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Liu Zhongmei, the Chief Administrator of Zhengding Circuit, was over sixty years old. He had a chronic condition of deficiency-cold in the Spleen and Stomach. In the leap eighth month of the Xin-Si year of Zhiyuan, the weather was cloudy and cold. Due to official duties and labor, he drank cold water when thirsty. At midnight, he suffered diarrhea twice. In the early morning, I was summoned to examine him. His pulse was wiry, fine, and faint. His four limbs were cold, and his palms were chilly. His lips and tongue exhibited a brownish hue. He had slight abdominal pain, shortness of breath, and no desire for food. I reflected on the *Neijing* (Classic of Internal Medicine), which states: "The color green corresponds to the Liver; the Liver belongs to Wood. The lips correspond to the Spleen; the Spleen belongs to Earth. Wood controls Earth, hence the green color appears on the lips." The tongue is the sprout of the Heart. Water, leveraging the momentum of Wood, suppresses Fire and insults the Spleen, hence the green color appears on the tongue. The *Nanjing* (Classic of Difficult Issues) states: "When seeing a disease of the Liver, one knows that the Liver will transmit it to the Spleen; therefore, first strengthen the Spleen Qi." Now, the Spleen has already been invaded by the pathogenic factor of the Liver. Master Jiegu said: "If any of the Five Zang organs is excessive, it will punish the organ it controls. One should tonify the deficient organ and drain the excessive one, heavily tonifying the deficient side and slightly draining the excessive side." Therefore, I used Huangqi Jianzhong Tang (Astragalus Decoction to Establish the Middle) with added Shaoyao (Peony Root) and Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root). Shaoyao is sour in taste and drains Liver Wood, slightly reducing the excess. Huangqi (Astragali Radix) and Gancao (Licorice Root) are sweet and warm, tonifying Spleen Earth, thereby heavily strengthening the deficient side. Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig) and Fuzi are acrid and hot, draining Cold-Water, assisting Yang, and retreating Yin. Yitang (Maltose) is sweet and warm, supplementing Spleen insufficiency. The Liver dislikes tension; in cases of urgency, sweet substances should be eaten to relieve it. Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger Rhizome) and Dazao (Jujube Fruit) are acrid, sweet, and greatly warm, generating the ascending Qi of the Spleen and Stomach, circulating Ying and Wei (Nutritive and Defensive Qi), and relieving tension. Each dose was one liang, decocted in water according to the method. After two doses, he recovered.
[Huangqi Jianzhong Tang] (Recorded in the section on Fatigue and Overwork, not listed here in full; double the amount of Shaoyao in the formula, add Fuzi based on deficiency or excess.)

Canlang (Vice Minister) Yang was seventy-two years old. He had a chronic history of wind disorders. In the spring of the Wu-Chen year of Zhiyuan, he suddenly fell ill with dizziness, blurred vision, and blindness. His mind was restless and chaotic, feeling nauseous and wanting to vomit but unable to do so, experiencing a sensation of inner vexation. He had unilateral headache, slight swelling, and redness of the head, and his cheeks were also red. His feet were cold. I was asked to treat him. I deduced that in his youth, he enjoyed drinking alcohol, leading to long-term accumulation of Damp-Heat internally. Wind-Phlegm arose internally, causing Upper Heat and Lower Cold, preventing the communication of Yang. This is a manifestation of Pi Syndrome (Glomus). The classics state: "To treat heat with cold, even skilled physicians must adhere to their standards and not deviate from them." However, diseases have distant and near locations, and treatments have light and heavy degrees. The Canlang is now elderly with weak Qi. Although the Upper Jiao is abundant, how could I dare use cold-cooling agents to damage his Spleen and Stomach? The classics state: "For heat, treat it quickly." It also says: "For ailments at the high summit, use needle therapy." I used a three-edged needle to prick approximately twenty-plus points. The blood drawn was purple-black, resembling dewdrops. Shortly after, his head and eyes felt clear and beneficial, and all symptoms subsided. Thus, I prescribed: "Blurred vision and dizziness are caused by internal deficiency-wind; only Tianma (Gastrodiae Rhizoma) can eliminate it. The sprout of Tianma is called Dingfeng Cao (Wind-Calming Grass); this grass alone is not shaken by the wind, so it serves as the Sovereign herb." Unilateral headache belongs to the Shaoyang channel; only Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) and Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) processed with wine can treat it. Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) is bitter and cold; stir-fried with wine to treat Upper Heat, serving as the Minister herb due to its specific indication. Jupi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) is bitter, acrid, and warm; Zhi Gancao (Prepared Licorice Root) is sweet and warm, tonifying the Middle and benefiting Qi, serving as the Assistant herb. Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger Rhizome) and Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) are acrid and warm, capable of treating Wind-Phlegm. Fuling (Poria) is sweet and neutral, promoting urination to guide Damp-Heat downward, serving as the Envoy herb. After several doses, the pathogenic factors were pacified, healthy Qi was restored, and he recovered.
[Tianma Banxia Tang] Treats internal Wind-Phlegm, chest and diaphragm discomfort, dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, Upper Heat and Lower Cold, and inability to sleep peacefully.
Tianma (Gastrodiae Rhizoma) and Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) (each 1 qian), Jupi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, peeled), Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) (each 7 fen), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix, wine-processed and fried), Gancao (Licorice Root), Fuling (Poria, peeled), Qianhu (Peucedani Radix) (each 5 fen), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma, 3 fen, remove roots).
These nine ingredients are coarsely crushed. Take one dose, add two cups of water and three slices of fresh ginger. Decoct until one cup remains, strain, and take warm after meals. Avoid alcohol, wheat products, and raw/cold foods.