Category: Traditional Medical Texts
Liver Qi Stagnation Causing Hernia Pain
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Mr. Zhang Bingtang, my fellow townsman, developed a hernia during the lunar calendar year of Jiayin. His symptoms included swollen and sagging testicles, with frequent sharp pains in the lower abdomen. At the time, he was assigned to work at the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan). The road out of the city gate was paved with…
Diarrhea caused by excessive water intake was mistakenly treated with ascending tonics
My provincial fellow examinee Jiang Yanxiong traveled to Beijing for the Jingzhao imperial examination and lodged with me at the Three-Loyalty Shrine. We frequently engaged in literary discussions and banquets, enjoying each other’s company. In early autumn, continuous rainy weather persisted for over ten days, exacerbated by his northern constitution being unaccustomed to dampness. One…
Excess Damp-Heat Syndrome Mistakenly Treated with Tonics
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Patient Background In the spring of engxu year, I traveled to the capital for the imperial examination. A fellow candidate, Mr. Zhang, developed urinary retention in early June after prolonged rainy weather and excessive tea consumption. Within days, his limbs swelled severely, progressing to breathlessness and inability to lie flat. Misguided Treatment A merchant from…
Dietary Impropriety Damaging the Stomach
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There was a merchant named Mr. Cao (exact name forgotten) who had legendary drinking capacity and ate enough for three people. One summer, after working in the heat, he gulped down large amounts of icy cold foods and drinks to quench his thirst. This caused severe digestive blockage, leading to headaches, fever, abdominal bloating, and…
External Wind-Heat Pathogen Invasion
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Ma Jingbo and I shared both a scholarly bond as fellow provincial-level scholars* and the mentorship of Master Long Lanyi. In 1795, while he was preparing to purchase a magistrate position*, a remarkable courtesan named Yunshang captivated Beijing’s elite with her artistry and beauty, becoming Jingbo’s cherished companion. One evening during a banquet near Qianmen…
Eczema with Qi Deficiency Aggravated by Cold Herbs Overuse
Medical Story from Late Qing Beijing Cultural Context: This story reflects traditional Chinese medical practices in 19th century Beijing. At the time, TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) was mainstream, and the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan) was an imperial complex where officials worked. Summer of Yimao Year (approx. 1915 by Gregorian calendar), I was residing in Beijing.…
Heatstroke from Overexertion
A Chinese Opera Performer’s Brush with Heatstroke (Qing Dynasty Case) In 19th-century Beijing, a lead female-role performer (Note 1) from the prestigious “Four Joys” opera troupe performed in the martial arts drama “The Siege of Sizhou City” to great acclaim. An impressed government official paid extra for an additional weapons demonstration scene. Bound in elaborate…
Excessive Cold Drinks Causing Qi-Blood Congealing
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When I lived in Beijing, I employed a cook (whose name I’ve forgotten) with unusual habits. Though mediocre at his job, he often starved himself while working but could devour enough food for three or four people in one sitting. He also insisted on drinking unboiled cold water despite others’ warnings, claiming, “I’m used to…