典藏书目

Instructed the patient to continue taking the medicine. That night, he was able to sleep peacefully. The next morning, his mental state became suddenly clear. He said to me, "I previously did not understand why I was bedridden; now I realize it was due to illness. My mind feels as if I have just awakened from a dream." A day later, the rapid pulse gradually subsided, and irritability also calmed down. However, his appetite had not yet opened, and the swelling/toxin hindered recovery; he had not had a bowel movement for ten days. I said, "Stick with this prescription, and all symptoms will be cured." Therefore, I left the formula along with instructions for modifications, and further instructed him: "Do not use Qi-dispersing herbs (herbs that break up Qi stagnation) to stimulate appetite, do not use Bitter-Cold herbs (herbs that clear heat and drain fire) to reduce fire, do not use Purgative/Draining herbs (herbs that promote bowel movements) to relieve constipation, and do not use Antidotal/Anti-toxic herbs (herbs that resolve toxicity) to reduce swelling. If any of these are used, treatment will fail."

Upon leaving the county, I met Lu Dasheng and said, "I have heard of your brother's efficacy and medication. However, the local physicians discussed using Prepared Rehmannia Root (Shu Di Huang, *Rehmanniae Radix Preparata*), claiming it would inevitably cause the carbuncle/toxin to flare up. Is this true?" I said, "My academic knowledge is shallow; initially, I did not know that these two herbs could cause the toxin to flare up. Thus, I resent that the theories of famous masters such as Zhang Zhongjing, Liu Wansu, Li Dongyuan, and Zhu Danxi are still incomplete, and I resent the significant omissions in Li Shizhen's *Compendium of Materia Medica* (*Bencao Gangmu*)." Dasheng applauded at this. Then he asked about Qiya's condition. I said, "Internal injury caused by the Seven Emotions (Seven Emotional Factors), compounded by external pathogenic factors taking advantage. The Jueyin Meridian (Liver and Pericardium channels) was injured, and Shaoyang Meridian (Gallbladder and Sanjiao channels) was affected, following the principle of similarity. The physician, without distinguishing the meridians, indiscriminately applied exterior-releasing methods, causing damage to all three Yang meridians. However, the pathogen had not yet entered the Fu organs. Instead, Zhi Shi (Immature Bitter Orange, *Aurantii Fructus Immaturus*), Hou Po (Magnolia Bark, *Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex*), Shan Zha (Hawthorn Fruit, *Crataegi Fructus*), and Gua Lou (Trichosanthes Fruit, *Trichosanthis Fructus*) were used, causing the pathogen to enter the two Yang meridians. At this point, the Yin meridians were still unaffected. Da Huang (Rhubarb Rhizome, *Rhei Radix et Rhizoma*) and Xuan Ming Fen (Mirabilite, *Natrii Sulfas*) were then used, damaging the three Yin meridians. Ultimately, the original pathogen could not be expelled outward; it turned inward, forcing its way deeper. Cold stagnation and rebellion occurred in the Middle Jiao, and the situation was on the verge of collapse. Fortunately, Ren Shen (Ginseng Root, *Panacis Ginseng Radix*) was used to support Stomach Qi, driving the pathogen outward. The lesions appearing at Cheng Ling (GV19) and Zheng Ying (GB16) were due to stagnant fire in the meridian that had not yet been unblocked. The lesions appearing at Yao Shu (BL23) and Chang Qiang (GV1) resulted from lower body injury to the Extreme Yin, leading to coagulation and cold accumulation." Dasheng said, "The other physicians were criticizing the harm of the Ginseng Decoction earlier and attributing success to Clearing-Heat and Resolving-Toxin methods. Now they are preparing to use herbs that Clear Fire and Resolve Toxin." I said, "How could those people understand this? The reason the toxin was able to erupt is the merit of Ginseng. Now that the toxin is numb and has not collapsed, what is needed for future regulation is precisely the harm caused by those physicians' Clearing-Heat and Resolving-Toxin methods. Urgently administer Ren Shen and Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome, *Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma*), so that recovery and resolution can be achieved. If one continues to Clear Fire and Resolve Toxin, the toxin will sink inward again, becoming incurable." They followed my advice, continued with the same prescription, and recovered.

His thorough and careful instructions serve as a guideline for surgical treatments. His penetrating and sharp refutations serve as a critique for crude medical skills. In narrating and analyzing the disease conditions, tracing the source from the flow, the distinctions between Yin and Yang, interior and exterior, meridians, and acupoints are analyzed in exhaustive detail. This matches perfectly with the case of treating Carbuncle of the Back (Fa Bei) treated by Siming. Carefully studying this case reveals that the single thread of vitality for this condition lay entirely in the trial of the Ginseng Decoction, which succeeded in driving the pathogen out, manifesting as swelling/toxin, rather than allowing it to sink inward. Quack doctors instead caused harm but claimed credit for Clearing-Heat and Resolving-Toxin methods, which is truly laughable.

At that time, Qiya's younger brother suffered from pain in the left eye radiating to the head. Physicians treated it as Head Wind (Tou Feng) without effect. Initially, there were alternating chills and fever, which later progressed to persistent high fever. Upon examination, I said, "Fire is concealed internally, wind-dryness has depleted the fluids, causing the Wood element (Liver) to wither. Sweating is required to resolve this." Someone said, "To induce sweating, exterior-releasing herbs must be used. Does this not contradict the diagnosis of wind-dryness?" Furthermore, "Sweating herbs require covering with thick blankets and lying stifled to work. The body heat is severe, making this unbearable. What should be done?" I said, "Quack doctors' sweating herbs are all forced methods, hence the need to cover with thick blankets. However, sweat cannot be obtained this way. My herbs are not of this type. Even with light quilts and an open body, sweat will arrive like timely rain. How could it be suppressed?" Therefore, Long Nao Bai Zhu Yin Zi (Borneol and Atractylodes Drink) was used. By midnight, profuse sweating occurred. The next day, the head and eyes felt refreshed.

Long Nao Bai Zhu Yin Zi cannot be verified from historical records. Some claim it is Zhao's Modified Xiao Yao Powder (Jia Jian Xiao Yao San), but this is uncertain. However, based on the symptoms and reasoning listed in the case, the treatment method must fall under the principles of "Unblocking Liver Stagnation" (Mu Yu Da Zhi) and "Ventilating Fire Stagnation" (Huo Yu Fa Zhi). Its formula intent can be inferred intuitively.

The miraculous cures of the two families in Siming and Dongzhuang, widely rumored among the people, cannot be fully recounted. This compilation contains fifty-eight cases in total, specifically selecting famous quotes and innovative theories that elucidate the profound mysteries of the *Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon* (*Huangdi Neijing*) and Qibo. These remarkable achievements broaden the minds of future students, with nothing here that does not serve as a model for the world and posterity. Those who understand will study each case and naturally appreciate the divine nature of the diagnostic methods, the precision in verifying symptoms, and the appropriateness of prescriptions. This also adds a small measure to my elder brother's intention to share his knowledge with the world. Your humble younger brother, Lu Ming, respectfully recorded this.