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[When a person falls into madness and sees ghosts, it is due to deficiency of righteous Qi (Zheng Qi, the body's resistance) allowing pathogenic factors (Xie Qi) to invade. It might seem appropriate to directly treat the pathogenic factors. However, "where pathogenic factors gather, there is prior deficiency of Qi." If one does not treat the deficiency, how can one attend to other matters? Therefore, the urgent strategy should be to follow the condition of the righteous Qi, with only a small addition of herbs that dispel cold and eliminate pathogens, which is the best approach.] The prescription is as follows:
Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) (1 liang), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) (1 liang), Ban Xia (Pinelliae Tuber) (3 qian), Tian Nan Xing (Arisaematis Rhizoma Preparatum) (3 qian), Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) (1 qian).
Decoct in water and take orally.

[Madness accompanied by hallucinations of ghosts clearly indicates deficiency leading to phlegm clouding the mind. Using Ban Xia, Nan Xing, and Fu Zi dispels phlegm; without the substantial dosage of Ren Shen and Bai Zhu for tonification, how could they work in synergy to achieve success? The brilliance of this formula lies not only in treating madness and ghostly hallucinations but also in its miraculous efficacy for stroke-induced aphasia and sudden collapse with loss of consciousness. This is because phlegm invasion occurs after Qi deficiency.]

This syndrome belongs to internal heat. The prescription is as follows:
Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) (3 qian), Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) (3 qian), Ban Xia (Pinelliae Tuber) (3 qian), Nan Xing (Arisaematis Rhizoma Preparatum) (2 qian), Bai Jie Zi (Sinapis Semen) (1 qian), Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) (1 qian), Huang Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma) (2 qian), Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) (1 qian).
Decoct in water and take orally.

[The brilliance of this formula lies in the use of Huang Lian. When jue (cold extremities/counterflow) is deep, the internal heat is profound; clearing the heat will naturally resolve the counterflow. Huang Lian enters the Heart meridian, guiding various heart-tonifying ingredients to act together with the group, balancing supplementation and purgation, embodying the principle of centrality and balance.]

Some cases arise from Taiyang Cold Damage (Shang Han), resulting in temporary madness, which can be treated with Bai Hu Tang (White Tiger Decoction) to purge fire. Others suffer from chronic, unrelenting madness, such as holding knives to kill people, cursing others, failing to recognize their children, showing great joy at the sight of water, and extreme aversion to food. This is due to deficiency of Heart Qi, allowing heat pathogens to take advantage, and phlegm-qi to invade. The prescription is Hua Kuang Tang (Transform Madness Decoction):
Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) (1 liang), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) (1 liang), Fu Shen (Poria with Hostwood) (1 liang), Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) (1 fen), Ban Xia (Pinelliae Tuber) (3 qian), Tu Si Zi (Cuscutae Semen) (3 qian), Chang Pu (Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma) (3 qian), Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) (1 qian).
Decoct in water and take orally.
One dose stabilizes the madness. The brilliance of this formula lies in tonifying the Heart, Spleen, and Stomach meridians to transform phlegm without directly purging fire. Purging fire would further injure Heart Qi, causing phlegm-saliva to increase excessively, making it impossible to stop the madness. Even more brilliant is the minute use of Fu Zi, which guides heart-tonifying and phlegm-resolving agents directly into the Heart center, facilitating the replenishment of Qi and elimination of phlegm, thus rendering excessive purging of fire unnecessary.