端，确实是良药。
沧州友人滕××，壬寅年中秋时节，下赤痢，且多鲜血。医治两个月未愈。恰逢我从外地回来，去拜访他，请求诊治。其脉象洪实，知道是纯热痢。于是对他说：这容易治疗。买苦参子百余粒，去皮，分两次服下即愈矣。第二天我又外出，二十多天才回来。又去拜访他，他说曾遍问附近药坊，都没有苦参子。后来病情加重，派人到我家州县取来，依法服用，两次果然痊愈。后来滕××回乡，他的族人有刚从奉天病重归来者，大便下血一年多，全身浮肿，百药不效。滕××传授此方，依法服用，三次全愈。
附录：
直隶青县张××来函：
芦台李××，四十二岁，壬戌五月间，因劳碌暑热，大便下血，且腹痛。医生多用西洋参、野于术、地榆炭、柏叶炭等温涩之品投药，越服越危险。小站王××，是我的朋友，代寄信询问方子，并将病因及前方开示给我。我看完后，随即邮寄去菩提丹四服。每服六十粒，每日一次。不久，接到复信，说服完后血止，腹痛也愈，极赞药的神妙。近年用此丹治疗赤痢及二便下血，治愈者甚多。
山东德州卢××来函：
××族嫂，因逃荒惊恐，又兼受暑，导致患痢两个多月，服药无效，病情更加沉重。侄子为她开乌梅六个，山楂一两半，煎汤送服益元散四钱，去皮鸭蛋子四十粒。煎药渣时，也如此送服。一剂后病若失。
Treats dysentery (a condition characterized by diarrhea with pus and blood in the stool) accompanied by abdominal pain and tenesmus (a feeling of incomplete defecation, urgency to defecate, but difficulty in passing stool) at the initial stage. If the disease is not completely cured after taking this prescription, continue with the following prescription (Xiel Tang).
Raw Shaoyao (Sheng Huangshao) [30g] Danggui [15g] Shanzha [18g] Laifuzi [15g, stir-fried and crushed] Gancao [6g] Shengjiang [6g]
If the patient has a robust constitution, add Dahuang and Puxiao each [9g] to purge accumulation.
Rationale of this formula: Use Shaoyao to drain heat from the Liver channel; use Gancao to relieve Liver Qi urgency; use Laifuzi to open stagnation in the Qi level; use Danggui and Shanzha to resolve stasis in the Blood level; using Shengjiang together with Shaoyao is good at regulating mutual stagnation of cold and heat. Moreover, the juice of Danggui is most slippery. For patients with dysentery suffering from Qi and Blood stagnation causing difficult defecation, using Danggui to make it slippery will resolve the stagnation, and the dysentery will heal itself.
Treats dysentery that has not been completely cured after taking the previous prescription (Hua Zhi Tang). If dysentery has persisted for several days, one can also directly take this decoction. It also treats Jin Kou Li (Jin Kou Dysentery, a severe form of dysentery where the patient cannot eat or vomits upon seeing food).
Raw Shanyao [24g] Jinyinhua [15g] Raw Shaoyao (Sheng Huangshao) [18g] Niubangzi [6g, stir-fried and crushed] Gancao [6g] Huanglian [4.5g] Rougui [4.5g, remove coarse bark, add when the decoction has boiled dozens of times]
For pure red dysentery (pus and blood predominating), add Dihongyu [6g]; for pure white dysentery (mucus predominating), add Shengjiang [6g]; for bloody dysentery (predominantly fresh blood), add Yadanzi [20 grains, peeled], taken with the decoction.
Dysentery was called "Zhi Xia" (Stagnant Downward Flow) in ancient times. The term "Zhi Xia" indeed refers to the condensation of cold and fire pathogens in the Lower Jiao, where blood stasis transforms into pus and blood, remaining stagnant and unable to pass down, while the force of the battle between cold and fire forces it downward, causing diarrhea. Therefore, in the formula, Huanglian is used to treat fire, and Rougui is used to treat cold. Using these two herbs in equal proportions can regulate Yin and Yang within an instant. The reason for using Baishao (Shaoyao): In various formulas from Shanghan Lun, Shaoyao must be added along with Gancao for abdominal pain; this is also a wonderful method for regulating Yin and Yang. Furthermore, in dysentery cases presenting with inability to eat (Jin Kou), it is necessarily due to Gallbladder Fire counterflowing to the Stomach opening; cases with tenesmus are necessarily due to Liver Fire pressing down on the Large Intestine. Baishao can drain Liver and Gallbladder fire, thus treating these conditions. Moreover, the Liver stores Blood; when Liver and Gallbladder fire are subdued, pus and blood will naturally consolidate. The reason for using Shanyao: Prolonged stagnant downward flow inevitably depletes the Yin aspect. Shanyao, rich in fluid, can nourish the True Yin of the Zang-Fu organs. Also, prolonged stagnant downward flow leads to insecure Qi transformation; the astringent property of Shanyao can further secure the Qi transformation of the Lower Jiao. Additionally, Baishao is good at promoting urination, draining the condensation of cold and fire through urine; Niubangzi can unblock the bowels, draining the condensation of cold and fire through feces; Jinyinhua used together with Gancao is good at resolving heat toxicity, preventing intestinal ulceration. Pure white dysentery indicates pathology at the Qi level, so Shengjiang is added to move Qi; pure red dysentery indicates pathology at the Blood level, so Dihongyu is added to cool the Blood; as for dysentery with much fresh blood, the Heat in the Blood level is even more severe, so Yadanzi is added to greatly clear Heat in the Blood level. Since I formulated this prescription, I have encountered countless dysentery patients every year. Administering this decoction, even in severe cases, usually shows effect after continuous administration for a few doses.
Dysentery is mostly caused by prior accumulated Heat followed by contraction of Cold pathogen. This may be due to dietary preference for cold foods or living in cold environments. The Heat is forced by Cold, making the Heat unable to dissipate. After many days, it gradually evolves into a state where there is only Heat and no Cold, similar to how a Cold injury transforms into a Heat disease. Therefore, although this formula uses Huanglian and Rougui in equal proportions, the Heat nature of Rougui ultimately cannot match the Cold nature of Huanglian. Moreover, heavy use of Baishao serves as an assistant and guide for Huanglian. Thus, although this decoction is a formula for regulating Yin and Yang, it is essentially a formula for clearing Fire.
Question: Using this decoction to treat dysentery, even if administered several days after onset or after taking Hua Zhi Tang, when the dysentery pathogen is still strong, suddenly using heavy doses of Shanyao for tonification, does it not risk retaining the pathogen? Answer: Although Shanyao has strong tonifying power, its nature is slightly sluggish, unlike Ginseng or Astragalus which act rapidly. In this formula, although taken with other herbs, it waits until the cooling, warming, unblocking, and draining properties of the other herbs have almost completely dissolved the dysentery pathogen, before fully exerting its tonifying effect to calmly cultivate the healthy Qi afterwards, ensuring the pathogen is removed and the healthy Qi restored. This is a complete strategy, so how could it retain the pathogen? Moreover, using Shanyao together with Baishao greatly clears deficiency Heat in the Upper Jiao, which is particularly suitable for dysentery with inability to eat. Therefore, when I use this decoction for patients with accompanying deficiency or elderly patients, I often use Shanyao up to 30g or more.
Question: Dihongyu is mostly used charred in medical books, taking advantage of black overcoming red to control reckless bleeding. Why is raw Dihongyu used alone in this formula for pure red dysentery? Answer: The nature of Dihongyu is both cooling and astringent; it can cool the Blood and stop bleeding. If charred, it loses this efficacy. Therefore, this formula must add raw Dihongyu for treating red dysentery. Furthermore, in severe cases of red dysentery, it may be due to intestinal ulceration. Linwu Shanren treated burns and scalds with skin ulceration by applying Dihongyu powder mixed with sesame oil externally with great effect. Since external application can treat skin ulceration caused by Heat, internal administration should also have this effect. Yadanzi, also known as Yadanzi (Brucea javanica), is the seed produced by Sophora flavescens (Kushen). It is not only good for treating bloody dysentery but can be used for all types of dysentery. Even for pure white dysentery, it is effective, especially with miraculous effects for Jin Kou Dysentery and Yan Hou Li (smoking-induced dysentery-like symptoms), and also treats hematochezia and hematuria caused by Heat. The method is to use single Yadanzi (peeled), selecting 50-60 mature grains, taken with sugar water, twice daily, with great miraculous effect. If hematochezia is caused by Cold, it can be used together with warming and tonifying medicines. It is good at clearing Blood Heat without being excessively cold; good at resolving Blood stasis without being harshly dispersing; having the ability to expel pathogens while also benefiting healthy Qi. It is truly a fine medicine. Shops peel Yadanzi and coat it with Yi Yuan San, treating hematochezia and hematuria effectively, named Puti Dan.
A man, over fifty years old, who habitually smoked opium. During the epidemic of cholera, he suddenly felt heart pain, nausea, vomiting, and dysentery with half pus and half blood. The family was terrified, believing it must be a sudden attack of cholera. His pulse showed no obstruction, only wiry, rapid, and weak, with the Left Guan position slightly full. I said: This is not cholera, but a battle between cold and fire in the Lower Jiao, causing abdominal pain and dysentery with pus and blood. Deficiency Heat in the Upper Jiao is congested and pressing, causing nausea and vomiting. It is actually a severe case of dysentery. I prescribed Baishao [18g], Zhuru and Qing Banxia each [9g], Gancao and Shengjiang each [6g]. After one dose, vomiting ceased, abdominal pain lightened, but dysentery did not improve, and there was no appetite. He was instructed to take single Yadanzi [50 grains], twice a day. The illness vanished. Examining this case, Yadanzi is not only good for managing the Lower Jiao, but also excellent for Upper Jiao deficiency Heat. This is why it has rapid effects in treating Jin Kou Dysentery.
A man, forty-eight years old, with a constitution inherently weak, who also smoked opium. In late autumn, he suffered from persistent loose stools. Eight to nine times a day and night, with red color in the stool, palpitations, and inability to eat. Daily administration of warming and tonifying medicines had no effect. Upon my examination, his pulse was weak and faint on both sides, especially at the Chi position, indicating deficiency Cold in the Lower Jiao. Because the stool contained redness and previous warming treatments failed, I instructed him to first take Yadanzi [40 grains]. The diarrhea reduced by half, the redness decreased slightly, and appetite returned. Then, decoctions for warming and tonifying the Lower Jiao were used to deliver Yadanzi [30 grains], gradually reducing to [10 grains]. Ten doses resulted in complete recovery. Although this syndrome involved deficiency Cold in the Lower Jiao, the presence of redness in the stool indicated an accompanying dysentery syndrome. Therefore, taking Yadanzi alone reduced the loose stools by half. This proves that although Yadanzi is good at clearing Heat and resolving stasis, it does not have the drawbacks of being cold and harshly dispersing. It is indeed a fine medicine.
My friend Teng XX from Cangzhou, during the Mid-Autumn Festival in the Renyin year, suffered from red dysentery with much fresh blood. Medical treatment for two months was ineffective. When I returned from elsewhere, I visited him and agreed to treat him. His pulse was surging and full, indicating pure Heat dysentery. I told him: This is easy to treat. Buy over a hundred Kushenzi (Sophora seeds), peel them, and take them in two doses for a cure. The next day I went out again and returned twenty days later. He said he asked all nearby pharmacies but found no Kushenzi. Later the condition worsened, and someone was sent to my hometown to obtain it. Taken according to the method, it was cured in two doses. Later, when Teng XX returned home, a clan member who had just returned seriously ill from Fengtian suffered from hematochezia for over a year, with whole-body edema, and all medicines failed. Teng XX taught him this formula. Taken according to the method, it was cured in three doses.
Appendix:
Letter from Zhang XX of Qing County, Zhili:
Li XX of Lutai, forty-two years old, in May of the Renxu year, due to laborious work and summer heat, suffered from hematochezia and abdominal pain. Doctors mostly used Western Ginseng, Wild Atractylodes, Charred Dihongyu, Charred Celmisiae Herba, and other warming and astringent substances. The more he took them, the worse he became. Wang XX of Xiaozhan, my friend, sent a letter asking for a prescription on my behalf, showing me the cause of the disease and the previous prescriptions. After reading, I mailed four doses of Puti Dan. Each dose was sixty grains, taken once daily. Soon, I received a reply stating that after finishing the medication, the bleeding stopped, and the abdominal pain healed. He praised the miracle of the medicine highly. In recent years, using this pill to treat red dysentery and hematochezia/hematuria has cured many people.
Letter from Lu XX of Dezhou, Shandong:
My clan sister-in-law, due to fleeing famine and fright, combined with contracting summer heat, suffered from dysentery for over two months. Medication was ineffective, and the condition worsened. My nephew prescribed six Wumei (Mume Fructus), one and a half taels of Shanzha, decocted to deliver Yi Yuan San [12g] and peeled Yadanzi [40 grains]. The dregs of the decoction were also used to deliver the medicine in the same way. After one dose, the illness vanished.