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Question: Why can it be determined that the pathogen is in the Yangming Meridian when both the Cun (inch) and Chi (cubit) pulses are long? Answer: "Long" refers to an overflowing pulse, meaning the pulse beat extends beyond its normal position. The Yangming Meridian is a meridian with abundant Qi and Blood. Once the pathogen transmits into it, the Qi and Blood become excessively full and overflow, hence both the Cun and Chi pulses present as long. Another question arises: A long pulse indicates the pathogen is in the Yangming Meridian, yet different formulas such as Gegen Tang (Kudzu Decoction), Chengqi Tang (Order the Qi Decoction), and Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction) are used. Why is this? Answer: Gegen Tang is used for Yangming Meridian disease; Chengqi Tang is used for Yangming Fu-organ disease, specifically where the pathogen has formed a solid accumulation; Baihu Tang is used when the pathogen has initially transmitted to the Fu-organ but has not yet formed a solid accumulation. In Yangming Meridian disease, symptoms include eye pain, nasal dryness, and the desire to rinse the mouth without swallowing water, while lacking symptoms such as constipation, delirium, or extreme thirst. This represents a exterior syndrome with harmonious interior conditions, so Gegen Tang is used to disperse and release the exterior. If the pathogen has entered the Fu-organ, fever transforms into tidal fever, leading to symptoms like delirium, extreme thirst, constipation, and abdominal distension. This indicates pathogenic accumulation, so Chengqi Tang is used to purge downwards. If Yangming Meridian disease initially transmits to the Fu-organ, presenting with steaming heat, spontaneous sweating, extreme thirst, and delirium, but without constipation or abdominal distension, this represents scattered heat where the pathogen has not solidified. In this case, Baihu Tang is used to clear heat and reach the exterior to achieve harmonization. These are the three methods for treating Yangming. Failure to distinguish between Meridian and Fu-organ diseases leads to clinical errors and significant harm to patients. Thus, it is understood that Zhang Zhongjing's use of purgation targets the Yangming Fu-organ, not the Meridian; his use of diaphoresis targets the Yangming Meridian, not the Fu-organ; and his use of acrid-cool harmonizing methods treats the scattered pathogens in Fu-organ disease where the stool is not bound and the abdomen is free of discomfort. The distinction between Yangming Meridian and Fu-organ theories is urgent to expound.

Shaoyang Meridian disease presents with dizziness, bitter taste in the mouth, deafness, chest fullness, hypochondriac pain, alternating chills and fever, vomiting, sweating on the head, night sweats, a slippery tongue coating, and a wiry pulse. This is Shaoyang Meridian disease, which should be treated with Xiaochaihu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) to harmonize. Zhang Zhongjing stated: For Shaoyang syndrome, if one or two symptoms are present, it is sufficient for diagnosis; it is not necessary for all symptoms to be present. There are three prohibitions for this meridian: emesis, diaphoresis, and purgation. However, Shaoyang disease may involve concurrent exterior or interior syndromes, requiring flexible adaptation to circumstances, and one must not rigidly adhere to the doctrine of the three prohibitions.