We find here the original text which has influenced how Chinese Medicine delineates sub-categories of stroke. There are two parts:
Part One:
“寸口脉浮而紧，紧则为寒，浮则为虚，寒虚相搏，邪在皮肤；”
This line tells us that the cun pulse is floating and tight, and that tightness means “cold” while floating implies “deficiency;” when cold and deficiency interact, the pathogen is on the skin. This part is […]
苓桂甘枣汤 ：
苓桂甘枣汤 appears in line 65, and is indicated for:
“发汗后，其人脐下悸者，欲作奔豚…”
We can infer that the patient had some kind of immune reaction expressed as an exterior pattern. Somehow after treatment, the patient feels a kind of throbbing below his belly button, and the “running piglet” feeling is about to happen. I believe that 桂枝 and 甘草 […]
桂枝甘草汤：
“发汗过多，其人叉手自冒心，心下悸，欲得按者，桂枝甘草汤主之。”
Here we learn about the most valuable players used in treating cardiovascular problems: 桂枝 and 炙甘草.
It’s weak heart-yang that’s the problem, usually understood as the path leading heart failure. Both of the herbs are warm and acrid and can boost yang energy. That’s why why use the phrase “辛甘化阳” to describe this herb combination. 桂枝 […]
Gardenia is bitter and cold in nature and is well-known as an herb which can clear the heat from all three jiaos in the triple-burner. In his book On Cold Damage, Mr. Zhang Zhongjing dedicates some lines to its use to clear heart fire. The are three ways he uses Gardenia（栀子）here.
With 香豉
more later
With 甘草 and […]
Weak heart-yin:
Neurosis, hysteria, climacteric syndrome, dysfunction of the autonomous nervous system. And the like.
Apart from the two-herb-combi of 百合地黄汤, we can also consider others that are down-regulate an over-active mind: 酸枣仁汤 and 甘麦大枣汤, both of which reduce excess anxiety.
Herbs that can be added include: 夜交藤，生龙牡，磁石 (in more extreme cases) and 琥珀 (which I have […]
