典藏书目

The syndrome of collapse (Tuo Zheng) is divided into Yang collapse and Yin collapse. How to distinguish them? It is also distinguished by symptoms, not that male collapse is Yang collapse and female collapse is Yin collapse. The symptoms of Yang collapse are due to the decline of Yang Qi, where Yang Jing (Yang essence) cannot combine with Yin Jing (Yin essence), leading to their separation and death. Then how to distinguish Yang Jing from Yin Jing? Yang Jing is Fire, and Yin Jing is Water. Both Yin and Yang reside within the Kidney. Without Yang, Yin cannot be generated; without Yin, Yang cannot transform. When Yin and Yang combine, life exists; when they separate, death occurs.

What are the symptoms of Yang collapse? It manifests as Yang Qi floating outwardly (exuberant and uncontained), exhaustion of essence followed by bleeding. This is Yang collapse. What are the symptoms of Yin collapse? It manifests as exhaustion of essence followed by cessation, with Yang Qi subsequently flaccid, the body cold, and breath weak. This is Yin collapse. Although treating both Yang collapse and Yin collapse requires the use of Renshen (Ginseng Root) and Fuzi (Aconite Lateralis Radix Preparata), there must be distinctions. For treating Yang collapse, one should use more Renshen and less Fuzi; for treating Yin collapse, one should use more Fuzi and less Renshen. I have now formulated two prescriptions: one for Yang collapse and one for Yin collapse. Some may doubt that collapse syndromes should not be treated with Yin-nourishing agents, unaware that in Yin deficiency leading to collapse, although Yin fluid cannot be rapidly regenerated, the presence of Renshen to generate Qi and one piece of Fuzi as the sovereign herb constitutes a purely hot medication. If not assisted by Yin-nourishing herbs, it would be excessively harsh. There is subtle utility here; if one does not use at least one piece of Fuzi, it is difficult to employ Yin-nourishing drugs effectively. If only Renshen is used with little Fuzi, the Yin-cold Qi becomes oppressive, making it impossible to restore Yang Qi to the realm of life (Wu He You Zhi Xiang). This is why Yin and Yang collapse must be distinguished. Understanding this distinction ensures that upon encountering such syndromes, one will not panic temporarily and cause unnecessary loss of life.

Prescription for Yang Collapse:
Renshen (3 liang), Fuzi (2 qian). Decoct in water and take orally.

Prescription for Yin Collapse:
Fuzi (1 piece), Renshen (1 liang), Shudi Huang (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata, 5 qian), Shanzhuyu (Corni Fructus, 5 qian), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix, 5 qian). Decoct in water and take orally.

The syndrome of sweating (Han Zheng) requires detailed explanation. People assume that sweating leads only to Yang collapse, who knows there is also the disaster of Yin collapse due to sweating? Generally, sweating syndromes are mostly heat-related or caused by Yang Qi's inability to secure the exterior. Thus, people often cite "sweating leads to Yang collapse," unaware that Yang is born from Yin; if Yin Qi fails to secure, Yang Qi leaks outward. Also, if Yang Qi fails to consolidate, Yin Qi may rebel outwardly. These must be distinguished.

What do Yang-syndrome sweating look like? The body must be feverish, the mouth thirsty, eyes red, phlegm like yellow clumps or white foam. Sweat may flow like rain or bead like pearls. The body is restless and agitated. The pulse is surging (Hong) and rapid (Shu), forceful upon pressure. Symptoms may include singing loudly while drumming, discarding clothes and running, or jumping into water. All these are Yang-syndrome sweating. However, within Yang syndromes, there are Excess (Shi) and Deficiency (Xu) patterns. How to distinguish them? Sweating followed by a cool body indicates Deficiency. However, sweating without the body becoming cool can also indicate Deficiency? No. In Deficiency, the tongue and mouth are slippery, and the coating is white. If yellow, gray-black, or red coatings are seen, these are all Excess Fire pathogens. With such differentiation, misdiagnosis guarantees poor outcomes. For Deficiency, Yang-tonifying herbs should be used; adding Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) to Sanhuang Tang is excellent for clearing heat and tonifying. For Excess pathogen sweating, only Shigao Tang (Gypsum Decoction) can suppress the fire. Since everyone knows this prescription, I omit it.

Regarding sweating due to Yin deficiency, it is hardest for people to recognize, and there are no good prescriptions. I will first describe the symptoms and then provide a formula. The symptoms are slight sweating, like starlight; the mouth is not thirsty; the tongue is slippery without coating. There may be night sweats but no day sweats, or sweats during movement but not at rest, or sweats during eating but not normally, or body sweats but no head sweats. All these are Yin-deficiency sweating. I now leave one prescription to treat all such cases with miraculous effect. The brilliance of this prescription lies in combining Qi-tonifying herbs with Blood-nourishing herbs, adding slightly Sangye (Mori Folium) and Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus) to stop sweating. Thus, Yin Qi generates naturally, and sweating stops. If one uses cold-cooling herbs to stop sweating, although sweat may cease, righteous Qi is depleted, damaging either Stomach Qi or Spleen Qi. Logically, Renshen could be used in larger doses, but I do not use it because the poor outnumber the rich. I formulated this to save generations, so I do not impose difficult-to-obtain ingredients on the public.

Prescription:
Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix, 3 qian), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix, 5 qian), Sangye (7 leaves), Wuweizi (10 berries), Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba, 1 liang), Shengdihuang (Rehmanniae Radix, 5 qian), Maidong (5 qian), Baijiezi (Brassicae Semen, 3 qian). Decoct in water and take orally.