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Huang Bolin, a Shuji Shi (Academician of the Hanlin Academy), presented with fever, expectoration of phlegm, dry mouth, and physical fatigue. He had self-administered Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction) without effect. I diagnosed this as a deficiency of both Metal (Lung) and Water (Kidney). I advised him to take Dihuang Wan (Rehmannia Pill) concurrently, after which he recovered. Later, a boil developed on his back, causing irritability, pain, aversion to cold, and fever. Since he had previously accompanied me to visit Guo Zhuzheng (Director Guo), who suffered from a carbuncle on his back and disregarded it, I predicted that Guo would die during the days when Metal energy was at its peak. This prediction proved accurate. Subsequently, Guo's wife and children contracted the toxicity and all developed malignant sores. Huang Bolin's condition resembled Guo's, causing him great fear. I said, "This is merely a minor sore. The aversion to cold and other symptoms are chronic signs of Yin deficiency. Even if it is sore toxicity, one must tonify Qi and Blood." At that time, I was in the capital, so I prepared a decoction using the ingredients of Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill). After taking it, he fell asleep immediately, and after a while, all symptoms subsided abruptly. Thereafter, he frequently experienced pain in the head, face, ears, eyes, mouth, and tongue, or suffered from expectoration of phackm and dizziness. These conditions resolved upon taking the aforementioned medicine. Later, he served as Duchayuan (Censor-in-Chief) and Director of the Salt Law Circuit. When passing through Suzhou, he surely visited me.

He Xiaoyong, a Shaosikong (Vice Minister of Works), presented with heat in the feet, dry mouth, expectoration of phlegm, and dizziness. After taking Siwu Tang (Four-Substance Decoction), Huanglian (Coptis Rhizome), and Huangbai (Phellodendron Bark), his appetite decreased, and the phlegm-heat worsened. He was cured by using Shiquan Dabu Tang (Complete Great Tonifying Decoction) supplemented with Maimen Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber), Wuweizi (Schisandra Fruit), Shanyao (Dioscorea Rhizome), and Shanzhuyu (Cornus Fruit).

A Confucian scholar presented with intermittent heat in both feet or pain in the heels. He was treated with Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) and Siwu Tang (Four-Substance Decoction) supplemented with Maimen Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber), Wuweizi (Schisandra Fruit), and Xuanshen (Scrophularia Root), resulting in recovery. Later, due to overwork, he developed fever, aversion to cold, thirst, and irritability. He stabilized after taking Danggui Buxue Tang (Angelica Tonify the Blood Decoction).

Liu Yungong, a Confucian scholar, had a robust physique and enjoyed drinking cold water in winter, believing himself to be strong. I stated, "This is Yin deficiency." He did not believe me. One day, ulcers developed in his mouth and tongue. Another practitioner used cold-natured herbs, leading to physical fatigue, fever, and aversion to cold. I cured him using Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) and Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction).

A man presented with pain inside the thighs. After using herbs to leach out dampness and resolve phlegm, the pain radiated to the buttock muscles, accompanied by a red face, expectoration of phlegm, and heat in the heels. I said, "This is Kidney deficiency with deflection of Minfire (Ministerial Fire) flaming upward. One should nourish the source of transformation (Kidney Yin)." He did not listen and took Huangbai (Phellodendron Bark) and Zhimu (Anemarrhena Rhizome), resulting in death.

My nephew Ju Hong married at age fourteen. By age twenty, his physique was full and dense. He presented with fever, thirst, facial redness, and distension. Sometimes bloodletting with a lancet (Bianshi) was performed externally, and fire-draining herbs were taken internally. This led to physical fatigue and increased salivation/phlegm. His pulse was surging and rapid, beating forcefully against the finger. He recovered using Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) and Dabu Tang (Great Tonifying Decoction) supplemented with Maimen Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber) and Wuweizi (Schisandra Fruit).

My nephew Ling Yunhan, at age sixteen, in the summer of Gengzi year, presented with thirst, fever, expectoration of phlegm, and dry lips. Scabies erupted all over his body, especially on the legs, appearing dark and itchy. Symptoms intensified in the late afternoon. In mid-winter, sores developed on his legs, and the Chi pulse (at the wrist) was surging and rapid. I said, "Scabies is Ren Gan (Kidney Chancre); sores are Guju (Bone Abscess). Both are deficiency syndromes of the Kidney Meridian." Upon acupuncture, pus drained with a muggy odor. I judged that during the peak of Fire, he would inevitably develop Zhai Disease (Consumptive Disease/Tuberculosis). I then prescribed Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) and Shiquan Dabu Tang (Complete Great Tonifying Decoction). Within less than twenty days, various symptoms resolved, but signs of Zhai Disease appeared. Continuing with the previous medicines, he eventually recovered. He married in winter, and symptoms recurred in spring. His parents were worried and arranged for him to sleep separately. Although young, he carefully managed his illness, consuming several jin of Dihuang Wan (Rehmannia Pill) and over three hundred doses of decoctions, finally recovering.

His younger brother Yun Xiao, at age fifteen, in the summer of Renyin year, presented with facial redness, dry lips, and emaciation. I said, "Your disease will progress." In the winter of Gui Mao year, I saw him again and said, "Your disease has deepened!" In the summer of Jiachen year, a bluish color appeared in the Stomach Meridian area, indicating Wood overacting on Earth (Liver invading Spleen/Stomach). He then sought treatment. Initially, I administered six doses of Liujun Zi Tang (Six-Gentlemen Decoction) supplemented with Chaihu (Bupleurum Root), Shaoyao (Peony Root), Shanzhi (Gardenia Fruit), Wuyi (Alangium Root Bark), and stir-fried black Huanglian (Coptis Rhizome), along with Sitian Feier Wan (Four-Ingredient Fatten the Child Pills) and Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill). Then, I prescribed Renshen (Ginseng), Fuling (Poria), Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome), Danggui (Angelica Sinensis Root), Shaoyao (Peony Root), Shanzhi (Gardenia Fruit), Maimen Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber), Wuweizi (Schisandra Fruit), and Zhigancao (Prepared Licorice Root) for over thirty doses. Liver Fire gradually subsided. I added Longdancao (Gentiana Root) and Chaihu (Bupleurum Root) for another thirty doses. Then, I removed Shaoyao (Peony Root) and added Rougui (Cinnamon Bark) for thirty more doses. Finally, I used Jiaban Bawei Wan (Modified Eight-Ingredient Pill), and his Yuanqi (Original Qi) gradually recovered, leading to cure.