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The four key characters for the treatment of miscellaneous diseases are Qi (Vital Energy), Blood, Phlegm, and Stagnation. Zhu Danxi's therapeutic principles state that for Qi disorders, Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) is used; for Blood disorders, Si Wu Tang (Four Substance Decoction) is used; for Phlegm disorders, Er Chen Tang (Two Aged Ingredients Decoction) is used; and for Stagnation disorders, Yue Ju Wan (Yueju Pill) is used. These formulas can be flexibly combined and used together, each demonstrating its own subtlety. Xue Lizhai further expanded upon this: for Qi disorders, Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction) is used, supplemented with Ba Wei Di Huang Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill from the Kidney Mansion), which aims to benefit the source of Qi. For Blood disorders, Si Wu Tang is used, supplemented with Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia), which aims to strengthen the master of Water (nourish Kidney Yin). For Phlegm disorders, Er Chen Tang is used, accompanied by Liu Jun Zi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction), tonifying Spleen Earth to overcome Dampness, addressing the root of Phlegm. For Stagnation disorders, Yue Ju Wan is used, accompanied by Xiao Yao San (Free and Easy Wanderer Powder), which is what is meant by treating Wood Stagnation with one formula so that all stagnations are resolved. The subtlety of medication use becomes increasingly refined and precise as seen here. In my opinion, those with Qi Deficiency should use formulas like Si Jun Zi Tang, whereas those with Qi Excess may use formulas such as Xiang Su San (Fragrant Perilla Powder) or Ping Wei San (Calm the Stomach Powder). Those with Blood Deficiency should use formulas like Si Wu Tang, whereas those with Blood Excess may use formulas such as Shou Nian San (Hand-Picking Powder) or Shi Xiao San (Painless Powder). Ordinary Phlegm disorders can be treated with formulas like Er Chen Tang, but if stubborn Phlegm is firmly consolidated causing bizarre symptoms, only formulas like Gun Tan Wan (Rolling Phlegm Pill) will suffice. Minor Stagnation can be treated with formulas like Yue Ju Wan or Xiao Yao San, but if the Five Types of Stagnation are mixed, leading to abdominal distension and fullness, and obstruction of urination and defecation, only formulas like Shen You Wan (Divine Protection Pill) or Cheng Qi Tang (Order the Qi Decoction) will suffice. Generally, routine treatments aim for balance and safety; however, if the disease momentum is strong and fierce, potent agents must be used to attack it. If one retreats timidly, the disease will not be eliminated. Yet, if pulse and Qi are not examined, and physical condition and presentation are not understood, blindly applying attacking methods causes even more severe harm. One must repeatedly discuss these four characters—Qi, Blood, Phlegm, and Stagnation—in daily life, exhaustively understanding their nature, clearly distinguishing between Deficiency and Excess, Cold and Heat, severity and urgency, without any error. Then, when facing clinical cases, one will be clear and certain, and regarding the methods for treating miscellaneous diseases, one will have mastered more than half of them.

In general, the method of examining symptoms involves first distinguishing between Internal Injury and External Contraction, then distinguishing between Exterior and Interior syndromes. Once the general outline is grasped, one proceeds to palpate the pulse and inquire about symptoms. If this aligns with one's internal understanding, then medication will be appropriate. The breath from the mouth and nose can indicate whether the cause is Internal Injury or External Contraction. The movement or stillness of the body can observe whether the syndrome is Exterior or Interior. The mouth and nose are the portals of Qi. In External Contraction, there is an excess of pathogenic factors; thus, the breath from the mouth and nose is coarse, exiting and entering rapidly. In Internal Injury, there is a deficiency of healthy Qi; thus, the breath is faint, exiting and entering slowly. This is the major principle for determining Exterior versus Interior. Movement and stillness distinguish between Exterior and Interior. Whenever there is fever, if the patient is still and silent, the pathogen is in the Exterior. If the patient is restless and agitated, or speaks deliriously, the pathogen is in the Interior. Within Interior syndromes, there is again a distinction between Yin and Yang. When observing a sleeping patient, note whether they sleep facing inward or outward, lying on their back or curled up, with legs extended or curled. Sleeping facing inward indicates Yin; facing outward indicates Yang. Lying on the back often indicates Heat; curling up often indicates Cold. Extending the legs indicates Heat; curling the legs indicates Cold. Also observe whether they can tolerate being covered with clothes and blankets. If a person is completely covered, with hands and feet hidden, they likely suffer from aversion to cold. If they have aversion to cold, it is either an Exterior syndrome or direct invasion into the Zang-Fu organs. If they throw off covers and blankets, waving hands and exposing feet, they likely suffer from aversion to heat, indicating the pathogen has entered the Fu organs. This uses body movement and stillness to infer Cold and Heat. However, there are cases where Extreme Yang resembles Yin, where the patient is fully covered and sleeps drowsily; and cases where Extreme Yin resembles Yang, presenting with false thirst, restlessness, and a desire to sit in mud or water. These are signs of True Heat with False Cold, and True Cold with False Heat, which must especially be distinguished.