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Zhang Yuzhai presented with aversion to cold, profuse phlegm, hiccups, and a sensation of fullness/stuffiness in the chest and diaphragm. Both cun (inch) pulses were short and weak, the guan (bar) pulse was surging and large, and the chi (foot) pulse was choppy. This indicates deficiency of qi in the upper jiao (upper burner), presence of phlegm in the middle jiao (middle burner), and insufficiency of the lower yuan (lower origin/kidney and mingmen). The treatment principle should be to clear the middle jiao and tonify the lower jiao. Otherwise, there will be a risk of stroke later. Er Chen Tang (Two-Cured Decoction) was prescribed with added Bai Kou Ren (Amomi Fructus Rotundus), Xiang Fu (Cyperi Rhizoma), and Huo Xiang (Agastachis Herba) to open the stomach qi; plus Bai Jie Zi (Sinapis Semen), Luo Bo Zi (Brassicae Semens), and Xing Ren (Armeniaceae Semen) to descend phlegm and moisten the bowels. After two doses, all symptoms disappeared. Then, the formula for Ba Wei Shen Qi Wan (Eight-Ingredient Kidney Qi Pill) was recorded for him to use for self-regulation.

Madam Yan Yintai, wife of Grand Secretary Yan, was nearly sixty years old and had been a widow for over ten years, maintaining a vegetarian diet due to her widowhood. Her son-in-law, Zhang Huaichi, who was generous, said to me: "My mother-in-law recently has nasal congestion, loose stools, and discomfort in the chest and diaphragm. A physician treated her with purgatives, which worsened her condition." I replied: "Wang Haizang stated that in miscellaneous diseases involving wine accumulation, premature use of purgatives will inevitably lead to pi man (stuffiness and fullness); this must be handled with caution." Consequently, I examined her pulse. Both cun pulses were deep and weak, the guan pulse was wiry and large, and both chi pulses were also weak. I said: "This is weakness of yang qi and severe deficiency of spleen qi. It should not have been treated with purgatives, but rather was mistakenly purged, causing nasal congestion and chest stuffiness. Cang Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Chuan Xiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Gui Zhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus), Bai Zhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix), Fang Feng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), and Jie Geng (Platycodonis Radix) were used to disperse wind and raise yang qi; Bai Kou Ren (Amomi Fructus Rotundus) and Luo Bo Zi (Brassicae Semens) were used to broaden the chest and benefit the diaphragm; Mai Ya (Hordei Fructus Germinatus) was used to assist spleen qi. After taking the medicine, the nasal congestion resolved, but the chest remained stuffy. Dong Yuan's Mu Xiang Hua Zhi Tang (Costus Regulating Stagnation Decoction) was then prescribed with added Wu Zhu Yu (Evodiae Fructus) and Gan Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma), after which she stabilized. I advised her: 'Although the illness is gradually improving, your yang qi is deficient and spleen qi is weak. You should not continue a long-term vegetarian diet, lest the central qi fail to fill up, preventing the occurrence of zhong man (central fullness). Remember this well, remember this well!'"

Wang Guquan presented with loose stools, heat in the upper body, ear blockage/fullness, dizziness and vertigo, chest and diaphragm discomfort, thirst, profuse phlegm, cough, soggy and weak pulses throughout all six positions, and profuse sweating. This indicates severe deficiency of righteous qi, possibly caused by excessive use of attacking/draining methods. Tonification and nourishment should be prioritized. Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), and Bai Shao Yao (Paeoniae Radix Alba, stir-fried with wine) each 4 qian; Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix), Shi Chang Pu (Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma), and Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) each 1 qian; Zhi Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle) 5 fen; Ze Xie (Alismatis Rhizoma) and Fu Ling (Poria) each 1 qian. After two doses, mental clarity returned, the diaphragm felt open, and spleen function improved, except that sweating did not cease and dizziness persisted. Subsequently, Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Huang Qi (Astragali Radix), and wine-fried Bai Shao Yao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) each 2 qian; Zhi Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle) 5 fen; Da Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata) 5 fen; Gui Zhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus) 3 fen; and Ze Xie (Alismatis Rhizoma) 1 qian were administered, resulting in recovery.