《仙傳外科祕方》Vol. 11

This is a section from the 11th volume of Secret Formulas of Immortal-Transmitted External Medicine compiled by Yuan dynasty Daoist Zhao Yizhen, documenting simple remedies for various pediatric conditions.

For children experiencing feverish palms and soles with thirst and desire to drink, black beans boiled in water can be administered. In cases of "slow fright wind" (a type of pediatric convulsive disorder) marked by mental dullness and occasional spasms, ground Lindera root (Wuyao) mixed with warm water may be given.

For acute or chronic fright wind, a compound prescription is recommended: Grind twenty Zhenling Dan pills, ten Laifu Dan pills, and ten Bai Yuanzi pills into a fine powder, then mix with glutinous rice paste to form mung bean-sized pills. Mild cases take five pills, severe cases three. Chronic fright wind requires administration with decoction of aged red dates and dried tangerine peel, while acute cases should use ginger juice and boiling water as the delivery medium.

The text then details diagnostic and treatment methods for ten types of "cinnabar toxin" (a fiery red, swollen, and painful skin condition). Renowned Song dynasty physician Xu Shuwei warns that untreated cases may allow toxins to invade the intestines within three days, becoming incurable. Each type has distinctive affected areas and corresponding topical treatments:

• Feizao Dan (swollen crown of head): apply scallion white juice
• Jizao Dan (red, painful head swelling): mix red bean powder with egg white
• Guihuo Dan (facial redness): blend stove hearth earth with egg white
• Tianhuo Dan (red back spots): combine mulberry root bark powder with mutton fat
• Tianzao Dan (yellowish arm swelling): apply willow ash water paste
• Shui Dan (puffy flanks): use iron filings mixed with pig manure
• Huci Dan (yellow umbilical swelling): apply betel nut powder with rice vinegar
• Yehuo Dan (red foot swelling): mix frankincense (Ruxiang) with mutton fat
• Yanhuo Dan (red-white foot spots): blend pig trough mud with sesame oil
• Hulou Dan (yellow genital swelling): use eave-drip earth with mutton fat

The final prescription treats childhood scalp sores, fetal toxins, wind-heat ulcers, and pox lesions: Grind equal parts Phellodendron (Huangbai), Coptis (Huanglian), Angelica dahurica (Baizhi), and gallnut (Wubeizi) into fine powder, then mix with well water to form a paste for topical application.

This text records several ancient external treatments and application methods for eye diseases:

The first method treats skin ulcers. The medicine is applied inside a bowl, which is then inverted and placed between two bricks with space beneath it. Mugwort is burned beneath to fumigate until the medicine turns black and dry. The residue is then ground into powder and mixed with clear oil for application. If parasites are present, the medicine is blended with pre-boiled oil before application.

Another prescription uses equal parts of gallnut and angelica root powder. For weeping wounds, the powder is directly applied to absorb pus; for dry scabs, it's mixed with clear oil before application. For pediatric eye diseases caused by pox or rashes, eyebright grass powder can be used with white persimmon, pork liver, or syrup for eye drops.

The "Rhinoceros Horn Vision-Restoring Powder" treats various eye conditions, containing ten ingredients including red peony root, scutellaria, akebia stem, and mulberry root bark. The standard dosage is five qian of powder decocted with one-and-a-half cups of water and fresh mulberry bark, taken after meals. For severe redness, add raw clam powder; for swelling pain, add fresh rehmannia.

The eye drop preparation method involves: washing and chopping coptis root, decocting in water, filtering, then evaporating in a ceramic cup until concentrated. A small amount of borneol is added before storage in clean containers. Fine cloth filtration during preparation prevents impurities. This formula proves particularly effective for acute conjunctivitis and blepharitis.

Another conjunctivitis treatment uses six ingredients including coptis root and Chinese angelica tail, chopped and steamed for warm dipping applications. A simpler steam therapy involves tightly closing the eyes while cupping warm water against them, repeating until the water cools, with multiple applications recommended for best results.

Finally, ten liang of purified mirabilite dissolved in water is mentioned for treating various corneal opacities. All formulas emphasize meticulous herb processing and hygienic application procedures.

Here are several medicinal formulas and treatment methods commonly used by ancient Daoist physicians:

The first prescription treats red, swollen eyes. Begin by drying medicinal herbs in an earthenware bowl over charcoal fire overnight. Then add two liang of yellow lead (a mineral medicine) and half a qian of musk, grinding them into an extremely fine powder before sifting. Mix with borneol and apply directly to the eyes. Another method involves decocting mint, schizonepeta, and saposhnikovia into a hot herbal broth—the patient should first steam the affected eyes with the vapor, then cup the warm liquid in their hands to wash the eyes.

The second formula, called Bone-Transforming Elixir (Huangu Dan), treats rheumatic pains in the waist and legs. Take six liang of monkshood (aconite), remove the skin and tips, then grind it with two liang of fresh tofu into cakes. Boil until the cakes float (the cooking duration is crucial—overcooking diminishes efficacy while undercooking retains excessive toxicity). Separately, soak three liang of atractylodes in rice-washing water before drying, combine with one liang of gastrodia and half liang of fried scorpion, then grind all ingredients with the monkshood cakes. Form into mung bean-sized pills using rice paste. Take twenty pills at bedtime with papaya and warm wine—when the medicine takes effect around midnight, causing temporary full-body numbness, this indicates successful treatment.

The third formula, Sinew-Relaxing Powder (Shujin San), specifically addresses Qi-blood stagnation and muscular cramps. Grind equal parts corydalis, Chinese angelica, and cinnamon bark into powder. Take two qian doses on an empty stomach with warm wine—this is considered a superior remedy for activating blood circulation and moving Qi.

Finally, the Channel-Activating Elixir (Huoluo Dan) treats waist and leg disorders. The primary ingredient, fenugreek (four liang), requires two separate frying processes: first with lygodium spores (bamboo garden manure collected and dried in August-September), then with croton seeds (shelled for kernels). Add four liang of cocklebur herb (wild eggplant leaves) and four liang of Chinese silk vine (with leaves), dry and powder all ingredients. Form into mung bean-sized pills using wine-boiled flour paste. For waist conditions, take thirty to forty pills with raw wine when semi-fasting; for knee and foot ailments, consume on a completely empty stomach.

These formulas emphasize precise herb preparation methods and specific administration timings, embodying the Daoist medical principle of "correspondence between heaven and human." Particular caution is required when processing highly toxic ingredients like monkshood and croton seeds, where precise heat control is paramount.

Here are several ancient medicinal formulas for treating sores and epidemics. The first describes how to make a sore-healing plaster: Take one jin of clear oil, add two liang of human hair and simmer until dissolved. Then freely add half a liang each of licorice nodes, Chinese angelica root tips, coptis root, croton seeds, castor seeds, trichosanthes fruit, and momordica seeds. After boiling twice, strain the mixture. Add five liang of water powder, bring to a boil again, then stir in seven liang of yellow minium. After another boiling, mix in one liang of powdered frankincense. Stir continuously with peach and willow branches until droplets form pearls in water without sticking to hands—this indicates the plaster is ready.

A similar plaster recipe: Simmer five liang of sesame oil with twenty-eight croton seeds and twenty-eight cun-long willow twigs. When the seeds turn black, strain the mixture and gradually add two liang of grain minium while stirring constantly with willow branches. Remove from heat when droplets hold their shape in water without sticking. Finally, blend in one qian of powdered frankincense, store in earthenware, and spread after cooling.

Also recorded is the "Divinely Bestowed Perilla Powder" for seasonal epidemics. Legend tells of a city struck by plague where a white-haired elder taught a wealthy family this formula, curing the entire population. When plague demons learned the recipe came from the elder—who had "already taught three people"—they retreated. The remedy requires abstaining from meat and alcohol during treatment and is said to be remarkably potent.

During a Yuan Dynasty epidemic in Taihe County, Jiangxi, a physician returning home at midnight encountered a divine horseman. The deity advised that complex treatments were unnecessary—Perilla Powder alone would suffice. Following this guidance, the physician achieved miraculous results, his reputation soared, and he revered this spirit throughout his life.

The Perilla Powder formula: Four liang each of stir-fried cyperus rhizome (with hairs removed) and perilla leaves, one liang of aged tangerine peel, and one liang of roasted licorice root. Coarsely grind the ingredients. For each dose, simmer three cups of the powder with one cup of water until reduced by 30%, strain, and drink hot three times daily without strict timing.

This collection of ancient Daoist medical formulas primarily documents treatment methods for several common ailments. The most significant "Three Tonics Immortal Pill" (Xianfang Sanbu Wan) consists of three ingredients: Psoralea seeds (tonifying kidneys), White Poria fungus (nourishing the heart), and Myrrh (enriching blood). During preparation, the myrrh is first soaked in wine until achieving a syrupy consistency, then mixed with the other two powdered ingredients to form pills the size of phoenix tree seeds. Take 20-30 pills on an empty stomach with warm water. Long-term use is said to preserve youthful appearance.

Other simple remedies include: treating alcoholic jaundice with momordica seeds ground in vinegar; stopping night sweats by applying powdered Chinese gallnut mixed with saliva to the navel; addressing excessive genital sweating with wine-fried astragalus powder consumed with pig heart; relieving heat rash by rubbing cucumber slices or bathing in jujube leaf decoction. A special "Jade Flower Powder" (comprising clam powder, talc, and mung bean powder) can be applied topically for skin conditions.

Emergency treatments for specific symptoms: for swollen protruding tongue (centipede poisoning) soak in rooster comb blood; for delirium and ghost-seeing mania use Pingwei Powder with cinnabar-jujube decoction; stubborn wind-cold ailments require "Sage-like Powder" (containing over ten herbs including clematis root, saposhnikovia root, and ephedra), decocted with ginger wine, followed by sweating therapy using vitex wood fire to regulate bodily fluids.

These formulas embody the Daoist medical principle of "Three Tonics" (kidneys, heart, and blood), emphasizing simple external therapies. Most utilize common medicinal materials, highlighting the application of wine-based preparations and dietary therapy.

This passage discusses the causes, symptoms, and treatment taboos of "great wind disease" (the ancient term for leprosy).

The etiology of great wind disease is complex. It may arise from excessive indulgence depleting Qi and blood, prolonged anger or sorrow causing emotional depression, exposure to wind while sweating during physical weakness, sleeping outdoors after drinking alcohol, wind toxins entering through hand or foot injuries, or the invasion of cold-dampness during heavy rains. These pathogenic factors transmit through the meridians to internal organs, forming blisters and skin lesions throughout the body.

The disease originates from three possible sources: water-wind contamination, contagion, or improper self-regulation. Five particularly dangerous symptoms can be fatal: skin numbness with loss of sensation, muscle wounds without pain, blood necrosis with festering pus, bone-tendon necrosis leading to limb loss, and nasal collapse with facial distortion progressing to voice loss. Different organ systems manifest distinct symptoms: lung meridian affliction causes eyebrow loss first; liver meridian involvement creates purple blisters on the face; kidney meridian damage results in foot sole ulcers; spleen meridian disturbance produces body-wide skin lesions; heart meridian attack initially harms the eyes.

The disease can spread through family lines or be contracted in unsanitary environments. Symptoms vary widely but cause unbearable suffering, potentially proving fatal within one or two years if untreated. However, many skilled physicians avoid treating this condition, while incompetent practitioners dangerously employ bloodletting needles, arsenic moxibustion, or toxic herbal oil baths—methods that prove largely ineffective.

Important reminder: During treatment, patients should take gold-foil tranquilizing pills (a type of calming medicine) with winter-brewed wine, while avoiding foods that trigger wind pathogens and toxins.

This passage describes a method for treating stubborn ulcerous sores. For recurring conditions, the following steps must be followed to achieve a complete cure:

First, the patient must rest in a quiet room, completely abstain from alcohol and sexual activity, clear distracting thoughts, and sincerely repent before divine physicians. Dietary restrictions are essential—avoid foods that may trigger wind pathogens (fengxie) or agitate Qi, such as meat, strong salted sauces, and raw or cold foods. Maintain patience and a relaxed state of mind before beginning medicinal treatment.

The treatment proceeds in two phases: First, use blood-purging pills to expel toxic blood. After the sores rupture and suppurate, apply medicinal decoctions for fumigation and washing. Within about ten days, new flesh will grow over the wounds, and the old sores will gradually recede without recurrence. The patient will experience unobstructed nasal breathing, comfortable skin, and even regrowth of eyebrows and beard, with a rosy complexion and harmonized internal organs. The specific formulas are as follows:

First formula: Xiaofeng San (Wind-Dispersing Powder, taken on the first day)

Grind equal parts (one liang each) of fragrant angelica root (Angelica dahurica), whole scorpion (tail tip removed), and ginseng into powder. Take two qian per dose. At noon, consume only congee, avoiding heating foods like ginger or pepper. Fast in the evening. The next morning, take the powder with warm wine and delay breakfast to allow mild bodily warmth—this enhances efficacy.

Second formula: Zhuifeng San (Wind-Chasing Powder, blood-purging formula, taken on the second day)

Grind six liang of rhubarb root, one liang eight qian of chuanchan gang (lesser turmeric), and one liang of honeylocust thorn into powder. For the first dose, take five to seven qian mixed with 2.5 qian of chaulmoogra oil and a pinch of crude saltpeter, taken with warm wine. Do not drink water until 7 PM—use sugar water or honey water for rinsing instead. A companion must sit quietly with the patient until severe abdominal pain begins (indicating toxin expulsion; 10+ bowel movements are normal). Conclude with thin congee for recovery.

Note: This regimen is unsuitable for those over 50 or physically weak. For robust youths, administer three times in ten days (e.g., on the 1st, 11th, and 21st of the lunar month).

The seven-day treatment protocol for leprosy (known in ancient times as "great wind sores") is as follows: On the first and second days, administer Wind-Chasing Powder (Zhuifeng San); on the third day, Wind-Grinding Pills (Mofeng Wan); on the fourth day, switch to Wind-Clearing Powder (Qingfeng San); on the fifth day, return to Wind-Chasing Powder; and on the sixth day, reuse Wind-Grinding Pills. For those with weak constitutions, administer the medicine once every ten days, while those with robust health may take it once every ten days. After two months of continuous treatment, reduce the frequency to once every twenty days, strictly recording each administration date.

Wind-Grinding Pills (taken on the third day, two doses daily):

Combine one liang each of Chinese angelica root (Danggui), notopterygium root (Qianghuo), pubescent angelica root (Duhuo), Sichuan lovage rhizome (Chuanxiong, selecting small roots), gastrodia tuber (Tianma), asarum herb (Xixin), saposhnikovia root (Fangfeng), schizonepeta herb (Jingjie), clematis root (Weilingxian), ephedra (Mahuang, with nodes removed), fleeceflower root (Heshouwu), stone thistle (Shijingzi), burdock fruit (Niubangzi), toad leaf (Hamaye), cocklebur herb (Cangercao), and wrinkled face herb (Disong, also known as Zhoumiancao). Sun-dry and grind these ingredients (avoid oven-drying). Mix with rice wine and rice paste to form pills the size of phoenix tree seeds. Take thirty pills per dose, either before or after meals.

External Wash Formula:

Combine three liang each of wolfberry root bark (Digupi), schizonepeta herb (Jingjie), flavescent sophora root (Kushen), and asarum herb (Xixin), finely chopped. For each use, take two liang and decoct in river water. Steam and wash the entire body until the skin shows slight bleeding. Use a large tub with ample water for prolonged soaking to enhance efficacy.

Topical Application (used on the fourth day for extensive skin ulceration):

Grind into fine powder two liang of eucommia bark (Duzhong, selecting hard black dog spine), six qian of sulfur (Liuhuang), two liang of dried alum (Kufan), four liang of cnidium fruit (Shechuangzi), two liang of calcite (Hanshuishi), and a small amount of crude saltpeter (Puxiao). Blend with lard or sesame oil from the twelfth lunar month for external application. Omit if the skin is intact.

Additional Universal Formula (for treating various wind-related disorders):

Effective for muscle numbness, itchy skin, scabies, wind rashes, migratory facial patches (with a crawling sensation), vitiligo, and leg sores caused by kidney deficiency. Ingredients: two liang of fleeceflower root (Heshouwu), one liang of Chinese angelica root (Danggui), and three liang of prepared fleeceflower root (Zhi Heshouwu).

This prescription primarily treats external conditions such as skin ulcers and sores. The first formula consists of Angelica dahurica (Bai Zhi), Sophora flavescens (Ku Shen), Clematis root (Wei Ling Xian, with rhizome removed), Vitex fruit (Man Jing Zi), Angelica pubescens (Du Huo), Chuanxiong rhizome (Chuan Xiong), Saposhnikovia root (Fang Feng), Schizonepeta spike (Jing Jie Sui), Notopterygium root (Qiang Huo), Red peony root (Chi Shao Yao), Tribulus fruit (Bai Ji Li, thorns removed and stir-fried), Earthworm (Di Long, soil removed), Typhonium rhizome (Bai Fu Zi), Gardenia fruit (Shan Zhi Zi), and Black snake (Wu She, soaked in fine wine, boiled dry, deboned, then sun-dried or oven-dried). These ingredients are first ground into fine powder, then mixed with stir-fried sesame and shelled Chaulmoogra seeds (Da Feng Zi), kneaded with wine-boiled rice paste, and formed into pills the size of Phoenix Tree seeds. Take 30-40 pills per dose with tea or wine.

The second formula includes Clematis root (Wei Ling Xian), Polygonum multiflorum (He Shou Wu), Lycopus lucidus (Di Song), Saposhnikovia root (Fang Feng), Vitex fruit (Man Jing Zi), Schizonepeta (Jing Jie), Plantago asiatica (Xia Ma Cao), Asarum herb (Xi Xin), Burdock fruit (Niu Bang Zi), Gleditsia spine (Zhu Ya Zao), Angelica sinensis (Dang Gui), Xanthium herb (Cang Er Cao), Gastrodia tuber (Tian Ma), honey-fried licorice (Zhi Gan Cao), Notopterygium root (Qiang Huo), Angelica pubescens (Du Huo), Ephedra with nodes removed (Ma Huang), Lycopus herb (Ze Lan), Chuanxiong rhizome (Chuan Xiong), and Sophora flavescens (Ku Shen). Equal parts are ground, decocted into paste, and formed into Phoenix Tree seed-sized pills. Take 40-50 pills per dose with tea or wine.

For eyebrow regrowth: Grind equal parts of oven-dried Gleditsia spines (Zao Jiao Ci) and charred deer antler (Lu Jiao, calcined to ash while preserving medicinal properties) into fine powder. Blend with fresh ginger juice and apply daily to eyebrows to promote natural growth.

Moxibustion for root treatment: At the tendon gap near the tip of the big toe—approximately half a cun (about 1.5 cm) from the toenail—apply three moxa cones per foot to expel toxic Qi.

The appended Text on Extending Compassion Through Capability states: In human life, virtuous conduct is paramount. When capable, one must act benevolently without delay—opportunities lost are truly regrettable. Those with wealth and influence hold easy power over others’ fortunes; in all matters, they should harbor good intentions. Each act of leniency bestows grace upon others. Strive diligently to perform good deeds, widely dispensing compassion without distinction of kinship or status. With the heart of sages who benefit all under heaven, such merit becomes immeasurable.

The Celestial Master Zhang Daoling (Han Ancestral Celestial Master) taught that the foremost method for accumulating virtue (De) was selling rice at fair prices. Those with means could purchase large quantities of grain during harvest seasons or store surplus from their own fields. When famine struck, selling these reserves at original prices—without personal loss but with great benefit to the people—was highly meritorious. In ancient Chengdu, Huang Chengshi practiced this and was praised by the Perfected Lord of the Purple Palace (a Daoist immortal), later ascending to the ranks of immortals with his family enjoying prosperity for generations. A lesser but still commendable alternative was selling grain at moderately reduced prices during shortages.

Healing the sick is an act of profound goodness. Devoutly preparing and distributing Ruyi Dan (Elixir of Wish Fulfillment), transmitted by Perfected Lord Xu (Xu Xun), can cure myriad illnesses, particularly epidemics. Other virtuous deeds include donating common medicines or printing and distributing effective prescriptions.

In summer, offer cooling drinks; in winter, provide clothing for the elderly and infirm. Care for widows, orphans, and the solitary; adopt abandoned children. Supply coffins for those who cannot afford burials, and extend timely aid to those in sudden distress.

Liberating the souls of the deceased requires little expense but yields immense merit. Immortal Ge Xuan (Ge the Transcendent) attained perfection through this practice, and Perfected Master Sa (Sa Shoujian) also achieved immortality by the same means. Throughout history, Daoist masters have emphasized this work. Regular performance of jiao rituals (purification rites) brings blessings to the netherworld beings—even occasional offerings carry significant merit. The wise should deeply study the mysteries of life, death, and transformation, mastering the alchemy of water and fire (Yin-Yang harmonization) to transcend worldly ties while delivering the suffering. All merit begins here, but proper transmission from a teacher is essential—the Dao never fails the sincere.

The suffering of animals is no different from humans'. Refrain from killing whenever possible, extending equal compassion to insects, birds, and beasts. Daoist scriptures advocate fasting (zhai, periodic vegetarianism) and releasing captive creatures. During the Three Officials' (Heaven, Earth, Water) merit evaluations, the Three Yuan fasts (observed in the 1st, 7th, and 10th lunar months) emphasize non-harming.

Building bridges, repairing roads, digging wells, clearing waterways, promoting public welfare, resolving conflicts, and guiding others toward goodness—all are compassionate acts. For the wealthy, such deeds bring widespread benefit, ensuring abundant blessings: longevity, prosperity, and familial harmony. Practitioners who embody these accumulate complete merit, naturally attracting enlightened teachers. Those with limited means who persevere in goodness are especially rare and precious. As Perfected Master Yangsu once said, ancient adepts considered aiding the destitute and comforting the lonely as the deepest form of virtue.

This medical-Daoist text primarily discusses post-illness recuperation taboos after recovering from febrile diseases, categorizing them into two types: relapse from overexertion (laofu) and relapse from improper diet (shifu).

For convalescents, the Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) warns that premature consumption of meat or overeating causes residual pathogenic heat to clash with food essence (Jing), resulting in "dietary relapse" (shifu). Wang Qixuan explains this occurs when one forces nourishment while internal heat remains undispersed. A more severe condition called "full relapse" indicates complete disease recurrence.

Zhang Zhongjing's Shanghan Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage) introduces the concept of "Yin-Yang exchange": when a recently recovered man has intercourse, it's termed "Yang exchange"; when a woman does so, it's "Yin exchange." This refers to mutual transmission of residual toxins during sexual union. "Lust relapse" describes exhaustion of genuine Qi (Zhenqi) and invasion of pathogenic heat through sexual indulgence—often incurable. The text cites Gu Zixian who ignored Hua Tuo's diagnosis, engaged in intercourse post-recovery, and died with his tongue protruding several inches.

Specific exertion taboos include: premature hair-combing induces headaches; early face-washing causes facial fever; untimely foot-washing leads to numbness; bathing too soon brings feverish dizziness; anger generates abdominal masses; long journeys weaken legs; strenuous activity causes hemiplegia; overthinking depletes Qi. Essentially, patients must avoid early rising and fatigue.

Dietary warnings are particularly severe: mutton triggers fatal dyspnea; lamb heart/lungs guarantee death; sheep blood damages the liver causing severe diarrhea; beef induces persistent dysentery; pork/sheep intestines cause chronic illness; horse meat is lethal; premature poultry consumption proves fatal; ox liver leads to unstoppable hematochezia. These prohibitions reflect ancient practitioners' extreme caution regarding post-illness dietary safety.

This passage primarily discusses dietary restrictions and precautions during post-illness recovery.

Regarding dietary prohibitions: Consuming large chunks of meat may induce jaundice leading to death; roasted meats can trigger wasting-thirst syndrome (similar to diabetes); bone broth may cause bone-steaming fever; rabbit meat may lead to heart disease; yellow beef causes indigestion; chicken breeds parasites; carp revives old ailments; eel induces vomiting and diarrhea; salted fish provokes jaundice; goose meat brings on cholera; blood clams can be fatal; damp noodles cause tidal fever; cucumbers and snake gourds reactivate old illnesses fatally; eggplants induce malaria; white hyacinth beans stagnate in the chest creating cold energy; mallows may cause blindness; raw vegetables trigger fatal heart conditions and sallow complexion; premature alcohol consumption causes madness; white liquor leads to edema; drinking cold water after epidemic recovery damages the pericardium meridian, causing debilitating weakness.

The Eminent Physician Sun Simiao (Sun Zhenren) particularly warns: Consuming greasy foods like pork, sheep blood, or fatty fish immediately after febrile diseases or serious illness causes severe diarrhea that proves fatal. Hard-to-digest foods like wheat products, glutinous rice, roasted meats, candied fruits, or nuts—when consumed while stomach Qi (vital energy) remains weak—either force violent purgation through medication or cause death without treatment, both being perilous. Sexual activity within a hundred days of recovery when vitality remains unrestored proves fatal; even robust individuals must abstain for sixty days.

Recovery recommendations: Patients should consume thin congee, preferably eating less to maintain slight hunger rather than satiation. Even when craving other foods, restraint is essential. For thirst, administer Tianshui Powder (a heat-clearing formula), watermelon juice, or pear juice to quench thirst and dispel residual heat.

After forty years of medical practice, the author observes: Many ignorant individuals, relying on strong constitutions or mild conditions, violate these prohibitions without immediate consequences and assume perpetual immunity—unaware that constitutions and disease states vary. This misconception has tragically claimed countless lives.

A mother's love for her son or a wife's care for her husband often leads them to secretly provide food when asked. Yet these very people disregard the gravity of life and death, indulging only their cravings, thereby inviting misfortune instead. Alas, such principles can only be discussed with the wise—they are difficult to explain to the common folk. Thus, the cultivated must exercise caution. I have compiled these prohibitions from the teachings of sages and named them The Mirror for Preserving Life.

Ten Taboos During Children's Smallpox or Measles Outbreaks (Also Applicable During Silkworm-Rearing Season):

1. The odor of underarm foulness

2. The stench of stagnant ditch water

3. The lascivious scent after marital intimacy (recent activity is particularly potent)

4. The bloody reek of women during menstruation

5. All kinds of bloody or putrid smells

6. The stench of alcohol and greasy foods (inhaling alcohol can drive pox toxins inward; drinking alcohol may trigger eruptions)

7. The fumes of sulfur and mosquito repellents (including other toxic vapors—contact worsens eye infections)

8. The musky, gamey odor of musk (exposure drives pox toxins inward)

9. The damp sweat of plague victims (hang coriander nearby to neutralize the miasma)

10. The accidental burning of hair, the stink of fish bones, smoke inhaled through mouth or nose, the reek of onions, garlic, and leeks (as well as fried and greasy fumes)

These prohibitions originate from The Complete Compendium on Infant Care—violating them alters the course of illness, as I have personally verified. Some argue that rural children thrive despite breaking taboos, but this stems from differences in constitution and innate endowment between the noble and the common.

Coriander Wine Remedy for Childhood Pox:

To encourage eruptions, finely chop three liang of coriander, simmer in two large cups of wine until boiling, then immediately add the herb and seal the vessel tightly. Once cooled, strain the dregs and gently spray the liquid from the neck, back, chest, abdomen, down to the legs—avoiding the face. Place the leftover herbs in a cloth bag and hang it inside the bed canopy. Nursing mothers should drink the remaining liquid.

The Records of the Grand Historian Lists Six Incurable Conditions:

1. Arrogance and willfulness, devoid of reason

2. Valuing wealth over life

3. Excess in clothing and food

4. Imbalance of Yin-Yang, weakness of organs

5. Frailty too severe for medication

6. Trust in shamans over physicians

Liu Hejian’s Poem on Child-Rearing Advises:

Nurturing children demands attentive care—

Indulgence in tending only fosters harm.

Overfeeding milk will, in time, impair

The spleen and stomach, weakening their balm.

This passage primarily discusses principles of health preservation and several traditional Chinese medicinal formulas for treating eye disorders.

Regarding health preservation, it advises: Overeating harms the spleen and stomach, excessively thick quilts are detrimental to health, while light clothing is most suitable. One should frequently bask in sunlight while avoiding wind exposure, adapting naturally to seasonal temperature variations.

The following are several eye treatment formulas:

The first is a universal formula effective for dispersing wind-heat, applicable to both deficiency and excess conditions. For cases involving toxicity, mulberry bark can be added. The formula contains over ten herbs including shengma (Cimicifuga), chishaoyao (red peony root), chuanxiong (Ligusticum wallichii), chaihu (Bupleurum root), gegen (kudzu root), and xuanshen (Scrophularia root), decocted in plain water.

The second formula, called Qianghuo Powder, primarily treats heat syndromes. It contains fangfeng (Saposhnikovia root), qianghuo (Notopterygium root), chishao (red peony root), baizhi (Angelica dahurica), and chuanxiong (Ligusticum wallichii). It specifically mentions that for accumulated heat causing swelling and pain, one may combine it with rhubarb and mirabilitum to be taken at cockcrow.

The third, Danggui Powder, suits all ages and both deficiency/excess conditions. It contains danggui (Angelica sinensis), chuanxiong (Ligusticum wallichii), chishao (red peony root), and shudihuang (processed Rehmannia root), also decocted in plain water.

Finally, the Jili Pill specifically treats various visual obstructions. Using over twenty herbs including shijueming (abalone shell), chuanxiong (Ligusticum wallichii), baizhi (Angelica dahurica), and fangfeng (Saposhnikovia root), it's prepared with honey into pills. Those with deficiency constitution should take it with salt water, while those with excess constitution should use cogongrass and sugarcane juice as the carrier.

These formulas represent traditional Chinese compound prescriptions for eye disorders, where each herb has specific compatibility principles and precise dosages. It's important to note that such classical formulas require professional TCM practitioners to adjust according to specific symptoms, and should not be prepared or used without proper medical guidance.

This passage documents various ancient prescriptions and treatments for eye diseases, interpreted in modern language as follows:

For treating cataracts (eye opacity), one may use pork liver decoction, taking twenty qian per dose. In severe cases, augment the Four Substances Decoction (basic formula with Angelica sinensis, Ligusticum chuanxiong, Paeonia alba, and Rehmannia glutinosa) by adding white persimmon, mulberry root bark, cogongrass rhizome, and sugarcane for decoction.

The "Divine Response Light-Restoring Powder" treats cataracts, conjunctivitis, and pterygium. The formula contains horsetail weed, Angelica dahurica, licorice, celosia seeds, paper mulberry fruit, cassia seeds, notopterygium root, abalone shell, processed Sichuan aconite, tribulus fruit, and cicada molting. Grind these into powder, take one qian per dose after meals with tea or wine.

The "Vision-Restoring Pill" combines tribulus fruit, horsetail weed, clematis root, cicada molting, chrysanthemum, abalone shell, cassia seeds, Ligusticum chuanxiong, notopterygium root, celosia seeds, buddleia flowers, and paper mulberry fruit into honeyed pills. For blurred vision, use Four Substances Decoction with raw sesame oil, mint, schizonepeta, and forsythia.

For traumatic eye swelling with blood stasis, grind rhubarb, turmeric, coptis, phellodendron bark, Angelica sinensis, blechnum rhizome, ampelopsis root, gallnut, schizonepeta, mirabilitum, and mint into powder, mixing with fresh rehmannia juice for topical application. For eyeball injuries, mash peach twigs, willow branches, rehmannia with pork for external poultice.

For bloodshot eyes due to heart fire hyperactivity, consume scrophularia powder with pork liver. For unexplained tearing due to liver deficiency, use Four Substances Decoction with horsetail weed and saposhnikovia; for excess patterns, take powdered horsetail weed, atractylodes, tribulus fruit, saposhnikovia, notopterygium root, Ligusticum chuanxiong, and licorice with rice water.

For red, painful eyes, decoct gentian root, asarum, gardenia, rhubarb, licorice, and black soybean. For conjunctivitis, take decoction of peeled apricot kernel, knotgrass, and mulberry root bark hot. The "Kidney-Clearing Powder" treats eye diseases from kidney deficiency, containing tribulus fruit, saposhnikovia, notopterygium root, and astragalus taken with warm wine. For kidney deficiency with red eyes, use Rehmannia Pills, Red Salt Pills, fennel-based formulas, etc.

Here are several ancient medicinal formulas and preparation methods for treating eye disorders:

The first is the Fragrant Pill formula, where three medicinal ingredients are blended to make twenty pills that can be taken with saltwater or salted wine. The Rehmannia Pill uses raw rehmannia root, scutellaria, and fried cassia seeds, mixed with honey to form pill preparations.

For treating watery eyes, the Wind-Dispersing Powder and Black Spirit Powder require tea as the delivery medium. For eyelid inflammation (known as "festering wind edge"), the preparation involves calcined smithsonite (a mineral medicine) quenched seven times in children's urine, then ground into powder and mixed with a concentrated decoction of coptis root, Chinese angelica, and peony root. This mixture is repeatedly ground until fine and stored in porcelain containers. Application involves first washing the eyes with warm tea before applying the medicine.

Another topical eye medicine combines powdered red peony root, cattail pollen, turmeric, and hibiscus. For chronic eye pain, it can be taken with tea; for severe pain, dahurian angelica and arisaema rhizome are added; for persistent conditions, raw Sichuan aconite is incorporated.

The cataract treatment formula uses powdered cicada molting, Sichuan lovage root, and antelope horn mixed with honey to form pellet-sized pills—one pill per dose taken after meals with scallion tea.

The Wind-Preventing Powder treats eyelid swelling and pain caused by wind toxins, containing saposhnikovia root, chrysanthemum flowers, and coptis root for decoction. The Poria Powder specifically addresses persistent bloodshot eyes in elderly patients, using poria mushroom, ginseng, and red peony root in a decocted formula.

These prescriptions meticulously document herbal combinations and administration methods, showcasing the sophisticated ancient Chinese medical experience in treating eye diseases. Special processing techniques like "calcining followed by quenching in children's urine" represent distinctive features of traditional Chinese pharmaceutical craftsmanship.

Here are several Daoist medical prescriptions for treating eye disorders and headaches. The first remedy addresses blood deficiency headaches in women: grind monkshood and gardenia into powder, mix with scallion white juice, and apply to the temples and brow ridges, being careful to avoid contact with the eyes. After application, avoid wind exposure and apply only to painful areas.

The Liver-Nourishing Brightness Pill formula includes: antelope horn (1 liang), raw rehmannia (1 liang), prepared rehmannia (1 liang), cistanche (1 liang), wolfberry (1 liang), saposhnikovia root (1 liang), cassia seed (1 liang), paper mulberry fruit (0.5 liang), chrysanthemum (1 liang), notopterygium root (1 liang), Chinese angelica (1 liang), and boiled-then-dried sheep liver (4 liang). Grind these ingredients into powder, mix with honey to form pills the size of phoenix tree seeds. Take 30 pills per dose. Traditional medicine holds that the liver governs the eyes—only with sufficient liver blood can one see clearly. Blood deficiency leads to malnourished liver Qi (vital energy), preventing bile from ascending, which causes blurred vision. This formula nourishes liver blood, enriches bile, and relieves eye strain. Take with mild salt water in the morning, light tea at noon, and wine before bed to enhance liver nourishment (those abstaining from alcohol may substitute ginseng-angelica decoction). Long-term use yields excellent results.

For conjunctivitis and headache with swelling: grind Chinese honeylocust fruit, phellodendron bark, turmeric, arisaema rhizome, monkshood, and coptis root into powder. Mix with ginger juice and apply to temples—pain relief typically occurs within one or two applications. Also effective for bloodshot eyes. For traumatic eye swelling, add hibiscus leaf powder to the mixture, or apply crushed scallion whites externally.

Eye wash formula: grind coptis root, Chinese angelica, red peony root, and talc into powder. Infuse in warm water, strain, and use the clear liquid to wash eyes—effective against various corneal opacities. Adding gypsum, frankincense, and ash bark treats dizziness; adding chastetree berry and hollowed-out gallnut addresses wind-heat induced red eyes.

Rehmannia Pill formula: chrysanthemum (0.5 liang), common scouring rush herb (0.5 liang), atractylodes rhizome (1 liang), rehmannia (3 qian), wolfberry (3 qian), and schizonepeta (3 qian). Refine with honey into pills. Take 20 pills with tea after meals to dispel wind and improve vision, suitable for multiple eye conditions.

Dodder Seed Pill calms the spirit (Shen), stabilizes the ethereal soul (Po), and sharpens eyesight for those with blurred vision. Ingredients include prepared rehmannia, green tangerine peel, plantago seed, and morinda root with core removed.

This scripture records several ancient Chinese medical formulas and treatment methods:

First is a kidney-tonifying and bone-strengthening pill formula: Use honey-fried Eucommia bark (fried until no fibers remain), wine-soaked Clematis root, Polygala root with core removed, wine-soaked Achyranthes root, wine-soaked Cistanche, one liang of prepared Rehmannia, and two liang of Cuscuta seeds. These herbs are soaked in wine, then cooked with flour paste to form pills. Take thirty pills on an empty stomach with salted wine soup.

Next is the "Three Yellow Decoction" for acute eye redness, swelling and heat-toxicity: Use half liang each of Coptis root and Poria, with two liang of roasted Rhubarb, combined with Licorice powder and Mirabilite, taken after meals with Ophiopogon decoction.

The "Asarum Powder" specifically treats eye trauma causing pupil pain and bleeding: Use Schizonepeta spikes, Plantago seeds, Poria, Asarum, three qian of Lycium root bark and a small amount of Myrrh, taken on an empty stomach with warm wine.

"Black Spirit Powder" treats women's blood deficiency dizziness or postpartum menstrual disorders with severe pain (contraindicated for pregnant women): Contains Atractylodes, Poria, Licorice, Fennel, Cinnamon, Corydalis, fresh Rehmannia, Chuanxiong, Peony, Cattail pollen, Aucklandia, Angelica dahurica, and Chinese Angelica, ground into powder and taken with wine.

For treating pterygium: Collect male pig gallbladder during the twelfth lunar month, add Natrum Sulfuricum and air-dry before grinding into powder, then mix with Borneol and Musk for eye application. Another "Mysterious Bright Powder" preparation: Fill ox gallbladder with two qian of Mirabilite and one qian of Coptis, hang to air-dry, then daily sweep the crystallized powder from the gallbladder surface with duck feather for storage.

For children's smallpox treatment, it particularly emphasizes avoiding toxin-purging methods. Recommended internal use of mung bean skin and Eriocaulon herb, with regular consumption of river snails being beneficial. If smallpox affects the eyes, white persimmon can be taken. For measles or smallpox causing eye membrane opacity: Use Cassia seed, Trichosanthes root, Licorice, and red Peony (one qian each), ground and taken with half qian of hot water.

For eye membrane opacity: Use Trichosanthes root, Licorice, Cassia herb, and red Peony (half qian each), taken with honey water. Finally, the "Cooling Malnutrition Pill" specifically treats children's malnutrition-induced eye redness and ulceration.

This scripture records several traditional Chinese medicinal prescriptions for treating eye diseases, primarily addressing symptoms such as wind-heat conditions, redness and swelling, itching and pain, and excessive tearing.

The first prescription treats foreign body sensations in the eyes following rashes. Grind equal parts of Sophora flavescens (kushen), Saposhnikovia root (fangfeng), Vitex fruit (manjingzi), Gentian root (longdancao), and Scrophularia root (xuanshen) into fine powder. Mix with pig bile to form mung bean-sized pills, to be taken with tea.

Next is a fumigation formula for external application: Finely grind 50 peeled seeds of white elm-leaved pear (baiwuyi), 20 peeled seeds of Prinsepia uniflora (ruiren), aloe (luhui), and bear bile (xiongdan) - three qian each. Blend with raw sesame oil. Then wrap cinnabar (zhusha), frankincense (ruxiang), and arsenic (pishuang) - each the size of a soybean - in dried mugwort leaves. Burn this bundle to fumigate the medicinal liquid in a bowl. After complete combustion, collect the residue and apply millet-sized portions to the eyes.

The text then presents two eye-washing formulas:

The first uses Chinese gallnut (wubeizi, ash removed) and Vitex fruit (manjingzi, peeled and washed in hot water) ground into powder. For each application, mix two qian with half a cup of water containing several copper coins. Seal the container with paper and heat until small holes appear in the paper, then fumigate the eyes with the steam. When cooled to suitable temperature, use the clarified liquid for eye washing.

The second formula combines half a liang of malachite (tongqing), one liang of white clay (baie), and 1.5 qian of Chinese gallnut (wubeizi) ground into powder. Soak in hot water for closed-eye hot compresses, being careful to prevent liquid from entering the eyes.

The tea-blended powder prescription treats various wind-induced swellings, itching pains, eye nebula, and tearing. It combines one liang each of Ligusticum chuanxiong (chuanxiong), Saposhnikovia root (fangfeng), Notopterygium root (qianghuo), half liang of licorice (gancao), one liang each of Equisetum hyemale (muzei), fried gypsum (shigao), roasted abalone shell (shijueming), Schizonepeta herb (jingjie), peppermint leaves (boheye), and chrysanthemum flowers (ganjuhua) ground into powder. Take two qian per dose with tea.

For treating heat-induced eye conditions, first prepare a four-liang extract of Coptis root (huanglian). Then take a sweet melon, remove its top, scoop out the pulp, and alternately layer peppermint (bohe) and sodium sulfate (meyaxiao) until full. These prescriptions collectively demonstrate the extensive experience of ancient Chinese medicine in treating ocular disorders.

This passage describes ancient medicinal formulas and preparation methods for treating eye diseases.

The first prescription uses a melon as a container: the medicine is placed inside the melon, covered with its top, and hung in a ventilated area for three to four days. The saltpeter naturally seeps out and is collected daily with a goose feather, then mixed with coptis ointment and stored in a white vessel. This can be used to treat heat-related eye conditions. Another topical formula involves grinding mulberry leaves, schizonepeta, crude saltpeter, and rhubarb into powder, mixing it with honey water, and applying it to the temples to reduce heat and swelling.

The second formula is for Purple Gold Pills (Zijin Wan), composed of thirteen herbs including ligusticum, angelica, paper mulberry fruit, mint, and trichosanthes root. Four of these ingredients (such as snake skin and schizonepeta spikes) are first soaked in licorice juice and dried. All ingredients are finely ground, mixed with honey, and formed into pills, each weighing one qian (approx. 3.7 grams). Depending on the symptoms, different decoctions are used to administer the pills: green glaucoma is treated with angelica wine, qi stagnation-related eye diseases with aucklandia decoction, and women’s blood dizziness with angelica and mint decoction. Several successful cases are recorded: one patient with alcohol-induced vision impairment for three years recovered after 25 days of treatment; another with anger-induced blindness for eight years saw results in 40 days and full recovery in 60 days; and a third, blinded by grief after losing their mother for four years, regained sight after 50 days.

The third formula treats various eye diseases and blurred vision, using nine herbs including ligusticum, angelica, trichosanthes root, and Sichuan pepper. These prescriptions meticulously document dosages (e.g., "one and a half liang," roughly 37 grams today) and processing methods (such as "removing seeds and lightly frying").

This passage records several medicinal formulas and application methods for treating eye diseases. First is the pill formula for treating "heat-wind eyes" (eye conditions caused by wind-heat): Take sixteen herbs including vitex fruit, scouring rush (soaked overnight in children's urine then dried), mint, butterfly bush flower, wolfberry root bark, notopterygium root, tribulus fruit, and schizonepeta, grind them into powder, and mix with honey to form pills—every two liang of herbs makes ten pills. Take twice daily after meals, using different decoctions as chasers depending on symptoms: for ordinary cases use rice water, for dim vision use Chinese angelica decoction, for qi stagnation use aucklandia root decoction, and for women's blood dizziness use mint-angelica decoction. Avoid greasy foods, alcohol, and damp wheat products during treatment.

Three external applications are also recorded: The first uses holly seeds pounded to extract juice, boiled into paste, filtered and stored in porcelain jars buried underground for seven days to remove fire toxicity, used as eye drops for heat-type eye conditions. The second uses four liang each of coptis root and crude sodium sulfate boiled into paste for eye drops. The third uses carp gallbladder bile as eye drops, particularly effective for treating "rotten-rim eyes" (ulcerated eyelid margins).

The specific method for treating rotten-rim eyes involves: First wash the affected area with decoction of Chinese gallnut and vitex fruit, then apply a fine powder made from two liang of calcined calamine (quenched seven or eight times alternately with coptis juice and children's urine), mixed with verdigris, borax, musk, and refined sodium sulfate.

Finally, a simple formula for children's red eyes: Grind coptis root into powder, mix with tea water, and apply to the child's palms and soles for recovery. For swollen, painful eyes that are difficult to open, add turmeric powder, Chinese honeylocust fruit powder, and crude sodium sulfate powder, applying simultaneously to temples, palms and soles—adding crushed scallion white enhances the effect.