This
section
audio
content
Click here to listen to the audio lesson↑
You can also click here☟ to listen on Ximalaya
Ximalaya – Lectures by Zhang Xichun
Medical
Case
Original text
“Medical Records of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine”· Bai Shao Jie
Mrs. Chen, the wife of Captain Chen from the Fengtian Military Police Camp, over twenty years old, contracted a warm disease in late spring, and was diagnosed and treated over four to five days. Her symptoms included heat both externally and internally, with a pulse that was full and strong on both sides, and persistent abdominal pain, with bowel movements occurring two to three times a day. The tongue coating was thick and slightly yellow, indicating that the external pathogenic heat had entered the Yangming organ, and the liver and gallbladder were taking advantage of the seasonal wood energy, accompanied by excess heat that insulted the middle earth, hence the abdominal pain and frequent bowel movements. I prescribed the previous formula, adding three qian of fresh Mao Gen (Imperata cylindrica), and after one dose, the abdominal pain and diarrhea ceased immediately, and after taking another dose, she was completely cured. Observing these two cases, it is evident that in “Shang Han Lun” (Treatise on Cold Damage), for abdominal pain, Bai Shao (Paeonia lactiflora) is added without needing to clarify the diagnosis. As for Mao Gen, it must be fresh to be effective; if fresh is unavailable, it can be omitted.
Text
Version
Original
Friends, hello everyone. Today we continue to discuss how Zhang Xichun uses Bai Shao.
Today’s case involves a soldier, Captain Chen from the Fengtian Military Police Camp, and his wife. The case was treated in my hometown, Shenyang, Northeast China.
She was over twenty years old and contracted a warm disease in spring, which is an external heat syndrome known as warm disease. After four to five days of suffering from the warm disease, she began to seek treatment from Zhang Xichun. Zhang Xichun’s case records usually include names and sometimes job titles. Upon examining her, Zhang Xichun noted that the symptoms indicated “heat both externally and internally,” which is a manifestation of the invasion of heat evil.
“The pulse is full and strong on both sides,” indicating that the pulse is very large. The term “Hong” in “Hong pulse” refers to a flood, meaning that the pulse comes and goes with great force, like a flood, indicating that the heat evil is intense within the body.
The patient reported that she frequently felt severe abdominal pain and had increased bowel movements, going two to three times a day. The persistent abdominal pain was a diagnostic indicator for Zhang Xichun, and he began to carefully consider the treatment.
At this time, Zhang Xichun also observed her tongue. The tongue coating was very thick and slightly yellow, indicating that he was also examining the tongue. A thick yellow tongue coating indicates the presence of heat evil. Zhang Xichun recognized that the external heat evil had entered the Yangming organ, which is why her tongue coating was thick and yellow, indicating heat evil.
Now it is spring, and the liver wood is starting to counteract the spleen earth. The liver and gallbladder qi, accompanied by warm heat evil, are attacking the spleen and stomach, which cannot withstand it, leading to “insulting the middle earth,” hence the abdominal pain and increased bowel movements. Zhang Xichun deduced that the patient likely had excessive liver wood, counteracting the spleen earth, which corresponds with the spring season.
What should be done at this time? This is an externally contracted disease. Zhang Xichun’s prescription was quite interesting; he used the formula we discussed yesterday, with one liang of fresh Bai Shao (Paeonia lactiflora) and one liang of dried Huai Shan Yao (Chinese yam), which serve to soften and constrict the liver and to tonify the spleen and stomach, respectively. He also added one liang each of Xuan Shen (Scrophularia) and Hua Shi (Talc), and three qian each of Gan Cao (Licorice) and Lian Qiao (Forsythia). In today’s formula, he added three qian of fresh Mao Gen, which is commonly found in the wild across most of China, and can clear heat and help expel heat through urination.
After adding Mao Gen, what was the effect of this formula? “One dose stopped the abdominal pain and diarrhea immediately,” meaning that after taking one dose, her abdominal pain and frequent bowel movements were resolved. Then, after taking another dose, she was completely cured. Zhang Xichun used only two doses of medicine for this case, indicating that his approach to treatment was very meticulous.
This case reiterates the principles discussed yesterday. Zhang Xichun believed that the patient’s abdominal pain and increased bowel movements were due to excessive liver wood counteracting the spleen earth, which corresponds with the spring season, as spring corresponds to liver wood, making such issues more likely. Zhang Xichun used Bai Shao to constrict and soften the liver, and Huai Shan Yao to tonify the spleen. This concept is prevalent in many ancient Chinese formulas. For example, Zhang Zhongjing has a famous formula called “Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang” (Astragalus Decoction for Strengthening the Center), which I often use to treat gastric ulcers and stomach pain.
How do gastric ulcers occur? A significant proportion of gastric ulcers are caused by stress, where individuals experience mental tension and insufficient yang qi, leading to a combination of factors that easily result in gastric ulcers. How to treat it? As long as it is determined that the patient is not in a heat excess condition but has some deficiency and cold, I would use “Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang,” which contains Huang Qi (Astragalus) and Yi Tang (Maltose), which tonifies the center and strengthens the spleen and stomach. Bai Shao in this formula serves to soften and constrict the liver, while Gui Zhi (Cinnamon twig) has the effect of promoting blood circulation and soothing the liver.
TCM formulas are very meticulous; many formulas contain herbs that both soften and constrict the liver, as well as tonify the center and strengthen the spleen. These two approaches combined can help regulate many issues related to emotional stress that lead to dysfunction in the spleen and stomach systems. Therefore, “Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang” is very effective for treating cold-type gastric ulcers, and many patients report that their pain gradually subsides after taking it, leading to a long-term resolution of the issue, which reflects a TCM approach.
Today’s case teaches us the same principle as yesterday. When a person has excessive liver qi, insufficient liver yin, and insufficient liver blood, and when excessive liver qi can counteract the spleen earth, this indicates internal liver wind movement, which can lead to abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits, such as diarrhea. At this time, Bai Shao can constrict and soften the liver, resolving the issue.
Both of our cases over the past two days have been similar, using Bai Shao and Huai Shan Yao together, one to constrict and soften the liver, and the other to tonify the spleen and stomach. These two directions combined resolved the issues. Many of us experience dysfunction in the spleen and stomach systems, or gastrointestinal issues, which are often related to high levels of mental stress and negative emotions. In this process of regulation, Bai Shao plays a significant role. This is the principle I wanted to share with everyone today.
That’s all for today. Tomorrow we will continue discussing how Zhang Xichun uses Bai Shao. Thank you all, and goodbye.
Last
Session
Review: Bai Shao has the property of constricting the liver | Zhang Xichun Audio Transcript (← Click to read)
Audio text by Luo Dalun | Edited by Zi Ye
Dr. Luo’s official WeChat account has the following four, please long press the QR code to identify and follow! All others are imitations, please do not be deceived!
Dr. Luo’s Channel
WeChat ID:
luodalunpd
Dalun Academy
WeChat ID:
Dalun_sy
Dalun Parenting Talk
WeChat ID:
dalun_yes
Dr. Luo Dalun
WeChat ID:
Drluodalun
1. The copyright of original articles in this public account belongs to this account. If you need to reprint, please leave a message to the editor and indicate the source. Commercial use is prohibited.
2. The articles reprinted in this public account are for learning and communication purposes only and fall within the scope of fair use. If there are errors in the attribution of images, data sources, or text copyright, please inform the editor, and they will correct or delete it immediately.
3. This public account owns the portrait rights of Dr. Luo Dalun. Any unauthorized use will be pursued legally.
4. This public account is legally supported by Beijing Zhongzhe (Shenyang) Law Firm, and will pursue legal responsibility for any unauthorized reprints, commercial use, and refusal to delete posts after warnings.
The cover image is authorized for use by Baotu Network, please do not steal for commercial use.
The copyright of this column belongs to “Dalun Academy,” sharing and reprinting are welcome~
Dalun Academy
WeChat ID: Dalun_sy
Traditional Chinese Medicine | National Studies | Heart Cultivation
Click to read the original text and listen on Ximalaya