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The Master said: Among diseases, there are Bengtun (a condition characterized by the sensation of Qi rushing from the lower abdomen to the chest and throat), vomiting of pus and blood, Jingbu (fright and terror), and Huoxie (disease caused by erroneous fire therapy). These four categories of disease all arise from fright.

For Cold Qi Jueni (cold pathogen excess leading to cold limbs), Chidan (Red Pill) is the primary treatment.

When Xin Zhong Feng (Wind pathogen invading the Heart channel) occurs, it presents with a slight fever, inability to rise, a sensation of hunger in the heart region, and vomiting immediately after eating.

For cases attributed to Huoxie, Guizhi Qu Shaoyao Jia Shujimu Lulong Jiuni Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction without Paeonia, plus Fleeceflower Root, Oyster Shell, and Dragon Bone for Rescue against Reversal) is the primary treatment.

For palpitations below the heart, Banxia Mahuang Wan (Pinellia and Ephedra Pill) is the primary treatment.

For coughing and wheezing requiring leaning support for breathing, with inability to lie flat, Xiao Qinglong Tang (Minor Blue Dragon Decoction) is the primary treatment. After administering Xiao Qinglong Tang, if the patient has excessive salivation, dry mouth, a deep pulse at the Cun position, a faint pulse at the Chi position, cold hands and feet, Qi rushing from the lower abdomen up to the chest and throat, numbness in the extremities, a flushed face resembling drunkenness, followed by heat flowing down to the inner thighs, difficulty in urination, and occasional dizziness, Fur Ling Gui Zhi Wu Wei Gan Cao Tang (Poria, Cinnamon Twig, Schisandra, and Licorice Decoction) should be given to treat the Qi rush. Once the Qi rush subsides, but cough and chest fullness reappear, use Ling Gui Wu Wei Gan Cao Tang, remove Guizhi, add Ganjiang (Dried Ginger) and Xixin (Asarum), to treat the cough and fullness. When the cough and fullness cease, but thirst recurs and the Qi rush reappears, this is because Xixin and Ganjiang are hot herbs; taking them should naturally cause thirst. If the thirst instead ceases, this indicates Zhiyin (Fluid retention in the chest/diaphragm). Patients with Zhiyin typically experience dizziness; those who are dizzy must vomit. For those who vomit, add Banxia (Pinellia) to eliminate fluid. Once the fluid is eliminated and vomiting stops, if the patient’s body becomes swollen, add Renmi (Apricot Seed) as the primary treatment. This syndrome should normally include Mahuang (Ephedra), but because the patient already has numbness, Mahuang is not added; if contrary to this principle and Mahuang is added, it will certainly cause cold limbs. The reason is that the patient has Blood deficiency, and Mahuang disperses Yang Qi. If the face is hot like drunkenness, this is Stomach Heat rushing upward to flush the face; add Dahuang (Rhubarb) to promote drainage.

The Cun Kou (Radial artery at the wrist) pulse is floating and slow. A floating pulse indicates Heat; a slow pulse indicates submergence. Heat and submergence interacting is called "Chen" (Deep). The Fu Yang (Dorsalis pedis artery) pulse is floating and rapid. A floating pulse indicates Heat; a rapid pulse indicates stagnation/stopping. Heat and stagnation interacting is called "Fu" (Hidden). Deep and Hidden pulses interacting is called "Shui" (Water/Edema). A Deep pulse implies emptiness in the collateral vessels; a Hidden pulse implies difficulty in urination. Emptiness and difficulty interacting cause water to move into the skin, resulting in edema.

The Cun Kou pulse is wiry and tight. A wiry pulse means Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) does not circulate, leading to aversion to cold. Water fails to flow normally and moves into the intestines.

Question: A patient suffers from water disease, with swelling of the face, eyes, body, and limbs, and difficulty in urination. Pulse diagnosis does not indicate water disease, but rather chest pain, Qi rushing up to the throat, a sensation as if a piece of roasted meat is stuck there, accompanied by mild cough and wheezing. If this matches the Master's description, what kind of pulse would it be? The Master said: The Cun Kou pulse is deep and tight. Deep indicates water; tight indicates cold. Deep and tight interacting causes knotting at the Guan Yuan point. Initially, it is mild, and in youth, it is unnoticed. After Yang Qi declines, Ying and Wei (Nutritive and Defensive Qi) interfere with each other. Yang is damaged, Yin becomes excessive. The knotted cold moves slightly, Kidney Qi rushes upward, causing throat blockage and urgency/pain below the heart. Physicians mistook it for Liu Yin (retained fluid) and used harsh purgatives. The Qi strike did not cease, and the disease was not resolved; later, heavy emetics were used, causing stomach deficiency and vexation, dry throat desire for water, difficulty in urination, and undigested food/water. The face, eyes, and hands/feet became swollen. Then Tingli Wan (Descurainia Seed Pill) was used to drain water. At that time, there was slight improvement, but overeating caused swelling to return as before, with bitter pain in the chest/hypochondrium, resembling Bengtun. Water overflowing leads to floating edema, cough, wheezing, and counterflow qi. One must first attack the Qi rush to stop it, then treat the cough. Once the cough stops, the wheezing improves on its own. Treat the new disease first; the old disease follows later.

In Huanghan (Yellow Sweat) disease, the calves are naturally cold; if they are warm, it belongs to Lijie (Joint Bi). Sweating after eating, and often night sweats when lying down in the evening, indicates Laoqi (Consumptive Qi disorder). If sweating is followed by fever, the body will eventually develop Jiacuo (cracked, scaly skin); if fever persists, malignant sores will definitely arise. If the body feels heavy, and lightens after sweating, prolonged illness will lead to body stiffness. Stiffness causes chest pain. Sweating occurs above the waist, but not below. The loins and hips are flaccid and painful, feeling as if something is under the skin. In severe cases, inability to eat, body pain and heaviness, irritability, and difficulty in urination occur. This is Huanghan, treated primarily with Guizhi Jia Huangqi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction plus Astragalus).