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To treat shortness of spirit, insomnia, swelling and stiffness of the tendons in the neck making extension difficult. Sweet-warm herbs are contraindicated; bitter-flavored herbs are appropriate.

Muxiang (Costi Rhizoma), Jupi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) (each 1 fen), Jiuhuangqin (Scutellariae Radix processed with wine) (2 fen), Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma) (each 3 fen), Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma) (4 fen), Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Dangguishen (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) (each 5 fen), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Banxia (Pinelliae Tuber) (each 7 fen), Huangqi (Astragali Radix) (1 qian).

Decoct the above ingredients into coarse pieces. Take 5 qian per dose, add two large zhan of water, boil down to one zhan, remove the dregs, and take slightly warm at any time.

To treat headache, vertigo, and blacking out before the eyes.

Shenggancao (Raw Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Zhigancao (Prepared Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) (each 2 qian), Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix) (2.5 qian), Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma), Jiushengdihuang (Rehmanniae Radix processed with wine), Jiuzhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma processed with wine) (each 5 qian), Huangqi (Astragali Radix) (2 liang), Jiuhuangbai (Phellodendri Cortex processed with wine), Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix) (each 1 liang).

Pulverize the above ingredients into a coarse powder. Take 5 qian per dose, add two and a half large zhan of water, boil down to one and a half zhan, add Manjingzi (Vittaginis Fructus) (5 fen) and Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma) (3 fen), boil again down to one zhan, remove the dregs, and take hot before retiring.

Fan Tiannei presented with Spleen-Stomach syndrome symptoms, including frequent irritability, chest discomfort, and constipation. Due to cold qi stagnation causing severe disturbance and suppression of fire qi, heat was suspected. After taking Shufeng Wan (Wind-Dispersing Pill), bowel movements occurred but the disease did not subside. Suspecting the dosage was insufficient, an additional 70–80 pills were taken. Bowel movements occurred twice more, yet the original symptoms persisted, worsening with vomiting, food intolerance, profuse thick sticky phlegm, blacking out before the eyes, vertigo, nausea, irritability, shortness of breath, dyspnea with weakness, inability to speak, mental confusion, photophobia (eyes unwilling to open), sensation of being amidst wind and clouds, severe splitting headache, heaviness of body like a mountain, cold limbs, and inability to lie down comfortably. I deduced that the previous condition involved damaged Stomach Qi, and the subsequent purgations further depleted the Stomach, leading to Phlegm-Jue headache. The following prescription was administered:

Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) (2 fen, washed with wine), Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) (3 fen), Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma), Baifuling (Poria), Tianma (Gastrodiae Rhizoma), Huangqi (Astragali Radix), Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma) (each 5 fen), Chao Shenqu (Medicated Leaven processed by stir-frying), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) (each 1 qian), Maimian (Tritici Veneni Farina), Banxia (Pinelliae Tuber washed with decoction), Jupi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) (each 1.5 qian).

Decoct the above ingredients into coarse pieces. Take 5 qian per dose, add two large zhan of water, boil down to one zhan, remove the dregs, and take hot before meals. One dose cured the condition. This severe headache is termed Foot-Taiyin Phlegm-Jue Headache; only Banxia (Pinelliae Tuber) can treat it. Blacking out before the eyes and vertigo arise from internal deficiency generating wind; only Tianma (Gastrodiae Rhizoma) can dispel it. Huangqi (Astragali Radix) is sweet and warm, clearing fire, supplementing primal Qi, consolidating the exterior, and stopping spontaneous sweating. Renshen (Ginseng Radix) is sweet and warm, clearing fire, supplementing the Middle, and benefiting Qi. Both Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) and Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma) are bitter and sweet, warm, drying dampness, supplementing the Middle, and benefiting Qi. Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma) and Fuling (Poria) promote urination to guide out dampness. Jupi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) is bitter and warm, benefiting Qi, regulating the Middle, and raising Yang. Shenqu (Medicated Leaven) digests food and sweeps away stagnant Qi in the Stomach. Dama mian (Hordei Fructus Germinatus) broadens the Middle and assists Stomach Qi. Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) is acrid and hot, scouring middle-jiao cold. Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) is greatly bitter and cold; when washed with wine, it treats irritability caused by the Shaohuo (Lesser Fire) residing in the lower jiao during winter.