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The *Neijing* states: The three months of winter are called "Bi Zang" (Closing and Storage). At this time, water freezes into ice and the earth cracks; one should not disturb the Yang Qi. One should go to bed early and rise late, waiting until sunlight appears. The mind should be reserved as if possessing private property, and content as if already having attained something. Avoid cold and seek warmth. Do not allow the skin pores to open, causing Qi to be frequently depleted. This is the response to Winter Qi and the way to nourish the storage function. If one violates this, the Kidneys will be injured, leading to Wei Jue (Flaccidity and Cold Extremities) in spring, and the energy for generation will be diminished.

Generally, Winter Qi is severely cold, and all things lie hidden. A gentleman should remain secure and dense, avoiding exposure to cold pathogens. Those who are exposed to cold pathogens suffer from Shang Han (Cold Damage), which should be treated according to the methods of Zhang Zhongjing; these are not detailed here.

During the three months of winter, Taiyang Cold Water governs. When Water Qi is prosperous, Fire Qi suffers from pathogenic influence; when Metal Qi is deficient, it fears restriction, resulting in symptoms such as wheezing and coughing, abdominal fullness, acute pain, Jia Ji (abdominal masses), accumulation and hardness, Shan (Hernia), clear diarrhea, vomiting and diarrhea with foul odor, stroke with paralysis, difficulty in flexion and extension, and Jue Ni (Cold Reversal). Treatment should focus on warming the middle and dispersing cold, rather than purging or draining. The following formulas suitable for various winter conditions are detailed below. Applied correctly, they will invariably succeed.

For Stroke with Mouth Lock (Trismus), first blow Tong Guan San (Opening the Pass Powder) into the nose. Wait for sneezing and the mouth to open, then administer ginger juice to revive consciousness, followed by this formula:
Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Tian Ma (Gastrodiae Rhizoma), Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Chuan Xiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Gui Zhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus - halved dose), Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), Nan Xing (Arisaematis Rhizoma), Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) (all in equal parts).
Decoct the above ingredients in water. Add one cup of Zhu Li (Bamboo Sap) and half a cup of Jiang Zhi (Ginger Juice), mix well, and take orally. Symptoms will gradually subside.

Tong Guan San Formula:
Liao Xi Xin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma - cleaned of soil and leaves), Zhu Ya Zao Jiao (Gleditsiae Fructus Spina - removed strings, roasted red, 1 liang each), Li Lu (Veratrum Root - raw, 5 qian).
Grind the above into powder. Each time, use an amount equivalent to "one zi" (approx. 0.3-0.6g) blown into the nostrils. Inducing a sneeze is ideal.

Formula for Hemiplegia, limited mobility of hands and feet, difficult speech, yawning, sneezing, facial numbness, deviation of the mouth and eyes with flaccidity, dizziness of head and eyes, excessive phlegm-fire, frequent headaches, and palpitations:
Chuan Xiong (1.2 qian), Dang Gui (1.2 qian), Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix - 0.8 qian, stir-fried with ginger juice), Hong Hua (Carthami Flos - 0.4 qian, washed with wine), Niu Xi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix - 0.8 qian, washed with wine), Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma - 1 qian, processed with ginger), Qiang Huo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix - 0.6 qian), Fang Feng (Saposhnikoviae Radix - 0.6 qian), Tian Ma (Gastrodiae Rhizoma - 1 qian), Bai Fu Ling (Poria - 1 qian), Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix - 0.8 qian, fried with wine), Bo Gui Zhi (Thin Cinnamon Twig - 0.6 qian, use 0.7 qian in winter), Suan Zao Ren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen - 0.8 qian, fried), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma - 1.5 qian), Gan Cao (Licorice Root - roasted, 0.4 qian), Bai Shao Yao (Paeoniae Radix Alba - 2 qian, fried with wine), Huang Bo (Phellodendri Cortex - 0.3 qian, fried with wine, use 0.5 qian in summer).
Take as one dose. Decoct in two zhong (units of volume) of water until one zhong remains. Before taking, add three tea spoons of Jiang Zhi (Ginger Juice) and Dan Zhu Li (Light Bamboo Sap). Take warm in the morning. This medicine invigorates blood, resolves phlegm, soothes wind, regulates qi, penetrates the muscle layer, and benefits the joints. It is highly effective with repeated use. In the cold winter months, reduce Huang Qin by 0.3 qian, add Pao Chuan Wu (Prepared Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) 0.2 qian, and halve the Gui Zhi. For wind diseases, remove Chuan Wu and do not use Gui Zhi. Qiang Huo is a key herb for treating wind. If caught in a common cold during winter, increase the dose to 1 qian. Therefore, in treating wind disorders, nothing takes precedence over soothing the qi. When qi flows smoothly, phlegm clears, fire descends, and wind naturally subsides.