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Mr. Wu Shaoxi, a Palace Scholar (Gongjian), had alcohol accumulation (pathogenic retention due to chronic drinking) and frequently suffered from epigastric pain. Recently, he experienced pain in the right lumbar region, heel, and all joints. I stated that this was caused by damp-heat damaging the sinews, combined with phlegm-fire in the Spleen and Lungs. The treatment principle should be to clear and purify the Middle Jiao (Middle Burner), eliminate phlegm and dampness, thereby ensuring the free flow of meridians, after which the bones and sinews would naturally cease to hurt. It is crucial not to treat this as Wind-Bi (Wind obstruction syndrome) using wind-dispelling agents. The gentleman agreed entirely. He was administered Er Chen Tang (Two-Cured Decoction) supplemented with Saposhnikoviae Radix (Weilingxian), Atractylodis Rhizoma (Cangzhu), Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai), Acanthopanacis Cortex (Wujia Pi), Zhi Shi, Puerariae Radix (Gegen), and Gardeniae Fructus (Shanzhizi). After the joint pain subsided, Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan (Clear Qi and Transform Phlegm Pill) was used, supplemented with Arcae Concha (Walengzi), Cangzhu, Zhi Shi, and Curcumae Longae Rhizoma (Jianghuang). These were processed into pills using Bamboo Juice (Zhuli) and Medicated Leaven (Shenqu) paste, leading to recovery through regulation.

The Dowager Lady, mother of Hu Jingyang, Magistrate of Yixing, was seventy-two years old. She had suffered from Spleen Diarrhea (Pi Xie, chronic diarrhea due to Spleen deficiency) for fifteen years without cure. Recently, she developed hematemesis (vomiting blood), cough with copious sputum that was difficult to expectorate, tidal fever during the Shen and You hours (3 PM–7 PM), chest and diaphragm fullness preventing her from lying down, significantly reduced appetite, aversion to wind, and she sat within a curtain all day. Various physicians argued that for fever and hematemesis, the treatment should involve cold-cooling herbs; whereas for long-standing Spleen Diarrhea in an elderly person with Qi deficiency, the treatment should involve warming and tonifying herbs. The two conditions seemed contradictory, making prescription difficult. Others noted that body heat and a large pulse are contraindicated in blood disorders. Consequently, they were at a loss and resigned, even attributing the condition to bad Fengshui caused by demolishing houses on Changqiao Bridge, which allegedly harmed the main hall's fortune. As a result, the previous doctors, Mr. Ding and Mr. Song, left due to anxiety, causing public unrest. I was then invited to treat her. Her pulses in both hands were floating, surging, rapid, and slippery. I said: "A surging and rapid pulse indicates Heat; a slippery pulse indicates Phlegm; a floating pulse indicates Wind pathogen in the exterior. Due to Wind-Cold injury, there is aversion to wind. Zhang Zhongjing stated: 'If sweating is indicated but not performed, nasal bleeding (Nu) will likely occur.' The treatment should focus on clearing and resolving the exterior, and she will recover." When asked about the contradiction cited by other physicians, I replied: "This reflects a lack of understanding regarding priority and sequence. The Spleen Diarrhea has existed for a long time without causing severe harm; the new condition is vigorous and should be addressed urgently. This is known as 'treating the branch in acute situations.' After the pathogen is eliminated, tonifying the Spleen will not be too late. Moreover, the tidal fever is caused by Wind pathogen, not Yin-deficiency Fire hyperactivity; the bleeding results from failure to sweat when indicated, agitating the blood, rather than Yin-deficiency Fire. The *Neijing* states: 'Those who have lost blood should not be sweated; those who have been excessively sweated should not lose blood.' Since sweating was indicated but withheld, the pathogen agitated the blood. Once the exterior is resolved and heat recedes, the bleeding will stop naturally." The gentleman sighed and said: "Alas! Previously, my mother traveled through Qiantang, was startled by wind and waves, and subsequently developed fever, cough, hematemesis, and copious sputum. Verifying this with your words, it indeed originated from Wind pathogen. I am willing to take the medicine." I used Perillae Fructus (Zisuzi), Peucedani Radix (Qianhu), Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang), and Menthae Haplocalycis Herba (Bohe) to release the exterior as Sovereign herbs; Zhi Ke, Platycodonis Radix (Jiegeng), Pulmonariae Radix (Sangbaipi), Trichosanthis Fructus (Gualou), Asteris Radix (Ziwan), and Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus (Beimu) to transform phlegm and stop cough as Minister herbs; and Wine-fried Scutellariae Radix (Jiu Qin) and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao) as Assistant herbs. After two doses, slight sweating occurred at dawn, the fever subsided, chest fullness cleared, cough decreased slightly, and hematemesis stopped by more than half. She then began consuming congee. The next day, Mahuang was reduced, and Polyporus (Baifuling) was added. At night, Seven-Processed Phlegm-Transforming Pills (Qizhi Huatan Wan) were taken. That night, phlegm and cough halved again. From then on, she no longer feared wind and removed the curtain. In the subsequent formula, Zhi Ke was further reduced, and Coicis Semen (Yiyiren) was added, leading to recovery through regulation.