典藏书目

In cases of Phlegm-Fire (Tan Huo), some are cured and live to old age; some linger for years and ultimately cannot be cured; some are treated immediately upon onset yet still fail to recover. It is like a damaged vessel: if cherished and protected, it can be used for a long time without breaking; but if neglected and struck, how could it not break? Although Phlegm-Fire is indeed a malignant condition, whether treatment succeeds depends on the patient's regimen and self-care.

Moreover, disease originates from Kidney Water deficiency; the method should be to abstain from sexual activity to preserve Essence (Jing). When Essence is sufficient, Water naturally restores. Subsequently, when Fire blazes, one should adopt a bland diet to nourish Water; when Water is abundant, Fire naturally extinguishes. Next, alcohol must be avoided to nourish Lung Metal (Lung Jin). When Lung Qi is clear and肃 (solemn/clear), the mechanism of generation and transformation resumes. The child (Lung) receives protection from the mother (Kidney), so True Yin naturally recovers. When Water gains its authority, Fire naturally calms, thus leading to recovery. Can any of these three methods be omitted in treatment! If, while ill, one continues to drink excessively and indulge in desires, favoring rich and greasy foods, adding fire to fire, longevity will be rare.

Thoroughly avoid violent anger; keep far from sexual intercourse; be more cautious with daily routine; especially avoid melancholy; adapt to cold and warmth; regulate diet; do not consider my words vain or useless; once imbalance occurs, regret will come too late.

Among the Four Qi (Wind, Cold, Summer-heat, Dampness), alcohol is considered foremost in harm because its sweet taste suits the palate, its nature is fierce and emboldens, and guests cannot express respect without it. However, sages use wine for joy, saying, "Wine has no fixed limit, provided one does not reach confusion." From this, we see that ancients brewed wine merely for emotional comfort and appropriateness; how could one drink recklessly to excess? Today, drunkards treat wine as water and binge drinking as normal, stopping only after becoming thoroughly intoxicated. During drunkenness, behavior often diverges sharply from normal: indulging wildly, sometimes emboldened by lust, sometimes arrogant like a tiger, cursing relatives and strangers alike over old grudges, mistaking falsehood for truth, fighting without fear of life or death, damaging natural constitution, ruining human ethics, losing reputation and virtue, doing everything possible. Even collapsing in form, shortening one's lifespan is common. Is the cruelty of alcohol not worse than the poison of Di Zhen or the venom of Viper? Furthermore, since the person suffers from Water deficiency, Fire has already ignited. A cup of wine swallowed is like throwing saltpeter into embers, setting a dried sea ablaze; how can the consequences be measured? The nature of alcohol is fierce, ascending and floating; Qi follows it. Phlegm stagnates above, urination becomes obstructed below. Thirst leads to excessive consumption of cold drinks, causing internal heat stagnation, severely injuring Lung Qi. Mildly, cough and asthma occur; severely, Lung Asthma (Fei Wei) and Consumption (Lao Zhai) result. Observing that in severe cold, seas freeze but wine does not, reveals its hot nature, surpassing all other substances. Physicians use it merely to facilitate the movement of medicinal properties. Excessive drinking damages the body and clouds the spirit, proving its toxicity. Moreover, fermentation agents contain various toxic substances that enhance its potency, surely damaging Harmonious Qi, depleting Ying and Wei, exhausting Spirit, drying up Tian Gui, and shortening human life.