Ms. Fan, female, 56 years old, visited on April 20, 1990. She had persistent gastric distension and fullness for 2 months. Two months ago, she suffered from a common cold, and after recovery, she developed gastric stuffiness, distension, and bloating, which worsened after eating. X-ray barium meal, gastroscopy, and B-ultrasound examinations of the liver and gallbladder showed no abnormalities. Western medicine diagnosed her with "gastric neurosis." After two months of medication, there was no improvement.
Upon examination, her gastric region was distended and soft to the touch, her appetite was poor, her bowel movements were irregular, her tongue was red with a thick yellow coating, and her pulse was slippery and rapid. She was diagnosed with Taiyang disease deteriorated pattern, where intangible pathogenic heat accumulated in the middle jiao . She was prescribed Rhubarb and Coptis Heart-Draining Decoction:
Rhubarb Rhizoma 5g, Coptis Rhizome 5g, Skullcap Root 5g
. The herbs were steeped in boiling water and taken frequently as tea, one dose per day. After 3 days, the distension and fullness disappeared. She was then given 3 more doses of the same prescription for follow-up. The key to this prescription lies in the method of administration. Based on the author's experience, decocting with water and taking it can purge tangible heat from the intestines, while steeping in boiling water and taking it can clear intangible pathogenic heat from the gastric region.