[Examining syndrome differentiation and treatment of 'Gu Zhang' and 'Xue Ku' in Fu Zhong Lun, Su Wen].

The syndrome differentiation and treatment of'Gu Zhang'() and 'Xueku' () in Fu Zhong Lun, Su Wen was examined with the approach of exegesis and textual criticism. The four findings were as follows. 'Guzhang'() in the section of Fu Zhong Lun in Su Wen should be a misnomer. The key pathogenesis of this disease lies in the failure of food transforming into heat and the deficiency and weakness of spleen-stomach. Therefore, Ji Shi Li has to be used for treatment to help digestion, clear heat, tonify essence and replenish Qi. Then, the definition given by later-generation to 'Gu Zhang' () as one of the four intractable diseases including wind, consumption, tympanites and diaphragmatic obstruction is inadvisable, so is its clinical treatment of using rooster droppings and sweet wine for cirrhotic ascites. Additionally, 'Xue Ku' is neither simply the scarcity of menstruation nor equivalent to diseases such as infertility, but can be categorized into the field of consumptive diseases in later generations. Finally, the medicine for'Xue Ku' is Siwuzhegu Yilüru Wan (Four Sepia Bones and One Lvru Pill). It pioneered the therapeutic method of tonifying deficiency and resolving blood stasis for treating consumptive diseases in later clinical practice. The 'Lü Ru' in the prescription seems to be either madder or platycodon grandiflorum, but not rubia cordifolia.