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He Xi Feng (Crane's Knee Wind), which refers to Bi syndrome (obstruction syndrome) of the knee joint caused by wind, cold, and dampness pathogens. If the knee bones gradually enlarge while the muscles above and below gradually atrophy and become thin, one should not directly treat the knee at this stage. Instead, one must first nourish the blood and qi, allowing the muscles to gradually regain their lustrous state, before treating the knee. This is largely similar to the treatment of Pian Ku (hemiplegia/paralysis on one side). Since Pian Ku has occurred, it is urgent to irrigate and nourish the parts that have not yet withered, so that the withered parts can then receive unobstructed qi flow and regain nourishment. If one does not understand the methods of guiding blood from qi and guiding qi from blood, but merely uses routine dispersing herbs such as Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang, 麻黄) and Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fangfeng, 防风) to scatter wind, few will avoid total exhaustion of healthy qi and rapid death. Therefore, if treating He Xi Feng by hastily attacking the bi obstruction, it will inevitably lead to Wei Bi (flaccidity syndrome) of the legs where they become unusable. By analogy, is not the treatment method made clearer?

Ancient formulas for treating pediatric He Xi Feng used Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) supplemented with Deer Antler and Achyranthes Root, totaling eight ingredients. The intention of not directly treating the wind is most profound. This is because children do not necessarily suffer from this condition due to wind-cold-dampness bi; rather, it is often due to congenital deficiency, where kidney qi is weak and thin. Cold energy condenses in the waist and knees and fails to resolve. External symptoms reveal internal causes. Thus, Liu Wei Di Huang Wan tonifies the yin water of the kidney, Deer Antler tonifies the yang fire of the kidney, and Achyranthes Root guides the medicinal power to the bone joints to strengthen the sinews. This is an excellent method of treating the root rather than the branch. Taking this as an example allows for extrapolation to other cases.

Po Shang Feng (Broken-Wind Tetanus) is the most difficult condition to treat. For individuals in robust health, based on external manifestations, applying exterior, interior, and middle methods along with wind-dispelling drugs presents no difficulty. However, for those constitutionally weak, including the elderly and children, or those who have lost excessive blood due to falls and trauma, or whose wound exudates are profuse and unhealed, allowing wind pathogens to penetrate deeply into the blood level due to deficiency, one should refer to the treatment principles for Blood Bi. Adding wind-dispelling drugs to Si Wu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) is appropriate. In cases of severe yuan qi (original qi) deficiency, inability to withstand external wind, presenting with coma and reversal cold (Jue Ni, 厥逆), indicating a critical condition, one should first administer Du Shen Tang (Single Ginseng Decoction), followed by Xing Fu Tang (Arisaema and Asarum Decoction), to dispel deficient wind. Various emergency formulas in surgery and military medicine are designed for robust individuals, prepared in advance to be administered immediately upon injury, thus achieving rapid effects not because the formulas are unique, but due to timely application. If wind pathogens have penetrated for a long time, efficacy will be difficult to achieve. To become a great physician, one must stockpile various emergency medicines, such as He Rong Tang (Harmonizing Ying and Wei Decoction); Ji Feng San (Urgent Wind Powder); Du Sheng San (Supreme Single Herb Powder).

Regarding hemiplegia, deviation of the mouth and eyes, dizziness of the head and eyes, flourishing phlegm-fire, and intermittent pain in bones and sinews: these originate from blood deficiency and blood heat, carrying phlegm and fire. Pathological roots already exist between the meridians, muscles, and surface. Later, triggered by wind-cold invasion, excessive consumption of aged wine and rich foods which exacerbate phlegm-fire, or anger causing liver qi rebellion, this condition forms. When the pathogen resides in the meridians, muscles, and bones without entering the zang-fu organs, treatment should focus on harmonizing Ying (nutritive) and Wei (defensive) qi. For instance, He Rong Tang possesses the function of tonifying and invigorating blood without causing stagnation; it has the ability to strengthen the spleen, dry dampness, and resolve phlegm without being overly drying; it also clears heat, moves qi and blood, disperses wind, opens meridians, and unblocks cou li (interstices). It secures the root internally and disperses pathogens externally. It is a "King's Way" (gentle and balanced) formula; prolonged use yields results.

The general principle for treating Li Feng (Leprosy) is to clear the Ying and Wei levels. Frequent sweating and frequent pricking to bleed are both expedient methods for clearing Ying and Wei. Parasites arise from lung heat; when the lung's descending and purifying function fails, parasites enter from the skin and hair into the cou li, stomach, and intestines. Clearing Lung Metal causes parasites to extinguish spontaneously. Just as when metal wind blows, drought demons vanish, the principle is clear. However, clearing the lung must precede with clearing Ying and Wei, because if Ying and Wei qi become turbid and impure, they transmit to the lung, damaging its purifying function first. Although bitter drugs can drain the lung and kill parasites, they also damage the stomach and should not be taken long-term. The stomach is the source from which Ying and Wei emerge. Long-term use of bitter-cold drugs causes Ying and Wei to decline, leading to unbearable turbidity and stagnation. Therefore, formulas like Ku Shen Wan (Sophora Pill) are unsuitable for those with inherently weak Ying and Wei and insufficient dietary intake. Da Feng Zi You (Oil of Semendae Fructus) is highly effective at killing parasites and dispelling wind, but it is excessively acrid and hot; often, eyes are damaged before the wind is eliminated. Liu Huang Jiu (Sulfur Wine) ingestion inevitably leads to catastrophic brain rupture. Zui Xian San (Intoxicating Immortal Powder) mixed with Calamina (Qing Fen, 轻粉) is taken three times daily, inducing a drunken stupor, expelling toxic saliva through the teeth, resulting in tooth loss before leprosy is cured. Generally, antileprotic drugs taken in small doses for short periods fail to eliminate the disease; taken in large doses for long periods, although the disease may be eliminated, the drug-induced harm is greater. Only Yi Lao Qu Feng Wan (Yi Lao's Wind-Dispelling Pill) and Dong Po Si Shen Dan (Dong Po's Four Divine Pills) can be taken long-term for effect and serve as models. Qu Feng Wan; Si Shen Dan.

It must be understood that Mai Feng (Pulse Wind) transforms into Li Feng. Human Ying blood circulates within the twelve meridians. Using mild and beneficial drugs, focusing on generating blood and clearing heat, with wind-dispelling and parasite-killing as secondary measures, combined with sweating and pricking therapies, cure is assured. However, treatment is only suitable for those who strictly discipline themselves. Abstinence from sexual desire and moderation in diet are requirements that only vigorous and resolute individuals can meet.

Tong Feng (Gout), also known as Bai Hu Li Jie Feng (White Tiger Joint-Passing Wind), is essentially Tong Bi (Painful Bi). The Classics state that conditions dominated by cold are Tong Bi. They also state that all injuries from cold transform into heat diseases. Therefore, medication must follow a certain balance. Observing the Jin Gui Yao Lue (Essential Prescriptions from the Golden Cabinet), Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root) and Wutou (Chuanwu, 乌头) are used within exterior-releasing formulas, combined with Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig) and Mahuang, embodying the principle that "releasing the exterior does not avoid heat." Conversely, treating the interior must follow the Nei Jing (Inner Canon), avoiding cold. Many practitioners fail to grasp this, using warm/hot drugs for interior attacks indiscriminately. Only the Xi Jiao Tang (Rhinoceros Horn Decoction) in Qian Jin Fang (Thousand Gold Formulas) aligns deeply with classic intent, presented here as an example. Xi Jiao Tang.

In cases where internal heat is flourishing due to blood deficiency, acrid-hot drugs in exterior-releasing formulas are contraindicated from the start. One should instead take the exterior-releasing methods for summer heat-warmth diseases as a model. Most families lack such formulas; only Niu Bang Zi San (Arctii Fructus Powder) in Ben Shi Fang (Formulas of Capability) fits my understanding, and is listed here. Niu Bang Zi San.