Wu Shou: Biographical introduction and legendary stories, major works and academic contributions
✵Wu Shou: Herbalist who lived from the late Yuan dynasty to the early Ming dynasty. He was skilled in treating Shang Han (exogenous febrile diseases) and had proficient medical skills. Recruited to the capital as a renowned herbalist, he was appointed Yuan Pan of the Imperial Academy of Medicine. He is also the author of the book Shang Han Yun Yao Quan Shu (Essential Collect Complete Book of Shang Han).
吳綬 (Wú Shòu).
Brief Introduction
Chinese Name:
吳綬 (Wú Shòu)
Alias:
Unknown
Popular name:
吳綬 (Wú Shòu)
English Name:
Wu Shou, or Shou Wu (Given/Family)
Hometown:
Qian Tang Xian
Dates:
Unknown, during the Ming Dynasty.
Main works:
《傷寒蘊要全書》(Shang Han Yun Yao Quan Shu, or the Essential Collect Complete Book of Shang Han) 4 volumes.
Representative works:
Shang Han Yun Yao Quan Shu (the Essential Collect Complete Book of Shang Han).
Biography and legends:
吳綬 (Wú Shòu), an herbalist, lived from the late Yuan dynasty to the early Ming dynasty. He was from Qiantang, now known as Hangzhou. He excelled at treating Shang Han (exogenous febrile diseases) and was highly skilled in medicine. He was recruited to the capital as a famous herbalist and was assigned an official position at the Imperial Academy of Medicine under Yuan Pan.
When Wu Shou returned to the north, a man named Feng Ying (馮英, Féng Yīng) lived near a lake and suffered from Shang Han (cold affection). The herbalists discussed using Cheng Qi Decoction and invited Wu Shou to examine him. Wu Shou said, "The patient will sweat profusely. It is not a purgative syndrome. We should wait a while." After a while, the patient began to sweat and felt better. Wu Shou is the author of the book Shang Han Yun Yao Quan Shu (The Essential Collection of the Complete Book of Shang Han).
Main books and academic thoughts:
The book Shang Han Yun Yao Quan Shu (The Essential Collection of the Complete Book of Shang Han) is a traditional Chinese medicine work written by Wu Shou during the Ming dynasty. It was compiled and finished in the 18th year of the Hongzhi reign (1505 CE).
The first volume contains twenty-five chapters. It discusses Shang Han (exogenous febrile diseases) through questions and answers, Yun-Qi Theory (five elements' motion and six kinds of natural factors), and methods for observing the color, eyes, nose, lips, ears, tongue, and pulse. It also covers the transmission of the six channels and the main indications of medicinal properties. Illustrations are included for clarification. The second volume contains outlines of exogenous febrile diseases, the theory of cold-induced diseases, warm diseases, and febrile diseases; the diagnosis of cold affection, wind affection, warm diseases, and febrile diseases; asthma; cough; palpitations; and abdominal pain. There are a total of twelve articles with discussions on prescriptions of Shang Han. The third volume contains content on the differences in fever between the root cause and symptoms of diseases in the three yang channels; the diagnosis and syndrome differentiation of fever from cold-induced exterior syndromes; aversion to cold; hot flashes; thirst; blood retention; and epigastric oppression, and so on. There are a total of thirty-eight articles with discussions on prescriptions of Shang Han. The fourth volume contains content on the differentiation of yin and yang syndromes; Chu Zhong (sudden spurt of appetite prior to collapse); and Re Jue (pyretic syncope, heat collapse), Zang Jue (visceral cold extremities), Hui Jue (syncope due to ascariasis, ascariasis syncope), Bu Mian (insomnia or sleeplessness), pharyngalgia (sore throat), edema, Shang Han of women (exogenous febrile disease of women), and Shang Han of babies (exogenous febrile disese of babies) are among the 61 articles, which include discussions on Shang Han prescriptions. Following Zhongjing's methods of syndrome differentiation and treatment, it focuses on identifying syndromes and compiling essential discussions of later herbalists. It also includes proven effective prescriptions and discusses the theory of Yun Qi (five elements' motion and six kinds of natural factors), presenting theories with illustrations.
References:
1.Wu Shou: Biographical introduction and legendary stories, major works and academic contributions
✵Wu Shou: Herbalist who lived from the late Yuan dynasty to the early Ming dynasty. He was skilled in treating Shang Han (exogenous febrile diseases) and had proficient medical skills. Recruited to the capital as a renowned herbalist, he was appointed Yuan Pan of the Imperial Academy of Medicine. He is also the author of the book Shang Han Yun Yao Quan Shu (Essential Collect Complete Book of Shang Han).
吳綬 (Wú Shòu), an herbalist, lived from the late Yuan dynasty to the early Ming dynasty. He was from Qiantang, now known as Hangzhou. He excelled at treating Shang Han (exogenous febrile diseases) and was highly skilled in medicine. He was recruited to the capital as a famous herbalist and was assigned an official position at the Imperial Academy of Medicine under Yuan Pan.
