典藏书目

Indications: For Taiyang disease (Taiyang syndrome) presenting with fever, where sweating was not induced but purgation was mistakenly applied. This allows exterior heat to enter the chest cavity vacuously, where it knots and fails to disperse together with the fluid qi that cannot transform into sweat. This results in hardness, fullness, and severe pain from the epigastrium down to the lower abdomen, which is intolerant to pressure. It is indicated for patients who have no significant body heat, only sweating on the head, or who experience tidal fever, restlessness, and thirst, with a deep and tight pulse. It may also be used for edema or dysentery (intestinal discharge) in their early stages, provided the patient's constitution and pathogenic factor are both excess in nature.

Ingredients: Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) 6 liang; Mang Xiao (Natrii Sulfas); Ku Ting Li Zi (Semen Lepidii seu Descurainiae); Xing Ren (Semen Armeniacae Amarum, peeled) — each half sheng; Gan Sui (Radix Euphorbiae Kansui, powdered) 1 qian. Preparation: The five herbs are processed as follows: First, decoct Da Huang, Xing Ren, and Ting Li Zi in water, then strain to remove dregs. Add Mang Xiao and boil for one or two rolling boils. Then add the powdered Gan Sui. Take warm. Discontinue administration once a rapid bowel movement occurs. If the condition is severe, add Bai Mi (Mellis) 2 he, and form pills the size of quail eggs. Boil one pill in water and take it. Stool will be passed after overnight. If no stool is passed, administer another dose.

[Collected Annotations] Ke Qin stated: The chest is the origin of Zong Qi (Pectoral Qi), hence it is called the Sea of Qi. Qi belongs to Yang, thus it is associated with the Taiyang region. Qi is the mother of Water; when Qi is clear, Water Essence distributes throughout the body; when Qi is hot, Water becomes turbid and becomes obstructed and knotted. When Water knots in the chest, Body Fluids cannot descend to moisten the intestines and stomach, resulting in dry feces; they cannot transport downward to the Bladder, resulting in obstruction of the water passages. Da Huang and Mang Xiao are adept at cleansing heat and excess in the intestines and stomach. Although this pathology is located in the chest, they are used as the Sovereign herb because when Heat is rampant internally, it should be treated with Bitter-Cold substances. Furthermore, they moisten the dryness of the Yangming channel. This represents the method of "draining the son when the mother is excess," and supplementing the cold of the Bladder by utilizing what it fears. The bitter-pungent nature of Gan Sui is employed to directly attack the water knot. However, since the water knot stems from Qi knotting, it must be assisted by the bitter-warm nature of Xing Ren to open the Qi within the water; when Qi moves, Water flows freely. Since the water knot is also caused by Qi heat, it must be assisted by the great-cold nature of Ting Li Zi to clear the heat in the Qi level; when the source is clear, the flow becomes pure. If the water knot in the chest has not yet reached the Middle Jiao, the dosage should be reduced, and aided by the sweetness of Bai Mi to moderate its action, allowing it to linger in the chest and act overnight. This resolves the stagnation in the chest and heart while protecting the intestines and stomach from damage, thereby transforming an attacking formula into a harmonizing one. This formula is a diuretic and accumulative-expelling agent; therefore, it acts swiftly on early-stage edema and dysentery. However, one must assess whether the patient is robust enough to achieve success in a single strike. For those who are chronically deficient or have been ill for a long time and cannot withstand attacking therapies, one must heed the warning against "making deficiency more deficient."