Ma, female, 42 years old, first consultation on August 11, 1993. Suffering from menstrual diarrhea for several years, with no cure despite various treatments. The patient usually has normal bowel movements, but experiences diarrhea during each menstruation, with watery stools. Symptoms include dry mouth and thirst, urgent urination, inability to sleep at night, and when sleep does occur, it is filled with many dreams. The legs feel heavy as if made of lead. The current menstruation is heavy, with blood clots. The tongue is red with a white coating, and the pulse is wiry and thin. The diagnosis is yin deficiency generating heat, heat combined with water, leading to metabolic disorder, and water descending to the large intestine causing diarrhea. The treatment should focus on nourishing yin, clearing heat, and promoting diuresis. The prescribed formula is the original Polyporus Decoction:
Polyporus 20g, Poria 30g, Donkey-hide Gelatin 10g (melting), Alisma 20g, Talc 16g
. After taking 3 doses, the diarrhea stopped, urination became normal, and all symptoms were cured.