Traditional Oriental Medicine

  (2) Wind Strike, Chapter Two 中風第二 人百病 首中風 《内經》云 ∶ 風爲百病之长也 . 昔醫云 ∶ 中臟多滞九窍，有唇緩 , 失音 , 耳聋 , 目瞀 , 鼻塞 , 便難之症；中腑多着四肢；中經则口眼 斜；中血脉则半身不遂 . Of the hundred human diseases, wind stroke is paramount. The Inner Canon (Neijing) states: "Wind is the leader of the hundred diseases." The physicians of old said: "When [wind] strikes the viscera (zang), it generally obstructs the nine orifices, giving rise to symptoms such as slackened lips, loss of voice, deafness, blurred vision, nasal congestion, and difficulty with urination or defecation. When it strikes the bowels (fu), it generally manifests in the four limbs; when it strikes the channels (jing), the mouth and eyes become crooked and deviated; when it strikes the blood vessels (xuemai), hemiplegia (paralysis of one side of the body) results." 骤然得 八方通 中風病骤然昏倒，不省人事，或痰涌 , 掣搐 , 偏枯等症 . 八方者，谓東 , 西 , 南 , 北 , 東北 , 西北 , 東南 , 西南也 . Striking suddenly- it reaches through all eight directions. In wind stroke, the patient suddenl...

  Medical Three-Character Classic : An Introduction to Chen Xiuyuan's Timeless TCM Text I recently completed an English translation of Chen Xiuyuan's classic 醫學三字經 ( The Three-Character Classic of Medicine ). Below is the introduction from the book, which I hope gives you a sense of why this slim volume has stayed with me for so long. Introduction Though The Three-Character Classic of Medicine (醫學三字經) is a slim volume, I have always felt its impact is anything but light. Chen Xiuyuan (陳修園), the celebrated physician of the Qing dynasty, left behind dozens of medical works over the course of his life. And yet it was not one of his great, weighty treatises but this palm-sized little book that his students and later generations came to cherish most. The less one truly understands, the more one tends to say. Shallow knowledge stretches into long explanations, sprouting endless tangents. Those who truly understand, by contrast, speak briefly and plainly. Master Chen's writing i...

  Student: What is the difference between edema and floating qi? Zhishan Teacher: Edema is a water-related disease. When the area under the eyes swells, it is considered a water disease. In this case, we use Wu ling San or Wei ling Tang ( 五苓散 or 胃苓湯) . However, if there is swelling without the area under the eyes swelling, it is floating qi caused by a qi disease. For floating qi due to a qi disease, we use Liuqi Yinzi 流氣飮子 .

  Qian's Yigong San Ingredients: Ginseng (Ren Shen) Atractylodes (Bai Zhu) Poria (Bai Fu Ling) Tangerine peel (Ju Pi) Costus root (Mu Xiang) Licorice (Gan Cao) - each 1 qian Preparation: Grind the ingredients and make one dose, adding 3 slices of ginger and 2 dates. Boil with water and take as a decoction. (from "Compendium of Materia Medica") Indications: For individuals with a bladder constitution, taiyang-type body, pale face, and large mouth. ( 膀胱體 , 太陽形 , 面白口大者) Explanation: This formula treats spleen and stomach weakness, poor appetite, indigestion, and feelings of oppression in the chest. ( 治脾胃虛弱 , 飮食不進 , 未能消化 , 心胸病悶) Section on Internal Injuries: Remedies for Food Injuries < 內傷門·食傷補益之劑 > When the spleen and stomach are weak and it's difficult to digest food, it is not advisable to use strong medications indiscriminately. Instead, using Qian's Yigong San will naturally help improve appetite. In cases where excessive eating has harmed the spleen, cau...