Paralysis

Paralysis

Paralysis refers to the inability to move the legs, and it is classified into five types. If the heart qi is hot, the pulse becomes paralyzed, and the sinews lose their strength and cannot support the body; in such cases, Tianwang Buxin Dan combined with Danpi is used for treatment. If the liver qi is hot, the sinews become rigid and contract, and Siwu Decoction combined with Antelope Horn, Xuduan, Cornus fruit, Phellodendron, and Di Gu Pi is used for treatment. If the spleen qi is hot, the flesh becomes weak, the stomach is dry and thirsty, and the muscles lose their strength; in such cases, Siwu Decoction combined with Ren Shen, Huai Shan, Huangqin, Phellodendron, Ze Xie, and Yun Ling is used for treatment. If the kidney qi is hot, the bones become weak, the lower back and spine cannot be lifted, and Dihuang Tang and Da Bu Yin Wan are used for treatment. If the lung qi is hot, the body fluids become weak, unable to irrigate the legs, leading to fatigue and inability to move; in such cases, Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang is used for treatment. Although these treatments are categorized according to the affected organ, they are all ultimately caused by yin deficiency and heat burning, resulting in the sinews and bones being unable to function properly. To reduce the heat, the best method is to nourish yin; to generate yin, the best method is to focus solely on the Yangming meridian. The Yangming meridian is the sea of the five zang organs and six fu organs, responsible for moisturizing the principal sinews, which in turn support the bones and facilitate bodily functions. When the Yangming meridian is deficient, the principal sinews become loose, and the belt-like meridians fail to draw in the energy, resulting in leg paralysis. In such cases, Qiongyu Gao combined with Polygonatum, Calcined Gypsum, Dendrobium, Flower Powder, Pearls, and Bamboo Charcoal is recommended for treatment, and Yunu Jian combined with Rhinoceros Horn is also effective. However, although the root cause of paralysis lies in the stomach, the manifestation of the disease is in the sinews and bones. Any ingredient such as tiger bone, turtle shell, deer tendon, pig spinal cord, cow bone marrow, dog spine, broken bone, ox knee, coix seed, goji berry, dodder, and Xuduan can be added as guiding elements.

Paralysis is different from foot ailments, and wind medicines should never be misused.

[Commentary] Paralysis means the inability to move, and if it persists for a long time, the limbs will eventually become useless, hence the name “paralysis.” Heat-related diseases in all five zang organs can lead to paralysis, especially lung heat and scorched leaves, which are major causes of paralysis. Although the treatment principles for paralysis can be tailored according to the dominant organ involved, the fundamental principle remains “focus solely on the Yangming meridian.” The pulse paralysis, sinew paralysis, flesh paralysis, bone paralysis, and fluid paralysis mentioned in this section are all different outcomes of diseases affecting the five zang organs, and the corresponding treatment methods are essential measures for differentiated diagnosis and treatment. However, only Qiongyu Gao combined with Polygonatum, Gypsum, Flower Powder, Dendrobium, and Yunu Jian combined with Rhinoceros Horn are truly “solely focused on the Yangming meridian,” and are clinically very important. In addition, Danxi Huqian Wan has also shown good clinical efficacy in treating paralysis, which doctors can refer to.