典藏书目

Visual perception of colors changes; the etiology is not singular. It is essential to distinguish clearly based on the color alterations to ascertain the severity and urgency of the condition.

This symptom refers to seeing objects in colors that are not their true colors. It differs from the phenomenon where objects have inherent shapes and visual perception involves color, as well as from symptoms related to abnormal atmospheric hues. For instance, it is akin to viewing the sun as if it were a pale ice wheel, perceiving lamplight as pinkish, seeing white walls turn red or green, or observing yellow paper appearing green or blue, among similar cases. This arises from the stagnation of qi in the intraocular collaterals and the disharmony of the Xuanfu (microscopic pores for the circulation of qi, blood, and fluids in the eye). One should differentiate based on the perceived colors to identify which Zang-Fu organs are involved through Sheng (overacting) or Ke (restraining) pathological mechanisms. The appropriate prescription is:

Fuming Tang (Restoring Vision Decoction)
Huangqi (Astragali Radix, honey-processed), Danggui Shen (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, roasted), Shengdihuang (Rehmanniae Radix Recens) (each 1.5 qian), Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) (0.35 qian), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma, stir-fried after soaking in rice wash water), Guangchenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) (each 0.5 qian).
Cut the herbs into decoction pieces. Add two zhong of clear water, boil until reduced to eight-tenths, strain the dregs, and take hot. Avoid alcohol, damp noodles, spicy and warm-natured foods, and strong spices like star anise.

Yiqi Congming Tang (Qi-Boosting and Acuity-Enhancing Decoction) (see Volume II): Treats internal cataracts and tinnitus caused by irregular diet and physical overexertion leading to Spleen-Stomach deficiency, or chronic dim vision resulting in inability to see. This medicine can broaden visual field; long-term use prevents internal/external cataracts, tinnitus, and deafness. It also doubles mental energy, naturally benefits Yuanqi (Original Qi), lightens the body, enhances physical health, and sharpens hearing and vision. This medicine is miraculous for treating heaviness and pain below the waist in the elderly. However, long-term use may cause heaviness in the head, improved spirit, but floating sensation in the feet, leading to disorientation regarding height. If taken on an empty stomach, adding some Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) will reduce the floating sensation. For treating trichiasis (in-turned eyelashes), remove Huangbai and Shaoyao. Avoid smoke, fire, and sour substances.

Lou Quanshan stated: Internal cataracts often start in one eye and sequentially affect both, resulting in damage to both eyes due to opacities within the cornea obscuring the pupil. Upon detailed examination, the meridians connecting to the cornea are the Eye System (Muxi). The Eye System belongs to the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian, Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian, and Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian. Generally, when the Zang-Fu organs of these three meridians are deficient, pathogenic factors enter vacuously, stagnate within the meridians, and enter the cornea via the Eye System to form opacities. What "Longmu Lun" describes as "brain fat flowing down to form opacities" refers to pathogens of the Foot-Taiyang Meridian. What it calls "Liver qi rushing up to form opacities" refers to pathogens of the Foot-Jueyin Meridian. Therefore, in terms of acupuncture treatment, points from these three meridians should be selected, such as Tianzhu (BL10), Fengfu (GV16), Taichong (LR3), and Tongtian (BL27). Those with skilled hands and careful minds who can use needles to manipulate the opacity within the cornea achieve particularly swift results. In terms of herbal treatment, one should tonify the Middle Jiao and unblock the stagnation of these three meridians, preventing pathogens from entering the Eye System to achieve cure. For internal cataract eye diseases caused by irregular diet and physical overexertion leading to Spleen-Stomach deficiency, Ren Shen Bu Wei Tang (Ginseng Tonifying Stomach Decoction), Yiqi Congming Tang, Yuanyuan Neizhang Shengma Tang (Jade Round Internal Cataract Cimicifugae Decoction), and Fuming Tang are suitable. Lou Yunshang holds that these four formulas treat unclear vision due to Qi deficiency without collapse; thus, they can be used with Ren Shen to tonify the Middle, slightly adding Lianqiao and Huangbai. If Qi has collapsed, cooling agents like Huangbai must not be applied. The Classics state: "When Yang Qi is hyperactive due to excessive labor, Essence is exhausted, leading to blindness where one cannot see, and ear blockage where one cannot hear." Such manifestations correspond to this syndrome. For internal cataracts presenting as small cyan-white opacities in the right eye, or large ones showing slight white opacity, accompanied by headache, dilated pupils, upper body heat and aversion to heat, constipation, normal urination, headache and eye distension in warm environments, good appetite, and dimness after sunset in dark conditions, Ziyin Dihuang Wan (Nourishing Yin Rehmannia Pill) is indicated. If the opacity is at the inner canthus, add Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma) and Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix); if at the outer canthus, add Chaihu and Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix). Dongyuan said: When Liver Wood is exuberant, Fire prevails, acting recklessly without fear. Thus, the Spleen and Stomach are affected first. Or, in eye diseases generating internal cataracts, the Spleen envelops Blood, the Stomach governs Blood, the Heart governs Mai (Vessels), and Mai is the mansion of Blood. Some say: The Heart governs Blood. Others say: Mai governs Blood. The Liver orifice opens to the Eyes. Treatment methods involve pills similar to Dihuang Wan and Decoctions similar to Danggui Tang.