典藏书目

A question was asked: Why do children tend to sleep? Young infants aside, for children under three years old and those over ten years old, whenever dinner is finished, some lie down directly, while others lean on pillows and sit sleeping, all appearing as if intoxicated. The answer is: This is due to the tension of the Spleen system (the physiological connections related to the Spleen) and the relaxation of the Heart system (the physiological connections related to the Heart). What is meant by the tension of the Spleen system? Children possess a pure Yang constitution and are active and playful; they do not rest for a moment throughout the day, thus their bodies become fatigued. The Spleen governs movement and transformation, hence it is said that the Spleen system is tense. What is meant by the relaxation of the Heart system? Children have lively natural instincts and their minds are not burdened with complex tasks; even when attending school for lessons, they mostly engage in oral recitation. For those over ten who possess keen memory skills, this is not the case. The Heart governs blood; if not exerted, blood is not consumed, hence it is said that the Heart system is relaxed. Farmers and laborers, although aged, often experience physical fatigue but mental ease, which can be verified by their ability to fall into deep sleep immediately after stretching out their legs. People in wealthy and noble families, however, often suffer from mental toil but physical ease, so they are less prone to sleeping deeply compared to farmers and laborers.

For illnesses following prolonged sickness or occurring in the elderly, the key lies in preserving Stomach Qi (Vital Energy of the Stomach). Preserving Stomach Qi depends on diet rather than medicine; one must never rely exclusively on medication to the detriment of food intake. If the patient has the strength to eat, it is better to discontinue medicine due to eating than to discontinue eating due to taking medicine.

In worldly affairs, after management and handling, any imperfections require subsequent refinement and polishing, which is indispensable. Similarly, after recovery from severe or chronic diseases, timely regulation is necessary to avoid adverse consequences. Previously, the daughter of Magistrate Zhang suffered from Gan Jue (Liver Convulsion), treated by a physician from Huzhou, and recovered after a month. At that time, I happened to meet Magistrate Zhang at Lingfen Pavilion and informed him: "Although your daughter's illness has healed, the root cause was Blood deficiency leading to dryness of Liver Wood. She requires nourishing agents combined with herbs that soothe the Liver, relieve depression, and dissipate stagnation, prepared as pills for long-term consumption, to ensure no recurrence." The Magistrate agreed but did not have the time to complete the course. Within a few months, the disease relapsed. The Huzhou physician was helpless, and the patient ultimately died. Whose fault is this?

Fei Yizhong stated: "When a person recovers from illness, Stomach Qi is inevitably deficient. One must certainly not indulge one's palate, nor should one be overly cautious to the point of abstaining completely from meat." This statement only covers one aspect and is not comprehensive. I argue: Since Stomach Qi is deficient after illness, its transformative and transportive functions are necessarily weak. Meat, being rich and fatty, tends to generate wind, disturb Qi, assist fire, and produce phlegm, effects that cannot be avoided. Therefore, one must first regulate with bland flavors and grain foods until Stomach Qi gradually becomes robust and functional. Only then can fatty meats and pork lard, cooked until extremely soft, be introduced as part of the diet without causing harm. It is absolutely inadvisable to consume pork immediately upon recovery. This is especially critical to observe strictly after diseases such as malaria or maculopapular rashes.