黄 (六两,炙) 甘草(一两,炙)
虚脱已后盗汗者,此方主之。
虚脱者,阴虚而形气将脱,如大病之余,新产失血之后也。斯时也,更有盗汗,宁不复
伤其气血乎?故用黄 七之六,甘草七之一,大补其气而汗自止。或问∶何以不用养血之药?
余曰∶太极之妙,阴生于阳,故无形能化有形,无形者气,有形者血耳。若虚脱之际,而责
养阴之药以固脱,是以阴及阴,二女同居,乌能卫外?
黄柏(炒) 知母(炒,各二钱五分) 甘草(炙,五分)
此治阴虚有火,令人盗汗之方也。
阴虚,则阳独治,故令有火。火益亢则阴益亏。阴亏则睡去之时,卫外之阳乘虚而入,
卫虚无以固表,故令盗汗。经曰∶壮水之主,以制阳光。故用黄柏、知母苦寒质润之品以主
之,苦能泻火,寒能胜热,质润能滋阴。佐以甘草者,和其阴阳耳。
知母 石膏 人参 白茯苓 赤芍药 滑石 葶苈 杏仁 地骨皮 麻黄根 甘草
共为末,浮小麦煎汤调下二钱。
湿热内淫,肺病喘急,以致皮毛之气不充,令人盗汗,四肢烦疼,肌肉消瘦者,此方主
之。
《内经》曰∶肺主皮毛。《灵枢经》曰∶卫气者,所以温分肉,充皮肤,肥腠理,司开
阖者也。今肺以喘而虚,故皮毛之气不充,气不充,则腠理失肥,开阖失宜,而令盗汗。是
方也,滑石、茯苓,可以泻湿;石膏、知母,可以消热;杏仁、葶苈,可以泻喘;人参、甘
草,可以益肺。地骨皮、赤芍药,可以去热于里。麻黄根、浮小麦,可以止汗于表。
所谓虚脱,是指阴液亏虚且形体与正气即将耗散的状态,例如大病初愈之后,或新近分娩失血之后。在这个时候,如果再有盗汗,难道不是进一步损伤气血吗?因此使用黄七分之六、甘草七分之一,大补元气而汗自止。有人问:为什么不用养血的药物?我说:太极的奥妙在于,阴生于阳,所以无形之物能化生有形之物,无形的是气,有形的是血罢了。如果在虚脱之际,却责求用养阴的药物来固脱,这是以阴治阴,如同两个女子同居,怎能护卫体表呢?
阴虚,则阳气独盛,所以产生内热(火)。火热越亢盛,阴液就越亏损。阴液亏损时,入睡之时,护卫体表的阳气乘虚而入,卫气虚弱无法固护肌表,从而导致盗汗。《内经》说:“壮水之主,以制阳光。”因此使用黄柏、知母这类苦寒且质地滋润的药物为主药,苦味能泻火,寒性能胜热,质地滋润能滋阴。佐以甘草,是为了调和阴阳。
知母 石膏 人参 白茯苓 赤芍药 滑石 葶苈子 杏仁 地骨皮 麻黄根 甘草
以上药物共研为细末,用浮小麦煎汤调服二钱。
湿热在体内泛滥,导致肺病喘急,进而使皮毛之气不充实,引起盗汗、四肢烦扰疼痛、肌肉消瘦的患者,此方主治。
《内经》说:肺主皮毛。《灵枢经》说:卫气,是用来温煦分肉,充实皮肤,肥厚腠理,主管毛孔开阖的。现在因为肺因喘息而虚弱,所以皮毛之气不充实,气不充实,则腠理失去肥润,开阖功能失常,从而导致盗汗。这个方子中,滑石、茯苓可以泻除湿邪;石膏、知母可以消除热邪;杏仁、葶苈子可以平喘;人参、甘草可以补益肺气。地骨皮、赤芍药,可以从内部清除热邪。麻黄根、浮小麦,可以从外部止汗。
Huangqi (Astragali Radix, six liang, honey-fried) Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, one liang, honey-fried)
This formula is indicated for spontaneous night sweats following a state of collapse.
Collapse refers to a condition where Yin fluids are deficient and the physical form and Zheng Qi (Upright Qi) are on the verge of exhaustion, such as after a severe illness or postpartum blood loss. At this time, if night sweats occur, does it not further injure Qi and Blood? Therefore, using seven-sixths Huangqi and one-seventh Gancao greatly tonifies Qi, and the sweating stops spontaneously. One might ask: Why not use herbs that nourish Blood? I reply: The subtlety of Taiji lies in the fact that Yin arises from Yang; thus, the formless can transform into the formed. The formless is Qi, and the formed is Blood. If, during a state of collapse, one seeks to use Yin-nourishing herbs to secure the collapse, it is treating Yin with Yin. This is like two women living together; how can they guard the exterior?
Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex, stir-fried) Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma, stir-fried, each two qian five fen) Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, honey-fried, five fen)
This is a formula for treating night sweats caused by Yin deficiency with fire.
Yin deficiency leads to the solitary dominance of Yang, resulting in internal heat (fire). As fire becomes more hyperactive, Yin becomes more depleted. When Yin is depleted, upon falling asleep, the Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) guarding the exterior enters due to emptiness. Since Wei Qi is weak and unable to consolidate the surface, night sweats occur. The Classic says: "Strengthen the master of Water to control the brightness of Yang." Therefore, Huangbai and Zhimu, which are bitter, cold, and moist in nature, are used as the principal herbs. Bitterness can purge fire, coldness can overcome heat, and moist nature can nourish Yin. Gancao is added as an assistant to harmonize Yin and Yang.
Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma) Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum) Renshen (Panacis Ginseng Radix) Baifuling (Poria, white) Chishaoyao (Paeoniae Radix Rubra) Huashi (Talcum) Tinglizi (Descurainiae Semen seu Lepidii Semen) Xingren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum) Digupi (Lycii Cortex) Mahuanggen (Ephedrae Herbae Radix) Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma)
All ingredients are ground into fine powder. Take two qian, mixed with decoction of Fuxiaomai (Tritici Fructus Floating), taken orally.
This formula is indicated for night sweats, vexatious pain in the four limbs, and emaciation of muscles, caused by damp-heat flooding internally and lung disease with panting, leading to insufficient Qi in the skin and hair.
The Inner Canon states: The Lung governs the skin and hair. The Ling Shu states: Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) warms the muscle intervals, fills the skin, thickens the interstices, and controls the opening and closing of pores. Now, because the Lung is deficient due to panting, the Qi in the skin and hair is insufficient. Insufficient Qi leads to the interstices losing their plumpness and dysfunction in opening and closing, resulting in night sweats. In this formula, Huashi and Baifuling can drain dampness; Shigao and Zhimu can eliminate heat; Xingren and Tinglizi can relieve panting; Renshen and Gancao can benefit the Lung. Digupi and Chishaoyao can remove heat from the interior. Mahuanggen and Fuxiaomai can stop sweating at the exterior.