Abstract
In this case Xu Shuwei treats a literatus who another physician had misdiagnosed and incorrectly treated. This therapy worsened the patient’s condition. Interestingly, although Xu quotes the Treatise while explaining the patient’s pathology, he uses his own medication. He often worked out his own solutions rather than relying on the ancient canons. He does not explain the effects of each drug, or how the combination affects the patient, but does briefly note the main effects of three of the five drugs. He assumes that his audience knows the qualities and effects of these drugs, so no further explanation is needed.
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- 1.
See Scheid et al 2009, p. 19.
- 2.
One of the major effects of Ephedra Decoction is sweat. Diaphoresis is counterindicated in patients of this type.
- 3.
See Scheid et al 2009, pp. 729–731.
- 4.
For further information about these five drugs see Bensky, Clavey, and Stöger 2004, pp. 750–754, 120–123, 824–827, 622–624, and 864–867 respectively.
- 5.
Here Xu is refers to the Lingshu version of the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon, vol. 2, juan 20, pian 80 (大惑論), pp. 443–444.
- 6.
The Yang Heel Tract (Yang qiao mai 陽蹻脈) is one of the eight extraordinary tracts. The tract system [excepting the reticular tracts] is divided into two types, the regular or cardinal tracts (正經) and the extraordinary tracts (奇經). The regular tracts are 12 fold, each paired left and right. There are the three yin and three yang tracts for each of the hands and of the feet, called collectively the twelve cardinal tracts (經脈). Each is associated with a yin or yang visceral system. There are eight extraordinary tracts: the superintendent tract (du mai 督脈), the conception tract (ren mai 任脈), the highway tract (chong mai 沖脈), the belt tract (dai mai 帶脈), the yin and yang ligative tracts (wei mai 維脈), and the yin and yang heel tracts (qiao mai 蹻脈) (Sivin 1987, pp. 249–50).
Bibliography
Other Sources:
Bensky, Dan, Steven Clavey, and Erich Stöger. 2004. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia medica. 3rd ed. Seattle: Eastland Press.
Scheid, Volker, Dan Bensky, Andrew Ellis, and Randall Barolet. 2009. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas and Strategies. Seattle: Eastland Press.
Sivin, Nathan. 1987. Traditional Medicine in Contemporary China. Science, Medicine, & Technology in East Asia 2. Ann Arbor: Center for Chinese Studies, University of Michigan.
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Goldschmidt, A. (2019). Case Number 12. In: Medical Practice in Twelfth-century China – A Translation of Xu Shuwei’s Ninety Discussions [Cases] on Cold Damage Disorders. Archimedes, vol 54. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-06103-6_13
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