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For vomiting and hiccup caused by stomach cold, people should know to use Dingxiang Shidi San (Clove and Persimmon Calyx Powder) to warm the middle. However, there is a condition where Qi rushes directly from below the navel to the chest and throat, causing hiccups; this is Yin-pattern hiccup. The root of this disease lies not in the Stomach, but in latent Yin-cold within, or due to the mistaken administration of cold-natured medicines, leading to extreme cold at the lower part, forcing deficient fire to rush upward, resulting in hiccups and signs of impending collapse of vital energy. When true Qi is deficient and on the verge of depletion, it is mostly incurable. If a patient feels irritable and perceives intense heat internally, yet their skin feels cold to the touch, these are all manifestations of rootless and unanchored fire scattering and appearing as heat, rather than excess heat. This is described as "extreme water resembling fire" and "Yin pattern resembling Yang." If this is not recognized and cold-natured medicines are mistakenly used, death will ensue upon ingestion. One should employ Qianghuo Fuzi Tang (Notopterygium and Aconite Decoction) with added Guigui (Cinnamon Twig), Renshen (Ginseng), Muxiang (Aucklandia), Chenpi (Tangerine Peel), Banxia (Pinellia), and Sharen (Amomum), urgently warming the True Yang of the lower Jiao. Once True Yang returns and Yin-fire descends, the hiccups will cease naturally. If one indiscriminately uses Dingxiang Shidi San, the medicine is often too weak for the severity of the illness, misleading many patients.

Coughing with sound but little phlegm, or expectoration with little sound, generally results from Lung Qi rebelling and failing to descend, striking the throat. It may feel like itching or obstruction. If coughing occurs immediately after exposure to cold, the cold has not yet transformed into heat, so it should be treated as Cold Cough. If coughing persists until the fourth, fifth, or sixth day, the cold has transformed into heat, so it should be treated as Heat Cough. If coughing is caused by retained fluid (Phlegm-Fluid retention), treatment should focus on promoting diuresis or draining dampness. If foul-smelling phlegm is coughed up accompanied by frequent chest pain, this indicates the onset of Lung Abscess (Fei Yong). If the tongue is dry and the mouth parched, with rising fire, incessant coughing, and a surging pulse, this indicates Heart Fire invading the Lungs. If chronic cough persists with thick phlegm mixed with blood, this indicates injury to Lung Qi. In Excess patterns, clear fire to pacify the Lungs; in Deficiency patterns, nourish Water to generate Metal (Lung).

A white coating on the tongue indicates heat accumulating in the Dantian (Lower Jiao) and cold lingering in the chest and diaphragm, caused by dampness steaming. Treatment should focus on drying dampness and harmonizing the middle. It is also said: a slippery white coating indicates that the pathogen has not entered the Fu organs, remaining in the Half-Exterior Half-Interior stage. Careful observation is required. As heat penetrates deeper, the coating becomes dry and rough. A yellow coating on the tongue indicates excess heat in the Stomach Fu organ, requiring purgation. A black coating with prickles on the tongue involves two possible pathomechanisms: either Water overcoming Fire, indicating extreme cold; or Fire resembling Water, indicating extreme heat. These must be distinguished by the pulse—whether slow or rapid, weak or forceful. One situation requires Lizhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction), while the other requires Dachengqi Tang (Major Order the Qi Decoction). However, these are conditions with a mortality rate of nine out of ten.