Shen Rou Wu Shu

Author: Hu Shenyou (Ming Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: Di Huang Wan (Rehmannia Pill) is the main remedy for the Kidney. If the Kidney Water is depleted, the Liver Wood cannot thrive; if the Liver Wood does not thrive, dry wood generates Heart Fire. Therefore, prepared Rehmannia is used to nourish the Kidney, and Ze Xie (Poria) is used to expel pathogenic factors from the Kidney, thus achieving the function of nourishing the Kidney. The Kidney dislikes Earth, and if the Spleen has damp-heat, it can overcome the Kidney Water. Therefore, Chinese Yam is used to tonify the Spleen, and Fu Ling (Poria) is used to dispel dampness from the Spleen, thus achieving the function of tonifying the Spleen. When Wood is dry, it consumes Water; thus, Cornus Officinalis (Cornus) is used to subdue Fire and moisten the Liver. When Fire is excessive, it can deplete Water; thus, Moutan Cortex (Paeonia) is used to drain Heart Fire and tonify the Heart. When the Heart is strong, Fire does not rise recklessly and descends to unite with the Kidney, thus enhancing the function of nourishing the Kidney. This aligns with the principle in the Neijing Suwen that "the East is strong, the West is weak," "drain the South, tonify the North," and the concept of "overacting harm is restrained by counteracting."
For cases of polydipsia and dry stools, use Ba Wu Tang (Eight Herbs Decoction). For (), use Di Huang Tang (Rehmannia Decoction); for (), use Da Bu Tang (Major Tonifying Decoction). Add Chinese Yam for Spleen dryness; add White Peony Root for wiry pulse; add Clove for a floating, weak right Guan pulse; add Dried Ginger for a deep, weak right Guan pulse.
In internal injury, if the pulse on the right cun is larger than the right guan, it indicates excessive Yang pulse, so use Bao Yuan Tang (Protecting Origin Decoction) with Angelica Sinensis and White Peony Root to guide the pulse downward, thus removing the large pulse and consolidating Yang Qi. This is a method of guiding Yang to the Yin.
In internal injury, if the right guan pulse is wiry and weak, avoid cold and cooling herbs due to deficient Ren Gate Fire. If the right Guan pulse is slow and strong, slow indicates dampness. For weak right cun and guan pulses, use Bu Zhong Tang (Middle-Warming Decoction) with Red Poria and Coix Seed to move dampness in the middle jiao and promote downward movement of middle jiao Qi, thus harmonizing the left guan pulse. For weak right Guan pulse, use Shen Ling Bai Zhu San (Ginseng and Poria Decoction) with Astragalus to tonify the upper and benefit the lower.
For right-sided issues, use Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentians Decoction) with modifications: Astragalus for upward issues, Red Poria and Coix Seed for downward issues. For left-sided issues, use Si Wu Tang (Four Ingredients Decoction) for regulation. If the left cun pulse is large and strong, add TCM-style Woodfordia, Coptis Rhizome, and Red Poria. Woodfordia drains Small Intestine Fire (Small Intestine is the Fu organ of the Heart), Coptis Rhizome drains Heart Fire, and Red Poria is the "Red Person Bing Ding" (TCM term for Red Poria).
If the left Guan pulse is floating, use Notopterygium and Fang Feng. If the left Guan pulse is deep and strong, use Gentiana, Bupleurum, Coptis Rhizome, and Phellodendron. If the left guan pulse is strong, add Coptis Rhizome and Phellodendron to drain excess.
In internal injury with fever and dry mouth, it is due to deficient Yang in the lower jiao and uncontrolled Fire, causing Yang Qi to rise. Warm the lower jiao to allow Yang Qi to descend, and the dry mouth will resolve.
In internal injury with Fire above and Water below, coughing and shortness of breath occur, all due to nourishing Yin and subduing Fire. Initially, use Cinnamon-processed White Peony Root and a small amount of Wu Yao, along with Licorice, Ginseng, Schisandra, Pinellia, Aconite, and Eucommia. Once warmed, Fire descends and Water ascends. If diarrhea occurs, Yang descends, and accumulated food and fluids in the stomach move.
In cases of deficiency with a large Lung pulse, shortness of breath, and wiry, fine, weak, and faint pulses in the lower jiao, it indicates uncontrolled Yang rising and internal cold with external heat (upper heat and lower cold). Use Ginseng, Cinnamon-processed White Peony Root, Dried Ginger, Pinellia, Schisandra, and Raw and Burned Licorice to warm the middle and consolidate internally, allowing Yang Qi to descend.
For chronic illness with excessive cold and cooling herbs, leading to depleted Three Yang Qi and (phlegm stagnation and Qi obstruction), use Tiao Yuan (Regulating Origin) decoctions. Once Yang Qi moves, Lesser Yang Qi rises first, followed by Greater Yang, Lesser Yang, Greater Yang, and then (Taiyang Qi reaches), causing wind-like symptoms (nose congestion, aversion to wind and cold). When (Yangming Qi reaches), diarrhea occurs. At this time, regulate the Spleen and tonify the origin, treating each aspect separately, and the old illness will resolve.
For cases of blood stagnation and Qi obstruction due to excessive cold and cooling herbs, use warming and tonifying herbs. Phlegm and blood will resolve, and pulse Qi will gradually harmonize, with a slight prediction of minor blood clots. This is due to enhanced Qi flow and blood movement.
For fine and rapid pulse, it indicates Kidney deficiency; wiry and rapid, Liver deficiency; short and rapid, Lung deficiency. These are severe pulse signs, with survival depending on Gu Qi (gut Qi). Scattered rapid pulse indicates Heart deficiency. Among rapid pulses, if there is a sense of relaxation and moderation, it indicates Gu Qi is present.
For deficiency with a rapid pulse tens to dozens per minute, still not fine or short, and palpable as a single line, one to two liang of Duhuan Tang (Single Ginseng Decoction) can be taken first, followed by regulation.