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Ye Runzhai was nearly forty years old. He suffered from epigastric and chest discomfort (Za Cao, a sensation of heat, hunger, and pain in the epigastrium), had a strong craving for meat, especially chicken. He could not go a day without it; if he missed it, his body would swell, he would feel weak and fatigued, and his spirit would be unsettled and at a loss. He had to urgently eat meat to stop this state. Upon seeing meat, he would devour it greedily, but once it entered his stomach, his abdomen would ache severely. When the pain reached its peak, he would vomit sour fluid and thick saliva, after which the pain would subside. Once slightly relieved, he would again crave meat. His painful expression and shrill cries were indescribable, making onlookers feel sorrowful. Yet Ye Runzhai accepted this willingly. The townspeople all believed he was possessed by evil spirits. Some advised him, saying, "The ancients said: Is it better to endure pain because you love meat, or to abstain from meat to avoid torment?" Long-term illness has weakened the Spleen (Pi, the organ responsible for transformation and transportation); meat is difficult to digest, thus causing pain. This is known even to women and children; why are you, a man, not cautious? Ye Runzhai replied, "Do I not know that abstaining from meat would be better? Although pain is bitter, it can be endured. However, the Za Cao sensation makes the whole body itch and tingle, leaving me helpless and unable to grasp anything with my hands and feet. I cannot exist peacefully for even an instant; it feels close to death and is unbearable. I urgently need a little meat to find some relief. Do I indulge my mouth just to seek pain? It is out of necessity." Consequently, his father invited me to examine him. The six pulses (Cun, Guan, Chi on both wrists) varied in size. Observing his complexion, his lips were red and his face yellow. I said, "Based on the complexion and pulses, this is a Parasitic Disease (Chong Zheng), not possession. I can save him." First, I gave him one dose of Xionghuang Wan (Realgar Pill). There was no improvement; so I changed the prescription to Nifen (Calomel) 5 fen, Shijunzi powder (Seed of Quisqualis Indica) 1 qian, mixed into a cake beaten with an egg yolk, administered orally while fasting at Wu Geng (around 5-7 AM). At Chen Shi (7-9 AM), he passed ten long Ascaris lumbricoides (Chang Tiao), two of which were large, measuring over one chi in length, red from head to tail. In the afternoon, he passed more than a hundred small worms. From then on, he no longer craved meat, and the Za Cao symptoms improved significantly.

Madam Zheng, wife of Mr. Cheng Xiangru, was over seven months pregnant. She contracted Dysentery (Li Ji) due to consuming cold food. Her stools consisted entirely of white pus. She experienced abdominal pain and Tenesmus (Hou Zhong, a feeling of incomplete evacuation), and her urination was difficult. The Guan pulses on both wrists were Slippery (Hua) and Rapid (Shuo). I prescribed Ai Ye (Mugwort Leaf), Sha Ren (Amomum Fruit), Bai Shao Yao (White Peony Root), Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Rhizome), Hou Po (Magnolia Bark), Ze Xie (Alisma Rhizome), Hua Shi (Talcum), and Gan Cao (Licorice Root). The dysentery remained unchanged, urination was still obstructed, and at night the frequency of dysentery increased. I changed the prescription to Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis Root) and Bai Shao Yao (White Peony Root) each 2 qian, Yi Mu Cao (Motherwort Herb), Jiu Lian Lian (Coptis Rhizome processed with wine), and Jiu Huang Qin (Scutellaria Root processed with wine) each 1 qian, Hua Shi (Talcum) 3 qian, Zhi Qiao (Bitter Orange Peel) 7 fen, Mu Xiang (Aucklandia Root) and Gan Cao (Licorice Root) each 3 fen, and Ai Ye (Mugwort Leaf) 2 fen. After two doses, she stabilized.