Secret Prescriptions for Falls and Blows

赵濂Tibet People's Publishing House · ChinaJul 2024

2.2

Word count: 5.2K words
Chapters: 8

Summary

In general, when the head is injured and the brain marrow protrudes, it is difficult to treat; if the bone color is green, it is also difficult to treat. If bone and flesh are broken elsewhere, apply Kongtong San externally and take Shufeng Liqi Tang internally for five or six doses. Once the wound has leveled and healed, give Buxue Shunqi Tang. If there is tetanus with clenched jaw and opisthotonos, promptly administer Feilong Duoming Tang.

Editor's review

Die Da Mi Fang (Secret Formulas for Traumatic Injury) is a short, compact collated edition of an ancient Chinese traumatology text. Its value lies not in length but in fully presenting the clinical chain of reasoning for diagnosing and treating traditional traumatic injuries. The book begins with prognosis for severe head injury, first establishing difficult cases to mark the limits, then giving specific external and internal formulas according to the injury, such as external application of Kongtong San and internal Shufeng Liqi Tang for regulation, and listing Feilong Duoming Tang for emergency treatment of severe tetanus. The levels are clear and embody the traumatology logic of “distinguish severity, separate internal and external, and treat the branch in emergencies.” Its highlight is the tight correspondence between formulas and patterns, with plain language in which nearly every sentence points to practical operation; it is suitable as an introductory reader for understanding traditional approaches to traumatic injury. When reading, one should compare it with basic TCM theory, especially attending to the book's intent in prognosis and formula composition, but it must be clear that this is ancient literature to be consulted under professional guidance, not used directly to prescribe medication.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Enthusiasts of TCM traumatology who want to understand traditional approaches to diagnosing and treating traumatic injuries
TCM students who need supplementary reading material in ancient traumatology literature
Primary-level TCM practitioners who wish to refer to ancient approaches to formulas for external injuries
Readers interested in traditional medical literature who have some ability to read classical Chinese

Not a good fit for

Ordinary readers with no TCM foundation who hope to fill prescriptions directly for self-treatment
Clinical staff seeking modern emergency or surgical management standards
Beginners expecting systematic textbook-style explanation with abundant illustrations and cases

Reading tips

First read through the whole book to grasp the diagnostic and treatment framework, then examine each entry against its formulas to understand the injuries to which they apply.
Keep a TCM formulary or traumatology textbook at hand while reading to check formula composition and effects at any time.
Take notes on the book's criteria for difficult and untreatable cases to appreciate ancient prognostic thinking.
After reading, organize the formulas and patterns into a brief table for later reference and review.

About the publisher

Tibet People's Publishing House China · Founded in 1971

Tibet People's Publishing House is a comprehensive publisher known for collating Tibetan and Chinese ancient texts and publishing traditional culture. Judging from the books in its catalogue, its publishing focuses on medicine, Eastern philosophy, classics, and ancient poetry. It offers traditional Chinese medical and health-preserving works such as the Compendium of Materia Medica, Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Pieces of Gold, and Principles of Correct Diet, as well as canonical and philosophical texts including the Book of Changes, Zuo Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals, Annotated Edition of the Erya, and Luxuriant Dew of the Spring and Autumn Annals, along with historical and geographical works such as The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores. Its authors include figures such as Li Shizhen, Sun Simiao, King Wen of Zhou, Zuo Qiuming, Guo Pu, Dong Zhongshu, Hu Sihui, and Ma Huan. The house emphasizes the collation and republication of ancient texts, balancing scholarship and accessibility, and has developed its own strengths in transmitting Tibetan and Chinese cultural classics. Public information is limited, so other publishing details are omitted here.

版权信息
论治法
论伤各要害处不治
论用药
论各穴要害之处
论验轻重伤诀
论用药要诀
论各伤主方

FAQ

Can the trauma formulas in the book be used directly?

Direct use is not recommended. This book is collated ancient literature; the formulas target specific injuries and constitutions, and there are differences between ancient and modern herb processing and dosage standards. Consult them under the guidance of a qualified TCM physician, and never compound medicines for external or internal use on your own, lest injury be delayed.

Does the book's approach to tetanus still have meaning today?

The traditional emergency approaches such as Feilong Duoming Tang recorded in the book reflect ancient understanding of severe tetanus. Modern tetanus requires prompt medical attention and standard management; the ancient content has mainly documentary and academic reference value and cannot replace modern diagnosis and treatment.

Can someone without a classical Chinese foundation understand this book?

The book's language is rather concise and plain, but it still contains many ancient medical terms and formula names. It is advisable to read alongside an annotated edition or basic TCM readings, look up formulas in reference works, and proceed step by step to grasp the general meaning.

Related on WeRead

Comments

Find this book

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

赵濂 Author

Zhao Lian, whose dates of birth and death, native place, and personal history are unknown, is represented by a very limited body of public information. All that is currently known is that three medical works are attributed to him, of which Yi Men Bu Yao (Supplementary Essentials of the Medical Profession) is the most representative. The other two, Die Da Mi Fang (Secret Formulas for Injuries from Falls and Blows) and Die Sun Miao Fang (Wondrous Formulas for Falls and Injuries), appear from their titles to belong to the tradition of traumatology, and like Yi Men Bu Yao they are classified under medicine. Judging from these surviving works, Zhao Lian's writing is practical in emphasis, centering on clinical experience and the recording of formulas and drugs rather than on expansive theoretical discussion. He aimed to give practitioners a reference for diagnosis and treatment, an orientation especially evident in Yi Men Bu Yao. Because historical sources are scarce, his native place, career, and intellectual lineage cannot be reliably determined; only through these three works can something of his practice and authorship be glimpsed. Readers wishing to learn about him should rely chiefly on the contents of these books and consult them alongside relevant medical literature.