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Within the human body, there are five types of fire. They are Heart Fire, Yangming Dryness Fire, Sanjiao Vigorous Fire, Thunder Fire, and Dragon Fire. Heart Fire is suitable for clearing; Dryness Fire is suitable for moistening; Vigorous Fire should be purged with cold-natured herbs; Thunder Fire, when mild, should be pacified with astringents, and when severe, harmonized with warm methods; Dragon Fire should follow its nature and be guided using hot-natured substances (to guide fire back to its source). In ancient times, when treating fire syndromes, the use of two liang each of Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum) and Chuanlian (Coptidis Rhizoma) was employed only when circumstances necessitated it. Generally, among all pathogens in the human body, fire is the most toxic. The toxicity of fire is most severe in the Ministerial Fire of the Mingmen (Gate of Life). When Ministerial Fire resides below, it is called Shaohuo (Lesser Fire), which generates Qi; if it rebels and moves upward, it becomes Zhuanghuo (Vigorous Fire), which consumes Qi. However, the arising of Mingmen Fire occurs for two reasons: first, because the Sovereign Fire (Heart Fire) fails to govern, causing Ministerial Fire to rebel horizontally; second, due to the connection of the Yangming channel, transforming Dry Metal into fierce fire, which combines with Liver Wood to burn, resulting in fire everywhere throughout the upper, lower, and middle Jiao. If one uses only a small amount of cold herbs, it is like pouring a cup of water into a red-hot pot; not only is it useless, but it will also break the pot immediately. How can it be saved unless a large amount is used? Using Chuanlian treats the combination of Sovereign and Ministerial Fire rebelling horizontally; using Shigao treats the combination of Dry Metal and Liver Wood. Fire in the head indicates that Clear Yang fails to ascend, with fire flaming upward. For conditions located high, treatment should involve dispersing and venting. Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction) added with 3 fen of Jingjie (Schizonepetae Herba) and 5 fen of Manjingzi (Vitex Fruit) is indicated.

Case Records
One patient had no headache, no fever, and no exterior syndrome, but suffered from stifling oppression due to constrained fire, with bowel movements alternating between constipation and dysentery. The prescription consisted of 1 qian of Chuanlian to purge fire, 1 qian of Zhishi (Immature Bitter Orange) to reduce stagnant Qi at the highest level, and 1 qian of Baizhu (Atractodis Rhizoma) to support the Stomach. After decocting and taking these three ingredients, the patient recovered.

A woman in June fell into a coma, sleeping without speaking, with a hot body but immobility. Her pulses in both hands were vigorous at the superficial position and choppy at the deep position. A choppy pulse indicates excess Yang; vigor indicates fire. This is a fire syndrome. It was treated with Yi Yuan San (Benefit Origin Powder) mixed with cold water.

Another patient became ill in July. At Chen hour (7-9 AM), he fainted; in the afternoon, he did not speak, slept comatose for a day without waking, and did not respond to calls. His body was cool, he refused food, felt neither cold nor hot. Everyone diagnosed it as a Yin syndrome. It was proposed to use Fuzi Lizhong Tang (Aconite Regulate the Middle Decoction) and Sini Tang (Reverse the Cold Decoction). Upon palpation, his pulse was deep, small, sluggish, and hidden, indicating internal fire pathogen. Urine output had ceased for one or two days. This is a fire syndrome. The family did not comply. He remained unconscious until nightfall. I said, "This is true fire." His wife asked, "We had intercourse the previous day; how can this be fire?" I replied, "Nighttime intercourse causes internal deficiency. Combined with labor and intense heat, dry heavenly heat enters through the deficiency. Yang Qi is about to perish. Saving it with water is feasible." One bucket of cold water was taken. After drinking five bowls, the patient said he was thirsty. After seven bowls, he sweated profusely like rain. He then said he was hungry and wanted a bowl of porridge. Buzhong Yiqi Tang was used with Paojiang (Prepared Ginger) and Zexie (Alisma Rhizome) to warm the middle... [Text cuts off here].

A woman in May had a cool body but felt internal heat internally. She had watery diarrhea for two months, several times a day, with absolutely no urine output, and her stool was entirely liquid. She felt extreme heat above and freezing cold below. Her waist, legs, and feet were cold, and abdominal pain felt like ice. Sometimes she felt hot temporarily and disliked clothing; sometimes she feared cold with heat all over her body. Until dawn, her face and eyes were swollen and red, unresponsive to medication. Her six pulses (three on each hand) were always large and vigorous. This is concealed fire. Since fire nature flares upward, this results in upper heat and lower cold. Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) was used with Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix), Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma), Gancao (Licorice Root), Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus), Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex), and Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix). After two doses, urination resumed and diarrhea stopped. However, toothache recurred and persisted for three days. Huangqi Jianzhong Tang (Astragalus Establish the Middle Decoction) with Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) was administered, curing it in one dose.

A woman in her forties, previously obese, gradually lost weight after illness. She felt internal heat while her exterior felt icy cold. She had spontaneous sweating, and her hands became numb and insensible upon contact with cold water. Tendons in her head and face spasmed and hurt; bone joints ached so much that her hands could not approach them. Pus and blood exuded from her gums. Her tongue was stiff and rigid. Her right hand could not move; her arms and elbows were stiff and painful. She felt hunger but had no appetite. Her urine was viscous like syrup. She belched with an acidic taste, was restless sitting or lying down, feared wind, and had difficulty defecating. The floating pulse was fine and choppy; the moderate pulse was slow and weak; the left hand pulse was weaker than the right. The illness had lasted five or six years with diverse symptoms. It arose because Yin Essence failed to nourish and Yang Essence failed to descend, resulting in upper excess and lower deficiency, specifically Yin deficiency within Yang. Treatment should tonify Yin within Yang. Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia) was prescribed.

One patient often experienced jumping sensations in his chest and ringing in the left side of his head and ears. His Lung pulse was tight and rapid. This indicates Lung deficiency failing to generate Kidney Water, leading to reckless movement of Wood and Fire, and Qi and Blood failing to return to their origin. When Blood does not return to its origin, Heart Fire moves recklessly, causing heart palpitations. When Qi does not return to its origin, Liver Wood moves, causing tinnitus. The left and right sides are the pathways of Yin and Yang. On the left, Wood and Fire belong to Yang. Guipi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction) should be used to nourish Heart Blood and gather Fire to move downward. When Heart Blood is sufficient, Heart Fire will not insult Lung Metal. Metal can then calm Wood, and Liver Qi will naturally level out.

A woman had vigorous, slippery, and forceful pulses on the left three positions, and short, choppy pulses on the right three positions. She vomited and had chest fullness. Her urination was painful accompanied by discharge. Her menstruation arrived but was obstructed and not discharged properly, or failed to arrive. This indicates Liver Wood excess, with Fire operating in the Earth position, causing menstruation and discharge to occur simultaneously. Bai Shao (White Peony Root) 2 liang was used to drain Wood from Earth; Gancao (Licorice Root) 1 liang to soothe the Liver; Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma) 3 qian and Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix) 1 qian to regulate Qi, stop pain, and arrest vomiting; Yimucao (Leonurus Herba) and Yanhusuo (Corydalis Rhizoma) 1 liang each to move Blood stasis; and Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma) paste pills to tonify the Spleen. Liver Qi was excessive, while Spleen Qi was deficient, so Liver Qi moved and oppressed the Spleen. Menstruation before flow belongs to Shaoyin; during flow to Jueyin; after flow to Taiyin. Simultaneous menstruation and discharge indicate Liver Qi movement. Liver movement oppresses Earth. Oppression prevents the transformation of Dampness, leading to diarrhea; it also disrupts Qi and Blood harmony, leading to pain. Therefore, calming the Liver... [Text cuts off here].

A woman suddenly died in June. Her whole body was cold and sweatless. All six pulses were hidden. She did not wake for three days, but her vital Qi had not yet completely severed. Others used Sini Tang and Lizhong Tang without effect. Four days later, upon examination, there were still no detectable pulses. Usually, a person dies immediately if pulses are absent for one or two days. The fact that she survived three days indicates hidden pulses, where extreme heat mimics cold. A green cloth soaked in cold water was placed on her body for about an hour. Her body became warm. Internally, she drank five or six bowls of cold water. She complained of thirst and drank another bowl. Profuse sweating ensued. Afterward, Buzhong Yiqi Tang with Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) was administered for ten doses, resulting in recovery.