Zhao, suffered from warm disease. The [previous] physician prescribed Cinnamon Twig Decoction (gui zhi tang), which led to a subjective sensation of heat, thirst, and labored breathing. He then prescribed [Minor] Bupleurum Decoction (xiao chai hu tang) which made the heat especially worse and For the past six or seven she had increased wheezing and cough, repeatedly vomited up phlegm drool and had been unable to lie down. Her physician then said that her disease had become very severe and that he lacked the skill to address it. When her family learned of this they were alarmed and flustered. Younger brother Yi fang was dispatched to send for a physician.
When I arrived, I saw that the patient was experiencing hasty wheezing and shoulder breathing and spontaneous sweating from his head. This was heat in both the exterior and interior. His tongue coat was dark grey and his tongue was so contracted that he was unable to speak. I immediately took his pulse …
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Original Case by: Ye Tian-Shi (叶天士)
Chen, a 76 year old, had suffered from colon cancer 15 years previously. Consequently, part of his colon was removed and had remained healthy ever since. Recently, he had not moved his bowels for an entire week and he had developed a palpable mass in his lower abdomen on the side of the surgery. Chen went to several hospitals for further examination, where all [of his medical council] recommended surgery and noted that the prognosis was poor. Although Chen requested Chinese herbs, [his physicians] felt this was pointless and refused to prescribe for him. After this, the patient unexpectedly voided a hard pellet and immediately felt his lower abdomen relax.