‘The Complete Compendium of Zhang Jingyue Vol 50-51’: Eight Battle Arrays of New Formulae with Commentaries and Supplementary Case Studies by Zhang Jingyue and Chen Xiuyuan: Case Study

‘The Complete Compendium of Zhang Jingyue Vol 50-51’: Eight Battle Arrays of New Formulae with Commentaries and Supplementary Case Studies by Zhang Jingyue and Chen Xiuyuan

by Allen Tsaur (Working Draft # 1; publication forthcoming early 2022, Purple Cloud Press Series).

The first title of this series can be purchased here:

Complete Compendium of Zhang Jingyue Vol. 1-3: Eight Principles, Ten Questions, and Mingmen Theory

The following case revolves around Zhang Jingyue’s second son contracting sever life-threatening diarrhea and panting:

Heating Formula 21:

Huáng Yá Wán 黃芽丸
(Yellow Sprout Pill) (1)
It treats vacuity cold of the spleen and stomach, with signs such as indigestion of food and drinks, frequent distension or fullness, diarrhea, acid swallowing, retching, and vomiting. It is absolutely marvelous to keep this medicine by one’s side and take it frequently.

Rén Shēn 74.6 g
Gān Jiāng 11.2 g Scorched
Mix it with processed honey and make it into pills the size of Qiàn Shí.694 Take it and chew it often.
Zhāng Jingyuè’s Case Study 21: Heat Effusion Due to External Contraction in An Infant

My second son was born in the fifth lunar month of [the year] Yi-Mao. At the beginning of autumn this year, he suddenly contracted cold, with effusion of heat and pulse that is slightly tense. As I always knew that his visceral qì pertained to yīn, I did not dare to resolve by clearing, so I prescribed the likes of [Chuān] Xiōng, [Zi] Sū, Qiāng [Huó], [Bái] Zhi, Xì Xīn, and Shēng Jiāng, in hope that they would be able to disperse the cold. After he ingested the first dose, it not only failed to abate the heat but also unexpectedly caused successive bouts of great diarrhea. After two days of incessant diarrhea, he began to pant; as it went on, the more diarrhea he had, the more severe his panting became. At the time, I supposed the cold qì was prevailing; however, why did the usage of warming medicinals unexpectedly cause diarrhea? Suppose that fire was tormenting metal, but after consecutive days of clear diarrhea, how could he still tolerate cold and cooling [medicinals]? Suppose that exterior evil still had not been eliminated, why did coursing and dispersing prove detrimental? I felt helpless at a loss of what to do, with crushing doubt and fear; moreover, I saw severe conditions in both his interior and exterior, with great panting in a critical state. How could he be saved by simple and easy formulae?

After I contemplated deeply for a long while, I slowly came up with an idea; hence, I utilized 7.5 g Rén Shēn and 5 slices of Shēng Jiāng, and decocted them into half a teacup of decoction. Nevertheless, I did not dare to serve it all at once, as I was afraid that any exacerbation to [my son’s] panting would certainly render him beyond saving; instead, I served him 2 – 3 spoons [of the decoction] with a teaspoon. Right away, I held him against my chest and walked around the room. I patiently inspected the inhaling and exhaling of his breathing. Although his panting was not reduced, it was not exacerbated either. Subsequently, I gave him another 3 – 4 spoons [of the decoction]. After a short while, I noticed that [my son’s] breathing seemed to ease up slightly. Because of that, I went ahead and gave him half a small cup [of the decoction], which turned out to be even more effective.
From Wǔ to Yǒu hours, [my son] finished this one dose. A physician happened to visit, and he cried out despairingly, “This is a mistake! This is a blunder! For this type of great panting, how could you still utilize [Rén] Shēn? You should resolve it with Bào Lóng Wán immediately!”
While I assured him [I would do so], I did not listen to him at all. Instead, I decocted 9.3 g Rén Shēn into a decoction with the previous method. From You to Zi hours, [my son] finished that dose.

After he finished the entire dose, his breathing calmed down, and he snored while having a deepsleep. The diarrhea stopped, and the heat also abated. How was I able to know this? I noticed that his panting was unexpectedly caused by diarrhea.Was it not the center vacuity? Suppose that there were indeed replete evil, the panting would have been relieved after diarrhea manifested. This was what I was able to identify. If I were to listen to that physician by mistake and changed [the strategy] to clear and disinhibit, the center qì would have deserted; immediately, it would have placed [my son] in mortal danger. Still, people would have blamed me for my mistaken utilization of [Rén] Shēn. Who is right and who is wrong, how could people ever tell? For that reason, I have recorded this here, so that people may see the effect of dispersing the cold by warming the center, and how marvelous it can be!

Summary Verses:
Huáng Yá Wán utilizes [Rén] Shēn as the sovereign, And assisted by some scorched [Gān] Jiāng to treat retching and vomiting. For vacuity cold of the spleen and stomach, indigestion of food, Acid swallowing, distension, and diarrhea, one will be cured by constantly chewing on it.

Critique:
Both this [formula] and Yī Qì Dān are post-antique formulae that warm and supplement. If [the dosage of] Gān Jiāng or Fù Zǐ were twice of that of Rén Shēn, then it would have grasped to the [orthodox] method. Furthermore, Gān Jiāng should not be scorch-fried.

Post-Post-Scriptum: Image: Guanyin , the bringer of sons, source: Metmuseum