(chapter48)Pain from Yin Deficiency and Liver Stagnation

Mr. Qiao’s son, Xia Qing , suddenly visited my home. He first sent in a letter, which I opened to find written in exceptionally polite and humble language. I invited him inside, where he shared that he had passed the county-level imperial examination and become a government student. He explained that over the past decade, his family had fallen into hardship, and due to his sister-in-law’s jealous and harsh temperament, he had fled her mistreatment to work as a tutor in Qi County, Shanxi Province.

This spring, he suddenly developed an eye condition: intense pain in both eyeballs, worsening at night. Multiple doctors had failed to alleviate his symptoms. Remembering how I had successfully treated his father’s illness years prior, he traveled specifically to seek my help.

I examined his eyelids and observed a whitish membrane forming around the edges of his irises , dotted with several red blood spots. Upon checking his pulse, I noted a ​wiry and slippery quality at the left guan position  and a ​weak, thin pulse at the chi position . I diagnosed him with ​Yin deficiency and liver stagnation  and warned, “This stems from inadequate bodily fluids (Yin) and emotional constraint. Fortunately, it’s early. If untreated for months, the membrane would harden into an obstructive layer , complicating (used in traditional contexts).”

I prescribed two formulas:

1. ​Liver-Coursing Powder (Shu gan San): A classic formula to regulate liver qi and relieve stagnation.
2. ​Lycium-Chrysanthemum-Rehmannia Decoction ( Qi ju Di huang Tang): A Yin-nourishing blend with wolfberries (Lycium chinense,  gouqi), chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium, juhua), and rehmannia root (Rehmannia glutinosa, dihuang).

I instructed him:

• “Take Shugan San for 3–4 days to stop the pain.
• Follow with Qiju Dihuang Tang for no more than 10 days to fully recover.
• Wash your eyes nightly with distilled liquor (baijiu).
• Avoid cold exposure and spicy foods. Given the long journey, no follow-up is needed.”

Xia Qing bowed and left. Two weeks later, he returned to thank me, reporting complete recovery. He brought a neighbor, Mr. Guo from a nearby village, who also sought (used in traditional contexts). However, I was attending a banquet in the city that day and missed them. They never returned.