Publisher's Synopsis
1-1 Relationships between formulas and treatment methods. In clinical practice, a physician makes a diagnosis of a disease or symptom, and then, figures out treatment methods, and then, selects a formula for treatment. "Selection of formulas should be determined by the treatment methods," "treatment methods should be determined by diagnosis results," and "treatment methods are inherent in formulas." As an example, A patient suffering from the common cold, with aversion to chills and fever, headache and bodyache, no perspiration, panting, a superficial and tight pulse. The physician makes a diagnosis and determines it is a superficial wind-cold excess disease and decides to treat the patient with a formula, because the formula in question is designed to treat a superficial wind-cold excess disease. 1-2 Commonly Used Treatment Methods The Yellow Emperor's Classics says, "When a patient is in poor physical shape, it is necessary to warm the body by the energy of herbs. When the patient is short of pure essence of energy, it is necessary to tone the body by the flavours of herbs. When the disease attacks the upper region, it is necessary to induce vomiting; when the disease attacks the lower region, it is necessary to induce bowel movements; when the disease attacks the middle region, it is necessary to promote digestion. When the pathogen attacks the superficial region, the patient should take a hot bath or an herbal steam bath to induce perspiration. When the disease attacks only the superficial region of the skin, it is necessary to induce perspiration.." Again, the Yellow Emperor's Classics says, "In treatment, hot herbs should be used to treat a cold disease. The counteracting methood should be applied to treat a lighter disease. The head-on method should be applied to treat a severe disease. A solid disease should be treated by weakening it. A disease caused by the pathogens that reside in the body as guests should be treated by removing such pathogens. A disease caused by deficient fatigue should be treated by the warming method. A disease caused by energy congestion should be treated by the dispersing method. A disease caused by pathogens that insist on residing should be treated by the attacking method. A dry disease should be treated by the lubricating method. An acute disease should be treaated by slowing down its progression. A dispersing disease should be treated by the constricting method. A disease caused by a loss of energy and blood should be treated by the warming method. A disease caused by a slow flow of energy and blood should be treated by the quickening method. A disease of shock should be treated by the calming method. A disease with cave-in of energy should be treated by the lifting method. A disease with uprising energy should be treated by the inhibited method. In addition, the grinding method, the bathing method, the wasting method, the depriving method, and the opening-up method.
