典藏书目

The *Yuan Bing Shi* (Treatise on the Original Nature of Diseases) states: Someone asked, "Since white dysentery is a heat syndrome, why does it sometimes heal after taking acrid-hot medicines?" The answer is: Acrid-hot medicines can open up stagnation in the intestines and stomach, allowing qi and fluids to circulate freely, moistening dryness and harmonizing qi. If the disease is mild, it can be cured; if severe, and stagnation cannot be opened, the condition will worsen leading to death. This principle also applies to treating vomiting and diarrhea caused by extreme heat.

Generally, for treating various types of dysentery, one should use bitter, acrid, and cold medicines. One may slightly add acrid-hot medicines as adjuvants. This is because acrid flavors can disperse and open stagnation, bitter flavors can dry dampness, and cold properties can overcome heat, thereby making the qi circulation smooth and balanced. An example is Qian Yi's Xianglian Wan (Fragrant Coptis Pill). Therefore, when treating various dysenteries, Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) and Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) serve as the sovereign drugs, as their extreme bitterness and great coldness specifically address damp-heat conditions. As for the worldly practice of using acrid-hot mineral and metal toxic drugs to treat various vomiting, diarrhea, and dysentery, although some cases may heal due to their ability to open stagnation, there are instances where they fail or even cause further harm.

In analysis: Treating dysentery with bitter, acrid, and cold agents comprehensively covers three methods: opening stagnation, drying dampness, and overcoming heat. Those who use acrid-hot mineral and metal toxic drugs are indeed mistaken. However, for patients with chronic dysentery resulting in deficiency and slipping of the intestines and stomach, other treatment approaches must be sought.

If a child's dysentery discharge resembles dust or rotting flesh, it indicates a fatal prognosis. If the discharge resembles leaking roof water, it is fatal. If chronic dysentery results in the anus remaining open like a bamboo tube, it is fatal. If dysentery flows out straight down like water from a bamboo tube, it is fatal. Additionally, if a child has simultaneous red and white dysentery that persists uncontrollably, accompanied by dark and scanty urination, abdominal pain, fever, red lips, thick tongue coating, rapid breathing, restlessness, irritability, extreme thirst, inability to eat, and a flushed face resembling makeup (false yang), these conditions are incurable.

The *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) states: For children suffering from Gan accumulation dysentery with rectal prolapse, emaciation, thirst, and haggard appearance, which have not responded to various treatments, moxibustion can be applied to Changqiang (GV1, located 1 cun above the tip of the coccyx), three moxa cones per point. Qibo stated: During the Sanfu days (the hottest period of summer), washing the area with decoctions of peach or willow branches, followed by moxibustion at Wu hour (noon) or Zi hour (midnight), and wiping with green silk afterward, may cause parasites to exit with sweat. This is a miraculous method.

For children suffering from continuous cold dysentery due to autumn chill, moxibustion can be applied to the pulsating point 2-3 cun below the umbilicus, three moxa cones per point.

For children with rectal prolapse and bloody stool, experiencing unbearable cramping pain during defecation, moxibustion can be applied to Baihui (GV20), three moxa cones. The point is located in the depression at the center of the head. Also, Moxibustion can be applied to Jizhong (GV12), located between the spinous processes of the 12th thoracic vertebra.

For pediatric rectal prolapse, if deep autumn moxibustion yields poor results, moxibustion can be applied to Guwei (GV1, synonymous with Changqiang in this context, located at the tip of the coccyx), one moxa cone. The point is located at the end of the spinal column, the Qionggu (coccyx).