典藏书目

Ancient discussions on lower back pain mention five types, but generally all originate from the Kidney. This is because the Kidney governs the waist and legs, while the Twelve Regular Meridians of Yin and Yang and the Eight Extraordinary Vessels all penetrate the Kidney and connect to the lumbar spine.

Sun Shangyao stated: The Six Excesses (Liu Yin) are the normal climatic factors of nature. If humans fail to regulate themselves in accordance with climate changes, they will damage their constitution, allowing pathogenic toxins to strike suddenly. If treatment is delayed or inappropriate, pathogens may linger in the limbs; alternatively, improper management of cold and heat, or the use of incorrect prescriptions, can even lead to death.

He further said: Wind is the decree of Heaven and Earth, the moving energy of the characteristics of all things. Although humans are the most noble among all things, if they fail to exercise self-restraint and expose themselves to the seasonal climates, when their vital essence is deficient, empty pathogens enter the interstices (Cou Li). Accumulating from minute amounts, cumulative injury occurs; heavy pathogens merge, causing severe disease progression. If one is careless with diet and desires, causing deep internal damage, empty and excess pathogens interfere with healthy Qi. When battling the Yang Meridians, it leads to flaccidity and cold extremities where the limbs cannot be controlled; when attacking the Yin Meridians, it causes tendon spasms and meridian tightness. Thus arises the name "Zhong Feng" (Wind Strike). Initially termed minor wind strike, it gradually develops into paralysis. Therefore, wind gathers in a single limb, causing speech impediments and a demeanor resembling dementia. Physicians mistakenly induce vomiting and purging, using impetuous medications; ten out of ten patients fail to recover. This renders the hands and feet weak and the spirit confused. They do not realize that internally there is no unblocking or draining, and externally there is no dispersing, leading to mental confusion and a corpse-like state. Furthermore, they do not understand that unblocking and draining herbs do not necessarily require drastic vomiting or purging. Such treatments often result in five deaths and five survivals. Even if the individual has robust innate Qi, this mistreatment exacerbates their suffering, unfortunately leading to premature death.

Careful observation of ancient sages reveals that their treatments followed principles, achieving success nine times out of ten. The method of treating disease must first assess the deficiency and excess according to the four seasons to detail the cause of illness, adhering to standard rules for rescue and relief, which is the path to escaping death and distress. Regarding diseases of the four seasons: In spring, one contracts seasonal wind coming from the east, called Warm Wind. This is caused by disharmony of the season injuring the person; the pulse is floating and light/shallow, and it can be resolved through diaphoresis (sweating), using formulas such as Baidu San (Rescue the Damaged Powder) or herbs like Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix) and Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma). One must also determine if the onset involves Yin or Yang meridians and treat accordingly for efficacy. If the person is inherently weak and emaciated, and wind comes from behind, it is called Deficient Wind. After being struck, symptoms include irritability, limb spasms and bi-syndrome, and intolerance; one should take Xuming Tang (Life-Continuing Decoction) or Bafeng Tang (Eight Winds Decoction), prepared as pills taken in one dose, supplemented with moxibustion. Within three to five days, the condition will surely subside, gradually harmonizing to preserve life. If the wind comes from the front, it is called Excess Wind. It also presents with mental confusion and a tight, floating, large pulse. One should seek efficacy using Fushen Tang or Xizhou Xuming Tang, avoiding fire-therapy (Huojie), allowing the pathogen to slow down naturally. Treatment must be gradual. Thus, the *Qianjin Fang* states: Wind is the leader of a hundred diseases. It also says: To treat wind without using Xuming Tang is not to treat wind. This reveals the intention of the sages. Additionally, there are many subsequent prescriptions with extensive experience, all based on treating according to the four seasons' deficiency and excess. They are recorded below. One must carefully examine the disease and syndrome before applying them.