1. The Organs of Humans are Destroyed by Damp-HeatThe large intestine experiences heat accumulation and overflow, which consumes the bladder, leading to urgent bladder heat, often resulting in benign prostatic hyperplasia, known in Western medicine as prostatitis. Why is there such a prevalence of prostate issues? Especially among the elderly, some suffer for half their lives, enduring life with prostatitis. They lack the concept of damp-heat and do not understand that damp-heat flows downward; even if the prostate is treated, it may not be cured, and surgery cannot remove it. If surgery is performed, it is akin to removing the heart of a large tree, compounding the error, as the heat will not dissipate and may even destroy the patient’s bladder.The heat in the large intestine often causes warmth and heat in the groin area, with symptoms such as burning, swelling, and heaviness in the anus, making it uncomfortable to wear underwear. If they do not wear underwear, they sweat in the groin, and wearing underwear exacerbates the issue. Women often find their underwear deteriorating in the groin area, while the rest of the garment remains intact. Why does the groin area deteriorate so easily? This is due to damp-heat toxic gases. Damp-heat is highly acidic and alkaline, capable of corroding clothing. In today’s world, if new underwear deteriorates, it should be discarded. In the past, making underwear was a luxury, and women often repaired their deteriorating underwear repeatedly, unable to part with it.We see how terrifying damp-heat is; it can even burn fabric, let alone the flesh of the uterus, large intestine, and internal organs. If this damp-heat is not eliminated, it can lead to severe diseases of the large intestine. Nowadays, we see bladder cancer, uterine cancer, large intestine cancer, uterine bleeding, large intestine bleeding, bladder bleeding, anal fissures, and anal itching. Many men and women walk the streets, often scratching their anuses, indicating that their intestines are long-term carriers of damp-heat, leading to unclean intestines, referred to as intestinal heat or toxic stool. There are too many patients suffering from this; damp-heat has plagued humanity for thousands of years, and to this day, there is no effective treatment. Do you know how dirty humans are? The dirtiest beings in the world are humans. Why? Because of large intestine heat, heat accumulation and overflow often lead to heat in the large intestine, harming the yin organs, damaging the entire organ system, and depleting the fluids of the entire organ system. Thus, damp-heat erupts; without yin, fire will arise, and insufficient yin will lead to internal burning, which is very difficult to eliminate. This is a challenge that all humans must face. Those with internal heat are hard to escape from, regardless of age, wealth, or status; no one can escape from internal organ heat. The diseases of the rich and poor are the same, and the suffering of death is also the same. The most equitable aspect of humanity is that everyone gets sick and dies; even the wealthiest die in the same way as the poorest. This is the most fair aspect of humanity.2. Clear Diagnosis of the Organs is EssentialDamp-heat diseases are caused by damp-heatIn clinical diagnosis, it is crucial to inquire about damp-heat diseases; if this is overlooked, misdiagnosis and mistreatment may occur, leading to suffering for the patient. In clinical practice, if one is unaware of damp-heat, using methods to support yang, such as large amounts of Fu Zi (Aconite) and Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger), can lead to misdiagnosis and mistreatment, which is a grave error. Do you know how many people have been harmed by supporting yang today? How many patients have been harmed? When patients ask doctors why they feel unwell, and the doctor responds that it is a reaction to expelling illness, they are deceiving the patient. The patient suffers, and they cannot understand; this is the consequence of supporting yang. Do you know which school of thought created the concept of supporting yang? Our ancient scholars did not have this notion; Zhang Zhongjing only spoke of the method of raising fire. Zhang Zhongjing stated that one can only raise fire to a limited extent; excessive fire will lead to excessive qi. He mentioned that Fu Zi can be used to raise fire, but in small amounts; using too much will lead to excessive fire, which is not the same as raising fire to a limited extent. Raising fire to a limited extent is like cooking; if the fire is too large, it will burn the pot.Zhang Zhongjing emphasized that only those without internal heat can be given fire support, and it must not be excessive; otherwise, it will damage the entire organ system. First, it will damage the large intestine, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, liver, and uterus. Heat diseases inherently lack fluids and water; using Gan Jiang and Fu Zi to support yang makes one a fire starter. Can a supporter of yang be innocent? If you continue to support yang, you will only destroy the patient, providing no benefit. Do you know what human suffering is? It is damp-heat, which constantly burns within the organs; this is humanity’s greatest suffering. Regardless of gender or age, most heat diseases are found in the internal organs. If you continue to support yang, as a doctor, you are essentially placing a time bomb in the patient’s abdomen. Today, many serious diseases and cancers are rooted in internal organ heat, which does not develop overnight. Long-term non-fever colds often carry heat in the three yang meridians, and the large intestine meridian is the fourth yang; thus, the hand yangming large intestine meridian is even hotter. The destruction of the organs begins with the large intestine; if there is heat in the large intestine, one should be cautious with Fu Zi, Gan Jiang, and Xi Xin (Asarum). Using Fu Zi and Gan Jiang can lead to an explosion of large intestine heat, causing even more heat, leading to burning in the intestines and daily back pain. Some patients report back pain from eating; they cannot get out of bed, and this back pain is a result of supporting yang.Do you know how many people use the method of supporting yang today? How many have been harmed? No one knows, and no one calculates. If there were results and numbers, you would see how terrifying supporting yang is. I often hear of many practitioners of supporting yang who do not live to their expected age; they themselves do not realize that their condition is due to the harm caused by Fu Zi. If they claim ignorance, I see them as pretending; they should have known that supporting yang is a mistake, but they dare not admit it. They continue to make the same mistakes. Some people say back pain is due to cold and use Fu Zi, Gan Jiang, and Xi Xin, but this is not the case; the more they use, the greater the internal heat becomes, and the more severe the back pain becomes. When the pain intensifies, they sweat profusely and feel hot all over. This type of patient already has heat in the large intestine; if you support yang, it is like adding fuel to the fire, and the heat in the large intestine will deplete the spine and spinal cord. How can the back not hurt? When encountering such back pain, regardless of gender, one should quickly use Tao He Cheng Qi Tang (Peach Pit Decoction) to remedy the situation; it may still be possible to save them. Otherwise, it could lead to leukemia or septicemia. How many heat diseases are destroyed in the large intestine? Without heat in the large intestine, internal organs cannot be destroyed. When large intestine heat is excessive, it burns rapidly within the organs, leading to heat accumulation and overflow throughout the entire organ system; this is called heat accumulation and overflow.3. What is Heat Accumulation and Overflow?A student asked me, what is heat accumulation and overflow? I explained it like this: when one house catches fire, another house suffers collateral damage. Although the flames may not reach the second house, the heat from the first house can infiltrate the second house, causing the walls to heat up. When the first house catches fire, the second house is scorched; the heat from the first house harms the second house, making it uninhabitable. If there is a person inside, they could be roasted alive; this is what we call heat accumulation and overflow. When there is heat accumulation in the large intestine, it causes heat to form in the entire organ system. Once there is heat in the large intestine, the entire organ system will have heat; this is how the term heat accumulation and overflow originated. As a clinical doctor, it is essential to understand heat accumulation and overflow. How many patients do not have heat accumulation and overflow? Unless they are centenarians, they rarely experience it. If there is heat accumulation and overflow, they will not live to be a hundred. When asked about the secret to longevity, it is simple: one is destined to live to that age, and two, they do not have heat accumulation and overflow. Look at how terrifying heat accumulation and overflow is and the significant harm it causes to humanity. In clinical practice, when we see patients, we must first consider whether there is heat carried by the meridians, whether there is heat accumulation and overflow, whether there is abdominal distension, whether there is gas blockage, and how frequent and foul-smelling the flatulence is. Then we ask the patient about their bowel movements, whether they are easy to pass. If you can ask these details, you will not make mistakes in treatment and will not harm the patient. Never consider supporting yang. Colleagues, let us eliminate the term supporting yang; we cannot use this concept any longer. Supporting yang is the destruction of humanity. Do you know the immense suffering it has caused? We cannot remain obstinate; a mistake is a mistake, and we cannot continue down this path. Medicine is about saving lives; we cannot burden patients or cause destruction. Supporting yang only exacerbates the patient’s condition. The patient’s suffering is unknown; they believe it is a terminal illness. Such practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine must provide reasons for their actions; patients are helpless, and if they die, they do not realize it was due to supporting yang. If the doctor is still unaware and continues to use heat remedies, they can burn the spleen, deplete the liver, and the heat will not dissipate. Heat will obstruct urination, leading to high acidity and alkalinity poisoning, damaging the kidney meridians, potentially causing kidney failure, kidney necrosis, and uremia. This can lead to duodenal ulcers and duodenal erosion. Damp-heat troubles the pancreas, which is what Western medicine refers to as the pancreas. The swollen duodenum, swollen pancreas, and necrotic pancreatic head harbor high acidity and alkalinity, leading to pancreatic acidosis. Acidosis can cause pancreatic necrosis, and toxic gases and damp-heat can leak out; this damp-heat leakage is akin to nuclear leakage, potentially burning the entire organ system, leading to death within hours. The ancients said that women should observe a month of rest after childbirth; what does this mean? It means that after giving birth, a woman has lost blood and energy, and excessive sweating can lead to vulnerability to wind and cold. For one month, they should avoid wind and cold; if they sweat excessively, they should not be exposed to wind and cold. If a woman maintains her appetite and eats well during this month, her constitution will recover; this is what is meant by observing a month of rest.4. What is the Six Meridians Differentiation?Regardless of the disease in the organs, regardless of the symptoms, one must consider the exterior symptoms; without exterior symptoms, there are no interior symptoms. If there is no fullness in the abdomen, and the disease is still in the three yang, then sweating is the guiding principle. After sweating, all interior symptoms will disappear. If after sweating, there are still interior symptoms, it indicates that internal heat has formed, leading to symptoms such as dry mouth, bitter taste, dry throat, and thirst; this is caused by internal heat and meridian heat. In this case, one should clear the heat; for that, Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) can be modified. If the heat is severe and the patient is irritable, and the Chai Hu symptoms persist, add Zhi Zi (Gardenia) to the formula. If the patient has a bitter taste and thirst but sweats easily, and is afraid of wind, add Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig); if they are not afraid of wind and have thirst and sweating, this indicates the presence of Shi Gao (Gypsum) symptoms, and one can combine Chai Hu Tang with Bai Hu Tang (White Tiger Decoction) for treatment. If the bitter taste and thirst have resolved, but the lower abdomen is still uncomfortable, it indicates an interior excess condition. If they are not afraid of cold and feel distended after eating, it indicates a need for Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang (Regulate the Stomach and Order the Qi Decoction). If there is often chest fullness and abdominal distension, then San Wu Thick Bark Decoction may be indicated. If there is often gas blockage, with no upward movement on the left and no downward movement on the right, and the lower abdomen feels full, indicating half interior excess, without exterior symptoms, use Xiao Cheng Qi Tang (Minor Order the Qi Decoction). If the patient often experiences chest fullness and abdominal distension, with painful distension in the abdomen, and sweats at night while sleeping, then Da Cheng Qi Tang (Major Order the Qi Decoction) is appropriate for treatment. I remind my disciples that since you have entered the field of traditional Chinese medicine, you should not have any other thoughts; your life is dedicated to treating patients, working diligently for them. As a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, you must first learn to protect yourself, your family, relatives, and friends. Although life in this world is short, you should live with dignity and value. Many ambitious individuals, despite their capabilities, do not live to their expected age. Some possess extraordinary wisdom and abilities but cannot protect themselves or their families. Some may accumulate great wealth, but a major illness in midlife can lead to the loss of everything. You may think that money can buy life, but money cannot buy life. Treating patients is a specialized profession; if you encounter a good doctor, you may have hope; if you encounter a quack, the consequences are unimaginable. As someone with ambition, you should have a sense of security; living with dignity means being afraid of illness. If you understand the principles of medicine, you will have a sense of security. If you do not understand, a major illness can lead to the loss of all your wealth, leaving behind a family. Do you not feel regretful about your life? When you come into this world, the first thing you should learn is the principles of medicine; even if you do not wish to pursue this profession, you can engage in other fields. Once you fall ill, you can protect yourself and not entrust your life to someone ignorant of medicine.Author/Cai Changfu, Disciple of Zhong Shi
Cai Changfu, male, from Huainan, Anhui, born in 1946, has practiced medicine for over forty years and currently practices in Ma’anshan City, Anhui. He has learned from folk medicine practitioners and has deeply studied the classics, widely engaging with various schools of thought, rich in both knowledge and experience. He approaches treatment with careful thought and discernment, valuing ancient wisdom without being bound by it. In clinical practice, he excels in using classical formulas and has unique insights, successfully treating many difficult and complicated diseases, including lumbar diseases, breast diseases, and pancreatic diseases. He is respected by patients and praised by students. He has many disciples and founded the Jiangnan Cai’s Classical Formula Medical Center, composing traditional Chinese medicine songs such as “One Hundred Questions on Heat Diseases” and “Song of Taiyang Exterior Symptoms,” and authored “Cai Changfu’s Classical Formula Compendium,” compiling the essence of “Treatise on Febrile Diseases” and “Huangdi Neijing” into the original “Six Meridians Differentiation Atlas,” enabling readers to better understand the principles of febrile diseases and recognize the sources of diseases in clinical practice.