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If excessive sweating has occurred, and the patient crosses their hands over the heart area, experiencing palpitations and desiring to press upon it for relief, Guizhi Gancao Tang (Cinnamon Twig and Licorice Decoction) is indicated.

Excessive sweating depletes Heart fluid, and as Heart fire escapes with the sweat, Spirit becomes deficient; thus, the patient crosses their hands over the heart ("mao" means to cover). Excessive sweating leads to the loss of Yang Qi, causing the dispersal of warming Qi. When Wind-Liver Qi becomes unsettled, Earth fails and Stomach Qi rebels, allowing turbid Qi to fill the chest. The upward path of Wind-Liver Qi becomes obstructed and stagnant, resulting in palpitations below the heart. The patient desires manual pressure to calm the Spirit. In Guizhi Gancao Tang, Guizhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi) soothes Liver Wood to stabilize agitation, while Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae Preparata) tonifies Spleen Earth to secure the root.

Guizhi (4 liang), Gancao (2 liang, prepared by honey-frying)
Take the above two ingredients, decoct in 2 sheng of water to obtain 1 sheng, remove the dregs, and take in one dose.

Before taking the pulse, if the physician observes the patient crossing their hands over the heart and instructs them to cough, but the patient does not cough, this indicates bilateral deafness. This occurs because severe sweating has caused deficiency.

The Five Zang organs belong to Yin, within which resides Yang. Clear Yang ascends to open the orifices of the five sense organs, allowing hearing and vision; Turbid Yin descends, keeping the seven orifices clear. Sweating damages Middle Jiao Qi, preventing the ascent of Liver-Spleen Qi and the descent of Lung-Stomach Qi. Clear Yang sinks, while Turbid Yin rebels upward. Turbid Qi blocks the Tinggong acupoint, obscuring the ear orifices, leading to deafness.

A floating and rapid pulse typically indicates that sweating should resolve the condition. However, if purgation is used and results in heavy body sensation and palpitations, sweating is contraindicated. If spontaneous sweating occurs, the disease will resolve. This is because a weak pulse at the Chi position indicates interior deficiency. The interior and exterior must be strengthened so that Body Fluids harmonize naturally, leading to spontaneous sweating and recovery.

Although a floating-rapid pulse suggests treatment via sweating, if symptoms of heavy body and palpitations appear after purgation, sweating is still contraindicated despite the pulse. Recovery depends on spontaneous sweating. This is due to Water abundance and Damp Earth causing heaviness, and Liver Wood stagnation generating Wind causing palpitations, resulting from damage to Liver-Spleen Yang. Although the Cun position shows a floating-rapid pulse (exterior excess), the Chi position is weak (interior deficiency). Interior Qi must recover gradually; when both interior and exterior are solid, interior Qi repels internally and exterior Qi expels externally, preventing pathogen invasion, leading to spontaneous sweating and recovery. Physicians must prioritize strengthening the interior before releasing the exterior to avoid exacerbating deficiency, effectively substituting human skill for Heaven's work.

After sweating, if the patient experiences palpitations below the navel, indicating an impending Ben Tun (Rushing Pig) syndrome, Linggui GanZao Tang (Poria, Cinnamon Twig, Licorice, and Jujube Decoction) is indicated.

Sweating depletes the warming Qi within Blood, causing Wind-Liver Qi to become agitated and unsettled. Instability in the branches causes palpitations in the chest, while instability in the root causes palpitations below the navel. Severe trembling below the navel shakes the root, precipitating Ben Tun. Ben Tun involves Wind-Liver Qi surging like a startled pig, rushing up through the chest, diaphragm, and throat. It manifests with various ailments in the abdomen, flanks, heart, and head, including wheezing, obstruction, and closed orifices. The pathological heat is fierce and severe. Zhang Zhongjing and Bian Que attributed this to Kidney Evil (Zhongjing noted Kidney Qi movement causing epigastric pounding in Huoluan; Bian Que's Nan Jing described Ben Tun as a Kidney accumulation). However, it is essentially Liver Qi pathology. The surging of Wood originates from Yang depletion and Cold Water. In Linggui GanZao Tang, Fuling (Poria) and Guizhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi) drain Gui Water (Kidney Water) and soothe Yi Wood (Liver Wood), while Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae) and Dazao (Fructus Jujubae) tonify Spleen Essence to nourish Liver Blood.