The Classic Text:
In the classic text Shanghanlun, there is record of prescriptions used to treat yellowing, otherwise known as jaundice or 黄疸. We’ll not cover the use of 茵陈蒿汤 and 麻黄连轺赤小豆汤 here, but will focus on 质子蘗皮汤. The original text:
“伤寒身黄发热，质子蘗皮汤主之。”
This presciption is made up of only three herbs: 质子，黄柏 and 甘草（licorice). If you know the […]
There may have been situations when the patient goes to the Chinese Medicine doctor and is diagnosed with having a liver problem. He then goes to his Western doctor, and does tests that show nothing abnormal with his liver. To understand why the Chinese Medicine doctor said what he said, we have to clarify the […]
《金匮要略》has this famous line on preventive medicine:
夫治未病者，见肝之病，知肝传脾，当先实脾。四季脾王不受邪，即勿补之。
In prevention of disease, when you see a “liver” disease, you must know that “liver” diseases pass on to the “spleen”, hence it is imperative to first tonify the spleen. In the case where the spleen is abundant, then such tonification is not necessary.
Note here that liver and spleen […]
