典藏书目

The younger sister of my father's brother was twenty years old when she developed a vomiting syndrome due to emotional depression. During each meal, she felt a choking sensation in the chest and diaphragm, and vomited shortly after; mildly, only a few mouthfuls were vomited, but severely, all the food consumed was emptied out. Treatments using methods to warm the middle and regulate qi, clear fire and resolve depression, as well as my own method of calming the stomach and subduing the liver, were all ineffective. Medication was stopped, and over ten years passed with the condition remaining unchanged. However, her muscles did not emaciate, and her reproductive function remained normal. I have seen several such cases where medication was ineffective but caused no harm. There is also a case of a young woman from the Mei family recorded in the compiled volume; her symptoms were more severe, accompanied by amenorrhea, lingering for several years, and everyone considered it critical, yet she recovered spontaneously after marriage. This shows that diseases caused by emotional factors are difficult to treat with herbs. As for those whose illness persists for a long time without damaging qi and blood, it is likely because the Stomach meridian is rich in both qi and blood, and fu-organ diseases are lighter than zang-organ diseases. If the true qi of the zang organs were truly damaged, how could it persist for so long without deterioration?

An Bo notes: The ancients said that nuns and widows require different treatments. I believe that treating young unmarried women is even more difficult than treating nuns and widows. This is because young women have not yet fully experienced marital life (ren dao), their emotional desires awaken early, leading to obstructed depression of qi mechanism, which manifests in myriad变幻 forms. After marriage, various illnesses disappear suddenly. I have also witnessed such cases. A daughter of the Ma Lu family, past the age of fifteen (ji ji), knowledgeable in books and arithmetic, eloquent, familiar with herbal properties, and beautiful beyond ordinary people, later suffered from Liver Jue syndrome, appearing dead once or twice a month. When she married, the attack coincided with the wedding, causing repeated delays and obstacles. Upon my consultation, I treated primarily by soothing the liver and extinguishing wind. Although this relieved the immediate emergency, there was little effective remedy for her lifelong difficulty in childbirth. Three years passed hastily until her groom arrived unexpectedly. Since the consummation of the marriage, her chronic ailment has vanished, and she has already borne three or four children.

Brother Baochen, son of Elder Cuizeng, had always possessed a weak constitution. Previously, he suffered from spermatorrhea, which I cured (recorded in the first collection). The origin of this disease was an accidental fall while climbing a mountain, injuring his foot. Local bone-setting specialists were skilled, but their medicines were harsh, and weak individuals often could not tolerate them. Because Brother Bao's injury was severe and he sought rapid results, he took these medicines daily, thereby damaging his stomach qi. He subsequently developed abdominal pain and took further prescriptions for warming the liver, moving qi, and invigorating blood, further injuring his stomach qi. He became listless and sleepy, with incessant pain and vomiting, unable to retain any medicine or food. Upon invitation to consult, his pulse was deficient, fine, and choppy; his qi was timid and voice faint; his complexion was bluish-green with spontaneous sweating. I told Elder Cuizeng: "Your son's condition is due to medicinal damage to the stomach qi, and there is fear of falling into a collapse syndrome. Humans rely on stomach qi as their foundation; ability to digest food leads to prosperity. Treatment must first rescue the stomach, hoping for cessation of vomiting and stabilization of digestion, followed by strong tonics for qi and blood. This will not only cure the disease but also enable walking through blood nourishment. However, medicines for vomiting must be carefully selected for their flavor and aroma. Not only bitter, foul, fishy, or pungent substances are unacceptable, but even slightly sour or fermented tastes are intolerable. Only Ginseng possesses strong power and a mild, harmonious flavor. With extreme stomach damage, nothing else can support him. Single-substance use requires large doses, which are hard to procure, so we shall substitute with Korean Ginseng. Use a few qian daily, decoct with aged rice water, and sip slowly. Adhering to this for several days, vomiting ceased, food intake resumed, and spirit slightly improved. Subsequently taking Da Bu Yuan Jian, he gradually got out of bed, though movement was still painful, with tendon stiffness and difficulty walking. The elder worried about permanent lameness. I said: 'Do not worry, it is merely that qi and blood have not yet recovered.' Continue the previous prescription. After half a year, his gait returned to normal."

An Bo notes: Single-flavor formulas exert potent force, which is why the ancients used Du Shen Tang (Single Ginseng Decoction), and its action is specialized.