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Yang Jilao of Sizhou was a renowned physician. Emperor Huizong of Song often suffered from spleen diseases; the prescriptions offered by imperial physicians were all ineffective. Consequently, he summoned Yang Jilao for diagnosis. After the consultation, Yang Jilao presented a prescription. The Emperor asked what medicine it was. Yang Jilao replied, "It is Dali Zhong Wan (Great Middle-Boosting Pill)." The Emperor said, "I have taken it many times before without effect." Yang Jilao stated, "The decoction method used by your subject differs. Your Majesty's illness resulted from excessive consumption of ice. Now, I use ice to decoct this medicine, aiming to address the root cause of the disease." Indeed, after taking one or two doses, he recovered. (From *Suosui Lu*)

Cui Yuanliang's secret formula from the sea treats all types of heart pain, regardless of whether the condition is chronic or recent. It uses only fresh Rehmanniae Radix (Sheng Dihuang). The amount depends on how much food the patient eats: crush the herb to extract juice and knead it into dough to make noodles (or cold rinsed noodles). That night, worms approximately one chi long should be expelled; their heads resemble those of wall lizards, and the patient will not suffer again. Liu Yuxi's *Chuanxin Fang* records: In the tenth year of Zhenyuan, the daughter of Cui Kang, Tongshi Sheren (Attendant Gentleman), suffered from heart pain with faint breath nearing death. She was given food made with cold Rehmannia juice and flour. She subsequently vomited an object about one cun square in size, resembling a toad, without eyes or feet, but with a faintly visible mouth. It was likely bitten by this creature. From then on, she recovered instantly. Salt must be avoided when kneading the dough. (From *Benshi Fang*)

Song Xunfu, County Magistrate of Xin, suffered from unbearable bladder Qi pain. A physician administered harsh hot-natured medicines, which exacerbated the pain and caused urinary retention for three days. Academician Xu examined his pulse and said, "Too much hot medicine has been administered." Fortunately, there was Wuling San (Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria) available—one liang, divided into three portions. It was renamed and administered with one stalk of green onion (with roots), a little fennel fruit, and a pinch of salt. One qian of water was added, and it was decocted until three-tenths remained. After continuous ingestion, at midnight, he passed one to two sheng of black fluid-like urine, felt relief in the lower abdomen, and slept. The next day, his pulse had normalized. Subsequently, he took Shawan (Sand Pill) for several days and recovered. This disease originally stemmed from deficiency, so sudden tonification is inappropriate. Where evil qi gathers, righteous qi must be deficient; if evil qi remains lodged, the pathology manifests as excess. Therefore, one must first purge the accumulated evil qi before tonifying. (From *Benshi Fang*)

The wife of Geng Mengde, County Magistrate of Yin, suffered from gravel strangury for thirteen years. Each time she urinated, a crackling sound was heard in the vessel, and the pain was unbearable. He ordered the collection of Kuzhang root (commonly known as Du Niuxi / Achyranthes Bidentata Root), washed it clean, and crushed it. The dosage was one he, boiled with five zhan of water until four-fifths evaporated, leaving one-fifth. After filtering out the dregs, a small amount of powder prepared from Moschus (She Xiang) and Boswellia Fructus (Ru Xiang) was mixed in and ingested. She recovered in one night. (Same source)

Head scurf (Tou Gu) mainly treats strangury with obstruction and also treats dysphagia/food blockage; it can also treat relapse due to overexertion. (From *Bencao*)