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Han Ziyu, a native of Gu Lian, had a father who was over sixty-three years old. He suffered from Xiao Ke (Xiao Ke disease, characterized by excessive thirst, hunger, urination, and emaciation). In winter, he developed restlessness and heat, requiring him to expose his body and spray ice water on his chest and axillae to find relief. He ate meat and wheat products several times a day and felt hungry shortly after eating. This condition persisted for over a month, prompting him to seek my treatment. His pulse was deep, fine, and rapid. I diagnosed it as a fatal case. Ziyu and his brother wept and knelt before me, saying, "Although the illness is critical, if you treat us with all your heart, we will have no regrets even if he dies." I replied, "The disease known as Xiao Ke has various names: Shi Yi (Shi Yi, excessive eating without weight gain), Xiao Zhong (Xiao Zhong, middle consumption), and Xuan Ji (Xuan Ji, spreading illness). These are caused by the consumption of rich and sweet foods. The Yangming channel transforms into dryness and fire, preventing fluids from being retained, leading to spontaneous sweating and frequent urination; thus, one drink results in two parts excreted. Stomach heat causes rapid digestion and easy hunger; the patient can eat but becomes emaciated. Wang Shuhe stated, 'Eating much yet still feeling hungry and weak,' which refers to this condition. As Zhang Zhongjing described, this disease worsens in spring and summer and improves in autumn and winter due to seasonal influences. Your father should be improving at this time but instead worsened. This is because Kidney Water is dried up and cannot control Heart Fire, which flares independently during a time when it is not dominant. The Classic says, 'When what should be controlled fails to be controlled, it is called True Strength,' indicating isolated Yang and exhausted Yin. Furthermore, the human body is the host, and seasonal climate is the guest. The current seasonal climate is severe cold, yet it cannot control the internal heat; how could any medicine do so? The Inner Canon states, 'Host dominance is adverse, guest dominance is compliant,' which applies here. If I were to treat him according to your request, it would be futile." I firmly declined and returned home. They changed physicians and used moxibustion. Within a few days, he passed away. Later, Ziyu appreciated my sincerity, and our friendship deepened.

Li Zhongkuan, a clerk in the Beijing Surveillance Commission, was over fifty years old. In the spring of the Jisi year of the Zhiyuan era, he contracted Wind Syndrome, resulting in hemiplegia, numbness in the four limbs, slurred speech, and mental confusion. A friend prescribed a method using half a jin of Da Huang (Rhubarb Rhizome) and three sheng of Hei Dou (Black Soybean Seed), boiled together in ten dou of water until the beans were cooked. The Da Huang was removed, and the Hei Dou was washed clean with fresh well water. He was to take two or three he (a small unit of volume) daily, claiming this would eliminate wind-heat. After taking more than half the course, another friend suggested combining Tong Sheng San (Tong Sheng Powder), Si Wu Tang (Four Substances Decoction), and Huang Lian Jie Du Tang (Coptis Decoction to Relieve Toxicity). They claimed this combination would be even faster. After taking these for over a month, his spirit became increasingly lethargic. He returned to Zhending to recuperate at home. Relatives and friends offered countless prescriptions, which I did not record. His condition worsened with aphonia (loss of voice), cold qi, and cold extremities. He sought my consultation. After inquiring about the history, I understood the full context. His six pulses were thread-like and fine. I told him, "Diseases vary in exterior/interior, deficiency/excess, cold/heat. Medicines vary in sovereign/minister/assistant/courier roles and odd/even formulations. The medicines you took lacked basis and evidence, hence the worsening condition. It is now incurable; you brought this upon yourself." Shortly thereafter, he died.

Mrs. Xiao, wife of Cao Tongfu, an external official, was over sixty years old, lonely, poor, and without support. In spring, she suddenly contracted Wind Disease, presenting with hemiplegia, slurred speech, mental confusion, and deviation of the mouth and eyes, identical to Li Zhongkuan's symptoms. I punctured the Jing-Well acupoints of the twelve channels to unblock the meridians and moxibusted Jian Jing (GB21) and Qu Chi (LI11). Considering the timing of the illness, I prescribed herbal medicine, which reduced her symptoms by half. I said, "No further medication is needed; the illness will heal itself." The following spring, I saw her walking normally at the residence of Physician Zhang Zijing. I sighed, "A person's recovery relies entirely on not taking medications indiscriminately. Thus, Li Zhongkuan's indiscriminate medication made him incurable throughout his life, while Mrs. Xiao, despite her poverty, remained tranquil and found peace. The Inner Canon states, 'Medication without basis becomes a thief of Qi.' Sages warn against this." One day, Yao Xuezhai quoted Mr. Xu: "Rich and noble people have two things inferior to the poor and lowly: they cannot correct their faults, nor can they receive medical treatment for illnesses." Alas, this describes Mr. Li.