Exploration on the Bitterness-Purging and Dispersion-Discharge Methods in the Treatise on Warm-Heat Diseases

This study analyzes the connotation, key points, and clinical application of the bitterness-purging method and the dispersion-discharge method in the Treatise on warm-heat diseases. The bitterness-purging method and the dispersion-discharge method are two treatment methods proposed by the Qing dynasty warm-disease therapist Ye Tian-shi for the gastric distention and fullness caused by damp-heat accumulated in the stomach. The core connotation of the bitterness-purging method is "unblocking and purging with bitter-acrid medicinals, together with using acrid-cool medicinals to promote sweating combined with bitter-cold medicinals to discharge interior heat". In addition, the core connotation of the dispersion-discharge method is "diffusing the exterior with slightly bitter and acrid medicinals". The key to the application of the bitterness-purging method and the dispersion-discharge method is to identify "the damp-heat accumulated in the middle jiao and the blockage of stomach qi". Thus, the corresponding key treatment is "removing pathogenic factors with bitter and acrid medicinals". On this basis, it is critical to correctly identify the differences between the two methods and apply them judiciously. The bitterness-purging method and the dispersion-discharge method can be applied in the treatment of chronic gastritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, tuberculous pleurisy, sicca syndrome, as well as novel coronavirus infection.