Written By Jun Heo(許浚, 1539~1615), Translated by Namil Kim, Wung Seok Cha et al., Published by Ministry of Health & Welfare (Korea)
Qi Counterflow 氣逆기역
① Divine Pivot (靈樞) says the following: “Huangdi (黃帝) said, ‘What is it that has gone amiss and become disorderly?’ Qibo (岐伯) answered, ‘Clear qi is in yin and turbid qi is in yang. Nutrient qi flows along vessels, but defense qi flows against it. It causes the clear and the turbid to get mixed up and the chest is disturbed. This is called Taeman (太悗) [meaning oppression]. If qi has become disorderly in the heart, one feels tightness in the chest, drops his or her head in silence, and lies still on his or her face. If qi has become disorderly in the lungs, one bends the head forward and backward, pants, and presses one’s chest with the hands while breathing. If qi has become disorderly in the intestines and stomach, sudden turmoil occurs. If qi has become disorderly in the arms or the thighs, reversal cold of the extremities occurs. If qi has become disorderly in the head, it becomes the reversal of qi, causing one to feel his or her head heavy and to faint.'”
② Introduction to Medicine (入門) says, “Qi counterflow is when qi frequently dashes upward from the abdomen.”
③ The Inner Classic (內經) says, “Everything that dashes upward because of reversal qi belongs to Fire.”
④ Zhenheng said, “The patient oneself says that cold qi ascends from the lower part of the body. This ascending qi comes out from the liver and has severe heat because ministerial Fire is caught in it. The patient thinks he or she feels cold, but is not cold in reality.” He also said, “Upwardly counter-flowing qi belongs to yang, so no cold can be present. The reason one feels an aversion to cold is that when Fire becomes severe, it becomes similar to Water.”
⑤ The Introduction to Medicine (入門) says, “In order to dissipate Fire, one must break the qi first. Fire descends automatically when qi descends.”
⑥ One should use a Remove Heat and Clear qi Decoction or Guide Qi Ponciri Fructus Pericarpium Pill for qi counterflow. If the Fire is severe, add Cyperi Rhizoma (香附子), Hoelen cum Radix (茯神), and Aquillariae Lignum (沈香) to a Decoction to Tonify Yin and Direct Fire Downward. [The prescription is shown in the chapter on Deficiency Vexation].
• Remove Heat and Clear Qi Decoction 退熱淸氣湯 퇴열청기탕
It cures qi counterflow. Chop the following herbs and decoct in water with 3 pieces of Zingiberis Rhizoma Crudus (生薑): Bupleuri Radix (柴胡), Citrus Unshius Pericarpium (陳皮), Poria Sclerotium Rubra (赤茯苓) (1 don each), Pinelliae Tube Preparata (半夏製), Aruantii Fructus Immaturus (枳殼) (8 pun each), Cyperi Rhizoma (香附子) (便香附子) (7 pun), Cnidii Rhizoma (川芎) (5 pun), 7 berries of Amomi Fructus (砂仁) (ground), Aucklandiae Radix (木香), and Glycyrrhizae Radix Praeparata (灸甘草) (3 pun each).[B146
• Guide Qi Ponciri Fructus Pericarpium Pill 導氣枳殼丸 도기지각환
It cures stuffiness and pain in the chest caused by qi counterflow. Grind the following medicine, knead with paste made with the juice of Zingiberis Rhizoma Crudus (生薑), and make it into pills the size of a seed of a foxglove tree: Aruantii Fructus Immaturus (枳殼) (parched with bran), Akebiae Caulis (木通) (parched), Citri Unshius Pericarpium Immaturus (靑皮), Citrus Unshius Pericarpium (陳皮), Mori Cortex (桑白皮) (baked), Raphani Semen (蘿蔔子) (parched), Pharbitidis Semen (白丑) (parched, grinded, and sifted, and use the powder sifted first), Pharbitidis Semen (黑丑) (parched, grinded, and sifted, and
use the powder sifted first), Curcumae Rhizoma (蓬朮) (ones that are baked under fire covered with ash), Sparganii Rhizoma (三稜) (ones that are baked under a fire covered with ash), and Foeniculi Fructus (茴香) (parched) (all the same amounts). Take 30~50 pills at a time with water decocted with Citrus Unshius Pericarpium (橘皮).
Qi Stagnation 氣鬱기울
① Zhu Zhenheng said, “When qi disease first occurs, it is not apparent. Because of the seven emotions, six qi and food, fluid and humor cannot flow, and the clear and the turbid mix with each other, causing qi to turn into accumulation, and then to phlegm. When qi is stagnated like this, the epigastric region is blocked and there is pain.”
② The Orthodox Transmission of Medicine (正傳) says, “When qi is stagnated, dampness is blocked, and when dampness is blocked, heat rises. Therefore, qi stagnation often comes with edema, distention and fullness.”
③ The Introduction to Medicine (入門) says, “Stagnation is when qi binds together and does not dissipate. When qi binds and does not dissipate, one should consume a Sympathy Elixir with water decocted with a Syzygii Flos Relieve Stomach Decoction.” It also says, “When blood is coagulated and qi blocked, one should use Revive Health by Unblocking Qi Powder. When qi is blocked because of phlegm, one should use a Smooth Qi and Guide Out Phlegm Decoction. [The prescription is shown in the chapter on Wind].”
④ One should use a Sympathy Elixir, Aucklandia Even Qi Powder, Aucklandia Regulate Qi Powder. [The prescription is shown in the chapter on Accumulation]. Or Part and Eliminate from Top to Bottom and Guide Out Qi Decoction for qi stagnation. If edema is combined with qi stagnation, one should use a Qi Flow Pill, Aucklandia Move Qi Drink, Five Peels Powder, or Direct Qi
Downwards Aquilaria Decoction. [These four prescriptions are shown above].
• Sympathy Elixir 交感丹 교감단
It cures various qi stagnations. It is highly effective in those who feel tightness in the chest because of all kinds of public and private affairs, and those who feel agony because one’s riches and honor do not go well as one had planned. It is also highly effective in those who have been damaged by the seven emotions and do not wish to eat, with a yellowed face, thinning body, and those who suffer from tightness in the chest as well as many other symptoms. It enables the rise and fall of Water and Fire. Pound and grind the following medicine, knead with honey, and make it into pills the size of a bullet: Cyperi Rhizoma (香附子) (1 geun [1geun (斤) 600g]) (Soaked in running water from a distant place (長流水) for 3 days, taken out, and parched). And Hoelen cum Radix (茯神) (4 nyang). Take 1 pill at a time, chew it well, and swallow it with a Direct qi Downward Decoction.
• Direct Qi Downward Decoction 降氣湯 강기탕
Decoct the following herbs in water: Cyperi Rhizoma (香附子) (processed), Hoelen cum Radix (茯神), and Glycyrrhizae Radix (甘草) (1 don each).
• Aucklandia Even Qi Powder 木香勻氣散 목향균기산
It cures qi stagnation. Grind the following medicine and put in water decocted with 3 pieces of Zingiberis Rhizoma Crudus (生薑), 5 leaves of Perillae Folium (紫蘇葉), and a little bit of salt by 2 don: Agastachis Herba (藿香), Glycyrrhizae Radix Praeparata (灸甘草) (8 don each), Amomi Fructus (砂仁) (4 don), Aquillariae Lignum (沈香), Aucklandiae Radix (木香), Syzygii Flos (丁香), Santali Albi Lignum (白檀香), and Amomi Fructus Rotundus (白豆蔲) (2 don each).
• Part and Eliminate from Top to Bottom and Guide Out Qi Decoction 上下分消導氣湯 상하분소도기탕
It cures qi stagnation, and its effect is better than that of a Part Heart Qi Drink (分心氣飮). One can also use this prescription for those who easily get angry. Aruantii Fructus Immaturus (枳殼), Platycodonis Radix (桔梗), Mori Cortex (桑白皮), Cnidii Rhizoma (川芎), Poria Sclerotium Rubra (赤茯苓), Magnoliae Cortex (厚朴), Citri Unshius Pericarpium Immaturus (靑皮), Cyperi Rhizoma (香附子) (soaked in a child’s urine and parched) (2 nyang each), Coptidis Rhizoma (黃連) (soaked in the juice of Zingiberis Rhizoma Crudus (生薑) and parched), Pinelliae Tube Preparata (半夏製), Trichosanthis Semen (瓜蔞仁), Alismatis Rhizoma (澤瀉), Akebiae Caulis (木通), Arecae Semen (檳榔), Hordei Fructus Germinatus (麥芽) (parched) (1 nyang each), and Glycyrrhizae Radix Praeparata (灸甘草) (3 don). Chop these medicines and decoct in water with 3 pieces of Zingiberis Rhizoma Crudus (生薑) by 1 nyang. One can also grind these medicines, knead with plaster made with Massa Medicata Fermentata (神麯), make it into pills, and take 70~80 pills at a time with boiled water. It is so-called a Part and Eliminate Pill.
Contraindications 禁忌 금기
① The Inner Classic (內經) says, “Lying down for a long time damages qi.”
② The Xishan’s Records of Reading (西山記) says, “If one approaches filthy qi, it damages genuine qi. If one approaches death qi, it disturbs living qi.”
③ One should not look at a corpse on an empty stomach. If the odor enters the nose, white fur occurs on the tongue and foul breath lingers. When looking at a corpse, one should drink wine in order to fight the poison.
④ When entering a house with an epidemic or a febrile disease, one should block the poisonous qi. Contagious and poisonous qi smells foul and strong just as when one perspires a lot.
