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Exterior excess and interior excess, contraindications:
In times of peace (stable conditions), when treating exterior excess, physicians often use diaphoretic agents. Diaphoresis leads to deficiency at the exterior, allowing wind-cold pathogens to enter, thereby exacerbating the disease. When treating interior excess, physicians often use purgative agents. Purging leads to deficiency within, causing urgency and obstruction in the qi of the intestines and stomach, resulting in poor mobility of the limbs. Master Hua treated Ni Xun, a government clerk, for headache and fever by purging him, because his condition was characterized by exterior excess. He treated Li Yan, also with headache and fever, by inducing sweating, because his condition was characterized by interior excess. This reflects the secret principle that "exterior excess contraindicates diaphoresis, while interior excess contraindicates purging." Furthermore, interior excess involves damp-heat and fire rushing upward, akin to stagnant earth qi awaiting dispersion; exterior excess involves accumulated filth remaining in the middle jiao, akin to water in the mountains awaiting downward flow. Although their symptoms of headache and fever are identical, their treatments differ. While this may be derived from immortal secrets, it is fundamentally based on the Dao of Heaven and Earth. I have tested this repeatedly, and indeed, it has yielded frequent success. (Annotation by Sun Simiao)

Sweating leads to recovery; lack of sweating leads to death.
Yin Shi, a county clerk, suffered from vexation in the four limbs and dryness in the mouth. He did not wish to hear human voices, and urination was difficult. Master Hua said, "Try eating hot food. If sweat appears, he will recover immediately; if no sweat appears, he will die within three days." Hot food was prepared, but no sweat emerged. Master Hua said, "The qi of the zang organs has already severed internally; he will likely weep before passing away." Soon after, this proved true. The Master's statement was presumably based on established principles. Analysis: Vexation in the limbs, dry mouth, and aversion to sound are signs of heat syndrome. Physicians encountering this syndrome would dare not prescribe hot food, typically preferring cooling formulas. However, if cooling formulas are used, they may induce convulsions without the symptom of weeping. It is precisely because the Master prescribed hot food that the symptom of weeping appeared. In my past encounters with this syndrome, I have frequently used diaphoretic formulas with acrid-warm properties, observing profuse sweating leading to recovery, which further confirms that the Master's words were not false. I privately marvel that contemporary physicians treating this syndrome cannot determine whether the patient will recover or die. Observing the Master's treatment method reveals how one should proceed. (Annotation by Sun Simiao)

Acrid dispersal is suitable; cold suppression is contraindicated.
It is passed down that Master Hua treated toothache as follows: One handful of Sichuan pepper boiled in one cup of water, added with Asarum (Xixin), Angelica dahurica (Baizhi), and Saposhnikovia divaricata (Fangfeng). Decoct strongly and rinse the teeth after midnight; fear not toothache caused by wind, fire, or worms. In reality, although the Master's medical skills originated from immortals, his prescription of herbs was self-determined. For instance, favoring acrid dispersal and avoiding cold suppression constitutes the secret recipe for treating all kinds of toothaches. Thus, one knows that treating disease need not be confined to fixed decoctions, as decoctions can be forged or falsely attributed. Moreover, adjustments must be made according to the severity of the disease, the deficiency or excess of the person, and the cold or warmth of the season. Therefore, cases may present with identical diseases and identical prescriptions, yet yield different efficacies. Physicians should exercise discretion in such matters. (Annotation by Sun Simiao)