Chinese Medicine Series 08:
景岳全書
Complete Compendium of Zhang Jingyue [pt 4]
The following is an excerpt from the opening section of Chapter 10, Determining a Treatment 論治篇十, from The Complete Compendium of [Zhang] Jingyue Vol.1-3, ‘Eight Principles, Ten Questions and Mingmen Theory’ translated by Allen Tsaur.
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凡看病施治貴乎精一，蓋天下之病變態雖多，其本則一，天下之方活法雖多，對證則一。故凡治病之道，必確知為寒則竟散其寒，確知為熱則竟清其熱，一救其本諸證盡除矣。故内經曰：治病必求其本。是以凡診病者。必須先探病本然後用藥，若見有未的，寧為少待再加詳察，旣得其要，但用一味二味便可拔之，卽或深固則五六味七八味亦已多矣。然雖用至七八味，亦不過帮助之導引之，而其意則一也，方為高手。
Upon diagnosing and treating diseases, it is indispensable to be refined and single-minded. Even though there are many transmutations and appearances of all diseases under the heavens, each of them has only one root. Although there are many permutations of all formulae under the heavens, there is only one [formula] that matches the pattern. Thus, this is the art of treating diseases: it is only after truly knowing that it is a cold [pattern], that one disperses the cold. It is only after truly knowing that it is a heat [pattern], that one clears the heat. Once the root is relieved, all signs will be eliminated.
Therefore, the Neijing states, “When treating a disease, one must seek the root.”
So, for those who diagnose diseases, they must first search for the roots of diseases and subsequently utilize the medicinals. If the insight is lacking, then it is preferable to wait for a little and further re-examine in detail. Once the crux of a disease is found, one only requires one or two ingredients to uproot [the disease]. Even if it is deeply consolidated, [one only needs] five to six ingredients, with seven to eight ingredients already being excessive. Even if one utilizes up to seven or eight ingredients, [these ingredients] only serve to assist or guide, with only one single-minded intention. Only then is one an expert.
今之醫者凡遇一證，便若觀海望洋茫無定見，則勢有不得不為雜亂而用廣絡原野之術，蓋其意謂虛而補之，則恐補之為害而復制之以消，意謂實而消之，又恐消之為害而復制之以補，其有最可哂者，則每以不寒不熱兼補兼瀉之劑確然投之，極稱穏當，此何以補其偏而救其弊乎？又有以治風治火治痰治食之劑兼而用之，甚稱周備，此何以從其本而從其標乎？若此者所謂以藥治藥尚未遑，又安望其及於病耶？卽使偶愈，亦不知其補之之力攻之之力也，使其不愈亦不知其補之為害消之為害也，是以白頭圭匕
而庸庸没齒者，其咎在於無定見而用治之不精也。使其病淺猶無大害，若安危在舉動之間，卽用藥雖善，若無膽量勇敢而藥不及病，亦猶杯水車薪尚恐弗濟，矧可以執兩端而藥有妄投者，其害又將何如？躭悞民生皆此輩也，任醫者不可不深察焉。
The physicians of today, whenever they see one sign, it is as though they are gazing at a vast ocean, not knowing where to anchor their judgment. As a result, there will be circumstances where they have no choice but to act in an eclectic and chaotic manner and employ tactics that spread out all over the open country. When they have the intention to supplement the vacuity, they become concerned about the harm of supplementing, so they also restrain it by dispersing. When they have the intention to disperse the repletion, they become concerned about the harm of dispersing, so they also restrain it by supplementing. The most laughable one would be those who confidently prescribe for all occasions formulae that are neither warming nor cooling, that are simultaneously supplementing and draining. They praise these [formulae] highly as being stable and proper. How could such formulae ever supplement the toppling conditions and rescue [patients] from harm?
There are also those who prescribe medicinals that treat [depressed] wind, fire, phlegm, and food altogether and call it all-encompassing. With this [type of formulae], how does one seek the root? Does one seek the branches [of the disease] instead? For these people, they already struggle for what is called “controlling medicinals with medicinals.” How could they ever hope to confront any disease? Even if they cure [any disease] by chance, they know neither the power of supplementing nor the power of attacking. When a disease cannot be cured, they know neither the harm of supplementing nor the harm of dispersing.
For the mediocre ones with whitening hairs, who have not accomplished anything all their lives, their fault is that they lack judgment and their treatments are unrefined. Suppose that the disease were shallow [in its penetration], [these mediocre physicians] would bring no great harm; however, when the safety and danger [of the patient] depends on every single action, even if [the physicians] were adept at utilizing medicinals, if they were without guts and courage to prescribe medicinals to confront the disease, then it would still be like trying to extinguish the burning cart of firewood with a cup of water, which I am afraid would bring no relief.
Moreover, there are those who hesitate with contradictory views and those who prescribe medicinals carelessly. What kind of harm will these people inflict? Such people are the ones who neglect and harm the welfare of the people. For those in the profession of medicine, they must not fail to scrutinize [my words] closely.
Post-Scriptum: The final work contains numerous, and in-depth footnotes to explain medicinal and cultural concepts otherwise unknown to most readers.
Post-Post-Scriptum: The second volume of this work is underway and is scheduled for a release this year. If you wish to be informed about new releases, please sign up for our newsletter and free member area: https://purplecloudinstitute.com/register/
