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Whenever the face is red, eyes are red, and there is a desire to drink, with a pulse rate of seven or eight beats per breath, which becomes scattered when pressed heavily, this is a rootless pulse. If accompanied by cold invading the interior (Jia Yin Zhong Han), with a bluish complexion, deep pulse, cold extremities, retracted testicles, curled tongue, diarrhea of undigested food, internal cold with external heat, or body pain with deep pulse, cold extremities, and a faint pulse nearly imperceptible, all should be treated with Sini Tang (Four Reversal Decoction) plus Congbai (Scallion Stalk). These conditions must not be regarded as Yang syndromes.

Whenever there is feverish body heat, red face, red eyes, with weak six-position pulses, or pulses that are wide and empty, this indicates deficiency and exhaustion of the lower origin, with Yang floating upward, known as Dai Yang syndrome (Floating Yang). Since Yang has already floated to the head and face, if surface-releasing or cooling herbs are added, isolated Yang will float away further, leading to immediate danger. Therefore, Tao Jie'an used herbs such as Renshen (Ginseng Root) and Fuzi (Aconite Lateralis Radix Preparata) to gather the floating Yang back to its source in the lower burner, and added Congbai (Scallion Stalk) to penetrate the exterior and disperse external pathogens. This is a subtle application of protecting the root while expelling the guest pathogen.

Dysentery arises from various causes: some result from heat toxins entering the zang-fu organs; some from cold pathogens invading the stomach; some from violent purgative drugs; and some from Jie Xiong syndrome (Chest Binding) causing leakage of fluid from below, which is an even more ominous condition. For dysentery, if the exterior syndrome has resolved, purgation is required immediately; this is the method of "treating obstruction with unblocking" (Tong Yin Tong Yong). However, cases with severe abdominal cramping pain, frequent dry heaving, rebellious fire qi, bright red lips, thirst, stool resembling leaking roof water or rotten meat juice, or hematochezia occurring after the cessation of dysentery, are all considered untreatable.

The causes of aphonia vary. Some arise from phlegm obstruction and Qi closure; some from blood loss and fright; some from evil heat attacking the heart and depleting Heart Qi; some from fire scorching Metal (Lung), preventing its dissemination. However, if the throat can produce sound but the tongue cannot move for speech, it is called She Yin (Tongue Aphonia). If the tongue can move for speech but the throat cannot produce sound, it is called Hou Yin (Throat Aphonia). She Yin is mostly due to Heart and Kidney issues, while Hou Yin is mostly due to Lung and Stomach issues.

Ben Tun (Running Piglet) occurs due to excessive sweating or excessive purging, causing turbid Qi to rebel upward. Sweat is the fluid of the Heart; excessive sweating leads to Heart deficiency, and excessive purging damages the Spleen. The Kidney loses its ability to control water and does not fear Fire; Cold rebels upward to oppress the Heart, inevitably causing palpitations below the umbilicus, originating from the lower abdomen and rising to the epigastrium. This is named Ben Tun. Ben Tun is a type of Kidney accumulation (Ren Ji); treatment should focus on tonifying the Spleen and draining the Kidney.