典藏书目

Nie Jiuyu stated: The morphology of measles resembles hemp seeds, and the morphology of smallpox resembles beans; both are named according to their shapes. Both measles and smallpox belong to fetal toxins (Tai Du). Smallpox emerges from the five Zang organs; Zang belongs to Yin, and Yin governs closure and storage, so its toxin is deep and difficult to dissipate. Measles emerges from the six Fu organs; Fu belongs to Yang, and Yang governs dispersal and emission, so its toxin is superficial and easy to dissipate. Zang Qi tends toward deficiency and cold, so smallpox can be treated with warming and tonifying methods; Fu Qi tends toward excess and heat, so measles is suitable for dispersing and resolving exterior methods. However, although measles belongs to the Fu organs, its heat-toxin qi steams upward to the Lung. The Lung governs the skin and hair, thus actually bearing the toxin. Therefore, in the initial stage of fever, although the symptoms resemble Cold Damage (Shang Han), there are many manifestations specific to the Lung, such as coughing, sneezing, runny clear nose, swollen eyelids, watery eyes, facial swelling, and reddish cheeks. The method of treatment lies solely in ventilating and emitting the toxin, allowing it to be completely expressed outwardly. Even if redness and swelling are severe, resembling lacquer dermatitis (Qi Chuang), there is no need to worry, because once the toxin has emerged on the exterior, it can avoid internal attack on the viscera, unlike smallpox which requires attention to its healing and scabbing process. If this condition is managed properly, ten cases can result in ten cures; if management is improper, death can occur as easily as turning a palm. Generally, measles has several major taboos. If patients' families violate these taboos, it leads to death; if physicians violate them, it also leads to death. Their specific taboos differ, but they share a common taboo against obstruction, which prevents the toxin from being emitted. Now, the four major taboos are listed first to prevent violation, followed by the formulation of prescriptions.

Taboo against荤腥 (meaty/fishy foods), raw/cold foods, and wind-cold exposure.
During the eruption of measles, it is strictly forbidden to consume meaty or fishy foods, raw or cold foods, or to be exposed to wind and cold. These factors can cause the pores of the skin to close, leading to the depression of toxic vapors and subsequent internal attack.

Taboo against the sudden use of cold-cooling medicines.
At the initial stage of fever, it is most taboo to suddenly use cold-cooling medicines to "freeze" the toxin, causing the pathogenic toxin to be suppressed and unable to emerge, resulting in the danger of internal attack. Ancients stated that when the weather is hot, one should use acrid-cooling medicines to disperse, such as Huanglian Jiedu Tang. This fails to understand that the qi of summer heat cannot be resolved by cold-cooling medicines. Suddenly using cold-cooling medicines now may not suffice to resolve external heat but will instead obstruct internal heat, preventing its release. I have seen an official's family who had difficulty conceiving and finally had a son just one year old. When he developed measles with fever, before the rash appeared, he suffered convulsions. The physician mistakenly diagnosed it as acute wind-stroke (Ji Jing Feng) and used cooling medicines to attack it. Consequently, the measles toxin remained hidden under the skin without emerging. A subsequent physician focused on nourishing Yin, using Siwu Tang and other medicines, but could not save him. The patient died after ten days of restlessness and hoarseness. This illustrates the harm of cooling medicines freezing the toxin. Is it reasonable to suddenly use cold-cooling medicines simply because the weather is hot?

Taboo against excessive use of acrid-hot medicines.
At the initial stage of fever, it is most taboo to excessively use acrid-hot medicines, as they assist the toxin. Medicines like Guizhi, Mahuang, and Qianghuo can cause toxin stagnation and obstruction, preventing emergence and leading to internal attack. Ancients stated that when the weather is extremely cold, one should use acrid-hot medicines to disperse, such as Guizhi Tang. This fails to understand that when the weather is extremely cold, one should merely place the patient in a warm room and carefully avoid wind and cold. Although the weather is cold, the heat-toxin within the human body does not necessarily decrease. Is it reasonable to excessively use acrid-hot medicines?

Taboo against mistaken use of tonifying and astringent medicines.
During the eruption of measles, there are often cases of spontaneous diarrhea that does not stop. The toxin also dissipates through the diarrhea, causing no harm. If the diarrhea is too severe, Jiawei Siling San should be administered. It is strictly forbidden to use tonifying and astringent medicines such as Renshen, Baizhu, Hezi, and Roudoukou. Severe cases will lead to abdominal distension, wheezing, and fullness that cannot be saved; mild cases will turn into lingering dysentery (Xiuxi Li). Beware of this.

Jiawei Siling San: Muzhuling, Mutong (each 8 fen); Zexie, Chifuling (each 7 fen); Cheqianzi (slightly fried); Chuanlianhua, Huangqin (both dry-fried); Niubangzi (picked clean, fried until fragrant and crushed, each 5 fen); Dengxincao (a cluster, decocted together, taken before meals; suitable for the initial fever stage when the rash is about to appear but has not yet emerged).

Xuandu Fabiao Tang: Shengma, Baifen Ge (each 8 fen); Fangfeng (remove rhizome), Jiegeng (each 5 fen); Jingjiesui, Bohe, Gancao (each 3 fen); Niubangzi (fried until fragrant and finely crushed); Lianqiao (remove heart and calyx, crush); Qianhu, Zhike (bran-fried); Mutong, Danzhuyeh (each 6 fen). Add Huangqin (fried, 8 fen) if the weather is very hot; add Mahuang (8 fen, honey-fried) if the weather is very cold. Suitable for when the measles have emerged and redness/swelling are excessive.

Huadu Qingbiao Tang: Niubangzi (fried until fragrant and crushed); Lianqiao, Tianhuafen, Digupi, Chuanlianhua, Huangqin, Shanzhi (fried); Zhimu, Gange, Yuanshen (each 8 fen); Jiegeng, Qianhu, Mutong (each 6 fen); Gancao, Bohe, Fangfeng (each 3 fen). Add Maidong (remove heart, 1 qian) and Baishigao (crushed, 3 qian) if thirsty. Add Jiudahuang (wine-fried, 1.2 qian) if stool is dry/obstructed. Suitable for cases where toxic vapors flow into the intestines causing dysentery.

Qingre Daozhi Tang: Chuanlian, Tiaohuangqin, Baishao, Chao Zhike, Shanzha Rou (each 1 qian); Nongpu (skin removed, stir-fried with ginger juice); Qingpi, Binglang (each 6 fen); Danggui, Gancao, Niubangzi, Lianqiao (each 5 fen). Add Honghua (3 fen) and Diyutan (5 fen) if redness is prominent. Add Jiudahuang (wine-fried, 1.2 qian) if constipation is severe.

Paper Wick Illumination Method
Use bamboo paper for calligraphy practice or straw paper for burning money, dry it thoroughly, and roll it into a wick the size of a little finger. Dip it in pure oil and hold it over a lamp, rotating it to heat it evenly until the paper strip has no bubbles and does not burst. Dip it generously in oil again, heat it slightly over the lamp until the oil has no bubbles, then light the wick. Close the windows and doors of the patient's room to make it dark. Observe what color spots appear on the left cheekbone, what color spots appear on the right cheekbone, and what color spots appear on the Zhongting (tip of the nose). When observing the cheekbones, hold the wick level near the ears and sides of the nose; when observing the Zhongting, hold the wick level near the corners of the eyes. Look closely at the skin; the patterns should be clearly visible—whether red, purple, spotted, or blotchy. If it is measles, the lesions float on the surface of the skin and flesh without roots; if it is smallpox, the roots are extremely deep within the flesh. If the wick is held directly facing the cheekbones or Zhongting, the color becomes dim and invisible. Pinch off any ash from the wick to keep it bright and clear. By illuminating in this way, the internal condition of the disease can be foreseen; it would also be invisible under natural daylight.