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According to the *Zhubing Yuanhou Lun* (Treatise on the Pathogenesis and Manifestations of All Diseases), Xu Lao (Deficiency Consumption) refers to Wu Lao (Five Exhaustions), Liu Ji (Six Extremes), and Qi Shang (Seven Injuries). The Five Exhaustions are: first, Zhi Lao (Exhaustion due to excessive will/intent); second, Si Lao (Exhaustion due to excessive thought/worry); third, Xin Lao (Exhaustion due to excessive mental activity); fourth... [The original text here is fragmented or contains scribal errors, mentioning characters such as "four," "Ji," "Liu Jing," and "Shen" without complete context].

Commentary: Regarding Yin Wei (Impotence/Erectile Dysfunction) caused by Xu Lao, the *Qianjin Fang* (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold) records the San Ren Jiu Zi Wan (Three Persons Nine Seeds Pill) as a formula for treating Wu Lao and Qi Shang with tonifying effects:
Suan Zao Ren (Ziziphus Seed), Bai Zi Ren (Platycladi Seed), Yi Yi Ren (Coix Seed), Gou Qi Ren (Lycium Seed), She Chuang Zi (Cnidium Fruit), Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra Fruit), Tu Si Zi (Cuscuta Seed), Ju Zi [Chrysanthemum Seed?], [Missing Herb Name] Zi, Jing Zi [Acanthopanacis Spinosi Fructus?], Di Fu [Zi/Cao]. These fifteen herbs, plus Rou Cong Rong (Cistanche Stem) 3 liang, and the rest each 2 liang, are taken with wine. Formed into pills the size of Sophora seeds, take 20 pills twice daily.

The Kai Xin Shu Yu Shen Qi Wan (Heart-Opening Yam Kidney Qi Pill) from the *Fan Wang Fang* treats men suffering from Wu Lao and Qi Shang, where Sui Ji (Marrow Exhaustion) makes one intolerant to cold; during sleep, the abdomen becomes distended; the heart feels full with sounds like thunder; there is no desire to drink... [Text missing] ...does not emit... removes cold...
Rou Cong Rong (Cistanche Stem) (1 liang, absent in another version), Shan Zhu Yu (Cornus Fruit) (1 liang, absent in another version), Gan Di Huang (Rehmannia Root, dried) (6 fen, replaced by Gan Jiang/Dried Ginger in another version), Yuan Zhi (Polygala Root) (6 fen)... [Text missing] ...fen), Tu Si Zi (Cuscuta Seed) (6 fen).
These twelve substances are crushed, sifted, and formed into honey pills the size of Sophora seeds. Take 10 to 20 pills, twice during the day and once at night. If heart vexation occurs, reduce the dose or stop. Only take 10 pills... [Text missing] ...fifteen nights... alone... sleep without cold, stop... take one dose.

It also states: Liu Sheng San (Six Raw Herbs Powder) treats Wu Lao and Qi Shang causing Wu Huan Liu Ji (Five Laxities and Six Tensions), chills and fever, abdominal distension and fullness, severe wind causing limbs to hang limp, eliminating blood stasis, tonifying various deficiencies, making the body plump and white. Formula:
Sheng Di Huang Gen (Fresh Rehmannia Root) (2 jin), Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger) (1 jin), Sheng Chang Pu Gen (Fresh Acorus Root) (1 jin), Sheng Gou Qi Gen (Fresh Lycium Root) (1 jin), Sheng Wu Tou (Fresh Aconite Root) (1 jin), Sheng Zhang [Wood/Substance?] [Text missing].
These six items, totaling 7 jin, are cooked, washed, dried, and chopped. Soak in 2 dou of fine wine for three to four days, take out and sun-dry, return to the wine in the evening... [Text missing].

The *Jian Yao Fang* (Decoction Medicine Manual) records Su Mi Jian (Butter and Honey Decoction) for treating various thirsts and internal tonification:
Su (Ghee/Butter) (1 sheng), Mi (Honey) (1 sheng), Di Huang (Rehmannia, decocted) (1 sheng), Gan Ge (Kudzu Root, decocted) (1 sheng), Da Zao (Jujube) (100 pieces), Fu Ling (Poria), Ren Shen (Ginseng), Shu Yu (Dioscorea).
These eight substances: first mix honey and ghee in a vessel until melted; add Gan Ge decoction; add Jujube paste; strain through fine cloth; then add powders of Fu Ling, Ren Shen, Shu Yu, etc.... [Text missing].

Current Commentary: There are several versions of Su Mi Jian, differing in herb quantities and measurements. We adopt the methods of modification by contemporary famous physicians for practical reference:
Su (Small 1 sheng), Mi (Small 1 sheng, boiled to remove dregs, do not use Gan Ge decoction), Gan Ge (Decocted, Large 3 sheng), Di Huang (Decocted, Large 2 he)... 50 pieces, take flesh... sieve).
Ten substances total: First, boil Su with Fresh Ginger until blended; next add Mi; then blend Da Zao with Gan Ge decoction; refine Sesame oil, strain dregs, and add; next... fire... little... [Text missing].

The Qi Shi Jue Ming Jiu (Lycium and Abalone Shell Wine) from *Za Jiu Fang* treats waist and leg ailments, hernias, tinea, wind-bi with evil blood, leukoma, red membranes, eye pain, blinking, tearing, and mild blindness.
Shi Jue Ming (Haliotidis Concha, dried, large 1 jin, washed, roasted), Gou Qi Gen Bai Pi (Bark of Lycium Root, small 1 jin).
These two substances are finely chopped, placed in a silk bag, and soaked in 4 dou 5 sheng of clear wine. Soak for 5 days in spring, 3 days in summer, 7 days in autumn, 10 days in winter. Strain, start... [Text missing].

Wu Qia Jiu (Five Acacia Wine) from *Tai Qing Jing* treats Wu Lao and Qi Shang, heart pain with weak Qi and Blood, male impotence, scrotal dampness, dribbling urine, and genital itching... anti-aging... use Xiong [Male...] 1 sheng... substance... thirst... limb spasms, knee pain, inability to flex or extend, middle injury with shortness of breath, Yin consumption with brain pain, worry, fright, evil qi, fear, palpitations, knotting pain below the heart, vexation and fullness, cough and counterflow, dry mouth and tongue, excessive saliva, phlegm-water in the diaphragm, edema, genital dampness and itching, dribbling urine, sore and painful feet unwilling to touch the ground. Body deficiency, heavy limbs, occasional vomiting and hiccups, fractured tendons, accumulations, Wu Lao and Qi Shang, dim vision and blindness, hot red pain, tonify deficiency and emaciation, remove chills and fever, boost Qi and strength, grow muscle, stop lower back pain, fill the five Zang organs, promote urination, benefit Jing and Qi, stop seminal emission, long-term use brightens ears and eyes, strengthens Yang Qi, hardens bones and sinews, fills brain marrow, nourishes spirit and calms soul, makes the body light. Capable of leaping peaks and valleys, aging not occurring, achieving longevity.
Cut Gou Qi Gen (Lycium Root) 1 dan, add 3 hu of water, boil to obtain 5 dou of juice, strain dregs, add Shu Yu (Dioscorea) and Ou Gen (Lotus Root) each 2 large sheng, boil to obtain 1 dou... Huang Jian [Yellow Decoction?]... like sugar... [Text missing].

Sheng Di Huang Jian (Fresh Rehmannia Decoction) from *Lu Yan Fang* tonifies deficiency and clears heat, harmonizing and promoting drainage. It is suitable for dispersing stone abscesses, sores, boils, hemorrhoids, and heat:
Crush and squeeze fresh Di Huang Gen (Fresh Rehmannia Root) according to quantity, crush and squeeze again to extract all juice, then remove dregs. Squeeze the juice again with new cloth to remove coarse turbidity, making it pure. Place in a vessel over boiling water to cook... do not cover completely, allowing steam to escape. Boil Di Huang juice until reduced by half, then continue boiling. Squeeze again with new cloth to remove coarse particles and turbid dregs, boil again until thickened like maltose syrup. Northern Di Huang is fleshy with strong flavor, making sweet and pleasant decoctions; Southeastern Di Huang is firm and fine with thin flavor, making salty and bitter, less pleasant decoctions, but their therapeutic effects are the same. Making more yields better results; making less dries up easily.