My neighbor Liu Xiqing, a merchant operating in Chu region (modern Hubei), remained childless past thirty, causing great distress to his parents. Despite years of marriage and various tonic treatments, no results were achieved.
One day, Liu suddenly developed severe abdominal pain and summoned me for consultation. While others suspected cholera (huoluan), the prescribed Huoxiang Zhengqi San proved ineffective. Upon examining his pulses, I detected profoundly weak rhythms across all six pulse positions, indicating yin deficiency.
I analyzed: “Your abdominal pain likely eases with pressure, comes intermittently, and concentrates below the navel.” Liu confirmed this observation. I prescribed modified Qiwei Duqi Tang (Seven-Ingredient Qi-Regulating Decoction) with added cinnamon:
Formula:
- Rehmannia Root (shu di)
- Cornus Fruit (shan zhu yu)
- Chinese Yam (shan yao)
- Tree Peony Bark (mu dan pi)
- Alisma Rhizome (ze xie)
- Poria (fu ling)
- Schisandra Berry (wu wei zi)
- Cinnamon Bark (rou gui) 6 grams (approximately 2 qian)The pain subsided after two doses. Later, I explained to my family: “While the abdominal condition was (may help support), his kidney pulse (both chi positions) resembled thin threads without vitality (wei qi) – an ominous sign of dwindling life force.”
True to this prognosis, when I returned from the capital a year later, Liu had passed away months prior. As the impoverished family’s sole heir, his death left aged parents destitute and food-insecure, evoking profound pity among witnesses.
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