Li Dong-Yuan

Li Dong-yuan's Treatise on the Spleen & Stomach is one of the most important books in the history of Chinese medicine. In it, Li lays the foundation for the elevation of the spleen and stomach as the postnatal root of qi and blood production. Since the Jin-Yuan Dynasties, the spleen and kidneys have been the two most important organs in TCM. This is the book which established the spleen's preeminence in both disease causation and as a focus of treatment.

However, this book is important for a number of other reasons as well. Li underscores the importance of diet and emotional factors as causes of disease. Since Zhang Zhong-jing, Chinese doctors had emphasized cold injury as the main etiological factor. But it was Li Dong-yuan who emphasized diet and emotions' effect on the yuan or original qi. Li also introduced the concept of yin fire which is not to be confused with vacuity fire. This important theoretical concept helps explain the cause and progression of a host of complicated diseases, such as AIDS, SLE, MS, CFIDS, and many cancers. Recently in China, there has been much renewed interest this concpet as the answer to numerous hard to diagnose and treat pathoconditions. Now, for the first tme in English, practitioners can raed Li Dong-yuan's theories on yin fire first hand.

In addition, Li discussss in this book the relationship of the cause and treatment of disease to Chinese biorhythms. Known as wu yun liu qi, the five circuits and six qi, this has been considered by many of the greatest Chinese doctors of the last 400 years as the pinnacle of TCM theory. Uisng the stems and branches one can not only clarify disease processes at work but also modify prescriptions so as to take into account both weather and astrological influences.

Western readers will find herein a number of other interesting and little known theories of Li Dong-yuan, such as the use of Cortex Phellodendri (Huang Bai) as a jing essence supplement. This book is essential reading for those who wish to go deep into TCM theory and also treat complex and recalcitrant diseases.

Contents

Translator's preface
Acknowledgemens
Book One
1 Treatise on the transmutation of vacuity and repletion of the spleen and stomach
2 Diagram of upbearing and downbearing, upfloating and sinking, supplementation and drainage of the visceral qi in different seasons
3 Treatise on the waxing and waningof the spleen and stomach
4 Treatise on the lungs in relation to spleen and stomach vacuity
5 The rule concerning the sovereign, minister, assistant,and envoy
6 Composing formulas in light of the channels and in accordance with disease
7 Treatise on medicinal indications and prohibitions
Seasonal prohibitions
Channel prohibitions
Disease prohibitions
Medicinal prohibitions
8 The spleen and stomach according to Zhong-jing's quotations for the nei jing
Book Two
1 Diagrams and explanations of the waxing and waning of the movements
2 Treatise on the intiation of heat in the center due to damage by food & drink and taxation fatique
3 Diseases in different seasons due to spleen and stomach vacuity weakness and formula composing according to different diseases
4 Treatise on the use of qing shu yi qi tang in case of the stomach troubled particularly profoundly by damp heat in long summer
5 Rules for modifying medicinals in differetn seasons
6 Treatise on intestinal pi with blood in stools
7 Treatise on the prohibition of unwarranted use of ejecting medicinals in spleen and stomach vacuity
8 Treatise on quieting and nurturing the heart spirit and regulating and treating the spleen and stomach
9 The necessity of enquiring about incinations before treating any disease
10 Treatise on the downsiding of stomach qi, chaos of all the five visceral qi, and consequent simultaneous arising of various diseases
11 Yin disease treated though yang, yang disease treated through yin
12 Debilitation and effulgence of the original qi of the triple burner
BookThree
1 Treatise on ascription of the large intestine, small intestine, and five viscera all to the stomach and stomach vacuity leading to disease of them all
2 Treatise on spleen and stomach vacuity being responsible for blockage of the nine portals
3 Treatise on the viscera and bowels, channels and connecting vessels having nowhere from which to receive qi and (thus) contracting disease when the stomach is vacuous
4 Treatise on the generation of various diseases due to stomach vacuity and insufficient original qi
5 Treatise on weight gained at one time and lost at another
6 Treatise on the laws of engendering and killing of yin and yang in heaven and earth consisting of upbearing and downbearing, upfloating and sinking
7 Treatise on yin and yang, longevity and premature death
8 Treatise on the intricate changes of the qi of the five viscera
9 Treatise on the ascension and descension of yin and yang
10 Experiences in regulating and rectifying the spleen and stomach
Treatise on inadvertent detriment due to mistakes out of ignorance in the use of upbearing and downbearing, upfloating and sinkng treatment methods in medication
11 Treatise on the yang ming disease of overwhelming dampness and spontaneous sweating
12 Treatise on damp heat developing into atony and lung metal being subjected to evils
13 Treatise on dietary damage of the spleen
14 Treatise on damage due to excessive drinking or wine
15 Detriment to the spleen and stomach warrants balanced diet and moderation in cold and hot (foods)
16 Methods for nurturing and rectifying the spleen and stomach
Nurisng
Keeping desires at a distance
Admonition of economy of speech
Formula index
Geneal index… (meer)