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(The Taiyin spleen is a pure yin organ of wet earth. When pathogenic factors enter the Taiyin, they mostly transform according to yin (cold), and rarely according to yang (heat).)

What is meant by the transformation of Taiyin pathogens according to yin? The *Shanghan Lun* states: abdominal fullness, vomiting food, spontaneous diarrhea, absence of thirst, natural warmth of the hands and feet, and occasional abdominal pain. This is it. It should be primarily treated with Lizhong Wan or Lizhong Tang. If there is no improvement, Si Ni Tang category formulas should be used.

What is meant by the transformation of Taiyin pathogens according to yang? The *Shanghan Lun* states: after sweating, the disease does not resolve, abdominal pain occurs, urgent purgation is required, and Dachengqi Tang is suitable. This is it. It also says: abdominal fullness with occasional pain belongs to Taiyin. "Occasional pain" means the abdomen hurts intermittently. Guizhi Jia Shaoyao Tang should be used. For severe solid pain, characterized by hard stools and pain, Guizhi Jada Huang Tang should be used.

The *Neijing* states: Above Taiyin, dampness governs; this is the root. Below the root is the intermediate manifestation (Shaoyang fire); below the manifestation is the terminal qi. It also states: Taiyin transforms from the root. It also states: Taiyin is the opening. Furthermore, the *Rebing Lun* states: on the fourth day, Taiyin is affected. The Taiyin meridian spreads in the stomach and connects to the throat; therefore, abdominal fullness and dry throat occur.

The *Shanghan Lun* states: The symptoms of Taiyin disease are abdominal fullness and vomiting, inability to eat, worsening spontaneous diarrhea, and occasional abdominal pain. If purgation is applied, chest hypochondriac binding and hardness will certainly result.

Examining the pulse and symptom patterns of Taiyin disease in the *Shanghan Lun*, there are only eight clauses. Later scholars claimed they were incomplete due to loss or Wang Shuhe's alterations, not realizing that these eight clauses contain substance, function, method, and formula. Those who truly understand can utilize them without restriction and without exhaustion. The doubtful point lies in that, apart from the first clause which serves as the outline, the second clause mentions Taiyin wind-stroke syndrome with phrases like "distress and pain in the four limbs," describing the pulse for impending recovery but not how to treat when not yet recovered. The third clause states that Taiyin disease resolves from Hai hour to Chou hour because Taiyin governs opening, and earth opens at Chou, hence recovery occurs at that time. The fourth clause states that if the Taiyin disease pulse is floating, sweating may be induced using Guizhi Tang, but it does not specify treatment if the pulse is not floating. Only in the fifth clause does it say: spontaneous diarrhea with absence of thirst belongs to Taiyin, due to cold in the zang organs; warming is indicated, and Si Ni Tang category formulas are suitable. "Category" includes all such formulas as Lizhong Tang, Tongmai Si Ni Tang, and Wuzhuyu Tang. The sixth clause states: in cold damage, if the pulse is floating and slow, and the hands and feet are naturally warm, it relates to Taiyin. Taiyin should manifest jaundice; if urination is normal, jaundice will not develop. By the seventh or eighth day, even if sudden irritability and diarrhea occur more than ten times a day, it must stop spontaneously, because the Spleen house is real, and putrid filth must be expelled. The seventh clause states: in Taiyang disease, if the physician erroneously applies purgation, leading to abdominal fullness and occasional pain, Guizhi Jia Shaoyao Tang should be used; for severe solid pain, Guizhi Jia Dahuang Tang should be used. The eighth clause states: in Taiyin disease, if the pulse is weak and the person continues to have spontaneous loose stools, if Dahuang or Shaoyao were to be prescribed, their dosage should be reduced because the person's Stomach qi is weak and prone to movement. Aside from this, there are no other prescriptions.

One might think this is indeed few, but failing to realize that two clauses provide formulas twice, possessing great flexibility within principle, one should view them in two halves.

Zhongjing's concept of Taiyin syndrome differs from the *Neijing*'s description of "humans injured by cold becoming heat diseases with abdominal fullness and dry throat." The outlines both describe cold-dampness pathology, treating internally with Si Ni Tang as the orthodox method, and externally with Guizhi Tang as the orthodox method. From the first to the fifth clauses, the intent proceeds in depth, adhering to this principle, which is called the "Classic" (Jing). This constitutes the upper half.

The sixth clause, regarding "cold damage, floating and slow pulse, natural warmth of hands and feet" (twelve sentences), implies that Taiyin focuses on the intermediate manifestation. The previous five clauses discuss cold syndromes lacking the intermediate manifestation; if the intermediate manifestation is excessive, Taiyin wet earth combines with heat rather than cold. If urination is free, jaundice does not develop; if sudden irritability and diarrhea occur, putrid filth is expelled. This is a slight variation outside the constant syndrome, forming a small segment connecting above and initiating below. The seventh clause discusses Taiyang disease mismanaged by purgation, transferring to Taiyin, causing abdominal fullness and occasional pain or severe solid pain, treated mainly with Guizhi Jia Shaoyao Tang and Guizhi Jia Dahuang Tang. One aspect harmonizes the Taiyin meridians, changing the warming method of Si Ni Tang categories into a harmonizing method, and changing Guizhi Tang's exterior-releasing method into a method regulating internal and external aspects, exercising flexibility where strength allows. Another aspect acknowledges the connection between Spleen and Stomach; if not opening for Taiyin, it closes for Yangming. Since closing results in severe solid pain, one must borrow Yangming's rapid approach to remove putrid filth from the Spleen house. Note that the outline prohibits purgation because it addresses occasional abdominal pain. Here, legislation is derived by examining from the front to the opposite side. In the section on "sudden irritability, diarrhea over ten times, stopping spontaneously," healing is mentioned without a formula; this reflects considering treatment when filth has not been expelled after it has been expelled, clarifying formula intent in the absence of a formula to exercise flexibility. This constitutes the lower half.

In summary, Si Ni Tang categories, Guizhi Tang, Guizhi Jia Shaoyao Tang, and Guizhi Jia Dahuang Tang are all essential agents for Taiyin disease. If there is no thirst, Si Ni Tang categories are necessary. If the pulse is weak, Shaoyao and Dahuang etc. must be used cautiously. If the pulse is floating, indicating an outward trend, the guiding effect of Guizhi Tang is most appropriate. For distress and pain during the unrecovered stage, Guizhi Jia Shaoyao Tang can also be generally used. Although the original text contains only eight clauses, all methods are present. Ke Yunbo and others added formulas such as N Hou Sheng Jiang Ban Xia Gan Cao Ren Shen Tang, Bai San, and Ma Ren Wan to expand their use, but instead abolished their flexible application. This likely stems from hearing criticisms of Wang Shuhe before reading the Classics, believing that anything not in the text could be arbitrarily added, removed, or moved, leading to such actions.

According to Shen Yaofeng: Taiyin and Yangming both belong to Earth and jointly govern the Central Region. Pathology manifests first in the abdomen. Yangming is Yang Earth, and the Yang pathway is solid; thus, pathology involves Stomach excess rather than just fullness. Taiyin is Yin Earth, and the Yin pathway is deficient; thus, pathology involves abdominal fullness without solidity. Generally, Wind, Dryness, and Heat (Yang pathogens) invade Yangming; Cold and Warmth (Yin pathogens) invade Taiyin. Yang pathogens invading Yang allow eating without vomiting; Yin pathogens invading Yin prevent eating and cause vomiting. Yang pathogens invading Yang cause constipation; Yin pathogens invading Yin cause spontaneous diarrhea. The syndromes are opposite and recognizable. If erroneously purged, the Stomach becomes empty, and hostile qi agitates the diaphragm. With Yang pathogens, there is vexation and regret (*Ao Nu*); with Yin pathogens, there is chest hypochondriac binding and hardness. If further purgation is erroneously applied, unceasing diarrhea and death will result. This is the outline of Taiyin disease. Whenever Taiyin is mentioned, it refers to abdominal fullness.

According to Ke Yunbo: The *Neijing* states: The Taiyin meridian spreads in the stomach and connects to the throat, causing abdominal fullness and dry throat. This is a syndrome where heat damages Taiyin, injecting from the Yang portion into the meridian, not the Taiyin self-disease described in the *Lun*. Zhongjing uses Taiyin self-disease as the outline because Taiyin governs the interior; thus, the outline excludes exterior signs like wind-stroke distress and pain in the four limbs. Also, as the extreme yin among yin, the outline excludes heat disease signs like dry throat. Taiyin is the opening, and the Yin pathway is deficient. Taiyin governs diseases produced by the Spleen. The Spleen governs dampness and transportation; thus, the outline emphasizes abdominal fullness, occasional pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, all being syndromes of interior deficiency and insecurity, with dampness prevailing and overflowing outward. Spleen deficiency leads to Stomach deficiency; inability to eat indicates the Stomach fails to receive. Know that if the Stomach house is not solid, it is a Taiyin disease.