The The Zhongjing On The Treatment Of Fu Man Literature

The dissertation discusses the rules of syndrome differentiation and treatment of abdominal distension listed in the two works Treatise on Cold-Induced Diseases and Synopsis of the Golden Chamber forwarded by Zhang Zhongjing. It also makes a summary of Zhang's academic characteristics in the treatment of abdominal distension and its influences on the later development of his thoughts.It is quite complicated about the cause of abdominal distension. In total there are about 10 causes, i.e. misuse of sweating, blockage of the stomach and spleen, inner retention of heat and dry stools, excessive cold in the abdomen, deficiency and cold in the zang-fu organs, impeded flow of qi, retention of phlegm and fluid, stagnation of blood, and other causes like parasites, indigestion, and food poisoning and so on. There are two kinds of pathogenesis:excess and deficiency. In the former the middle qi is declined or deficiency and cold in the zang-fu organs, which impedes qi flow, resulting in abdominal distension. In such a condition there is no visible pathogenic factor. In the latter it is triggered by damp-heat, or retained phlegm and fluid, or dry stools, or excessive cold, or indigestion, or stagnation of blood, which means there are visible pathogenic factors. In syndrome differentiation it is essential to know whether it is due to exterior or interior causes, deficiency or excess, cold or heat. If abdominal distension is relieved by pressing or warmth, it is a deficiency syndrome, and if it is not relieved when it is pressed and pain feels, it is an excess syndrome. As to the cold or heat syndrome, the decisive factor is symptoms. When it is accompanied by dysphoria, delirium and tidal fever, it is an excess syndrome. When it is relieved by pressing, accompanied by diarrhea with undigested food, cold hands and feet and slow pulse, it is a cold syndrome. As to the nature of pathogenic factors, tidal fever, delirium, sweating on hands and feet indicate retention of dry stools. Jaundice is due to dampness. Abdominal water murmur points to retained fluid. Purplish tongue, wasting away or abdominal distention after childbirth is often seen in the case of stagnation of blood. Food contamination usually causes parasites or food poisoning.In the treatment of abdominal distension three methods are usually applied, i.e. "warming", "promoting qi flow", and "removing obstruction" according to Zhang Zhongjing, who proposed 22 formulas with 1 acupuncture technique. The formulas are divided into four types:warming the interior, purgating, removing stagnation of blood or blood stasis, and causing vomiting.He had four characteristics in the treatment of abdominal distension. They are emphasis on abdominal examination, regulation of the stomach and spleen, determination of the nature of pathogenic factors and methods to eliminate them.