Taiyin disease is characterized by a weak pulse, and the patient may experience continuous spontaneous diarrhea. If it is appropriate to administer Rhubarb Rhizoma and Peony Root, the dosage should be reduced because the patient's stomach qi is weak and easily disturbed.

bubble_chart Note

• Taiyin disease is inevitably accompanied by abdominal distension, fullness, and pain. The treatment method should be adjusted according to the pulse condition.
• If the patient has a weak pulse, it indicates internal deficiency. Although there may not be a downward movement of qi to the lower abdomen, the patient will still experience continuous spontaneous diarrhea. If it is appropriate to administer Rhubarb Rhizoma and Peony Root, the dosage should be reduced because the patient's stomach qi is too weak to withstand strong purgation, and the bowels are easily disturbed.
• From this, it can be inferred that for patients with hard stools, regardless of whether the condition is yin or yang, if the pulse is weak, mild purgation should not be used.

bubble_chart Collected Annotations

• Cheng Zhi said: "This passage discusses Taiyin disease with a weak pulse, cautioning against continuous diarrhea. Although there is abdominal pain, purgation should not be used, which is consistent with the principles of Jianzhong Tang."
• Yu Chang said: "This passage emphasizes the mutual illumination with the Yangming chapter. In Yangming, it is said: 'no passage of flatus,' 'first hard then loose stools,' and 'not yet fully hardened stools,' all of which caution against damaging the spleen qi of Taiyin. In this Taiyin pattern with a weak pulse, caution is advised against continuous diarrhea. Although there is abdominal pain, the use of Rhubarb Rhizoma and Peony Root should be reduced, again cautioning against damage to the stomach qi of Yangming."
• Wang Hu said: "Someone asked: 'Rhubarb Rhizoma can damage stomach qi, so it should be reduced; Peony Root can regulate spleen yin, so why should it also be reduced?' The answer is: 'A weak pulse indicates insufficient qi. Zhang Zhongjing believed that warm and sweet herbs can generate qi. Peony Root, with its sour and cold nature, although not as strong as Rhubarb Rhizoma, is still not suitable for patients with weak qi, so its dosage should also be reduced.'"