典藏书目

The Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata), Tianxiong (Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix), and Chuanwu (Aconiti Karakolicis Radix) used in Sanjian Tang (Three Establishments Decoction) are not understood by people regarding the meaning of their naming. Later, an old physician was seen saying: Chuanwu treats deficiency-wind of the head and eyes, establishing the "Upper"; Fuzi treats deficiency-cold of the spleen and stomach, establishing the "Middle"; Tianxiong treats deficiency-exhaustion of the waist and kidneys, establishing the "Lower." Hence it is named Sanjian Tang (Three Establishments Decoction). (From *Guixin Zazhi*)

Generally, when a person's Stomach Qi (Stomach Vital Energy) is injured by damp-heat, one must purge the excess of the Spleen Earth so that Yuan Qi (Original Vital Energy) can flow up and down smoothly. This is the reason for the name Chengqi Tang (Inheriting Qi Decoction).

Someone asked: Are symptoms such as hematemesis (vomiting blood) and epistaxis (nosebleed) caused by insufficiency of Heart Qi? Why does Zhang Zhongjing's treatment method not use Xinbu Tang (Heart-Nourishing Decoction) but instead uses Xiexin Tang (Draining Heart Decoction)? I replied: If only Heart Qi were insufficient, the symptoms would not be limited to hematemesis and epistaxis. This occurs because pathogenic heat invades due to insufficiency, causing deficient fire to move recklessly, thus resulting in hematemesis and epistaxis. Obtaining the cold nature of Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma), one uses bitterness to drain the heat; using bitterness to tonify the Heart, the fire will then be controlled without the harm of reckless movement. This achieves two benefits with one action. How could this be known by those lacking learning?

The naming of ancient decoctions and powders always had specific meanings. For example, the formula for inducing labor is named Dasheng San (Reaching Life Powder). Why? Because a newborn lamb is called "Da" (reaching). Lambs are born easily without obstruction. Thus, it takes the meaning of easy birth without difficulty. The *Shijing* (Classic of Poetry), chapter "Shengmin," states: "When the month was full, the firstborn came forth like a lamb."

Dai Yuanli analyzed the so-called transmission of meridians in *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage): Day 1 Taiyang (Greater Yang), Day 2 Yangming (Bright Yang), Day 3 Shaoyang (Lesser Yang). Could it be that on the second day the disease is in the interior, and on the third day it returns to half-exterior and half-interior? Discussing from the perspective of Five Elements generation and restriction: Yang governs growth; Water generates Wood. Taiyang Bladder belongs to Yang Water, transmitting to Shaoyang Gallbladder which belongs to Wood. Shaoyang combines with Taiyang at the exterior and lies between the exterior and interior; Yangming is in the interior. Pathogens enter gradually from the outside to the inside, in proper sequence, with Yangming following Shaoyang. This theory was indeed unpublished by predecessors. Why did Tao Jian'an's *Shanghan Suoyan* (Trivial Words on Cold Damage) not mention it?

In recent times, patients suffering from Yin-pattern cold damage often present with ambiguous symptoms. At the initial stage, practitioners dare not use Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata). They wait until Yin is extreme and Yang is exhausted before using it, which is too late. Generally, the treatment principle is to administer the appropriate medicine for the disease. How can one hesitate and cause mis-treatment? Furthermore, Jia Yin Shanghan (Cold Damage with Concomitant Yin Deficiency) initially arises from sexual activity causing Yin to hide within, followed by exposure to cold. Both interior and exterior are Yin; Yin Qi alone becomes excessive while Yang Qi declines. Therefore, the pulse is deep and the feet are cold. One must urgently use Renshen (Ginseng Radix) to strengthen the vessels and tonify Yuan Qi as the main approach, assisted by Fuzi to warm the Kidney Meridian and disperse cold pathogens, thereby retreating Yin and restoring Yang. If these two herbs are discarded, what else can be used to save the patient? Recently, I saw a person suffering from Yin-pattern cold damage. Initially, he contracted cold-dampness, then developed fever and loss of appetite. After several days, he became unconscious, spoke confusedly, suffered mental coma, had a cyan face, and exposed teeth. Others said he would surely die. Zhang Zhihe examined his bilateral pulses, finding them deep and fine. He first administered Xiaochaihu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction). Then, he prepared Sijunzi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) with several slices of Pao Fuzi (Prepared Aconite), boiled the medicine, placed it in a basin, and cooled it with water to mitigate its hot nature. He instructed the patient to take it warm. The patient's pulse gradually returned, and his mental state cleared. He was cured after further regulation with other medicines.