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The etiology of Huoluan (Colic with Vomiting and Diarrhea) lies in the improper regulation of warmth and coolness by the human body, leading to a time when Yin and Yang, as well as Clear and Turbid Qi, interfere with and disrupt each other. When this disruption occurs between the stomach and intestines, it is triggered by diet. Upon onset, there is severe cramping pain in the heart and abdomen. If heart pain precedes, vomiting occurs first; if abdominal pain precedes, diarrhea occurs first; if both heart and abdomen hurt simultaneously, vomiting and diarrhea occur together. If accompanied by Wind pathogen and characterized by excess syndrome, there is fever, headache, body ache, along with vomiting and diarrhea; if characterized by deficiency syndrome, there is only vomiting, diarrhea, and stabbing pain in the heart and abdomen. Furthermore, some cases arise from drinking alcohol, eating meat, preferring raw fish slices, excessive consumption of cold and raw foods, irregular living habits, sleeping exposed on damp ground, or cooling off in the wind, causing Wind-Cold Qi to enter the Sanjiao (Triple Burner) and transmit to the Spleen and Stomach. The Spleen and Stomach, having received Cold, fail to rot and ripen food; undigested food leads to interference between Clear and Turbid Qi. Spleen and Stomach deficiency generates vomiting and diarrhea; undigested water and grain cause distension and fullness in the heart and abdomen, all constituting Huoluan.

Huoluan has three names: one is "Weifan" (Stomach Reversal), referring to deficient and rebellious Stomach Qi that reverses to vomit food and drink; two is "Huoluan," referring to the disease causing chaos suddenly (in a moment of frivolity); three is "Zoubu," referring to food becoming reversed after ingestion. Diagnosing the pulse, if the pulse comes with intermittent pauses (Dai Mai), it is Huoluan; if the pulse is Dai and faint/almost absent, it is also Huoluan. In Huoluan, a large pulse indicates treatability, while a micro-fine pulse indicates untreatability. After vomiting and purging in Huoluan, if the pulse is micro-slow, breath is weak, and the mouth does not desire speech, it is untreatable. Health preservation formulas state: consuming honey in the seventh month causes sudden onset of Huoluan. (From Volume 22)

The Qianjin Lun states: Originally, Huoluan as a disease is caused by food and drink, not related to ghosts or spirits. One may eat full meals of meat paste, consume milk and cheese, devour hundreds of marine and terrestrial delicacies, sleep on cold mats, and drink heavily of cold liquids. Various foods in the Stomach knot and do not digest; Yin and Yang Qi become congested and rebellious. Yang Qi desires to descend, Yin Qi desires to ascend; Yin and Yang are separated and discordant, transforming into vomiting and diarrhea. Symptoms include headache as if splitting, joints feeling as if dislocated, and all tendons throughout the body twisting and turning. Although this is merely among sudden minor illnesses, it is the most fearful; describing it as facing a deep abyss or treading on thin ice is insufficient to喻 (illustrate) its danger. Those who practice health preservation should understand its purport to avoid premature death. Furthermore, for any Huoluan, one must strive for warm and gentle recuperation; if cold, it causes general body tendon spasms. After this illness has settled, it is best not to eat for one day; thereafter, for three days, one should eat very little congee. After three days, one may then freely eat and rest. It is best not to mix other foods for seven days, so as to nourish Spleen Qi. (From Volume 20)