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(Chai disease [consumptive disease] is believed to be caused by "demons"; if it is a demon illness, sacrifices should be performed; hence the character for Chai implies connection to sacrificial rites. *Ge Shi Qian Fang* [The Key Prescriptions of Ge's Family] contains methods of ritual purification and sacrifice, specifically kneeling in prayer to the Big Dipper at midnight on the Guihai day; these are all rituals for sacrificing to cure Chai disease. If there truly were a Chai demon, it would also be a manifestation of karmic retribution or ancestral grievances, so how could medicinal herbs have any effect?)

*Liang Fang* [Excellent Prescriptions] states: Bone-steaming Lao [chronic consumptive syndrome with bone-heat] arises from accumulated heat attaching to the bones (This involves pathology related to pulse diagnosis. The Kidney governs the bones; when the bones feel steaming hot, it indicates that the True Yin [essential bodily fluids and cooling energy] has been exhausted. Yang Qi loses its foundation and transmission to various meridians; this disease is attributed to karmic retribution). It is also called Chuanshi [transmitted corpse/consumption], Fulian [repeated infection], and Wugu [innocent victim], with various names. This disease is primarily caused by dysfunction of the Spleen and Stomach. Symptoms include emaciation, abdominal distension, diarrhea and dysentery, and limb weakness. If the pathogen transmits to the Kidney, it causes night sweats that do not stop, cold pain in the lower back and knees, dreams of sexual intercourse with spirits, and yellow-red urine. If it transmits to the Heart, it causes palpitations and mental restlessness, irregular emotions (anger or joy), redness of the cheeks and lips, and alternating sensations of cold and heat. If it transmits to the Lung, it causes chest fullness, shortness of breath, coughing with phlegm, and skin resembling fish scales (dry and scaly). If it transmits to the Liver, it causes dim vision, painful obstruction in the hypochondrium, and irritability leading one to close doors and become angry. Once the Five Zang Organs are diseased, treatment becomes difficult.

*Dà Quán* [Great Collection] states: Women's Xuefeng Lao [Blood-Wind Consumptive Syndrome] (Heat in the Liver generates Wind, hence the name Blood-Wind. It is called Lao because prolonged illness leads to Blood deficiency, cessation of menstruation, and persistent fever). This occurs due to pre-existing deficiency of Qi and Blood, irregular menstruation, external contraction of Wind pathogens, and internal retention of chronic Cold. This results in disharmony of Yin and Yang, and stagnation/obstruction of the meridians. Symptoms include hard and painful abdomen, soreness and pain in the four limbs, intermittent menstruation, sallow complexion, and emaciation. Additionally, within 100 days postpartum, if care is not taken, the Zang-Fu organs become deficient and palpable, and all vessels become depleted, leading to consumptive damage. If not cured for a long time, it transforms into alternating chills and fever with regular intervals, reduced appetite, emaciated skin and muscle, dizziness and blurred vision upon the expected arrival of menstruation, stiffness and tension in the chest and back, pain in the four limbs, body heat and vexation, heavy legs, and facial edema, or amenorrhea. Hence it is called Xuefeng Laoqi [Blood-Wind Consumptive Qi].

According to Xue Ji: Li Dongyuan stated that unregulated emotions, irregular daily routines, and physical overexertion all damage Qi. When Qi declines, Fire flares up; when Fire flares, it controls Spleen Earth. Since the Spleen governs the four limbs, the patient feels fatigued and hot, reluctant to speak, panting and fatigued upon movement, with surface heat and spontaneous sweating, and mental restlessness. During the illness, one should sit quietly with a calm mind to nourish Qi, use Sweet-Cold herbs to drain Heat, use Sour herbs to astringe scattered Qi, and use Sweet-Warm herbs to tonify Middle Qi. The Classics state: For Lao [exhaustion], use warming methods; for Sun [deficiency], use tonifying methods. *Jin Gui Yao Lue* [Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet] states: A normal person with a large but weak pulse suffers from Lao disease, treated with Huangqi Jianzhong Tang [Astragalus Decoction to Build the Middle]. (This refers to injury to Original Qi, constituting Spleen and Lung Qi deficiency, not Xuefeng Lao. It should be treated as a deficiency condition. Xuefeng Lao is caused by Liver Blood deficiency generating Wind and Heat leading to consumption. Feng Lao [Wind Consumptive Syndrome] and Leng Lao [Cold Consumptive Syndrome] arise from deficiency allowing pathogenic invasion, transforming into Heat-Lao over time. Qi deficiency means insufficient Qi; Heat-Lao means insufficient Blood. As for Guzheng Lao Zhai [Bone-Steaming Consumptive Disease], most cases are difficult to treat.)