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The method of digestion-promoting and food-resolving is originally established for internal injury due to diet. If there is an external contraction but no internal food stagnation, why use digestion-promoting methods? Moreover, if the Middle Jiao Qi is weak and unable to transform and transport, leading to the retention and accumulation of deficiency-phlegm, presenting symptoms resembling excess, this is actually caused by deficiency; it is a syndrome of excess containing deficiency, which originally should not be treated with digestion-promoting methods. Therefore, when there is no fullness or oppression in the chest, digestion-promoting methods are contraindicated. When the right pulse is empty and large, and the stomach pulse is double-string-like, digestion-promoting methods are contraindicated. When there is dry mouth and excessive thirst, or inability to eat after a long illness, digestion-promoting methods are contraindicated. When there is frequent diarrhea, or a pre-existing stomach disease, digestion-promoting methods are contraindicated. When previous treatment involved the use of harsh purgatives (draining and damaging healthy Qi), followed by stagnation and failure to digest, digestion-promoting methods are contraindicated.

Where pathogenic factors gather, healthy Qi must be deficient. Therefore, in all exterior contraction syndromes, it is necessary that Healthy Qi (Yuan Qi) is deficient before external pathogens can invade. Thus, among Zhang Zhongjing's 113 formulas, half contain Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen). This is because for individuals with deficient Healthy Qi suffering from exterior contraction, one must add three to five fen of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen). It may be added to exterior-releasing medicines to support Healthy Qi and assist medicinal power, driving out exterior pathogens; or added to harmonizing medicines to support Stomach Qi and distribute medicinal power, harmonizing and dispersing pathogens inside and outside; or added to interior-clearing medicines to reduce pathogenic heat, allowing body fluids to return naturally. For example, in treating unresolved Taiyang exterior pathogens with a weak pulse unable to produce sweat, Ren Shen Bai Du San (Ginseng Decoction to Overcome Toxicity) is used; in Shaoyang half-exterior half-interior conditions, Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen) is added to Chai Hu Tang (Bupleurum Decoction) within harmonizing formulas; in Yangming dry mouth and tongue dryness, Renshen is added to Bai Hu Tang (White Tiger Decoction). The term "tonifying deficiency" here refers only to adding a small amount of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen) to exterior-releasing, harmonizing, or interior-clearing medicines to jointly achieve the effect of expelling pathogens and curing disease. It is originally not about adding Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen) into tonifying Qi and nourishing blood formulas like Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) or Ba Wu Tang (Eight Substance Decoction) for concurrent warm-tonification.

In treating Shanghan (Cold Damage) with tonification, one must wait until pathogens are scattered and diseases removed before tonifying Healthy Qi. If pathogens are abundant and one does not use methods to expel pathogens but instead uses tonifying medicines first, the pathogens will become more severe due to the tonification. Medical texts state: "If pathogens remain and do not depart, they turn into excess." Therefore, at the initial stage of Shanghan, before sweating, vomiting, or purging methods have been applied, tonifying deficiency is contraindicated. In Yangming Stomach excess syndrome with dryness, excess, fullness, and oppression, tonifying deficiency is contraindicated. With chest and diaphragm fullness/oppression, body pain, and absence of sweat, tonifying deficiency is contraindicated. With heat binding internally and a rapid, deep, and solid pulse, tonifying deficiency is contraindicated. With irritability, restlessness, and hidden pulses in all six positions, tonifying deficiency is contraindicated. In Yang syndromes resembling Yin, with red and scanty urine, tonifying deficiency is contraindicated. Before sha-rash (scarlet fever-like rash) has erupted, tonifying deficiency is contraindicated. With hard and bound stools, tonifying deficiency is contraindicated. With prickly tongue and scorched lips, tonifying deficiency is contraindicated. With mental confusion and restlessness, tonifying deficiency is contraindicated. With jaundice due to heat-stasis, tonifying deficiency is contraindicated. With blood stasis causing mania, tonifying deficiency is contraindicated.