▲ Li Saimai, Professor at Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Chief Physician, Doctoral Supervisor, Expert enjoying special government allowances
Introduction
This book is based on Professor Li Saimai’s “Lectures on the Essentials of the Golden Chamber” from Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. It selects the most representative important diseases and formulas, combining the main symptoms and some causes and mechanisms from the text. Some diseases also reference modern medical descriptions, illustrating each disease in a comic format, making the originally profound classic content easy to understand and accessible for learners.
Selected Chapters
Chest Obstruction, Heart Pain, Shortness of Breath: Diagnosis and Treatment
1. Chest Obstruction Disease
(1) Pathogenesis
The master said: The pulse should be taken neither too excessive nor too deficient; when Yang is weak and Yin is string-like, it leads to chest obstruction and pain, which is due to extreme deficiency. Now, Yang deficiency is known to be in the upper jiao, hence the chest obstruction and heart pain due to its Yin string-like nature. (1)
Normal individuals without cold or heat, and shortness of breath that is insufficient to breathe, indicates excess. (2)
(2) Diagnosis and Treatment
1. Typical Syndrome – Guo Lou Xie Bai Bai Jiu Tang Syndrome
For chest obstruction disease, with wheezing, coughing, chest and back pain, shortness of breath, and a deep and slow pulse at the cun position, with a tight and rapid pulse at the guan position, Guo Lou Xie Bai Bai Jiu Tang is the main treatment. (3)
One piece of Guo Lou (crushed), half a jin of Xie Bai, and seven sheng of Bai Jiu.
Combine the three ingredients, boil, and take two sheng, divided into warm doses.
2. Phlegm and Fluid Accumulation – Guo Lou Xie Bai Ban Xia Tang Syndrome
For chest obstruction with inability to lie down and heart pain radiating to the back, Guo Lou Xie Bai Ban Xia Tang is the main treatment. (4)
One piece of Guo Lou (crushed), three liang of Xie Bai, half a jin of Ban Xia, and one dou of Bai Jiu.
Combine the four ingredients, boil, and take four sheng, warm, one sheng per dose, three times a day.
3. Qi Stagnation in the Chest – Zhi Shi Xie Bai Gui Zhi Tang, Ren Shen Tang Syndrome
For chest obstruction with a feeling of fullness, Qi stagnation in the chest, and fullness under the ribs, Zhi Shi Xie Bai Gui Zhi Tang is the main treatment; Ren Shen Tang can also be used. (5)
Ingredients for Zhi Shi Xie Bai Gui Zhi Tang:
Four pieces of Zhi Shi, four liang of Hou Po, half a jin of Xie Bai, one liang of Gui Zhi, and one piece of Guo Lou (crushed).
Combine the five ingredients, with five sheng of water, first boil Zhi Shi and Hou Po, take two sheng, remove the dregs, add the other herbs, boil for a few minutes, and divide into warm doses, three times a day.
Ingredients for Ren Shen Tang:
Three liang each of Ren Shen, Gan Cao, Gan Jiang, and Bai Zhu.
Combine the four ingredients, with eight sheng of water, boil to obtain three sheng, warm, and take one sheng, three times a day.
4. Fluid Obstruction and Qi Stagnation – Fu Ling Xing Ren Gan Cao Tang, Ju Zhi Jiang Tang Syndrome
For chest obstruction with Qi blockage and shortness of breath, Fu Ling Xing Ren Gan Cao Tang is the main treatment; Ju Zhi Jiang Tang can also be used. (6)
Ingredients for Fu Ling Xing Ren Gan Cao Tang:
Three liang of Fu Ling, fifty pieces of Xing Ren, and one liang of Gan Cao.
Combine the three ingredients, with one dou of water, boil to obtain five sheng, warm, and take one sheng, three times a day, if not cured, continue to take.
Ingredients for Ju Zhi Jiang Tang:
One jin of Ju Pi, three liang of Zhi Shi, and half a jin of Sheng Jiang.
Combine the three ingredients, with five sheng of water, boil to obtain two sheng, divide into warm doses. The “Zhou Hou” and “Qian Jin” texts state: For treating chest obstruction, if the chest feels full, and there is a sensation of blockage and itchiness in the throat, with dry saliva and foam.
5. Cold and Damp Obstruction – Yi Yi Fu Zi San Syndrome
For chest obstruction with alternating urgency, Yi Yi Fu Zi San is the main treatment. (7)
Fifteen liang of Yi Yi Ren and ten pieces of Da Fu Zi (processed).
Combine the two ingredients, grind into a powder, take a spoonful, three times a day.
2. Heart Pain Disease
(1) Pathogenesis
Same as chest obstruction pathogenesis.
(2) Diagnosis and Treatment
1. Cold Fluid Reversal – Gui Zhi Sheng Jiang Zhi Shi Tang Syndrome
For a feeling of fullness in the heart, various reversals, and heart hanging pain, Gui Zhi Sheng Jiang Zhi Shi Tang is the main treatment. (8)
Three liang each of Gui Zhi and Sheng Jiang, and five pieces of Zhi Shi.
Combine the three ingredients, with six sheng of water, boil to obtain three sheng, divide into warm doses, three times a day.
2. Yin Cold Stagnation – Wu Tou Chi Shi Zhi Wan Syndrome
For heart pain radiating to the back, and back pain radiating to the heart, Wu Tou Chi Shi Zhi Wan is the main treatment. (9)
One liang of Shu Jiao, two fen of a method, one fen of Wu Tou (processed), half a liang of Fu Zi (processed) of a method, one liang of Gan Jiang of a method, and one liang of Chi Shi Zhi of a method.
Combine the five ingredients, grind into powder, and make pills the size of a walnut, take one pill before meals, three times a day. If not effective, increase the dosage slightly.
[Source: This article is excerpted from the “Illustrated Essentials of the Golden Chamber” published by the People’s Health Publishing House, Author: Li Saimai. Edited and organized by Renwei TCM]
