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Mr. Shen from Shanyin, aged about forty. Occasionally, due to overexertion, his epilepsy would manifest. His spirit was not under his own control; he spoke deliriously and nonsensically, losing consciousness. Sometimes his speech resembled that of someone possessed by spirits. Upon pulse diagnosis, the Cun (Inch) pulses on both wrists were excessively empty and large, while the Guan (Bar) pulses were wiry and tight. The center of his tongue was depressed with cracks. I stated that this disease belongs to deficiency patterns, where the Spirit does not reside in its proper abode. When the Spirit is deficient, it leads to fright; this is not caused by actual malevolent spirits. Rather, it is because the Spirit-Qi is floating and overflowing, thus causing hallucinations and delirious speech. I prescribed Guizhi Longgu Muli Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction with Dragon Bone and Oyster Shell) supplemented with Longyan Rou Gao (Longan Fruit Paste). I advised him to take it continuously for thirty doses. After taking twenty doses, the disease did not recur. Note: This case and the previous case of Mr. Chen represent a contrast between deficiency and excess patterns requiring corresponding treatments. The key lies in accurate syndrome differentiation and clear pulse identification, so that the administered treatment yields immediate results. Diseases are myriad, and treatments should not be rigid; however, they ultimately revolve around the four characters: Deficiency, Excess, Cold, and Heat. Guizhi Longgu Muli Tang possesses miraculous efficacy in restoring balance, a knowledge unknown to those who have not thoroughly studied the *Jingui Yaolue* (Essential Prescriptions from the Golden Cabinet).

Jin Cai mei, a Xiucai (degree holder) from Dinghai, lost his wife suddenly to Cholera (Huo Luan) in the autumn of the Bingxu year. He subsequently suffered from Damp-Heat Syndrome. That year, many cases of Cholera in Dinghai were cured by me. When Jin Cai mei sought my treatment, it was already mid-winter. It seems that after suffering from Warm-Dampness (Wen Wen) in the autumn, he failed to receive timely clearing and resolving treatment, leaving pathogenic factors lingering in the collaterals. Furthermore, the grief and depression from losing his spouse, combined with a smoking habit, consumed his Essence and Blood. He experienced irritability and insomnia, keeping his eyes open for a whole month without sleep. During the day, he was restless sitting or lying down, overwhelmed by mixed emotions. He desired to eat but could not, desired to lie down but could not. His diet was sometimes suitable and sometimes not. His mental state seemed dull like dementia. The pulse was empty and large, feeling extremely chaotic under the fingers. I said: This is exactly what the *Jingui Yaolue* refers to as Baihe Bing (Lily Disease). Additionally, there was Phlegm rushing upward. Therefore, I prescribed Baihe Dihuang Tang (Lily and Rehmannia Decoction) with added herbs to clear Phlegm and descend Fire. After two doses, he could sleep slightly, but his mental state remained dull. Thus, I focused solely on clearing Phlegm-Fire and added herbs to calm the Spirit and stabilize the Will. Through modifications of the formula, he recovered by the spring of the Dinghai year.

Old Man Zhao Zhong, nearly eighty years old, formerly served as the Director of Education in Zhenhai County. He frequently suffered from Tou Feng (Head Wind/Chronic Headache). Upon onset, it lasted day and night without cessation. The meridians on the left cheek, forehead, and vertex twitched intermittently. He felt as if fire and smoke were rushing upward. He could not sleep all night. The pulse was deficient, slippery, and fluent, sometimes wiry, forceful, and large. I reasoned that Wind-Yang was disturbing upwards, with Fire from the Yangming and Shaoyang meridians carrying Phlegm to rush counter-currently upward. Many blue collaterals were visible on the sides of the forehead, around the ears, and on both cheeks. The method should be to puncture and bleed all visible collaterals. The *Ling Shu* states: "All visible collaterals should be drained." Thus, I punctured the bilateral cheeks and the glabella to release blood. I also needled Jiache (ST6), Dicang (ST4), Chengjiang (CV24), Shuaigu (GB8), Yingxiang (LI20), and other acupoints. I applied the Six Yin counting technique. After four acupuncture sessions, the muscle twitching ceased. The prescription included Cang Er Zi (Stiff Silkworm), Sang Ye (Mulberry Leaf), Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Root), Shan Zhi (Gardenia Fruit), Shi Hu (Dendrobium Stem), Dan Pi (Moutan Cortex), Zhu Ru (Bamboo Shavings), Qing Dai (Indigo Naturalis), Si Gua Luo (Luffa Loop), Mu Li (Oyster Shell), and E Jiao (Donkey-Hide Gelatin). These herbs nourish Blood and harmonize the collaterals. After several doses of regulation, he stabilized. The condition recurred after the Start of Spring the following year, but less severely than before. At that time, heavy snow fell, making acupuncture impossible. I switched to Tuina pushing techniques, using fingers instead of needles. After pushing, the pain eased slightly. Once the snow melted and the sky cleared, I re-needled Shuaigu (GB8) and Fengfu (GV16). The herbal prescription followed the previous method. After several doses, he recovered again. Thereafter, attacks became infrequent, and the previous formula proved effective. Xu Huixi (Xu Dachun) stated: "For diseases of the meridians, relying solely on herbs without acupuncture often yields no effect." This is indeed true.