Case Study from Doctor Guo Yaning on Disease Transfer

A Patient with a Headache

Dr. Guo Yaning, a traditional herbal medicine practitioner practicing in Xi’an, China, shared this case from her patient files.

A young girl suffered from severe headaches throughout the year. The pain was so intense at times that she felt like banging her head against the wall. Despite visiting several major hospitals and taking various medications, no diagnosis was made, and no treatment proved effective.

Eventually, someone suggested that her condition might be a deficiency syndrome, which could be better treated with herbal medicine. She then began searching for a herbal medicine doctor.

After many attempts, she found a herbal doctor who prescribed a remedy that provided temporary relief. However, the prescription contained highly toxic ingredients, including scorpions and centipedes, making it difficult to obtain from most pharmacies. Consequently, she had to return to the doctor frequently for adjustments.

A year passed, and while the medicine offered temporary relief, it did not cure her condition. Frustrated, she continued her search for another doctor and eventually found Dr. Guo Yaning.

Heart-Related Disease

According to the theory of the five internal organs in traditional herbal medicine, neurological problems often center around the heart. Dr. Guo diagnosed the girl’s condition as being caused by wind and cold pathogenic factors blocking the heart meridian.

The previous doctor’s prescription was correct in principle but not potent enough to completely detoxify the pathogenic toxins. Moreover, the medicine’s toxicity meant it could only be used in limited quantities, leading to recurring symptoms without a cure.

Moving the Pathogenic Factors to the Stomach

Dr. Guo applied a method she learned from Huang Yuanyu, which involved transferring the pathogenic factors. She used a prescription called “Wan Kuang Tang” to move the toxins from the heart to the stomach, causing the patient to feel nauseous and vomit. Dr. Guo then administered croton seeds boiled in water to help the girl expel the toxins through bowel movements. After four doses, the girl was completely cured, and her headaches never returned.

This method, similar to Huang Yuanyu’s technique of moving pathogenic sores, proved effective. Unfortunately, Huang Yuanyu’s prescription for moving pathogenic factors has not been preserved.

He compiled his most treasured cases in a book titled “Yu Qiu Zi Tang Gao,” which was kept in his family’s ancestral hall. However, the book was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s and 1970s. Only a few commonly used prescriptions, copied by some elders who had read the book, survived. It is regrettable that the prescription for “moving the mountain to fill the sea” has been lost.

Looking ahead

For more stories about Huang Yuanyu and his contributions to traditional herbal medicine, and how it helps in rejuvenating our health, stay tuned for the next episode.

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