典藏书目

The first point discusses theories not previously expounded by predecessors, serving as a comprehensive guide for the throat department. It specifically addresses conditions arising from deficiency and dryness, thus focusing treatment on the Lung and Kidney organs, with an emphasis on nourishing Yin and clearing dryness. Due to numerous successful clinical experiences and consistent results over time, I have ventured to compile and analyze these details, hoping that patients suffering from this disease may attain longevity.

All diseases are influenced by the Six Qi (Wind, Cold, Summer-heat, Dampness, Dryness, Fire), and this condition is no exception. Among the Six Qi, treating Dryness is the most difficult, especially when Dryness Metal affects the throat causing white putrefaction (Bai Fu). Therefore, this collection focuses exclusively on deficiency patterns caused by Dryness, excluding excess patterns of other manifestations. Illnesses caused by the other five Qi are easier to differentiate and treat; they can be resolved through acrid-warm dispersing, cold-cooling descending, or emetic and purgative methods, healing spontaneously with appropriate treatment. Why engage in endless debate?

People often only recognize the harm of the Six Excesses (Liu Yin) but fail to realize that beyond them lie pathogenic factors from the Seven Emotions (Joy, Anger, Worry, Thought, Sorrow, Fear, Fright). Prolonged emotional stagnation transforms into Heat, causing internal injury. When combined with the influence of Dryness Metal, it manifests. Alternatively, it may stem from inherent Water deficiency (Kidney Yin insufficiency) due to a diet rich in spicy and roasted foods. Should such cases be treated with dispersing, cooling descending, acrid-warm purging, or considered as latent pathogens in Cold Damage? Without carefully distinguishing whether the pattern is deficiency, excess, cold, heat, or dryness, merely clinging to a disease name is empty talk, akin to comparing unrelated things. A physician must prioritize flexible diagnosis and treatment based on clinical presentation, rather than being confused by mere terminology. Regarding children, although they lack emotional stagnation, they are prone to Dryness injury due to congenital insufficiency and failure of Metal and Water to nourish each other.

Regarding "latent pathogens in Cold Damage," texts like *Medical Heart Enlightenment* refer to it as Kidney Cold Damage, describing non-seasonal violent Cold lurking in the Shaoyin channel. The Cold stagnates, blocking Yang Qi internally. Initially asymptomatic, it manifests after ten days, ascending to the pharynx and epiglottis, where Cold and Heat contend, causing sore throat and weak pulse, followed by diarrhea. Treatment requires acrid-hot herbs to address the root, balancing Yin and Yang so Water rises and Fire descends, resolving the sore throat. Note: This describes Shaoyin Throat Bi (sore throat/obstruction), clearly distinct from Throat White Putrefaction. If discussing latent pathogens, only latent Cold, Summer-heat, and Fire require differentiation; latent Dryness, Wind, and Dampness are forced interpretations. Just as Yu Jia Yan and Chen Xiu Yuan correctly criticized the misnomer "Startled Wind" (Jing Feng), we should avoid arbitrary naming. As the saying goes, "If names are not correct, language is not in accordance with truth."

Qiang Huo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix) belongs to the Foot-Taiyang Bladder channel, reaching the muscle surface directly, making it unsuitable for throat conditions. Among the twelve channels, only the Foot-Taiyang Bladder channel ascends to the vertex, connects to the brain, descends the nape, follows the shoulders and spine to the waist, and knots at the clavicle. It does not traverse the throat; thus, throat ailments do not belong to the Taiyang Bladder channel. Moreover, Throat White Putrefaction is a deficiency-dryness pattern, further contraindicating Qiang Huo. Yu Jia Yan stated: "Not understanding the twelve channels leads to errors upon treatment." Some physicians indiscriminately use Qiang Huo for any fever without distinguishing deficiency or excess, simply out of habit. They ignore the consequences, leading to many medical errors!

This condition is often misdiagnosed due to failure to distinguish deficiency from excess, with frequent omission of appropriate dispersing or cooling treatments. Many suffer from rigid prescriptions prescribed by self-proclaimed specialists, misled by hearsay.

Cases treated early, before using dispersing, cooling, ascending, purging, or bitter-descending drugs, are easier to cure. Although related to Dryness Metal, if the Lung and Kidney are not yet damaged, gradual treatment from the root will lead to recovery.

Some physicians, regardless of the severity or nature of the condition, pre-emptively declare the case extremely dangerous and untreatable to absolve themselves of responsibility. They then act recklessly, performing unnecessary procedures like scraping or puncturing, turning mild cases severe and severe cases critical, often resulting in death due to treatment rather than the disease itself. Such doctors remain unrepentant, causing multiple family members to perish. Upon reflection, unable to justify their actions, some claim that false white putrefaction is curable but true white putrefaction is invariably fatal. Yet, ignorant practitioners still deceive patients who believe them unquestioningly. Is this not absurd?

Due to fear of Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmanniae Radix) and slander by quacks, physicians abandon effective treatment at the critical moment, switching to cold-cooling and purging methods. This sudden shift causes black tongue, asthma, hoarseness, staring eyes, and open mouth, transforming a curable condition into a terminal one. Such cases are common. These were easily treatable deaths caused by quackery, causing deep indignation.

*Yi Men Fa Lv* lists twenty-five crimes of physicians, and Xia Zhuoxi's *Tie Jing* lists nine. It is regrettable that the medical Dao is hard to comprehend, not only because crimes increase but also because the scope of error expands. Should benevolent healers behave thus?

Clinical practice demands thorough observation, listening, inquiry, and palpation, with agile and flexible thinking to avoid errors. The Classics state: "One who diagnoses by observation alone is a superior physician." For children with Throat White Putrefaction caused by Dryness, the complexion is pale with a bluish tint, nasal breathing is coarse and obstructed, fingertips are cold, and the right pulse is rapid and stronger than the left, or both pulses are rapid and weak. This confirms Lung and Kidney Yin deficiency. Observation provides initial clues, confirmed by pulse diagnosis to distinguish deficiency and excess, making treatment straightforward. Why ignore this and blindly apply cooling and purging methods with rigid formulas? This inevitably leads to premature death. Thus, Xia Zhuoxi said: "There are thirteen types of people who cannot learn medicine: the stupid without wisdom, and the stubborn lacking flexibility." Even if they read *Ling Shu* and *Su Wen*, they merely chatter among crowds, feeling superior, but revert to old habits upon clinical practice, using rigid formulas. This resembles the story of old vs. guest physicians in the *Great Nirvana Sutra*. Old physicians gave milk to all, forbidding harsh medicines from guest physicians. Seeking help from great sages would not yield such results!

This condition is sometimes described as "earth condensing frost and brine." Examining the *Su Wen* chapter on Five Stagnations: "When Metal Stagnation erupts, the sky is clear, the air crisp and biting, great coolness prevails, grass and trees float in smoke, Dryness Qi moves, fog arises frequently, killing Qi arrives, plants turn gray and dry, Metal sounds, mountains and marshes scorch and wither, earth condenses frost and brine, oppression erupts, its Qi is five." Also: "Excessive Dryness causes dryness." Yangming governs gathering and fog. When Metal-Dryness is attacked, Lung disease arises. Yangming Dryness transformation affects Jueyin. Yangming manifestations include smoke/dust, frost, biting cold, and thunder. Yangming Dryness generates Coolness (note: ultimately Dryness). Below the position of Metal, Fire Qi attacks, so Yangming generates Coolness, ultimately becoming Dryness. Also: "When Fire Stagnation erupts, earth floats frost and brine."

I observe: Throat White appears like white foam floating when pouring wine from a jar. This arises from Heat stagnating internally, generating from Dampness. The boiling heat inside is trapped and cannot escape, causing Yin Qi to condense and fog to thicken, analogous to "earth floating frost and brine." This is a Heat Stagnation pattern, not Dryness generation. Dryness is the natural image of Lung Metal. When Yangming Qi acts, Dryness intensifies, causing earth to condense frost and brine. Plants wither, earth turns white, and brine forms frost. Its eruption corresponds to the Qi of Five. Comparing it to earth condensing frost and brine is closer to the truth, originating from Dryness. So, should treatment involve nourishing Yin and clearing dryness? Some know it is "earth condensing frost and brine" but still prescribe randomly, sticking to old routines. What is their mindset? If following custom makes it easier to accept and spread, what about the common people? Alas! Can those responsible for life feel no compassion?

The Lung can be purged if Excess, but never if Deficient. Throat White Putrefaction caused by Dryness actually stems from Lung Deficiency. Therefore, Sang Bai Pi (Mori Cortex) and Ma Dou Ling (Aristolochiae Fructus) must be avoided, as using them accelerates danger. Physicians, limited by habit, fail to investigate Lung Deficiency, mistakenly treating it as Heat Excess, leading to frequent errors. The distinction between deficiency and excess is crucial; how can it be neglected?

Childhood Yin Deficiency refers not to Blood deficiency but to insufficiency of True Yin (Kidney Water). This insufficiency is due to congenital endowment. Currently, nineteen out of twenty people have deficient constitutions due to thin Qi transformation. Thus, Dryness patterns often originate from Water deficiency. Since Dryness is the essence of Lung Metal, if Metal and Water generate each other, sourcing and stabilizing the flow, where would Dryness come from? Even during Dryness seasons, there would be no injury. Therefore, Dryness attacking deficiency is caused by insufficient True Yin. How should treatment be approached?