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Excess cold damages Ying (Nutrient Qi), while excess wind damages Wei (Defensive Qi). When Ying is affected by cold, pain occurs; when Wei is affected by wind, heat occurs. Cold injuring the Ying level results in anhidrosis and is termed Shanghan (Cold Damage); wind injuring the Wei level results in sweating and is termed Shangfeng (Wind Strike). If both Ying and Wei are deficient, spontaneous sweating must occur. This is because Ying circulates within the vessels, while Wei circulates outside the vessels. Deficiency of Ying fails to secure the interior of the vessels, and deficiency of Wei fails to protect the exterior of the vessels, leading to sweat emission. Sweat is a manifestation of blood. Cold causes stagnation, hence pain; heat causes reckless movement, hence sweating. Sweating accompanied by thirst indicates a predisposition to sores and ulcers; sweating without thirst indicates that the pathogenic heat is about to dissipate. If there is high fever with profuse sweating, stupor with inability to speak, tendon spasms and stiffness of the back, and a deep and faint pulse, this is a sign that the condition is about to transform into Fenghou (Wind Syndrome/Stroke). If only the head sweats while the body remains dry, accompanied by chest oppression and restlessness, it indicates internal stagnation preventing the downward flow of body fluids. If there is slight fever, drowsiness, sweating on the body but not on the head, and a faint pulse at the Cun Kou (radial artery), this is a sign of Yang collapse. If all symptoms of Yin syndrome are present, yet there is slight sweating on both the head and body, it cannot be considered pure Yin syndrome, as Yin meridians typically return at the neck; since the pulse now reaches the Yang regions, it is known to be otherwise.

Laofu (Relapse due to Labor) occurs when, shortly after recovery from Shanghan, the Qi and Blood have not yet stabilized, and premature physical exertion damages the True Qi, triggering residual pathogens to cause illness again. Shifu (Relapse due to Diet) occurs when the Stomach Qi has just slightly harmonized, but excessive food intake overwhelms the still-weak Stomach Qi, which lacks the capacity to digest, or when latent pathogenic heat has not been fully cleared. The interaction between food and grain Qi triggers the disease, termed Shifu. Laofu requires regulation of Qi; Shifu requires digestion of food accumulation. Furthermore, if after Shanghan the patient desires to speak but cannot move the tongue, has blurred vision, yet can eat, this is called Chuzhong (Elimination of the Middle). It is a sign of pathogenic fire consuming grain essence.

Nulaofu (Female Labor Relapse) refers to relapse following sexual intercourse after recovery. Symptoms include heavy body, shortness of breath, heaviness of the head making it difficult to lift, visual disturbances (seeing spots), lower back and waist pain, acute cramping pain in the lower abdomen, possibly radiating to spasm in the genitalia, aversion to cold with fever, frequent rising of Yin fire causing flushing of the head and face, and chest discomfort and irritability. Suitable treatments include formulas like Shaokun San (Burning Underwear Powder). For acute lower abdominal pain, deep pulse, and cold feet, Danggui Sini Tang (Angelica Decoction for Cold Extremities) added with prepared Fuzi (Aconite Lateral Root) and Wuzhuyu (Evodia Fruit) is used. If the testicles retract into the abdomen and the pulse becomes irregular (Li Jing), death ensues. However, if a male patient, newly recovered, has not engaged in intercourse but is emotionally stirred by thoughts of desire, causing heart fire to flare up and induce illness, the treatment is the same as for Nulaofu.