吴鹤洲先生太夫人，年八十六，素有痰火，大便一日三四行，一夜两起，肠鸣，脐腹膨
胀，
脉三四至一止，或七八至一止，诸医不知温补，妄以平胃散加黄连、山楂、白芍一切苦寒之
剂
投之，克伐太过，因致腹疼。顾不咎其误，但谓年高而脉歇，至是为凶兆，辞去不治。逆予
诊之。予曰∶据脉书云∶脉缓而止曰结，数而止曰促。今结脉非凶脉也。由寒湿之痰凝滞所
致，法当温补下元，俾火得以生土，所谓虚则补其母者，当无恙矣。鹤洲公曰∶寿算何如？
予曰∶两尺迢迢有神，寿征也，即百年犹未艾。以补骨脂、白术各三钱为君，杜仲二钱为臣
，白茯苓、泽泻、陈皮、甘草各一钱为佐，肉豆蔻、益智仁各五分为使，四帖，大便实，唯
肠鸣未止，减肉豆蔻加炮姜五分而安。寿果至九十有八。
吴鹤洲先生的母亲，年龄八十六岁，素来患有痰火（体内痰湿与火热互结的病证），大便每天排泄三四次，夜间起床两次，伴有肠鸣音亢进，脐部及腹部胀满膨隆。脉象表现为每跳动三四次出现一次间歇，或者每跳动七八次出现一次间歇。各位医生不懂得使用温补法，错误地投予平胃散（燥湿运脾、行气和胃的方剂）加入黄连、山楂、白芍等一切苦寒性质的药物，导致攻伐太过，因而引起腹痛。他们不反思自己的误治，只说因为年事已高且脉象有歇止，到了这个时候是凶兆，于是推辞不去治疗。患者家属转而请我诊治。我说：根据脉书记载，脉象缓而间歇称为结脉，数而间歇称为促脉。现在的结脉并不是凶险的脉象。这是由于寒湿之痰凝滞所致，治疗方法应当温补下元（肾阳），使命门之火能够生助脾土，这就是所谓的“虚则补其母”的原则，治疗后应该就能痊愈了。鹤洲公问：寿命能有多长？我说：两尺脉（反映肾气盛衰的脉位）长远且有神，这是长寿的征象，即使活到一百岁也还未尽头。处方以补骨脂、白术各三钱为君药，杜仲二钱为臣药，白茯苓、泽泻、陈皮、甘草各一钱为佐药，肉豆蔻、益智仁各五分为使药。服用四帖后，大便变得成形结实，只有肠鸣音没有停止，于是减去肉豆蔻，加入炮姜五分，病情便安定下来。最终享年九十八岁。
The mother of Mr. Wu Hezhou, aged eighty-six, had a long-standing condition of phlegm-fire (a pathological state where phlegm and heat intertwine). Her stool frequency was three to four times daily, with two nocturnal awakenings for defecation. She experienced hyperactive bowel sounds (borborygmi) and distension and swelling in the umbilical and abdominal regions. Her pulse exhibited an intermittent rhythm, stopping every three or four beats, or every seven or eight beats. Various physicians failed to recognize the need for warming and tonifying methods; instead, they erroneously administered Pingwei San (Stomach-Calm Powder), adding Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian, 黄连), Crataegi Fructus (Shanzha, 山楂), and Paeoniae Radix Alba (Baishao, 白芍)—all bitter-cold agents. This excessive purging and attacking led to abdominal pain. Rather than acknowledging their error, they attributed her intermittent pulse and advanced age to an ominous sign, declining further treatment. The family then sought my consultation. I stated: According to pulse classics, a slow pulse with interruptions is called Jie Pulse (Knotted Pulse), while a rapid pulse with interruptions is called Cu Pulse (Surging Pulse). The current Jie Pulse is not an ominous one. It results from the stagnation of cold-dampness phlegm. The appropriate method is to warm and tonify the Lower Yuan (Lower Origin/Kidney Yang), allowing the Fire to generate Earth, which aligns with the principle of "tonifying the mother when deficient." She would likely recover. Mr. Hezhou asked: What is her life expectancy? I replied: Both Chi pulses (Pulse positions reflecting Kidney Qi) are distant and spirited, indicating longevity. Even reaching one hundred years old is possible. The prescription used Psoraleae Fructus (Buguzhi, 补骨脂) and Atractodis Rhizoma Macrocephalae (Baizhu, 白术), each 3 qian, as Sovereign herbs; Eucommiae Cortex (Duzhong, 杜仲) 2 qian as Minister herbs; Poria (Fuling, 白茯苓), Alismatis Rhizoma (Zexie, 泽泻), Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Chenpi, 陈皮), and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao, 甘草), each 1 qian, as Assistant herbs; Myristicae Semen (Roudoukou, 肉豆蔻) and Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Fructus (Yizhiren, 益智仁), each 5 fen, as Guide herbs. After four doses, her stool became firm. Only the borborygmi persisted, so Roudoukou was removed and Zingiberis Rhizoma Preparatum (Paojiang, 炮姜) 5 fen was added, after which she stabilized. She ultimately lived to be ninety-eight.