The daughter of Yang Qingli, aged six or seven, contracted a febrile disease. They first summoned an itinerant practitioner named Chang for (used in traditional contexts). Chang diagnosed it as warm pathogen syndrome and prescribed Schizonepeta (Jingjie) and Saposhnikovia (Fangfeng) Toxin-Resolving Decoction, which proved ineffective. Subsequently, they consulted physician Zhu. Song Su, a merchant with superficial medical knowledge, diagnosed it as wind pathogen syndrome and administered Comprehensive Sagely Powder, yet the fever persisted.
Compelled by circumstances, Yang requested my examination. Observing her deep and rapid pulse with burning body heat, I declared: “This case mirrors my maternal aunt’s condition – neither wind nor warm pathogen. Simply cool the blood and the fever will naturally subside. The spring-winter use of dispersing agents like Schizonepeta (Jingjie) and Saposhnikovia (Fangfeng) aims to open pores obstructed by wind-cold. But now in midsummer’s intense heat when pores are already open, such dispersion would needlessly deplete vital energy.”
Yang argued: “The physicians intended to induce sweating.” I countered: “Sweating therapy applies to absence of perspiration. When sweat already flows freely, what purpose does forced sweating serve?” Yang persisted: “They claimed this was mere summer heat-sweat, not therapeutic perspiration.”
I explained: “All sweat constitutes bodily essence – how can there be two types? The current sweat flows from your daughter’s own body. Do you imagine medicinal-induced sweat would emerge from another person’s pores? If you deem natural sweat invalid and drug-induced sweat authentic, then persist with Ephedra (Mahuang) and Bupleurum (Chaihu) until vital energy exhausts itself through excessive sweating. How can such medical ignorance prevail without costing lives?” Yang fell silent.
When requesting a prescription, I prescribed the standard Three Yellows Toxin-Resolving Decoction [Scutellaria baicalensis (Huangqin), Coptis chinensis (Huanglian), Gardenia jasminoides (Huangzhi)]. Yang, being obtuse, later avoided me. Whether the (used in traditional contexts) succeeded remains uncertain, though I maintain reservations about its efficacy.
Leave a Reply