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My cousin's wife, after a miscarriage, suffered from abdominal pain and syncope, with profuse cold sweat, numbness all over the body, palpitations, and a left pulse that was imperceptible due to extreme deficiency.

I prescribed Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) 3 qian, Chuan Xiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong) 1.5 qian, Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng) and Jing Jie Sui (Flos Schizonepetae, burned to retain its properties) each 1 qian, Yi Mu Cao (Herba Leonuri) and Ze Lan Ye (Herba Lycopi) each 0.8 qian, and Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae) 0.5 qian. These were decocted in water and administered orally. The abdominal pain subsided, but palpitations persisted. I then used Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction), doubling the amount of Huang Qi (Radix Astragali) as the sovereign herb, Dang Gui and Xiang Fu (Rhizoma Cyperi) and Yi Mu Cao as minister herbs, Chuan Xiong as assistant herb, and Pao Jiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis Preparatum) as guide herb. After two doses, she stabilized.

Chen Shimei was an orphan. In his early adulthood, he developed headache and fever following nocturnal emissions. It was mid-summer, and treatment had failed to cure him. He consulted every famous physician available, but the more he was treated, the hotter his condition became. He subsequently developed watery diarrhea and thirst, unable to sleep day or night for ten days; everyone considered his condition critical. At that time, a physician surnamed Yu used Ren Shen and Bai Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae) to stop sweating and diarrhea, but this exacerbated both symptoms. He groaned continuously day and night, could not take any food or drink, and suffered from cough, chest fullness, and restlessness for another four days. His relative, Shao Qionglin, who was friendly with me, introduced us. Upon examination, his left pulse was wiry and long, and his right pulse was large and flooding, both rapid at seven beats per breath. His tongue coating was scorched yellow, his body felt like burning fire, his spirit was confused, and his breathing was short. I said, "This is a Heat Syndrome of Cold Damage according to Zhang Zhongjing." The pathogen is in the Yangming and Shaoyang meridians; his danger is akin to a candle in the wind. Those contemporary physicians failed to differentiate the syndrome and examine the pulse. Relying solely on the history of nocturnal emission, they indiscriminately administered tonifying agents, which explains why the condition worsened with treatment. Fortunately, I arrived in time; if I had been delayed by one day, it would have been too late. I prescribed Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum) 5 qian, Chai Hu (Radix Bupleuri) and Zhi Mu (Rhizoma Anemarrhenae) each 3 qian, Zhi Gan Cao (Prepared Radix Glycyrrhizae), Bai Shao Yao (Radix Paeoniae Alba), Zhi Ke (Fructus Aurantii), Jie Geng (Radix Platycodi), Huang Qin (Radix Scutellariae), and Tian Hua Fen (Radix Trichosanthis) each 1 qian, and a pinch of Jing Mi (Semen Oryzae Sativum). This was rapidly decocted and administered. By midnight, the fever slightly subsided, and his spirit calmed somewhat, but the pulse remained very rapid. I continued with the same prescription. By dawn, he slept, the fever receded, his spirit cleared, diarrhea stopped, and his chest felt relaxed. However, he still felt thirsty. I then prescribed Chai Hu 1.5 qian, Bai Shao Yao, Mai Men Dong (Tuber Ophiopogonis), and Zhi Mu each 1 qian, Shi Gao 3 qian, Gan Cao and Wu Wei Zi (Fructus Schisandrae) each 0.5 qian, and Ren Shen 0.7 qian. After taking this, his tongue became moist, thirst ceased, residual heat disappeared, and he began to consume porridge and liquids, gradually recovering. The next day, suddenly, the front section of his toes hurt intensely as if bitten by a dog. I used a handful of Ye Liao (Polygonum aviculare) mixed with 4 liang of Ming Fan (Alumen) to decoct a solution for fumigation and washing, which slightly relieved the pain. Then, using Yi Yi Ren (Semen Coicis) 3 qian, Mu Gua (Fructus Chaenomelis) 2 qian, Huang Bo (Cortex Phellodendri), Niu Xi (Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae) each 1 qian, and Han Fang Ji (Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae) 0.3 fen, he recovered after one dose. Later, he suffered from dry coughing all night with sore throat, chest distension, and slight fever. This was due to the premature administration of Ren Shen and Bai Zhu. I used Ma Dou Ling (Fructus Aristolochiae), Bai Bu (Radix Stemonae), and Yu Mi Ke (Pericarpium Papaveris), each prepared with honey water and dosed at 1 qian, Wu Wei Zi and Gan Cao each 0.5 qian, and Bai He (Bulbus Lilii) 2 qian. He recovered after four doses.