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Body pain is also a manifestation of the Taiyang exterior syndrome. To release the exterior pathogen, one should employ the sweating method for treatment. However, Yin and Yang, interior and exterior are interconnected and subject to change; the key lies in weighing the severity of the condition and treating it appropriately, rather than adhering rigidly to a single fixed method.

For cases suitable for the sweating method, as stated in the classic text: In Taiyang disease, if there is headache, fever, body pain, lower back pain, joint pain, aversion to wind, absence of sweat, and wheezing, Ma Huang Tang (Ephedra Decoction) is the primary prescription. It further states: In Taiyang Wind Strike, with a floating and tight pulse, fever, aversion to cold, body pain, absence of sweat, and irritability, Da Qing Long Tang (Major Blue Green Dragon Decoction) should be used to induce sweating. This is the orthodox method of inducing sweating. When the pathogen of the Taiyang channel extends to the Shaoyang channel, as stated in the classic: After six or seven days of Shanghan (Cold Damage), with fever, slight aversion to cold, discomfort and pain in the limbs and joints, slight vomiting, subcostal fullness and obstruction, and the exterior syndrome not yet resolved, Chai Hu Gui Zhi Tang (Bupleurum and Cinnamon Twig Decoction) is the primary prescription. This employs the harmonizing method specific to the Shaoyang channel while simultaneously using Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig) to harmonize the Taiyang exterior, thus not purely relying on the sweating method. In such cases, the pulse must be judged by its floating quality. If the pulse is deep, the exterior should not be treated. As stated in the classic: If a patient has fever and headache, but the pulse is unexpectedly deep, and if the condition does not improve, accompanied by body pain, one should first rescue the interior, preferably using Si Ni Tang (Frigid Extremities Decoction). It further states: After inducing sweating, if body pain persists and the pulse is deep and slow, Gui Zhi Shao Yao Sheng Jiang Ren Shen Xin Jia Tang (Modified Cinnamon Twig, Peony, Ginger, and Ginseng Decoction) is the primary prescription. It also states: In Shaoyin disease, with body pain, cold hands and feet, joint pain, and a deep pulse, Fu Zi Tang (Aconite Decoction) is the primary prescription. The treatment methods here differ vastly; one must observe the urgency of the condition to determine the sequence of treatment. For instance, if a Shanghan patient was mistakenly purged, leading to continuous diarrhea with undigested food and body pain, one must urgently rescue the interior; later, if body pain persists but bowel movements normalize, one must urgently rescue the exterior. Rescuing the interior requires Si Ni Tang, while rescuing the exterior requires Gui Zhi Tang. Zhang Zhongjing's discussions are clear: one must not attribute body pain solely to the exterior syndrome and indiscriminately apply exterior-releasing methods, which could lead to the collapse of Yang Qi.

Although body pain is often an exterior syndrome, in patients with dampness, the entire body may ache. This indicates the pathogen attaching to the interior and residing externally between the muscles. One should warm the meridians to allow natural sweating for resolution, rather than directly forcing the exterior to release. As stated in the classic: When Wind-Dampness combats, causing severe body pain preventing self-turning, without vomiting or thirst, and with a floating, deficient, and choppy pulse, Gui Zhi Fu Zi Tang (Cinnamon Twig and Aconite Decoction) is the primary prescription. It further says: When Wind-Dampness combats, causing vexing pain in bone joints, pulling pain preventing flexion and extension, exacerbated by touch, with sweating, shortness of breath, aversion to wind preferring to keep clothes on, or slight body swelling, Gan Cao Fu Zi Tang (Licorice and Aconite Decoction) is the primary prescription. In these two cases, warming the meridians will naturally allow sweat to penetrate. If one induces heavy sweating, the disease will not resolve. Only when there is no vomiting or thirst can one warm the meridians. From this, we infer that if there is vomiting and thirst, it belongs to Damp-Heat stagnation, where the sweating method is particularly contraindicated. Thus, Zhang Zhongjing also states: In Taiyang Zhong Yue (Summerheat Stroke), with fever, aversion to cold, heavy body, and pain. Essentially, both excessive Dampness and Heat can cause body pain. Although resolution through sweating is appropriate, the sweating method cannot be applied uniformly.

Huoluan (Huo-loan/Cholera-like disorder) with diarrhea originally belongs to Yin diseases. When a Yin disease transforms into Yang, body pain often appears. Treatment should first warm the interior, then attack the exterior, using formulas like Li Zhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction) or Si Ni Tang. When vomiting and diarrhea cease but body pain continues, one should carefully harmonize the exterior, preferably using a small dose of Gui Zhi Tang. These methods and prescriptions are clearly outlined in Zhang Zhongjing's works for guidance. If cold completely transforms into heat, evolving into Yangming dryness and thirst syndrome, it requires separate discussion.

Whenever using the sweating method, one must assess the patient's Jin Ye (Body Fluids). The classic states: With a floating and tight pulse, body pain is expected, and sweating is indicated. However, if the Chi position (cun-guan-chi pulse positions) pulse is slow, sweating is contraindicated. Why? Because Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi) is insufficient and blood is scant. Furthermore, patients with chronic sores (Chuang Jia) who have body pain should not be sweated, as sweating may lead to Jing (Spasm). Those using the sweating method must be extremely cautious.

There are cases of body pain accompanied by heaviness, cases of only heaviness without pain, and cases of pain without heaviness. For example, in Shanghan with a floating and tight pulse, whole-body pain, accompanied by aversion to cold, heaviness, and vomiting/reversal of Qi; or in Shanghan with a floating and slow pulse, no pain but heaviness that occasionally lightens, without Shaoyin signs, these all require heavy sweating. In Shaoyin disease, the limbs are heavy, and the pulse is deep rather than floating. Other conditions like Feng Wen (Wind-Warmth) presenting with spontaneous sweating, heavy body, and excessive sleepiness; San Yang He Bing (Combined Disease of Three Yangs) presenting with abdominal fullness, heaviness, and difficulty turning; and Taiyang Zhong Yue presenting with heavy body and pain—all illustrate contraindications to sweating. Ultimately, body heaviness also has distinctions regarding whether sweating is appropriate or not, which should be considered alongside body pain.

Lower back pain, when radiating from headache and body pain, belongs to the Taiyang exterior syndrome; resolving the exterior stops the pain. If complicated by Dampness, one must observe accompanying signs, distinguishing between Cold-Damp and Damp-Heat, and treat according to principles. Since Taiyang and Shaoyin are interior-exterior paired, one must also guard against signs of Kidney deficiency.

Spasmodic pain in the four limbs belongs to the stagnation of Taiyang channel Qi and should be referenced alongside body pain. Pain distributed throughout the body indicates widespread pathogen distribution; pain localized in one area indicates focused pathogen concentration. Focused pathogens likely cause local blood stasis; therefore, one or two guiding herbs should be added to exterior-releasing formulas to verify the differentiation of Wind-Cold, Summerheat, or Dampness. One must carefully observe accompanying signs and treat accordingly to avoid errors.