[Divine Treatment for Various Wind-Related Disorders Spirit Ointment / Divine Effective Prescription for Sweat Spots]

Take one jin (approx. 500g) of red realgar, melt it in a jar until it becomes liquid. Add powder from golden-headed centipedes and whole scorpions into the realgar, continuing until the realgar no longer produces smoke. Then, boil this mixture with one dou (approx. 10 liters) of Sophora japonica fruit (Huai Jiao Zi) for three days and nights, until the water is completely dry. Seal the top tightly with earth, and heat the pot over fire until it glows red, transforming the toxic realgar into a brittle, white, liquid form. Take one liang (approx. 37.5g) of this processed realgar, combine it with one liang of Jin Ye Liu Huang (Gold Fluid Sulfur), grind them together into a fine powder, spread this powder onto medicinal plasters, and apply to the affected area.

Take a pinch of black sesame seeds and half a cup of alkali juice (Note: The character "Jian" [Alkali] does not exist in standard dictionaries; it is a vulgar invention, correctly written as "Jian"). Grind the sesame seeds finely, mix with the alkali juice, boil for a few moments, and apply to the affected area for immediate cure.

[Postscript]

The *Bian Que Xin Shu* (Heart Book of Bian Que), three volumes, and the *Shen Fang* (Divine Prescriptions), one volume, were compiled by Dou Cai, the Patrol Officer of Kaizhou during the Shaoxing era of the Song Dynasty. They had previously been printed and circulated, but due to the passage of time, they became obscure, and few people in the world have seen them. Old Man Guyue (Ancient Moon) obtained this book, marveling at it as a rare and secret text, treasuring it as if it were placed in exquisite jade boxes. This old man was proficient in medical principles; regarding ancient and modern prescriptions and theories, he analyzed ambiguities and pointed out errors and fallacies, all aligning with the orthodox justice of Xuanyuan (Yellow Emperor) and Qibo. When encountering critical illnesses where others would shrink back and declare difficulty, his treatments often achieved efficacy. After the age of fifty, he obtained this book, and subsequently, his treatments for chronic diseases yielded many miraculous results. After his death, his son Daozhou inherited his profession. He once showed me the book with his own hands, saying, "I wish to republish it to transmit it to the world." However, due to poverty and lack of funds, he delayed for over ten years and ultimately failed to publish it. Daozhou also passed away, and another ten years have elapsed since then. Seeing his grandson Ji Yun discuss this book, I presented him with a handwritten copy recorded by his grandfather, which contained over a hundred annotations, filling gaps and correcting omissions, making him truly a meritorious contributor to the Dou family. Although there were some errors in characters and phrases, and insect damage on the edges, when asked about the original version seen before, it was said to belong to a collector in Hengtang. I deeply regretted not being able to see it again, and feared this copy might also disappear. Therefore, I collated and corrected it, attaching the annotation sections below, and submitted it for printing. This was done both to honor the kindness of the late friend who showed me this compilation, and to ensure these divine prescriptions and essential secrets are transmitted to the world, allowing future generations to use them to cure severe diseases and preserve natural lifespan, benefiting countless people. Recalling my conversations with Old Man Guyue and his sons decades ago, it seems like yesterday. Time flies like an arrow; the trees around their graves have grown thick, yet I could not witness the republication of this book, which is lamentable. The old man's name was Jue, courtesy name Nian'an. Because he surnamed Hu, he called himself Old Man Guyue (Ancient Moon).

Written by Wang Qi, Ziyang Mountain Dweller, on the first day of the second month of the Yihai year of the Qianlong reign.

Dou Cai was born in the middle of the Song Dynasty, yet the book contains remarks criticizing the later errors left by He Jian and Danxi. Under the prescription for Zhuru Fen (Stalactite Powder), he criticizes Danxi's theory that "taking it in large quantities causes thirst and strangury" as erroneous. He also states that the preparation method is found in Lizhen's *Bencao* (Compendium of Materia Medica). How could he cite works from the Yuan and Ming dynasties? This undoubtedly indicates additions by later authors, confirming that this compilation is not the original work of Dou Cai. Zhang Zhongjing's *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage) is revered by past and present generations as an unchangeable classic. Yet Dou Cai points out several inaccuracies within it. This is likely due to rigid adherence to the text without integrating its flexible applications, leading to discrepancies in judgment. Future readers should view these separately, discerning what is correct and correcting what is incorrect, remaining clear and unconfused; this is how one should properly study ancient texts.

Humans are endowed with Yin and Yang Qi to form the body; the interior is filled and circulated by these two Qi. They generate each other and support each other, preventing excess or deficiency from encroaching upon one another, thus maintaining internal and external harmony free from disease. Disease arises when this balance is reversed. In treatment, one must support Yang and protect Yin, according to what is appropriate, reducing or tonifying as needed, aiming for the utmost appropriateness without bias. This book emphasizes supporting Yang. Some may suspect it is biased. However, I have observed the waxing and waning of the sun and moon, the alternation of cold and heat, the timely rain, and the flourishing and withering of plants, concluding that Yang is often in surplus while Yin is often deficient. This is the pivot of natural creation. If Yang is in surplus, living beings do not tire of it; if Yin is deficient, living beings do not suffer from it. From this, I realize that the principle of supporting Yang is more crucial than protecting Yin, based on the natural laws of creation. Thus, Dou Cai's book prioritizes moxibustion as the first method, taking elixirs as the second, and using Fuzi (Aconite) as the third, transmitting these three methods as true secrets for preserving life. These are indeed immortal methods for millennia. Why reject them as incorrect? His criticisms of the six masters following Zhang Yuansu and Wang Haogu are not intended to be argumentative or deviant. As stated clearly in the preface, studying the books of these six masters allows for treating minor ailments with 100% success. Specifically, for dozens of major diseases and critical conditions, the prescriptions recorded in their books may not suffice, hence the need for alternative rescue methods. However, medicines suit some people but not others, and formulas match some syndromes but not others. Those who can read ancient books well must also know how to use them skillfully. If one only sees superficial similarities without perceiving the inner spiritual mechanisms, acting blindly and trying outdated textual statements, any mistake will lead others to criticize Dou Cai's method of supporting Yang as erroneous and non-compliant. Alas! What error is there in the correct principle of supporting Yang? Blaming the ancients for speaking wrongly because users applied it incorrectly... I fear such people, misled by theories of protecting Yin, will cause more premature deaths among the common people without realizing it. How lamentable!

Written again by Zhuoya on the 13th day of the second month, Jichou day.

While the woodblocks were not yet finished, someone hindered me, saying: "Tao Jian'an compiled the manuscript of *Jia Mi* (Family Secrets) and warned his son not to show it to anyone, fearing that shallow and ignorant people would recklessly slander it. You treasure this compilation, wrap it carefully and store it, showing it only to suitable individuals. Why carve it on pear and jujube wood to display it to the world? Are you not afraid that ignorant disciples will raise disputes, or deface it, causing wounds to this book?" I replied: "Human hearts differ, and views vary. Regarding this book, those who criticize or deface it, as you say, certainly exist. But are there not those who revere and cherish it, wishing to republish it, like Old Man Guyue and his son? In the past, Hua Tuo could dissect accumulations and wash intestines and stomachs, but his medical texts were burned and did not survive, leaving later generations regretful. However, if his books had survived, surely many would have considered them absurd and unreasonable, and few would have dared to believe and use them. Is Dou Cai's book today any different from Hua Tuo's? I am fortunate that it has survived to the present. I urgently republished it, multiplying one copy into thousands, hoping it remains in the world forever and does not perish without transmission. Future generations obtaining it may believe and use it, thereby rescuing the dying, supporting the weak, opening blockages, resolving knots, and restoring balance. Thus, this book is truly a good work for broadly benefiting and assisting the masses. Its merit to the common people is significant! Those holding biased and stagnant views complain loudly in daily life, attacking the principle of supporting Yang; yet when facing dangerous conditions, they stand idle with hands in sleeves, unable to save anyone. The superiority or inferiority of their learning is evident at a glance. Their arguments' correctness or incorrectness is hardly worth weighing!"

Written again by Zhuoya on the 26th day of the second month, Renyin day.