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Taiyin governs internal transformation and is the most yin among yin, being most fearful of deficiency-cold. Therefore, using warming and tonifying methods to regulate the Middle Jiao is the orthodox treatment. However, since Taiyin governs "opening," Taiyin disease can also contract wind-pathogens, presenting symptoms that may be treated with sweating methods. If exterior symptoms such as vexing pain in the four limbs are observed along with a floating pulse, Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) may be administered to induce sweating and release the exterior. If there is heat on the exterior and cold on the interior, accompanied by diarrhea with undigested food, this constitutes Cold-Invading-the-Middle; Sini Tang (Frigid Extremities Decoction) should be used to urgently rescue the interior cold. The exterior should not be attacked, for inducing sweat will inevitably lead to abdominal fullness. Fearing that mistaken sweating will cause abdominal distension, Nongpou Shengjiang Gancao Banxia Renshen Tang (Poria, Fresh Ginger, Licorice, Pinellia, and Ginseng Decoction) was formulated to resolve this. Taiyin disease inherently lacks indications for purgation; however, if abdominal fullness and intermittent pain occur due to mistaken purgation of a Taiyang disease, it indicates yang pathogens sinking inward, thus requiring Guizhi Jia Shaoyao Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction plus Peony Root) as a purgative method. If the disease did not originate from Taiyang but presents with abdominal fullness and intermittent pain, it is a primary Taiyin condition. Mistaken purgation would likely result in hardness below the chest, forming Cold-Excess Jie Xiong (Chest Binding), so Sanwu Baisan (Three-Ingredient White Powder) was created to dissipate it. These are the emergency rescue methods established by Zhang Zhongjing for Taiyin diseases complicated by mistaken sweating or purgation.

Wu Shuhe failed to clearly distinguish the formulas and treatments for the Six Channels, instead teaching people exclusively through the three methods of sweating, vomiting, and purging. He collected vague terms like "may use" or "may not use," confusing Zhang Zhongjing's precise and appropriate methods, which is akin to turning gold into iron.

Lizhong Wan (Regulate the Middle Pill):
Renshen (Ginseng Root), Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome), Ganjiang (Dried Ginger Rhizome), Gancao (Licorice Root).

The outline for Taiyin disease is vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal fullness, and pain, indicating involvement of the Upper, Middle, and Lower Jiao. Although vomiting belongs to the Upper Jiao, its root lies in abdominal fullness; although diarrhea belongs to the Lower Jiao, its root also lies in abdominal fullness. All stem from the failure of the Middle Jiao to function properly. There are three origins: one where wind-cold enters from outside due to exterior deficiency; one where cold-dampness rises from below due to lower deficiency; and one where cold pathogens arise from within due to consumption of raw or cold foods. Ultimately, all fall under deficiency-cold. The treatment method should be warming and tonifying to support the stomach's yang qi. Once Lizhong is applied, symptoms such as abdominal fullness, pain, vomiting, and diarrhea will subside. Therefore, Baizhu is used to strengthen the deficiency of Spleen Earth, Renshen to benefit Qi in the Central Palace (Spleen/Stomach), Ganjiang to disperse cold in the Stomach, and Gancao to relieve urgency in the Three Jiao. Furthermore, Ganjiang combined with Baizhu eliminates fullness and stops vomiting; Renshen combined with Gancao treats pain and stops diarrhea. Whether prepared as a decoction or pill depends on flexibility. This is indeed the principal formula for regulating the Middle. "Lizhong" means regulating the Middle Jiao, a clear instruction from Zhang Zhongjing, who detailed modifications for excessive vomiting, excessive diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fullness. Yet Wu Shuhe recorded it under post-febrile disease treating true vomiting, which is like viewing the sky from a well!

Note: In Taiyin Shanghan (Cold Damage), if the hands and feet are naturally warm, the disease did not come from Taiyang but relates to Yangming. This represents yin containing yang, so there will be no simultaneous vomiting and diarrhea. Alternatively, sudden vexation and diarrhea, or jaundice with hard stool leading to abdominal fullness and pain, indicate Spleen Excess rather than deficiency-heat or cold. In such cases, one should look to Yinchen Hao Tang (Artemisia Capillaris Decoction) or Tiaowei Chengqi Tang (Harmonize the Stomach and Direct Downward Decoction).

Sini Tang (Frigid Extremities Decoction):
Ganjiang (Dried Ginger Rhizome), Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Lateral Root), Gancao (Licorice Root).

"Pulse floating and slow, heat on the exterior, cold on the interior" summarizes the principle of this formula. Floating indicates the exterior; slow indicates the Zang organs. A floating pulse revealing slowness suggests exterior deficiency and interior organ cold. Abdominal fullness, vomiting, diarrhea, and cold extremities are Taiyin symptoms. Ganjiang, Fuzi, and Gancao are herbs for Taiyin. These clauses do not prefix "Taiyin" because this formula is established for concurrent Taiyang-Taiyin conditions.

Examining clauses regarding Sini Tang, they describe Taiyang pathological changes transferring to Taiyin. Deficient Yang of Taiyang remains at the exterior without resolving, while Yin-cold of Taiyin combines with external cold pathogens, deepening the condition. Exterior symptoms include aversion to cold and fever, or profuse sweating, body pain, limb pain, cold hands and feet, floating and slow pulse, or faint pulse nearly imperceptible. Interior symptoms include abdominal fullness, diarrhea with undigested food, free urination, or simultaneous vomiting and diarrhea. This rampant Yin pathogen prevents True Yang from returning, hence termed "Ni" (Reversal/Counterflow). The formula uses these four ingredients to rescue reversal, not merely to treat cold extremities. Generally, when treating deficiency, Zhang Zhongjing prioritizes tonifying the Middle. For example, in協熱下利 (diarrhea with fever) with a weak pulse, Renshen is used; after sweating with body pain and a deep-slow pulse, Renshen is added. Here, with a faint pulse, diarrhea with undigested food, no vexation or cough, the Middle Qi is greatly deficient and Yuan Qi is depleted. If only warming without tonifying, how can reversal be rescued? In Fuling Sini Tang (Poria and Sini Tang) treating vexation, Renshen is also used. Since Fuling Sini Tang mentions Fuling but omits Renshen in the name, implying Renshen is present in the base formula, it confirms Sini Tang contains Renshen. Renshen unifies blood vessels; Tongmai Sini Tang (Unify Pulse Sini Tang) certainly requires Renshen. It is likely that Renshen was omitted in the original text and later restored. Xue Xinpu used Sansheng Yin (Three-Life Decoction) adding a large amount of Renshen to control pathogens; thus, when Zhang Zhongjing used raw Fuzi, why not use Renshen to secure Yuan Qi? Wu Shuhe confused Taiyin vomiting/diarrhea/Sini with Jueyin, not realizing Jueyin cold extremities/diarrhea involve Wood overacting on Earth causing excess-heat, whereas Taiyin involves Spleen Earth self-disease causing deficiency-cold. They are distinct. Using Ganjiang and Fuzi to treat Minister Fire would be counterproductive. The difference between Lizhong Tang and Sini Tang lies in Baizhu versus Fuzi. Baizhu strengthens Earth and benefits Qi in the Center; Fuzi supports Yang and generates Qi in Kan (Kidney). Thus, Lizhong regulates Middle Jiao Spleen-Stomach deficiency-cold, while Sini Tang assists in regulating Three Jiao Yin-Yang reversal. Later generations added Fuzi to Lizhong, naming it Fuzi Lizhong Tang, not realizing Lizhong does not require Fuzi, and Fuzi's function extends beyond Lizhong. The Spleen is the Post-Heaven root; the Kidney is the Pre-Heaven root. The Fire of Shaoyin generates Earth of Taiyin. The Spleen is the mother of the Five Zang; Shaoyin is the mother of Taiyin. Sini Tang is heavier/more critical than Lizhong. Those who do not understand this believe raw Fuzi paired with Ganjiang provides warming with dispersal. Fuzi disperses with Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger); without Ganjiang, Fuzi is not hot enough; with Gancao, its nature becomes mild. Such people only discuss cold/hot and attack/tonify based on herb properties, failing to differentiate upper/lower and shallow/deep based on pathology, thus failing to enter Zhang Zhongjing's school.

Nongpou Shengjiang Gancao Banxia Renshen Tang (Magnolia Bark, Fresh Ginger, Licorice, Pinellia, and Ginseng Decoction):
This is a Taiyin formula analogous to Tiaowei Chengqi Tang. Treating disease requires distinguishing interior/exterior, yet they often present together. For instance, asthma in Mahuang Tang, spontaneous sweating in Guizhi Tang, vexation in Da Qinglong Tang, and cough in Xiao Qinglong Tang are all exterior diseases with interior complications. Xingren treats asthma; Shaoyao stops sweating; Shigypsum treats vexation; Wuweizi and Ganjiang treat cough—treating the interior within exterior formulas. If diarrhea accompanies abdominal fullness, it is a Taiyin interior syndrome with exterior body pain, requiring first warming the interior then releasing the exterior. If diarrhea with undigested food accompanies a floating, solid exterior pulse, one must treat the interior only and avoid attacking the exterior. This shows Zhang Zhongjing's emphasis on the interior over the exterior, with distinctions of depth. Sweat is Yang Qi; the upper body is Yang. Sweating only disperses cold in the Ying and Wei of the Upper Jiao, not dampness in the Lower Jiao organs. In Taiyin, cold-dampness is in the intestines/stomach, not in Ying/Wei. Yin syndromes should not sweat. Mistaken sweating causes slight Yang of the stomach to reach the exterior, while cold-dampness from intestines enters collaterals and stays in the abdomen. Diarrhea may stop, but undigested food remains, leading to abdominal fullness upon sweating. After Taiyang sweating, fullness indicates Yang Excess in the interior, transferring to Yangming. After Taiyin sweating, fullness indicates Cold Excess in the interior and Yang Deficiency inside. Pathogen excess creates Excess; thus, Nongpou, Ganjiang, and Banxia disperse pathogens and remove fullness. Healthy Qi depletion creates Deficiency; thus, Renshen and Gancao tonify the Middle and boost Yuan Qi. This is also a Lizhong-type formula. Using it for post-Taiyang sweating is like throwing wood on fire; treating this as Taiyang is like adding water to a deepening well.

Sanwu Baisan (Three-Ingredient White Powder):
Jiegeng (Platycodon Root), Beimu (Fritillaria Bulb), Badou (Croton Seed).

If Taiyang exterior heat is not resolved and purgation is mistakenly used, heat pathogens bind with water-qis, forming Heat-Excess Jie Xiong. If Taiyin abdominal fullness/pain is mistakenly purged, cold and heat bind, forming Cold-Excess Jie Xiong. Xiaoxianxiong Tang and Daxianxiong Tang use bitter-cold herbs because of heat. Here, lacking heat, one cannot use Yang-syndrome methods. Sanwu Xiaoxianxiong Tang is Baisan. It is called "Small" because binding is hard but not very painful. It is called "White" because all three ingredients are white, distinguishing it from Xiaoxianxiong Tang's Huanglian. In Taiyang, it can be decoction or pill; in Taiyin, decoction or powder, depending on pathology. Beimu opens stagnation in the chest; Jiegeng lifts sunken Qi in the chest. However, their slight cold nature cannot overcome hard-binding Yin pathogens. Only Badou's acrid-hot nature can break through, allowing Yin Qi in the chest to circulate. Two parts Beimu/Jiegeng require one part Badou to assist, raising Clear Yang and lowering Turbid Yin, removing hardness. Mixed with Baiyin (rice gruel) for its sweetness, it lingers in the stomach, preventing rapid downward action. Powder form dissipates better than decoction's scouring. If the pathogen is above the diaphragm, vomiting occurs; if below, diarrhea occurs. Originally, vomiting/diarrhea stopped temporarily due to chest binding. Now, following the trend guides them out, dissolving the binding. The goal is not vomiting but mild diarrhea, avoiding excessive diarrhea. If no diarrhea, drink a cup of hot porridge; if diarrhea persists, drink a cup of cold porridge. This is the subtle logic of compound formulas. Zhang Zhongjing often uses porridge as an antagonistic agent. Plant herbs have biases; only grains offer neutral sweetness, sustaining spirit and blood. Guizhi Tang uses hot porridge to induce sweat; Lizhong Tang uses hot porridge to warm the middle. Here, hot porridge guides diarrhea, cold porridge stops it. Li Dongyuan said: "Light porridge is Yang within Yin, promoting urination." Thus, diuretics can use porridge. Modern use of cold porridge after Dahuang to stop diarrhea follows Zhang's legacy. Wu Shuhe placed this clause in Taiyang Water Disease, stating "For Cold-Excess Jie Xiong without heat, give Sanwu Xiaoxianxiong Tang; Baisan may also be taken." According to the text, Xiaoxianxiong Tang consists of Huanglian, Gualou, and Banxia. Beimu, Jiegeng, and Badou are also three ingredients. Huanglian and Badou are opposites in cold/hot. How can a patient taking Huanglian take Badou? With no other formula mentioned, it should say "Xiaoxianxiong Tang made as powder may be taken." Saying "Baisan may also be taken" implies two different formulas. The subsequent text about skin gooseflesh confuses matters. Moving it after Taiyin chest binding aligns symptoms and formula perfectly.

Maren Wan (Hemp Seed Pill):
Xingren (Apricot Seed), Shaoyao (Peony Root), Zhike (Bitter Orange Fruit), Nongpou (Magnolia Bark), Dahuang (Rhubarb Root), Maren (Hemp Seed).

Earth is the mother of all things due to its balanced nature. Wet earth cannot grow grass/trees, yet rice, lotus, water caltrop, etc., thrive in water. Dry, hard earth without water is barren. Stomach Excess usually stems from Yangming heat binding, but sometimes from Taiyin failure to open. This is Spleen inability to transport fluids to the Stomach, named Pi Yue (Spleen Restriction). Chengqi formulas clear the Stomach but do not support the Spleen. In acute cases with Stomach Yang Excess and non-deficient Spleen Yin, they restore bowel function. Without signs of heat intolerance, sweating, vexation, fullness, delirium, or tidal fever, with normal diet/urine, but hard stool or infrequent/difficult passage, this is "Lonely Yang traveling alone." Taiyin fails to open, retaining filth due to chronic accumulation. Untreated, food fails to nourish muscles, leading to emaciation and death. Fu (Bowels) disease is guest/pathogenic; Zang (Organs) disease is host/primary. Guest needs urgent treatment; host needs slow treatment. Taiyin disease cannot be cleared rapidly; long-term administration is needed for harmony. Yin syndromes lack sudden tonification or sudden purgation methods. Maren, sweet and neutral entering Spleen, moist and oily, serves as Monarch. Xingren descends Qi and opens orifices; Dahuang moves freely without staying, serving as Ministers. Shaoyao nourishes Yin and retains fluids; Zhishi and Nongpou eliminate stagnation and accumulate, serving as Assistants. Honey pills are taken in small doses, gradually increased, aiming for harmony. This is a harmonizing formula for regulating Spleen and directing downward, pushing out the old and generating the new. It restores balance to Spleen/Stomach, ensuring proper reception and transmission, mutual generation of fluids and blood, clarity of spirit, and peace of interior/exterior, preserving the body.

Above are the five formulas for Taiyin. All channels have warming/dispersing and warming/tonifying methods, except Shaoyang which avoids warming. All channels have nourishing Yin and clearing fire methods, except Taiyin which forbids cold/cooling. If heat disease transmits channels with throat dryness, clearing fire is still required. If one has chronic Pi Yue with constipation, nourishing Yin is appropriate. Formulation relies on flexible application, not rigidity.