My clansman Zhang Yuetan’s elder sister had married an unsuitable man – a greedy and quarrelsome person – which caused her constant mental distress. Over time, this emotional stagnation developed into phlegm accumulation, followed by food retention. Consequently, she became listless and lethargic with complete loss of appetite, experiencing chest and abdominal distension. She convinced herself she had consumption (tuberculosis).
One day when we entered the city together, Yuetan invited me to examine her. Upon taking her pulse, I found it deep and hidden – only detectable with heavy pressure reaching the bone level. I explained: “This is qi stagnation with phlegm obstruction. When stomach qi becomes blocked by phlegm and stagnant energy, the clear yang fails to ascend while turbid yin cannot descend. This causes dizziness, blurred vision, neck stiffness, dry mouth, abdominal fullness, and constipation – all the symptoms you’re experiencing.” The patient confirmed this description was accurate.
I prescribed Weiling Chengqi Decoction (Stomach-Calying Purgative Formula). After two doses, she passed foul waste matter over a dozen times. Upon my follow-up visit, the patient repeatedly expressed how much better she felt. I instructed her to take one more dose, then transition to Xiangsha Liujun Pills (Six Gentlemen Formula with Aucklandia and Amomum). Before she had finished half a pound (250g) of the pills, she regained vitality far exceeding her previous healthy state.
Key Terminology Clarification:
- Weiling Chengqi Decoction(wei ling chen qi tang): A classical formula combining stomach-regulating and purgative functions to eliminate stagnation
- Xiangsha Liujun Pills(xiang sha liu jun wan): A spleen-strengthening formula containing fragrant herbs to regulate qi movement
- Clear yang/turbid yin: Traditional Chinese medical concepts describing the dynamic balance of physiological energies
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