Yu Chang

Yu Chang

Yuchang (AD 1585 ~ ad 1664), the word Jiayan, the old man of Xichang, was born in Xinjian (now Nanchang), Jiangxi Province. He was born in the 13th year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1585 A.D.) and died in the third year of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty (1664 A.D.) at the age of 79.

Yu Chang's youth studied in order to promote his career. During the reign of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty, Gongsheng was selected and sent to Beijing. Later, when the Qing soldiers entered the pass, they turned to Zen, and then went out to attack medicine. He traveled to Nanchang, Jing'an and other places. In the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1661 A.D.), Yu Chang moved to Changshu, Jiangsu Province. He became a famous doctor in the late Ming Dynasty and the early Qing Dynasty. His works include moral grass, shanglun, shanglun Houpian, Yimen law, etc.

Yu Chang and the theory of traditional Chinese Medicine

Yu Shi's three principles

Yu Chang is one of the famous doctors who study treatise on febrile diseases. In his opinion, although there are exogenous diseases in the four seasons, Zhang Zhongjing is only detailed in typhoid fever, and the method of treating typhoid fever can be changed to other exogenous diseases, so typhoid fever is the outline of exogenous diseases in the four seasons. In the six meridians of typhoid fever, the first meridian of the sun is the outline, while in the Taiyang meridians, the first meridian of the wind injures the Wei, the second meridian of the cold injures the Ying and Wei This formed the main point of view of Yuchang's three principles theory. Guizhi Decoction was used for wind injury, Mahuang Decoction for cold injury and daqinglong Decoction for wind and cold injury. If it is used properly, it will be disbanded immediately. The meaning of Yu's advocating the theory of three cardinal guides is that Mahuang, Guizhi and Qinglong are mainly used to treat Taiyang syndrome. If the exterior syndrome differentiation and treatment is correct, there will be no diseases of changing syndromes and transmitting meridians, and typhoid disease can be cured in the early stage of the disease. Therefore, Yu's theory of three cardinal guides embodies Zhang Zhongjing's thought of early treatment. Although later generations have raised objection to whether this view is in line with Zhongjing's original intention and whether it has clinical practical significance, we should see the positive significance of Yu's theory.

Understanding of dryness

As for the pathogenesis of dryness, Yu believes that in autumn, dryness does not happen. After the great heat, it is followed by cooling, which leads to pyrolysis, and then to the great cool. Although dryness is born in cold autumn, its nature is different from cold dampness, but it often tends to be fiery. This is because "under the position of dryness, the fire carries it", and dryness is abundant and cremated. "Neijing" puts forward "dryness is better than dryness", so it is clinically seen that dryness on the outside leads to chapped skin, dryness on the inside leads to dryness of essence and blood. The body fluid is exhausted and various changes appear. In a word, dryness is a disease, while fire and heat are the main causes. Dryness is the main Qi of autumn gold, so it is easy to hurt the lung. As early as in the canon of internal medicine, it has been known that "all qi stagnation belongs to the lung" and "all impotence, asthma and vomiting belong to the upper part". This is a disease of dryness injuring the lung. For the treatment of dryness, Yu founded the famous prescription qingzaojiufei decoction, which is composed of mulberry leaf, simmer gypsum, raw licorice, ginseng, flaxseed, donkey hide gelatin, Ophiopogon japonicus, almond, loquat leaf, etc. to treat qi stagnation, flaccidity, asthma and vomiting, and dryness of lung. The purpose of its medication is to emphasize the treatment of dryness, and avoid the use of pungent fragrance to promote qi, so as to prevent damaging the body fluid and helping dryness. In a word, Yu's discussion on dryness, from the generation of evil Qi, the nature of disease, pathogenic characteristics, clinical manifestations, treatment principles and clinical medication, can be described as a great master who has a deep understanding of dryness. Its influence is very far-reaching, and it is highly praised by later doctors, and still has a great influence.

Standard of diagnosis and treatment

Yu Chang paid great attention to the standard of diagnosis and treatment, and wrote a special article about the writing of medical records. He said that when writing medical records, it is necessary to write "a certain year, a certain month, a certain county, how old a person is, how long he is fat and thin in shape, how black and white in color, how long his voice is clear and turbid, how bitter and happy he is in shape, when the disease begins, what medicine to take for the first time, what medicine to take for the second time, which medicine is slightly effective, which medicine is not effective, which is more severe day and night, which is more cold and hot, how much he likes and dislikes in diet, and the pulse is smooth and astringent The symptoms are internal injury, or external infection, or both internal and external, or not internal and external. According to the meridians, what are the diseases, where are the specimens, how to treat sweating, vomiting, cold and warm reinforcing and reducing, what are the seven prescriptions, what are the ten prescriptions, what are the five Qi, what are the five flavors, and what is the name of the decoction? When is its efficacy It's very detailed. I'm not happy at all. " That is to say, it is necessary to carefully and comprehensively collect the symptoms, including not only the relevant information, but also the natural conditions such as weather, geography, etc., including not only the manifestations of various diseases, but also the causes of disease and the development and changes of the disease. Only in this way can we make accurate syndrome differentiation and correct treatment. The diagnosis and treatment standard established by Yu fully embodies Yu's idea of emphasizing syndrome differentiation and treatment and his scientific and rigorous style.

Understanding of "atmosphere"

Yu Chang believes that there is "atmosphere" in the human body. It is due to the role of the atmosphere that the five zang organs and six Fu organs, large and small meridians play their respective functions. If the atmosphere declines, the movement of Qi will be passive, neither ascending nor descending, nor going in and out, which will lead to "the extinction of the divine mechanism and the isolated danger of Qi", or even life-threatening. Because the atmosphere plays such an important role, Yu studied it deeply. He believes that the atmosphere of the human body, that is, the Qi in the chest, is lifted around the lungs. Due to the function of atmosphere, the function of viscera and meridians can be brought into play, and the Qi of Ying and Wei can be controlled. And the atmosphere is full of the whole body inside and outside, everywhere, circulation, resulting in the normal function of the whole body activity, vitality. Although the atmosphere is the Qi in the chest, there are also the Qi in the Tanzhong and zongqi in the chest. Yu believes that although the Qi in the tan, zongqi and the atmosphere originate from the same part, they are different and should be distinguished.

Tanzhong Qi is the official of the minister and envoy. It has its position and specific function. The atmosphere has no name, no specific function, just like the terrain in Taixu, dominates the whole nature. Zongqi, Yingqi and Weiqi can be divided into three tunnels. Although they are the main channels of the twelve meridians, there are tunnels that have specific meanings. Unlike the empty atmosphere, they are not the same. Therefore, the atmosphere is higher than zongqi, Tanzhong Qi, viscera Qi and meridian qi. In order to maintain the function of the whole body under the atmosphere, all the activities of the whole body can be controlled. This is the main point of Yu's theory of atmosphere. This view has a great influence on later generations. For example, Zhang Xichun's theory of atmosphere and the creation of Shengxian Decoction in Zhongshen Xilu of medicine are closely related to this thought. However, although the theory of atmosphere emphasizes its importance to human life activities, it still stays at the level of general medication in the past, so there seems to be something out of step between theory and treatment. It distinguishes atmosphere from zongqi and Tanzhong Qi, but how to use it in clinical practice has not been fully elucidated, so there are some people who do not adopt it.

Historical evaluation

Yu Chang has made great contributions to the theoretical research of traditional Chinese medicine. He not only has unique experience in the research of treatise on Febrile Diseases and advocates the theory of three cardinal principles, but also has made great contributions to the basic theoretical problems of traditional Chinese medicine. His views on atmosphere and autumn dryness are also praised by later generations. In addition, it emphasizes the treatment based on syndrome differentiation and advocates the standardization of diagnosis and treatment, which is also of great academic value. As for the clinical experience is also very rich, the treatment of dysentery with huoren Baimai powder to reverse the current to pull the boat, the treatment of grid with advance and retreat Huanglian Decoction to lift Yin and Yang, etc., are respected by later generations. Therefore, Yu became one of the three great physicians in the early Qing Dynasty.

Chinese PinYin : Yu Chang