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Shortness of breath with rapid, shallow breathing insufficient to maintain normal respiration indicates extreme deficiency (Qi fails to respond to respiratory demands).
In a healthy person without chills or fever, shortness of breath and insufficient respiration indicate excess (obstruction in the Middle Jiao or phlegm-fire disturbance).
Slightly rapid inhalation suggests pathology in the Middle Jiao, indicating excess. Purging therapy should be applied for recovery (Middle Jiao excess obstructs deep inhalation, leading to compensatory rapid breathing). If it is deficiency, it is difficult to treat (Excess can be purged; if Middle Jiao deficiency causes slightly rapid inhalation due to incomplete intake, it signifies impending exhaustion of Liver and Kidney Qi). In Upper Jiao pathology, inhalation is short and hurried; in Lower Jiao pathology, inhalation is deep and distant. These are all difficult to treat. Trembling of the body during respiration indicates an incurable condition (In Upper Jiao disease, Qi should descend; in Lower Jiao disease, Qi should ascend. Mutual communication between Upper and Lower Jiao leads to recovery. Currently, Upper Jiao inhalation is too short to descend, and Lower Jiao inhalation is too distant to ascend. Lack of mutual communication makes recovery unlikely? Trembling indicates Qi failure to support the form).

When diagnosing illness, one must first ask about the patient's identity: male or female, old or young, servant or concubine, or relative. Secondly, ask about the onset date, etiology, dietary habits, and Stomach Qi status. Ask about bowel and bladder functions. Ask about previous medications taken. Ask about daytime symptoms and nighttime symptoms, sleep patterns, and any distension, fullness, or pain.

If the patient does not answer questions, deafness is likely. Further inquiry is needed to determine if it is congenital deafness or acquired due to prolonged illness or excessive sweating/purging causing deficiency deafness.
If the patient is reluctant to speak and only nods, it indicates deficiency of Middle Qi.
If the patient is confused and unconscious, determine if it is sudden Jue syndrome or chronic illness.
For women presenting with rigidity and Jue, it is often related to Middle Qi damage; inquire if there was recent severe anger.
For women, menstrual status must be asked. For widows, Qi and Blood stagnation may cause slippery pulses at both Chi positions; do not misdiagnose as pregnancy. Unmarried women are similar.
For epigastric and abdominal distension and pain, distinguish between old and new conditions.

Ask about taste preferences and food cravings. Whether they indulge in alcohol or follow a vegetarian diet. Preference for sour tastes indicates Liver deficiency; preference for sweet tastes indicates Spleen deficiency; other tastes follow this pattern.
For pain in the head, body, and arms, inquire about history of malignant sores. At the bedside, assess form and spirit. Some suffer physical labor and mental distress, or depression damaging the interior. Those who lose status after being noble harbor lingering attachments. Though not affected by external pathogens, disease arises internally, termed "Tuo Ying" (loss of Ying Qi). Those who were once rich but became poor experience internal knotting of sorrow and worry, termed "Shi Jing" (loss of Jing Spirit). Both conditions lead to scorched skin, contracted sinews, and Wei Bi spasms. This is because Wei Qi is exhausted externally and Ying Blood is depleted internally. Skilled physicians will understand the nature of the disease upon diagnosis.
Further inquire about diet and lifestyle, sudden joy or suffering, or joy followed by suffering. Sudden anger damages Yin; sudden joy damages Yang. The physical form deteriorates, essence depletes daily, and pathogenic factors invade internally (pathogens attack when Qi is deficient).