淮阴胡少泉翁,丽水县三尹也。令郎年弱冠患梦遗,百治不应。体倦而气弱,食少而汗
多,
四肢酸软,头眩,肌热,将成瘵疾。知予在理刑吴比部衙中,敦余为治。其脉两寸短,左寸
尤甚,余部滑数。余曰∶郎君之脉,心气大弱,盖心者,神之舍;神者,精之主。神旺始能
固精。今遗不禁,由神弱不能固摄其精,致多妄泄。时近端阳,诸症簇,乃兼疰夏病也。
法当养心安神,庶几不成瘵。翁曰∶然。前此诸公,每为滋阴降火,多不见功,徒见损脾减
食。今先生主以养神,愿以先生是听。乃与人参、黄 、石莲子、酸枣仁、莲花心、石菖
蒲、远志、当归补心安神为君,俾精固汗敛。经曰∶汗者心之液。汗多则心血愈虚,故佐以
甘草、白术、黄柏、麦门冬、五味子兼治疰夏,使
饮食加而四肢壮,缓而图之可万全矣。药
进甚妥,竟以此方调理,果精固神全,肌热
尽退。又令媛及笄,头痛微热,经水愆期,日多咳嗽,食渐减,肌渐消,口渴,睡卧不宁,
喉中血腥,四肢不劳而疲,体不动而汗,六脉弦而且数,左关长出寸口。余以逍遥散加石斛、
丹参、牡丹皮、酸枣仁、山栀子、麦门冬,调理而瘳。
又一文学,贫士也,忘其姓氏。与胡少泉翁为硕交。有奇疾,两足不酸不痛,每行动,
绝不听其所用,或扭于左而又坠于左,或扭于右而坠于左,之玄而行,不能一步步正走。此亦目
之稀觏,竟不识为何疾,书无所考。予臆度之,由筋软不能所致,故行动则偏斜扭坠也。
夫
筋者,肝之所主,肝属木,木纵不收,宜益金以制之。用人参、黄 、白芍药以补肺金,薏
苡仁、虎骨、龟板、杜仲以壮筋骨,以铁华粉专制肝木,炼蜜为丸,早晚服之。别后三载,
族侄理问公敬亭南还,道出淮阴,胡少泉寄语云∶向者铁粉所愈之疾,淮人极以为奇,远迩
敦录其方,布传以颂,自恨贫儒,勿能致一芹为谢,旦暮额手南斗,以识不忘云。
淮阴人胡少泉老先生,是丽水县的县令。他的儿子刚满二十岁,患有梦遗病,经过多种治疗均无效。患者身体疲倦、气虚,食欲减退且多汗,四肢酸软无力,头晕目眩,肌肤发热,病情发展下去将形成痨瘵(慢性消耗性疾病)。得知我在吴比部衙门任职,便恳请我为其诊治。诊察发现他两手寸脉短促,左寸脉尤为明显,其余部位脉象滑数。我说:“这位公子的脉象显示心气极度虚弱。因为心是神志的居所;神志是精液的主宰。只有神志旺盛,才能固摄精液。如今梦遗不止,是因为神志虚弱不能固摄精液,导致精液妄泄。此时临近端午节,各种症状集中出现,这是兼患疰夏(夏季常见的虚弱病症)的表现。治疗方法应当养心安神,或许能避免发展为痨瘵。”老先生说:“对。此前各位医生,多为滋阴降火法,大多不见功效,反而只看到损伤脾胃、减少食欲。现在先生主张养神,我愿意听从先生的安排。”于是使用人参、黄芪、石莲子、酸枣仁、莲花心、石菖蒲、远志、当归来补心安神作为君药,使精液固摄、汗液收敛。《内经》说:“汗是心的体液。”汗多则心血更加虚弱,所以佐以甘草、白术、黄柏、麦门冬、五味子兼治疰夏,使饮食增加、四肢强壮,慢慢调理以求万全。服药后非常妥当,最终以此方调理,果然精液固摄、神志健全,肌肤发热完全消退。
他又的女儿及笄之年(十五岁左右),头痛伴有轻微发热,月经延期,日渐咳嗽,食欲逐渐减少,肌肉日渐消瘦,口渴,睡眠不安宁,喉中有血腥味,四肢不劳动也感到疲乏,身体不动也出汗,六脉弦而数,左关脉长出于寸口。我用逍遥散加石斛、丹参、牡丹皮、酸枣仁、山栀子、麦门冬进行调理,疾病痊愈。
又有一位读书人,是贫穷的士人,忘记了他的姓氏。他与胡少泉老先生是深交。患有一种奇疾,两脚不酸也不痛,但每次行动时,完全不听使唤,有时向左扭动却跌向左边,有时向右扭动却跌向左边,行走歪斜,不能一步步正直行走。这也是眼睛很少见到的罕见情况,竟然不知道是什么病,书籍中也没有记载。我推测其原因,是由于筋软弱无力所致,所以行动时就会偏斜、扭动、跌倒。筋是由肝所主管的,肝属木,木气放纵不收敛,应该益补肺金以制约它。用人参、黄芪、白芍药来补益肺金,薏苡仁、虎骨、龟板、杜仲来强壮筋骨,用铁华粉专门克制肝木,炼蜜制成丸药,早晚服用。分别三年后,族侄理问公敬亭从南方回来,路过淮阴,胡少泉捎信来说:“以前用铁粉治愈的那种疾病,淮阴人极以为奇,远近的人都抄录这个方子,传播颂扬,只是遗憾自己是贫穷的儒生,无法送上一束芹菜作为谢礼,早晚对着南斗星拱手,以表示不忘恩德。”
Mr. Hu Shaoquan of Huaiyin, a magistrate of Lishui County, had a son who, upon reaching adulthood (weak crown), suffered from nocturnal emission. Despite numerous treatments, there was no response. The patient presented with fatigue and weak qi, poor appetite, and profuse sweating; his limbs were sore and soft, he experienced dizziness, and had hot skin. The condition was progressing towards becoming a consumption disease (Zhai Ji). Upon learning that I was serving in the office of Minister Wu, he earnestly requested my treatment. His pulse at both cun positions was short, especially the left cun, while the remaining parts of the pulse were slippery and rapid. I said, "The gentleman's pulse indicates a severe deficiency of Heart Qi. The Heart is the residence of Shen (Spirit); Shen is the master of Jing (Essence). Only when Shen is robust can Jing be secured. Currently, the uncontrollable emissions are due to weak Shen failing to secure and control the Jing, leading to excessive leakage. As we approach the Duanwu Festival, these symptoms cluster together, indicating a concurrent case of Zhu Xia (summer weakness syndrome). The treatment method should focus on nourishing the Heart and calming the Shen, hopefully preventing the development of consumption." The father replied, "Correct. Previous physicians mostly employed methods to nourish yin and descend fire, which yielded little effect and only damaged the Spleen and reduced appetite. Now that you advocate nourishing the Spirit, I am willing to follow your advice." Therefore, Ren Shen (Ginseng Root), Huang Qi (Astragalus Root), Shi Lian Zi (Stone Lotus Seed), Suan Zao Ren (Ziziphus Seed), Lian Hua Xin (Lotus Plumule), Shi Chang Pu (Acorus Rhizome), Yuan Zhi (Polygala Root), and Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis) were used to tonify the Heart and calm the Shen as the sovereign herbs, thereby securing the Jing and consolidating sweat. As stated in the Classic: "Sweat is the fluid of the Heart." Profuse sweating further depletes Heart Blood; thus, Gan Cao (Licorice Root), Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome), Huang Bo (Phellodendron Bark), Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber), and Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra Fruit) were added as minister/assistant herbs to concurrently treat Zhu Xia, aiming to increase food intake and strengthen the limbs, proceeding slowly to ensure complete recovery. The medication was well-received, and by continuing this formula for regulation, the Jing was indeed secured, the Shen became whole, and the skin heat completely subsided.
His daughter, having reached her hair-pinning age (15 years old), suffered from headache with slight fever, delayed menstruation, increasing cough, gradually decreasing appetite, emaciation, thirst, restless sleep, a bloody taste in the throat, fatigue in the limbs without exertion, spontaneous sweating without movement, and a wiry and rapid pulse in all six positions, with the left Guan position extending beyond the Cun position. I treated her with Xiao Yao San (Free and Easy Wanderer Powder) modified with Shi Hu (Dendrobium Stem), Dan Shen (Salvia Miltiorrhiza Root), Mu Dan Pi (Moutan Cortex), Suan Zao Ren (Ziziphus Seed), Shan Zhi Zi (Gardenia Fruit), and Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber). She recovered after regulation.
Another scholar, a poor gentleman whose surname I have forgotten, was a close friend of Mr. Hu Shaoquan. He suffered from a strange disease: his feet were neither sore nor painful, but every time he attempted to walk, they would not obey his will. Sometimes twisting to the left, he would fall to the left; sometimes twisting to the right, he would still fall to the left. He walked crookedly and could not walk straight step by step. This was a rare sight, unknown in any medical texts. I speculated that it was caused by weak sinews unable to support movement, resulting in deviation, twisting, and falling during action. Since the sinews are governed by the Liver, and the Liver belongs to Wood, if the Wood energy is lax and uncontrolled, one should benefit Metal (Lung) to restrain it. I prescribed Ren Shen (Ginseng Root), Huang Qi (Astragalus Root), and Bai Shao Yao (White Peony Root) to tonify Lung Metal; Yi Yi Ren (Coix Seed), Hu Gu (Tiger Bone - *note: historically used, now prohibited/replaced*), Gui Ban (Tortoise Shell), and Du Zhong (Eucommia Bark) to strengthen sinews and bones; and Tie Hua Fen (Iron Flower Powder) to specifically subdue Liver Wood. These were processed into pills with refined honey, taken morning and evening. Three years later, my clan nephew Liwen Gong Jingting returned from the south, passing through Huaiyin. Mr. Hu sent word saying: "The disease cured by iron powder was considered very strange by the people of Huaiyin. People far and near copied the prescription and spread it in praise. We regret being poor scholars and unable to offer even a sprig of celery as thanks. Morning and evening, we raise our hands to the Southern Dipper star to express our gratitude and remembrance."