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The jailer in Taizhou felt pity for a major prisoner who was about to be executed and treated him with considerable care. The prisoner, moved by gratitude, told him, "I have been sentenced to death seven times. I tried my best to defend myself and refused to confess, which resulted in severe torture that damaged my lungs."

"Regarding hemoptysis (coughing up blood), I happened to obtain a medicine that proved miraculously effective every time I used it. In appreciation of your protection and kindness, I offer this medicine to repay you." The remedy consisted solely of *Baiji* (White Rhizoma Bletillae), taken mixed with rice water. Later, when the executioner dissected his chest, dozens of cavities were found in the lungs, all filled and plugged with *Baiji*, yet the color remained unchanged.

Hong Guanzhi heard this story while he was serving as the magistrate of Changshou County in Yinzhou. On his way to assume office in Yangchuan, a soldier suddenly suffered from severe hematemesis/hemoptysis (kexue) with faint breath, in a critical condition. Hong Guanzhi used this method to treat him, and the bleeding stopped within one day (from *Guizhi*).

Cai Ziwo recorded in a biography: The older brother of Zhao Wuci, the wine supervisor at Tongguan Wuxi, suffered from severe epistaxis (nosebleed). He had already died and was being prepared for burial, but the bleeding had not ceased. A Daoist priest passed by the door, heard the family weeping, and asked for the cause.

The Daoist said, "This is likely due to having previously taken cinnabar pills or alchemical medicines. I have a remedy; if used, he will live." He took half a coin-scoop of medicine from his pouch, blew it into the nostrils, and the bleeding stopped immediately. After a long while, he revived. The medicine was powder made from *Shanzhizi* (Fructus Gardeniae) calcined to retain its properties (from *Ben Shi Fang*). Another treatment for intractable epistaxis nearing death involves taking a large handful of *Maohua* (Floretum Imperatae), chopping it finely, boiling two bowls of water down to one bowl, and dividing it into two doses for drinking, which stops the bleeding immediately (from *Liang Fang*).

The Biography of Emperor Shenzong (Yu Ling) records Wang Jinggong's (Wang Anshi's) prescription for migraine, stating it was a secret palace formula. Use one shell of fresh *Laifu* juice (Radish Juice), lie supine, and instill it into the nose. If the pain is on the left, instill into the right; if on the right, instill into the left; or instill into both nostrils. Those suffering for decades could be cured with just two instillations. Jinggong told me that he had already cured several people using this method (from *Liang Fang*).

A person suffered from severe vertigo, unable to lift their head or open their eyes properly, for many years. Hua Tuo instructed them to remove all clothing, hang upside down so that the head was three inches above the ground, and wipe the body with a wet cloth until the entire surface was moistened. Observing the meridians, they all became visible, displaying five colors. Hua Tuo ordered his disciples to puncture the meridians with a *Piqi* knife (scalpel) until the five-colored blood flowed out completely, until red blood appeared. Then, the patient was brought down, massaged with ointment, covered with a blanket to induce sweating over the whole body, and given *Tingli San* (Descurainiae Semen Decoction) to drink, after which they recovered (from *Records of the Three Kingdoms*).

The King of Chuan fell ill and summoned Chen Yi for pulse diagnosis. The King said, "Jue Qi (rebellious Qi) rising upward causes heavy head pain, body heat, and irritability." Chen Yi immediately applied cold water to the head and punctured three points on each side of the Foot-Yangming Meridian. The illness resolved quickly. This disease was caused by lying down to sleep with wet hair after washing. The diagnosis was consistent with the aforementioned pattern, hence it was termed 'Jue Tou Re' (Jue Heat in the Head), with pain extending to the shoulders (from *Records of the Grand Historian*).