典藏书目

Zhou Yufan stated: When children are affected by external wind-cold pathogens and suffer from internal damage due to milk and food stagnation, resulting in coughing, vomiting, and accumulation of phlegm-fluids, one should first employ the sweating method (a technique to release exterior pathogens through perspiration). Subsequently, use the left hand to support the back of the patient's head, tilting the head forward. Insert the index and middle fingers of the right hand into the throat to rub the base of the tongue, inducing vomiting. If there is milk, vomit the milk; if there is food, vomit the food; if there is phlegm, vomit the phlegm. If the condition was caused by an initial exposure to external pathogens, after vomiting, the pathogenic factors will recede. Then, treating according to the specific syndrome with manual techniques will lead to recovery. However, if the child has already grown teeth, pressing the Jiaguan acupoint (ST6, Stomach Meridian) will immediately open the jaw. One must insert objects such as bamboo chopsticks or pen handles between the gums before inserting fingers, to avoid being bitten. The insertion must be done slowly and carefully to prevent injury to the throat. Even if there is no stagnation in the stomach, this vomiting method can still unblock the Qi of the Zang-Fu organs. Pushing from Banmen (LI11, Large Intestine Meridian) down to the transverse crease to induce vomiting is not as rapid as pressing the tongue.

Commentary: Zhichi Decoction (Gardenia and Fermented Soybean Decoction) and Gouti Powder (Melon Seed Powder) by Zhang Zhongjing belong to the vomiting method. Zhu Danxi believed that the vomiting method contains the intention of dispersing pathogens. Zhang Dairen's San Sheng San (Three Holy Powders) and other formulas represent numerous variations of the vomiting method.

The Classic states: "For conditions located high, use surging/vomiting to raise them." It also says: "For conditions moving upward, use surging/vomiting to expel them." The number of ancient sages who used this method is countless. During vomiting, one should close the eyes and bind the chest and abdomen with a cloth strip. If vomiting persists, drink scallion soup; these are all standard techniques of the vomiting method. For acute exogenous stagnation, throat closure, and phlegm-fainting syndromes, I use a small amount of salt sprinkled into boiling water, stirred vigorously with bamboo chopsticks two or three hundred times. The patient drinks several mouthfuls. Then, using a feather (chicken or goose) dipped in the solution to probe the throat, inducing vomiting as one probes. This causes phlegm-fluids and retained food to be expelled. The external pathogens lose their foothold. This is indeed a rapid therapeutic approach. Compared to Zhou's method of pressing the tongue with hands, or the ancient methods of using herbs to induce vomiting, this method allows one to probe when vomiting is desired and stop when it is not. The initiative lies with oneself; it can be started or stopped at will, but must be adapted to the patient's constitution. If the Qi is deficient and the body weak, vomiting should be used with caution. (Tili Zi)

Zhou Yufan stated: Whenever young children who cannot yet speak suddenly cry incessantly, it is mostly due to abdominal pain. Someone must hold the child on their lap, facing the practitioner. The practitioner uses both hands to knead the child's chest and abdomen with force for a long time, similar to rubbing clothes. Then, rub the Shenque acupoint (CV8, Conception Vessel) with both hands, rotating left and right hundreds of times, thirty-six rotations per set; the more rotations, the better the effect. Next, decoct ginger and scallion soup, add a small amount of Musk (Moschus), dip both hands in the soup, and push separately along both sides of the chest and abdomen dozens to over a hundred times. This is also a method of dividing Yin and Yang. Then, starting from the chest, push with the soup-dipped hands down to the lower abdomen below the navel and the Beijiao area dozens of times. Other movements involve pushing from the transverse crease toward Banmen (LI11, Large Intestine Meridian); these all belong to the purgative method (methods to guide out stagnation and relieve constipation). In summary, whether rubbing, kneading, scrubbing, or pushing on the upper and lower chest and abdomen, the weight, speed, and urgency must be appropriate. Digestion will occur naturally. Do not rely exclusively on one technique, so as to avoid causing unrest in the Zang-Fu organs. Even if there is phlegm stagnation and food retention hidden in the convoluted loops of the intestines where medicinal power cannot reach, the brilliance of this method lies in movement, which promotes digestion and resolves the pathology.

Commentary: The sweating, vomiting, and purgative methods were transmitted by Zhou Yufan and kept secret by Zhang Zhenjian. In his household, women and children all knew these methods, and diseases were cured extremely quickly.

After I thoroughly read and recorded Zhou's methods, and corrected parts of the text that were unclear or awkwardly phrased to facilitate learning for readers: Although Zhang Zhongjing had warm-purgative and cold-purgative methods, this method possesses unique subtleties. Those who use this method will understand it themselves; no further words are needed. (Tili Zi)