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Treat various syndromes of external contraction of cold and warm diseases, inability to recover spontaneously after severe illness has subsided, alternating chills and fever, profuse sweating due to deficiency; or only fever without chills, heat resolving after sweating but recurring with sweating shortly thereafter, eyes rolling upward, critical condition resembling collapse; or panting and counterflow, palpitations, or insufficient qi leading to shortness of breath. If any one of these syndromes appears, this formula should be taken urgently.

Cornus officinalis Fruit (Shan Zhu Yu) (pitted, 2 liang), Raw Dragon Bone (Long Gu) (crushed into fine powder, 1 liang), Raw Oyster Shell (Mu Li) (crushed into fine powder, 1 liang), Raw Shaoyao (Bai Shao) (6 qian), Wild Taishen (Tai Shen) (4 qian), Licorice Root (Gan Cao) (2 qian, honey-fried).

The efficacy of Cornus officinalis Fruit in rescuing collapse is superior to that of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Ren Shen) and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Bai Zhu). This is because the nature of Cornus officinalis Fruit not only tonifies the Liver but also can astringe the yin and yang, qi and blood of the human body when they are about to scatter. Therefore, for drugs rescuing collapse, Cornus officinalis Fruit should be ranked first. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* lists it in the middle grade, not alongside Ren Shen and Bai Zhu. I suspect that ancient bamboo slips bound with leather cords were prone to dislocation, and this might be an error caused by misplaced slips!

Collapse of primordial qi in humans always occurs in the Liver. Thus, when a person is extremely deficient, Liver wind must move first; once Liver wind moves, it is a sign that primordial qi is about to collapse. Furthermore, the Liver and Gallbladder are internally-externally related. The Gallbladder belongs to Shaoyang, and disease here primarily manifests as alternating chills and fever; the Liver belongs to Jueyin, and extreme deficiency also manifests as alternating chills and fever. Because there are alternating chills and fever, there is often profuse sweating. Cornus officinalis Fruit can both astringe sweat and tonify the Liver, so it is most effective for those with extreme Liver deficiency and impending collapse of primordial qi. When I first discovered the capability of this herb, I thought it was my own unique insight. Later, upon detailed examination of the *Shennong Bencao Jing*, I found that Cornus officinalis Fruit originally treated "chills and fever." The chills and fever it treats refer precisely to the alternating chills and fever of extreme deficiency in the Liver meridian. Previously, I had skimmed over it without careful observation, which made me sigh even more at the precision of the *Shennong Bencao Jing*, which truly surpasses later materia medica works. Additionally, the *Shennong Bencao Jing* states that Cornus officinalis Fruit can expel cold-damp bi syndrome, so this formula can be used to treat epigastric and abdominal pain. Quzhi Tang uses it to treat limb pain because its sour taste can astringe. Buluo Buguan Tang uses it to treat hemoptysis and hematemesis. Combined with this formula using a heavy dose, it is best at rescuing collapse and astringing sweat. The subtlety of the functions of Cornus officinalis Fruit is truly inconceivable.

A patient, in his early twenties, contracted a Taiyang cold damage syndrome in early winter. After treatment for over ten days, exterior and interior symptoms resolved. Suddenly, he developed generalized fever. Within the time it takes to eat a meal, he sweated profusely, and the heat instantly resolved, but shortly thereafter, fever and sweating recurred. This persisted for two days and nights, approaching a critical state. He was hurriedly summoned to seek medical attention. Upon arrival, I saw his whole body soaked in sweat, eyes rolled up showing the whites, and the left pulse was faint, thin, and indistinct, disappearing upon pressure. This indicated extreme deficiency of the Liver and Gallbladder and impending collapse of primordial qi. Generally, patients with Liver and Gallbladder deficiency manifest alternating chills and fever; the sudden heat and sweating in this case also signify alternating chills and fever. I urgently prescribed 2 liang of pure Cornus officinalis Fruit decocted and administered. Both the fever and sweating reduced by half. I then formulated this prescription for him. After taking two doses, the illness disappeared as if it had never been.

Old Man Zhao, aged sixty-three, contracted a Taiyang cold damage syndrome in mid-winter with severe phlegm-panting. His pulse was floating and weak, unable to withstand detailed palpation. Inquiry revealed he suffered from chronic consumption disease, with frequent panting and coughing in winter. After careful deliberation, I cautiously treated him with Xiao Qing Long Tang removing Ephedra Herb (Ma Huang), adding Apricot Seed (Xing Ren) and Raw Gypsum (Shi Gao). Given his weak pulse, I advised him to purchase several types of tonic herbs in advance for backup. After taking the medicine, his panting improved slightly. On re-examination, his pulse became even weaker and fainter. I urgently prescribed: Pure Cornus officinalis Fruit 1 liang, Raw Dragon Bone and Raw Oyster Shell each 6 qian, Wild Taishen 4 qian, Raw Shaoyao 3 qian. These were all herbs he had previously purchased. As soon as the decoction was ready, the patient's breathing was very faint, and he felt his qi could not continue. He drank the medicine urgently, and his breathing immediately resumed continuity.

Mr. Li XX, around fifty years old, met me by chance and requested a pulse diagnosis. He said he had fallen ill last month and recovered after medication. Recently feeling refreshed, he wondered how his pulse looked. Upon diagnosis, his Chi position pulse lacked root, and the Cun position pulse was unstable, showing signs of impending collapse. Since he claimed to have recovered, frightening him with dire words would likely cause disbelief. I temporarily replied that his pulse appeared peaceful. Secretly, I told his nephew: "Your uncle's pulse is very dangerous. He should take tonifying and astringent medicines to prevent sudden collapse of primordial qi." His nephew relayed this, but he did not believe it. Two days later, he suddenly sent someone to summon me, stating he had experienced sudden vertigo and could not get up. Upon arrival, I saw his whole body trembling, sweating on his head, and confused speech. He complained of severe palpitations and inability to cope. His pulse showed upper excess and lower deficiency, worse than before. I urgently administered: Pure Cornus officinalis Fruit 1.5 liang, Raw Dragon Bone, Raw Oyster Shell, Wild Taishen, and Raw Hematite (Zhe Shi) each 5 qian. One dose resulted in recovery. Subsequently, I changed the Cornus officinalis Fruit dosage to 1 liang, added Raw Dioscorea Rhizome (Shan Yao) 8 qian, and continued for several doses until his pulse returned to normal. Note: In this formula, the dosage of Zhe Shi should be slightly heavier than that of Tai Shen.

Appendix:
Letter from Cui XX of Tianmen County, Hubei Province:
The daughter-in-law of Mr. Zhu XX in Zhanggang suffered from opisthotonos postpartum, sweating like pearls, with scattered and rootless six pulses, showing signs of impending collapse. She was summoned for medical attention. I urgently prescribed 2 liang of pure Cornus officinalis Fruit to be decocted and taken. One dose resulted in complete recovery.