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Deficiency syndromes are suitable for tonification, and excess syndromes are suitable for purgation; this is known to everyone. However, there are cases where a person is deficient but the syndrome is excess, such as a frail individual contracting wind or suffering from food retention; or a person is robust but the syndrome is deficiency, such as a strong individual losing Yang Qi due to overexertion and fatigue; or someone who is originally not deficient, yet the pathogenic factor is deep and difficult to expel; again, someone who is extremely deficient, yet the external pathogen remains latent. These situations vary greatly. If one uses only tonification, the pathogenic factor becomes more entrenched; if one uses only purgation, the healthy Qi will follow in collapse. Thus, the original disease remains uncured, while other diseases deepen. This is why ancient formulas employ methods of combining attack (purgation) and tonification.

Those who doubt it say: "Two medicines have different natures; when decocted together in water, they mutually restrain each other. Consequently, the attacking medicine fails to attack, and the tonifying medicine fails to tonify. It is better not to take them. If the two medicines do not mutually restrain and act separately, then one might inadvertently tonify what should be attacked, or attack what should be tonified. This would not only be unbeneficial but harmful, which is a matter that must be considered." This view is entirely incorrect. The nature of each medicine fulfills its own function. The attacking medicine necessarily attacks the strong [pathogen], and the tonifying medicine necessarily tonifies the weak [healthy Qi]. This is like digging a pit in the ground; water flows down from a high place, filling the low pit first before continuing forward; it certainly does not flow back up to the high place. For example, when Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) and Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) are used together, Dahuang naturally expels the hard accumulation without injuring the healthy Qi; Renshen naturally supplements the healthy Qi without tonifying the pathogenic factor. Generally, the method by which ancients formulated prescriptions involves distinguishing meridians and zang-fu organs, possessing divine and subtle principles.

For instance, in Xiaochaihu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) for treating malaria, the alternating chills and fever result from the pathogen being in the Shaoyang (Lesser Yang) meridian. Wood pathogen insulting Earth (Spleen/Stomach), causing the Middle Jiao to lack a master, leads to indeterminate chills and fever. Therefore, Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) is used to drive out the Shaoyang pathogen; Chaihu will not invade the Spleen and Stomach. Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) is used to strengthen the Qi of the Middle Jiao; Renshen will not enter the Liver and Gallbladder. Thus, the Shaoyang pathogen departs naturally, and the Middle Earth Qi prospers naturally; the two medicines return to their respective meridians. Similarly, in Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction), Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus) travels through the Wei (Defensive) level to dispel wind, and Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) travels through the Ying (Nutritive) level to stop sweating; both also return to their respective meridians. By extrapolating from this, all cases are similar. One can carefully investigate the indications of various drugs in the Shennong Bencao Jing (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) and find verification in every case. The principle of combining cold and hot therapies is the same; thus, there are no incurable diseases in the world.

Later physicians, failing to understand this principle, rely on a single approach to medication. When encountering slight variations in the condition, they either neglect one aspect for another, or hesitate and act superficially, resulting in every case becoming intractable. However, this must be based on the established methods of ancient formula formulation, applied with flexibility and insight. If one were to selfishly impose personal whims,杂乱ly mixing attack, tonification, cold, and heat without order, this would become a method of killing people.