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For cold diseases, those suitable for diaphoresis (sweating therapy) are due to external contraction of wind-cold. However, for mid-cold syndrome, warming is indicated; even if interior excess syndromes are present, the correct approach is generally to release the exterior first and purge the interior subsequently. For warm diseases and wind-warmth, caution must be exercised with diaphoresis; treatment should employ acrid-cool methods. For damp-warmth, purgation is contraindicated; treatment is suitable with bitter-cold methods. For epidemic diseases, simultaneous resolution of the exterior and interior is required, allowing internal and external pathogens to dissipate separately; relying solely on diaphoresis or solely on purgation is inappropriate.

There are disease manifestations that appear similar, which must not fail to be distinguished. When dampness transforms from cold, it is called Bi syndrome (obstruction syndrome); when dampness transforms from heat, it is called Wei syndrome (flaccidity syndrome). Stroke, food stagnation caused by cold invasion, and muscle wasting caused by heat invasion [are distinct entities]. Regarding Jue syndrome (reversal syndrome): Mao-xue Jue is caused by wind; Qi Jue is caused by phlegm; Jian Jue is caused by wind; Bo Jue is caused by heat; Tong Jue is caused by cold; Hui Jue is caused by dampness. These Wind, Bi, Wei, and Jue syndromes appear similar but are fundamentally different. Excess Yang leads to Kuang syndrome (mania); Excess Yin leads to Dian syndrome (depression/epilepsy-like state); Interlocking of Yin and Yang leads to Xian syndrome (epilepsy); Deficiency of both fluids and yin leads to Jing syndrome (stiffness/spasm). These Dian, Kuang, Xian, and Jing syndromes appear similar but are fundamentally different. If clear qi fails to ascend, vomiting occurs; if turbid qi fails to descend, regurgitation occurs; if clear and turbid are indistinguishable, hiccups occur; if Ying and Wei (nutritive and defensive qi) are disharmonious, belching occurs. These Vomiting, Yue (hiccups), and Yi (belching) syndromes appear similar but are fundamentally different. In the Qi aspect, there are six types of accumulation; Pi syndrome (masses) is one of them. In the Blood aspect, there are five types of stasis; Xia syndrome (soft masses) is one of them. These Xia and Pi syndromes appear similar but are fundamentally different. For deficiency and damage syndromes, tonifying essence is appropriate; for Lao Zhai syndrome (consumptive disease), attacking blood stasis is appropriate; for Gu syndrome (parasitic swelling), opening the lungs is appropriate; for Ge syndrome (diaphragmatic obstruction), regulating the stomach is appropriate. These Gu, Ge, and Xu Lao syndromes are treated according to their respective categories.

Huang Dan (jaundice) and Huang Han (yellow sweat) require distinguishing between dampness and wind. Zang Jie (organ binding) and Zang Zao (organ dryness) require distinguishing between cold and heat. Coughing requires distinguishing between phlegm and fluid retention; Xiao Ke (wasting-thirst) requires distinguishing between cold water and other types. Water reversal and fire reversal present differently in the Shaoyin meridian's hands and feet. Wind-warmth and damp-warmth present differently in the Taiyin meridian's hands and feet. The nine types of pain and seven types of hernia are determined as excess or deficiency by whether the patient prefers pressure or rejects pressure. The three chong (rushing) and five yu (depressions) are clarified as dry or damp by whether the patient is prone to anger or fear. Each category is distinct; a difference of a hair's breadth can lead to an error of a thousand li. Physicians must distinguish and remember these points carefully, and not claim otherwise.

Floating and sinking pulses are used to examine the deficiency and excess of exterior and interior syndromes; slow and rapid pulses are used to examine the cold and heat of zang and fu organs; large and small pulses are used to examine the advance and retreat of pathogenic factors; long and short pulses are used to examine the strength and weakness of healthy qi; slippery and choppy pulses are used to examine the abundance and decline of blood and qi; left and right pulses are used to examine the smoothness or reverseness of generation and restriction cycles. Combining these with observation, listening/smelling, inquiry, and reflection covers more than half of diagnostic knowledge. What has been stated here merely illustrates one corner; it depends on the perceptive individual to comprehend and apply this knowledge analogously to other situations.