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Red dates, etc. After taking the medicine, he slept soundly for two hours, and the hiccups ceased. He came for a follow-up visit the next day, moved to tears with gratitude. However, do these two medicines truly have a specific effect on stopping hiccups? It is merely that phlegm stagnation obstructs and blocks; in cases of excess syndrome manifesting as hiccups (excess-type hiccup), one should first resolve the phlegm, and it is inadvisable to use this medicine abruptly.

In July of the Dingwei year, I returned from Suzhou to my hometown, passing through Jingkou. At that time, Mr. Tong Daosheng was suffering severely from malaria (Jue disease), and previous treatments had been ineffective. Accompanied by my elder brother, I went to visit him. I observed profuse sweating, fever, thirst, and mental fatigue. I asked how long he had been ill and why he was so exhausted. He replied that the malaria had been recurring for five days, starting every day at 8 PM. He experienced fever without chills; when the heat was severe, he sweated profusely, soaking his clothes and bedding, only subsiding at dawn. He felt restless, thirsty, and unable to sleep. Upon palpating his pulse, both hands were fine and rapid, extremely deficient upon pressure. His urine was red and hot, his tongue dry without fluids, and devoid of coating. Reviewing the previous prescriptions, they included methods such as Qingpi Yin (Clear the Spleen Decoction) and Erchen Tang (Two Aged Things Decoction). It appeared that for a summerheat disease, acrid-warm and draining herbs like Cao Guo (Tsaoko Fruit) and Bing Lang (Areca Seed) had been used, damaging yin fluids and assisting pathogenic heat. Severe heat forces fluids to leak outwards, hence the current state of profuse sweating, restlessness, and insomnia. Urgently, sweet-cool and moistening methods should be employed to clear heat and preserve fluids, perhaps leading to recovery. Thus, I prescribed Xi Yang Shen (American Ginseng), Bai He (Lily Bulb), Di Gu Pi (Cortex Lycii), Bai Shao (White Peony Root), and Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena Rhizome), each 3 qian; Chuan Lian (Coptis Rhizome) 0.5 qian; Bie Jia (Carapax Trionycis) 5 qian; Yuan Shen (Scrophulariae Radix) 3 qian; Gan Cao (Licorice Root) 1 qian; Fu Mai (Floating Wheat) and Hong Zao (Red Date) decocted together. He recovered after finishing just one cup.

Wu Dehe, over forty years old, suffered from malaria. Each episode involved only aversion to cold and shivering, headache, heavy body, and sore joints, with no fever. He had chest tightness, no sweat, a white greasy tongue coating, and a mouth that felt neutral without thirst. His pulse was deep, slow, and slippery. This was likely due to excessive indulgence in cooling foods and drinks, causing wind-cold to attack externally and cold stagnation to remain internally. I prescribed Cong Chi Tang (Scallion and Fermented Soybean Decoction) combined with Ping Wei San (Calm the Stomach Powder), adding Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig) and Zi Su (Perilla Leaf). After one dose, he sweated profusely and recovered.

Mr. Yang came from Jiangbei to Zhenjiang, suffering severely from malaria, having had several episodes. It occurred every other day; during attacks, he had high fever, restlessness, and intense thirst for cold water, along with mental agitation and red, hot urine. His pulse was largely similar to that of a healthy person, but slightly slippery and rapid. This indicated deep-seated summerheat pathogen. I used Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang (Bamboo Leaf and Gypsum Decoction), removing Ren Shen (Ginseng) and Ban Xia (Pinellia Tuber), and adding Chai Hu (Bupleurum Root), Qing Hao (Artemisia Annua), Huang Qin (Scutellaria Root), Tian Hua Fen (Trichosanthes Root), Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena Rhizome), and Yi Yi Ren (Coix Seed). Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum) was used at 4 qian, and other herbs at 2-3 qian each, prepared as a decoction. On the next day's follow-up, he reported that the medicine felt like drinking sweet dew, bringing exceptional comfort. The original prescription was continued for another dose. Two days later, he reported that the illness had diminished significantly, and he desired food. I then switched to Sha Shen (Glehnia Root), Shi Hu (Dendrobium Stem), Yi Yi Ren (Coix Seed), Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber), Pei Lan (Eupatorium Fortunei), and Hua Fen (Trichosanthes Root), herbs that nourish the stomach and generate fluids, leading to recovery.

Mr. Lu, approximately thirty years old, in August of the Guichou year, approached me while I was eating lunch. He was supported by another person, staggering and unable to stand independently, groaning incessantly. Seeing his condition, I examined him immediately. His pulse was slippery and rapid, and his body heat was severe. The malaria had been active for several days. The burning heat was unbearable, urine was red and hot, and the tongue coating was dry. I prescribed Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang (Bamboo Leaf and Gypsum Decoction), removing Ren Shen (Ginseng) and Ban Xia (Pinellia Tuber), and adding Huang Qin (Scutellaria Root), Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena Rhizome), Mu Tong (Akebia Caulis), and Chai Hu (Bupleurum Root). Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum) was used at 4 qian, Huang Qin (Scutellaria Root) at 3 qian, and other herbs at 1-2 qian each. On the next day's follow-up, he reported that after taking the medicine the previous day, he felt a heavy weight pressing on his lower abdomen, sweated throughout the night, yet felt comfortable all over and could walk independently. The dosage of the original prescription was reduced, and he recovered after two doses. In this case, the sensation of heavy pressure in the lower abdomen after using Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum) was similar to the case treated by Zhao Licun for Yuan Suianyuan. This phenomenon may be physiologically induced by the heavy-sedating power of Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum).

Mrs. Zhang, twenty-five years old, suffered from malaria. Initially treated by Western doctors who administered Cinchona Bark (Jin Ji Na Shuang), which stopped the malaria, but it recurred after a few days. The Western doctor continued using Cinchona Bark (Jin Ji Na Shuang) for months, yet the malaria persisted. I was consulted, and the malaria had changed to occurring every third day. She had a sallow complexion, dizziness, chest tightness and distension, but could still eat. Her tongue coating was thin and white, and her pulse was slow and slippery. This indicated summer-dampness and phlegm-stagnation hidden in the middle jiao, with Ying and Wei qi failing to harmonize. Although Cinchona Bark (Jin Ji Na Shuang) can stop malaria, its nature is hot and toxic, and it has tonifying properties, which inevitably risks closing off the pathogenic qi. Prolonged use leads to toxicity. I prescribed Chai Hu Gui Zhi Tang (Bupleurum and Cinnamon Twig Decoction) combined with Ping Wei San (Calm the Stomach Powder). After two doses, the chest distension relaxed, and the malaria attacks became milder. Rashes appeared all over her body, from the top of the head to the legs, with extreme itching, indicating the expulsion of pathogenic qi. The original prescription was continued for two more doses, leading to recovery. Generally, Cinchona Bark (Jin Ji Na Shuang) for malaria should only be used for one or two doses; if ineffective, other medicines must be used.

The wife of Mr. Wu Xingyi, over forty years old, experienced alternating chills and fever, dizziness, palpitations, insomnia throughout the night, chest tightness, and poor appetite. I prescribed Chai Hu Tang (Bupleurum Decoction) combined with Zeng Ye Tang (Increase Fluids Decoction), adding Zao Ren (Ziziphus Seed), Fu Shen (Poria with Hostwood), Qing Hao (Artemisia Annua), Pei Lan (Eupatorium Fortunei), and Xiang Yuan Pi (Citron Peel). After two doses, the symptoms resolved. Subsequently, a formula to nourish blood and soothe depression was used to conclude the treatment.

Mrs. Xu, nearly thirty years old, had suffered from malaria for several days. Initially, her daily activities were normal, but later she could not sit up. During malaria attacks, she had thirst, spontaneous sweating, dizziness, and a feeling of faintness, with twitching fingers. Her tongue edges were cracked, the coating thin and yellow but not dry, stool was loose, and urine was hot. The left pulse was fine and rapid, and the right pulse was small, slippery, and also rapid. This was likely due to multiple pregnancies causing inherent blood deficiency, compounded by seasonal summerheat. I prescribed Xi Yang Shen (American Ginseng), Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber), Yuan Shen (Scrophulariae Radix), Bai Zi Ren (Biota Seed), Fu Shen (Poria with Hostwood), Di Gu Pi (Cortex Lycii), Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena Rhizome), Bai Shao (White Peony Root), Qing Hao (Artemisia Annua), and Gan Cao (Licorice Root), with a slight addition of Huang Lian (Coptis Rhizome). After taking it, all symptoms subsided suddenly. However, joint soreness appeared, a white tongue coating emerged, and there was slight chest stuffiness. Therefore, Huang Lian (Coptis Rhizome) and Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena Rhizome) were removed from the original prescription, and Ju Pi (Tangerine Peel), Ban Xia (Pinellia Tuber), Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis), Zao Ren (Ziziphus Seed), Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger), and Hong Zao (Red Date) were added. She recovered after three consecutive doses.

In the autumn of the Jiyi year, my friend Tao Yeqing suffered from malaria. Initially, he could walk, but later could not sit up. Medical treatment and medication yielded little effect. As I happened to return to my hometown, I examined him. His pulse was deep, wiry, and slippery; the tongue coating was turbid and greasy; he had chest tightness, heavy body, and joint soreness. He only had aversion to cold and slight fever, with no dry mouth. This indicated cold-dampness and phlegm-fluid frozen in the middle jiao, preventing the healthy yang qi from functioning normally. Only warm-yang resolving power could melt this stagnation. I prescribed Chai Hu Jiang Gui Tang (Bupleurum, Ginger, and Cinnamon Twig Decoction) combined with Ping Wei San (Calm the Stomach Powder), adding Xie Bai (Macrostemon Bulb), Kou Ren (Black Cardamom Seed), and Chen Xiang (Aquilaria Wood). Hou Po (Magnolia Bark), Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger), and Dou Kou (Cardamom) were each used at 1 qian; Chen Xiang (Aquilaria Wood) at 0.8 fen; and other herbs at 2-3 qian each. After decocting and taking it, he vomited a large amount of thin phlegm and fluid, the chest tightness slightly relieved, and the aversion to cold resolved. The previous prescription was continued with reduced dosage for three days, after which he felt hungry and could eat. Later, he took Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Wan (Aucklandia and Amomum Six Gentlemen Pills) for half a month to recuperate.

Mr. Guan San, the younger brother of Yeqing, suffered from malaria, occurring daily in the afternoon. Before the attack, he felt aversion to cold, followed quickly by high fever, thirst, mental restlessness, and dizziness with exhaustion. His pulse was fine and rapid, especially at the left Chi position. Urine was red, and the tongue coating was scant. This was likely due to excessive mental labor depleting yin fluids, compounded by summerheat exposure. I prescribed Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang (Artemisia Annua and Carapax Trionycis Decoction), removing Di Huang (Rehmannia Root) and Dan Pi (Moutan Cortex), and adding Chuan Lian (Coptis Rhizome), Yi Yi Ren (Coix Seed), Sha Shen (Glehnia Root), Yin Chai Hu (Stellaria Root), Yuan Hu (Corydalis Rhizome), and Liu Yi San (Six-to-One Powder). He recovered after finishing just one cup.