Introduction:
“少阴之为病，脉微细，但欲寐也。” (line 281)
From line 281, we are told that 少阴病 is characterized by a weak and fine pulse. Also the person only feels like sleeping.
“少阴病，欲吐不吐，心烦，但欲寐。” (line 282a)
Next, we are told that the person experiences nausea but cannot vomit. He is vexed, but at the same time, very sleepy.
So far, it sounds like a person who […]
One explanation:
The textbook says that “汤者荡也，丸者缓也。”
( 荡 as in 没有约束.)
This means to say the decoctions are stronger than pills and in an uncontrollable fashion.
But 抵当丸 is actually a 散剂:
Why?
“上四味，捣(dao3)分四丸，以水一升，煮一丸，取七合服之，晬(zui4)时当下血，若不下者更服。”
This means to take the four ingredients and pound it to pieces, then making for pills (large albeit). Use one pill and put in one 升 (200ml […]
An introduction:
What we now understand as 蓄血证 appears in two places in 《伤寒论》
First, we have 太阳蓄血证，where three sub-patterns and hence prescriptions are indicated:
桃核承气汤
抵当汤
抵当丸
Now we have 阳明蓄血证, where instead of exhibiting exterior signs like in 太阳蓄血证, the patient exhibiting 阳明 signs. Continue reading to understand more:
One situation (阳明蓄血证):
“阳明证，其人喜忘者，必有蓄血。所以然者，本有久瘀血，故令喜忘。(line 237a)
屎虽硬，大便反易，其色必黑者，宜抵当汤下之。(line 237b)
Line 237a: Here, we have a Yangming […]
The situation:
“伤寒有热，少腹满，应小便不利，今反利者，为有血也，当下之，不可余药，宜抵当丸。” (line 126)
An externally contracted disease, pain in the lower abdomen. What should be is that urine should not be flowing smoothly.
BUT IT IS! And this means that “there is blood.” What? Not clear here, but from line 125b, we can infer that urine passing smoothly means that “there is blood” in the blood, […]
The situation:
“太阳病六七日，表证仍在，脉微而沉，，反不结胸，其人发狂者，以热在下焦，少腹当硬满，小便自利者，下血乃愈。” (line 124a)
“所以然者，以太阳随经，瘀热在里故也，抵当汤主之。” (line 124b)
“小便自利者，下血乃愈” in line 124a tells us that once your urine starts coming out smoothly, blood will come out with it, a prognosis for recovery. This type of recovery is very much like that seen in line 106a. Indeed, even the problem is the same, that of heat in the […]
