Plague
In general, plague is an infectious disease caused by some highly pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses.
It is usually caused by poor environmental sanitation after natural disasters.
Febrile epidemics have long been recorded in Chinese historical materials. For example, "The Rites of Zhou·Tianguan·Zhongzai" records: "Disease doctors take care of the diseases of all people, and malaria occurs in all seasons." "Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals of Ji Chun" records: "When summer orders are implemented in spring, the people will suffer from many diseases. "This shows that the understanding of febrile epidemics at that time had reached a certain level. It was believed that febrile epidemics could occur throughout the year. One of the reasons was that the seasonal qi was abnormal and was caused by "unseasonal qi".
The earliest existing ancient Chinese medicine book "Huangdi Neijing" is also recorded. For example, "Su Wen·Acupuncture Theory" points out: "When the five epidemics occur, they are all susceptible to infection, regardless of their size, and the symptoms are similar... The righteous energy is stored in the body, and the evil cannot be eliminated, and its poisonous gas should be avoided." "Su Wen·Instinctive Diseases" " Chapter: "If Jueyin does not abdicate, that is, strong winds rise early, rain does not fall, and the dampness does not change, people will suffer from fever, disease, and blemishes. When wind occurs, people's diseases will include pain in the limbs and joints, pain in the head and head, and internal heat and irritability. "Dry throat leads to drinking." pointed out that febrile epidemic has the characteristics of contagiousness, prevalence, similar clinical manifestations, and climate-related onset, and believed that as long as "the righteousness is retained", the poisonous gas can be "avoided."
Zhang Zhongjing of the Eastern Han Dynasty said in the preface of his book "Treatise on Febrile Diseases and Miscellaneous Diseases" that "the Yu clan has many ancestors, with more than 200 descendants. Since the Jian'an era (196 AD), there have still been no ten people. There are two out of three cases of death, and typhoid fever ranks seventh out of ten. Feeling the loss of the past and being unable to save the injured, we diligently seek ancient teachings and learn from many remedies..." "Typhoid fever" in the article refers to exogenous fever. In addition, it also includes severe infectious diseases at that time, which shows that the epidemic of febrile epidemic was rampant at that time.
Cao Zhi's "Speaking of Epidemic Gas" records: "In the 22nd year of Jian'an (AD 217), the plague was prevalent. Every family suffered from the pain of zombies, and every room was filled with wailing and mourning. Or people died with the doors closed. Or the family is overthrown and mourned. It may be thought that the epidemic is caused by ghosts and gods. The person who suffers from this disease is the son of Brown Ru Huo, and the people in the Jing House are in the house of Ding Shi. If this is the case, it is because the yin and yang are out of position, and the cold and heat are at the wrong time, which is why epidemics occur, and the stupid people are disgusted with it." It describes the tragic situation when the epidemic is prevalent, and clearly points out: "The epidemic of malaria" is not. "The work of ghosts and gods" is caused by "the mismatch of yin and yang, the wrong timing of cold and heat".
Wang Can, one of the Seven Sons of Jian'an, also recorded in "Seven Sorrowful Poems": "...there is nothing to see when I go out, the plain is covered with bones. There is a hungry woman on the road, with her child abandoned in the grass. Gu Wen He screamed and cried, "How can we be together if we don't know where we will die?" He drove the horse away and couldn't bear to hear this..." This is a true portrayal of the desolate scene at that time. According to historical records, in the more than seventy years from Emperor Huan of the Han Dynasty Liu Zhi to Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty Liu Xie, 17 epidemics were recorded. The epidemic has been going on for years and the people are in dire straits. Even the scholar-bureaucrats are not immune. For example, Xu Qian, Chen Lin, Ying Jue, and Liu Zhen among the famous "Seven Sons of Jian'an" in the history of literature also passed away in an instant. The tragedy is evident.
Emergency Prescriptions by Ge Hong of the Jin Dynasty also discussed febrile epidemics, believing that "typhoid, Shixing, and febrile epidemics are all of the same kind. ... His age is characterized by maladies and ghosts. "Toxins are combined with each other and are called febrile diseases." The chapter "Prescriptions for Treating Miasma, Epidemics, and Warm Poisons" records the treatment and prevention of plague-preventing medicines such as Gan Powder, Laojun Shenbai Powder, Du Mi Powder, and Preventing Wenbing Powder. Prescription for mild epidemic.
The Sui Dynasty Chao Yuan Fang's "Treatise on the Causes and Symptoms of Diseases·Epidemic and Disease Diseases" believes that epidemic disease "is similar to diseases such as seasonal qi, temperature, heat, etc., and they are all within one year of age. If the weather is not harmonious, there may be strong winds and rains, and the fog and dew will not disperse, the people will suffer from many diseases, and the rates will be similar, as if there is a strong spirit of ghosts, so there will be epidemics and malaria in Lingnan." Miasma such as green grass miasma and yellow awn miasma in the area also fall into the scope of epidemic diseases. He further pointed out: "This disease is caused by disharmony in the years, loss of warmth and coolness, and people feeling surly Qi. The disease Qi will turn around and be infected easily, and even destroy the family and spread to outsiders. Therefore, it is necessary to take medicine in advance and perform magic spells to prevent it. ."
Sun Simiao of the Tang Dynasty's "Qian Jin Yao Fang·Volume 9·Typhoid" contains a chapter on "Preventing Wen", which records prescriptions for treating febrile epidemics.
Based on the posthumous chapter of "Suwen" written by Wang Bing of the Tang Dynasty, it is believed that warm epidemics have a certain relationship with the abnormal changes in the five movements and six qi, so there are metal epidemics, wood epidemics, water epidemics, and fire epidemics. , the local epidemics are known as the "Five Epidemics" and the "Five Boilers". This shows that the ancients have realized that the cause of febrile epidemic is different from the general six evil external evils, but a kind of epidemic poison.
The Jin Dynasty physician Zhang Congzheng pointed out in "The Confucian Family Matters, Volume 1, and the Three Taboos for Resolving the Qi of All Seasons": "Another example is the first two or three months of the year, when the popularity is high and the plague breaks out, there will be a headache first. Or joint pain, the symptoms are similar to those of people suffering from typhoid fever, seasonal qi, heatstroke, rheumatism and alcoholism. Be careful not to use Croton poisonous medicine to treat it... If the plague is on the surface, it is not possible to take Croton pills. ." He put forward his own views on the clinical manifestations and treatment of plague.
Yuan Dynasty physician Zhu Danxi's "Danxi Heart Method Volume 1 Warm Epidemic Five": "Plagues are common diseases, and they are also called epidemics when heaven moves. There are three methods for treatment: it is appropriate to supplement, and it is appropriate to disperse. "Yi drop." summarizes the treatment methods for febrile epidemics.
Wu Youke, a physician in the Ming Dynasty, witnessed the tragic epidemic of epidemics at that time. Based on the relevant discussions of his predecessors, he conducted in-depth and detailed observations and discussions on the epidemic. His Treatise on Warm Epidemics is a monograph on warm epidemics in my country, and it discusses the epidemic in detail. It is believed that “warm epidemic is a disease that is neither wind, cold, heat, nor dampness, but is caused by a strange qi between heaven and earth.
" pointed out that the causative factor of febrile epidemic is "foreign qi", also known as "epidemic qi", "disease qi", "violent qi", etc., which is the original view on the cause of febrile epidemic.
Wu believed that bruising Qi is material and can be subdued by drugs. Although violent qi is “invisible and invisible, and has no sound or odor, how can it be seen or heard”, it is an objectively existing substance, and it is further pointed out that “things are invisible.” It is also a medicine that can control qi. ”
The evil spirit invades the body through the mouth and nose. It is believed that “evil enters through the mouth and nose” and the way of infecting the violent spirit is, “There is a way to receive it and it is contagious. Although the infection is different, the disease will be "One".
After the human body feels the hostility, whether it will cause disease depends on the amount, toxicity and the body's resistance. It is pointed out that "those who feel it deeply will develop immediately. Those who are shallow will not be able to overcome the righteousness and fail to develop suddenly." "When the qi is strong, no matter how strong or weak it is, if the righteousness is slightly weakened, the patient will become ill if the qi is touched." Deficit, between breaths, external evils take advantage of it."
Diseases caused by violent energy have different manifestations of epidemic and sporadic manifestations. And the disease caused by violent energy has regional and temporal characteristics. Different situations. In addition, due to different types of hostility, the diseases caused are also different, and the parts of the organs affected are also different. It is believed that "...there are different types of diseases, and there are different types of Qi" in human beings. Epidemics and plagues of animals are caused by different evil spirits.
Wu Youke also created many unique and effective prescriptions for treating epidemics in "Treatise on Warm Epidemics". "Treatise on Warm Epidemics" is an epoch-making work on acute infectious diseases in Chinese medical literature. It can still be used to guide clinical practice. It has important historical and practical significance.
Yu Shiyu of the Qing Dynasty wrote "Epidemic Rash". "One De". Based on Wu Youke's "Wenbing Lun", he believed that the cause of the epidemic rash was malaria, and pointed out that "if one person gets sick, it will infect the whole family. The mild cases will survive in 10 to 10, and the severe cases will survive in 1 or 2. Within the territory, the rate is like this. "And based on the characteristics of the disease syndrome of summer-heat epidemic, he created the "Qingwen Baidu Drink", which mainly used gypsum, which opened up a new realm for the syndrome differentiation and treatment of febrile epidemic.
In summary, traditional Chinese medicine Pharmacy has accumulated rich experience in the long-term fight against epidemics, and has a relatively complete set of theories and clinical treatment methods that should give full play to the role of traditional Chinese medicine in treating acute infectious diseases.