Brain Hemorrhage

Brain Hemorrhage

Brain hemorrhage refers to bleeding from both the mouth and nose, with most of the blood coming from the nose and overflowing into the mouth. It is not a separate pathway for blood to come from the brain, nor does it truly originate from the brain marrow. This is merely an exaggeration of the severity of nosebleeds, and the term "brain hemorrhage" was coined simply because of its name. Since people who bleed heavily often have blood splashing into their noses, those with frequent nosebleeds also tend to have blood overflowing into their mouths. The treatment involves folding white paper more than ten times, wetting it, sticking it to the top of the head, and using an iron to steam the heat, which naturally stops the nosebleeds. This is simply due to the name "brain hemorrhage"—people assume it must be serious just from the name. The method of using an iron to stop nosebleeds is not a fundamental cure, so it may or may not work. In fact, brain hemorrhage is just a severe form of nosebleed, so treatment should follow the same principles as nosebleeds, to avoid misinterpreting the name and losing sight of the actual condition.

The treatment for brain hemorrhage is the same as for nosebleeds, but since brain hemorrhages involve more blood, they are more likely to lead to deficiency symptoms. It is advisable to use San Su Yin, with ginseng to replenish the blood and su mu to promote circulation. If the nosebleeds are severe and persistent, with high body temperature, floating pulse, and shortness of breath, it indicates that qi is being depleted along with the blood, and yin is being lost while yang is dying (1)—a critical condition. In such cases, use Du Shen Tang with thick fuzi decoction, which helps the patient fall asleep, prevents sweating, slightly reduces heat, and allows qi to rest, thereby stabilizing the life force. These kinds of deficiency symptoms are the least common but most dangerous among blood-related conditions, so do not mistake them for being rare and use cool, draining treatments instead.

〔Note〕 (1) Yin depletion and yang death: Refers to the loss of yin and yang. "Su Wen · On the Harmony Between Life and Heaven" states: "When yin and yang are separated, vital energy ceases." This is a sign of a critically ill condition, similar to modern medical concepts such as circulatory failure, respiratory failure, and dehydration.

〔Commentary〕Brain hemorrhage is a severe form of nosebleed, and its treatment is the same as for nosebleeds. Due to its severity, symptoms such as floating pulse, cold extremities, and shortness of breath are common. The author's decision to use Du Shen Tang to urgently restore yang energy is correct. In addition, the use of the ironing method is also a unique experience.