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The classic states that treating the "prosperous qi" refers to the fact that diseases have yin and yang aspects, and qi has excess and deficiency. If one treats against the prosperous qi when it is abundant, the condition will worsen. For instance, in cases of Yang excess and Yin deficiency, which is characterized by Yin deficiency with hyperactive fire, if the practitioner does not understand how to tonify Yin to harmonize with Yang, but instead exclusively uses bitter-cold herbs to clear the hyperactive fire, they fail to realize that bitter-cold substances are generally descending in nature. Descending actions lead to the depletion of Yin fluids; as Yin depletes further, fire becomes even more vigorous. Therefore, taking cold medicines may result in heat symptoms, indicating that Yin deficiency should not be treated with descending methods. Similarly, in cases of Yang deficiency and Yin abundance, which is characterized by Qi weakness generating cold, if the practitioner does not understand how to tonify Yang to dissipate Yin cold, the cold will become more severe. Thus, taking hot medicines may result in cold symptoms, indicating that Yang deficiency should not be treated with dispersing methods. Furthermore, summer is inherently hot, yet latent Yin cold resides within, so middle-jiao cold often occurs; winter is inherently cold, yet latent Yang heat resides within, so internal heat often occurs. If one ignores this and insists on using cold herbs in summer to treat hyperactive fire, or hot herbs in winter to treat hyperactive cold, then for patients with middle-cold obstructing Yang, taking cold herbs will paradoxically cause heat; for patients with middle-heat obstructing cold, taking hot herbs will paradoxically cause cold. These are all examples of "treating prosperity" leading to contrary outcomes.

Yang is constantly in excess, while Yin is constantly deficient. This principle applies to all things in heaven and earth, and to the entire human body; it does not directly equate Qi with Yang and Blood with Yin. The classics state: "Within Yang there is Yin, and within Yin there is Yang," which precisely means that "solitary Yang cannot generate, and solitary Yin cannot grow." Let us discuss this from the perspective of treatment methods and accompanying symptoms: Qi deficiency refers to Yin deficiency within Qi; the treatment method involves using Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) to tonify the Yin within Qi. Blood deficiency refers to Yin deficiency within Blood; the treatment method involves using Si Wu Tang (Four Substance Decoction) to nourish the Yin within Blood. Yang deficiency refers to the deficiency of Original Yang in the Heart Meridian, often manifesting as aversion to cold due to a lack of Fire; the treatment method involves adding Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig) to Qi-tonifying herbs, and in severe cases, using San Jian Zhong Tang (Three Builders Middle-Jiao Decoction) or Zheng Yang San (Upright Yang Powder). Yin deficiency refers to the deficiency of True Yin in the Kidney, often manifesting as high fever due to a lack of Water; the treatment method involves adding Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena Rhizome) and Huang Bai (Phellodendron Bark) to Blood-nourishing herbs, or using Da Bu Yin Wan (Great Tonification of Yin Pill) or Zi Yin Di Huang Wan (Nourish Yin Rehmannia Pill). When True Yuan is extremely depleted, one should initially avoid using Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig) and Fu Zi (Aconite Lateral Root), lest they assist Fire and scorch True Yin. In cases of Original Yang collapse, one should not administer Xin San Dan Shen agents like Xiong (Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizome) and Fu Ling (Poria), lest they open the Cou Li (pores/skin texture) and leak Qi. Ignorant practitioners believe that Qi deficiency is equivalent to Yang deficiency and should only be treated with Si Jun Zi Tang, absolutely avoiding Xiong and Fu Ling. They believe Blood deficiency is equivalent to Yin deficiency and should only be treated with Si Wu Tang, strictly avoiding Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix) and Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber). They do not realize that "tonifying Qi for Blood loss" is a method used by ancient sages. Only when True Yin is extremely depleted, leading to labor-induced steaming and coughing, must one use Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix) and Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber); otherwise, fearing Lung Heat damaging the Lung, one might find them unable to withstand the pathogen, thereby worsening the condition. One should not adhere rigidly to these distinctions.