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The area around the Huantiao acupoint (located in the hip, belonging to the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian) of my clan sister-in-law Cheng exhibited swelling and pain, accompanied by aversion to cold and fever. Her body could not move or stop, sleep and diet were abandoned, her head felt heavy with nausea, the upper body was hot while the lower body was cold, and these symptoms subsided only at dawn. Her mouth was dry, and a thick white coating covered her tongue. Chaihu, Fangfeng, and Guizhi were used to resolve the aversion to cold and fever; Cangzhu, Huangbai, Wujia Pi, Taoren, and Chi Shaoyao were employed to treat the pain; Mutong promoted diuresis to clear damp-heat and guided fire downward; Gancao harmonized the various herbs, allowing each to perform its function. After one dose, the pain decreased by more than half; after further administration, the aversion to cold and fever disappeared; after three doses, the pain was completely eliminated. The prescription was changed to Xiaochaihu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) with added Mudanpi, Zhike, and Jiegeng. After two doses, the tongue coating naturally fell off.

Mr. Hengyu, a Shangshe, had previously suffered from Yangmei Chuang (a manifestation of syphilis). Subsequently, he accidentally fell, causing the Huantiao joint to dislocate and fail to return to its socket, resulting in severe pain and unequal length of the two legs. I reasoned that the failure of the joint to return to position was due to blood stasis flowing into the socket and filling it, preventing the bone from re-entering. Therefore, eliminating the blood stasis is essential. The treatment should primarily consist of formulas that promote Qi circulation and invigorate blood, assisted by agents that guide downward and unblock obstructions, so that the condition might be resolved. Four taels of cleaned and sieved bricks and tiles from an old cellar, 1.5 taels each of Shengdi, Dunnium Acanthopanacis Radix (Dun Niuxi), Saxifragae Stoloniferae Rhizoma et Radix (Gusuibu), Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Danshen), and Red Peony Root (Chi Shaoyao), 3 taels of Pyritum (Ziran Tong), 1 tael each of Pollen Typhae (Puhuang), Plantaginis Seed (Cheqianzi), and Calamus Wood (Sumu), 2 taels of Deer Antler (Lujiao), and 5 qian of Mirabilite (Xuanmingfen) were each ground into powder. One jin of Cogon Grass Root (Maogen) and 4 taels of Safflower (Honghua) were decocted into a paste, which was mixed with the sun-dried powders above. Finally, refined honey was used to form pills the size of Sophora seeds. Each time, on an empty stomach and before meals, 80–90 pills were taken with wine. Before taking this medicine, the affected leg was more than 2 cun longer than the healthy one; after taking these pills, the difference was reduced to half a cun. If continued for a long term, complete recovery would certainly be achieved. Alas, he feared the medication and stopped midway, thus failing at the last step—how lamentable!

My clan niece’s granddaughter developed Slow Convulsion (Chronic Pediatric Epilepsy/Convulsion) at two years of age. Her eyes were open, hands clenched, eyeballs immobile, and toes twitching slightly. Initially, heat radiated from the fontanelle (the soft spot on an infant's head) throughout the body like fire, with phlegm rattling in the throat and frothy phlegm in the mouth. She had abdominal distension, flatulence, but normal bowel movements. Niu Huang Wan and Suhexiang Wan were administered first without effect. Other medicines for treating convulsions and phlegm were also refused; they flowed out with the phlegm. Tongguan San blown into the nose did not induce sneezing. From Shen hour to Xu hour, she remained unconscious, with a complexion that was typically cyanotic and pale. Her constitution was very weak. The incident was caused by a nanny dropping her accidentally, leading to fright and fever. This pathogenic factor of fright entered through deficiency. According to medical principles, there was no hope for survival. However, unable to sit idly by, I tentatively prescribed 3 qian of Renshen (Ginseng), stir-fried with fresh ginger juice, decocted in water, and frequently spoon-fed. For the first few spoons, she refused them. Upon offering five or six more, she occasionally swallowed one or two spoons, after which the phlegm sound eased slightly. Thus, I continued frequent feeding. Of ten spoons, two or three entered the stomach. Phlegm movement ceased, eye movement resumed, and signs of life returned. Then, Liujunzi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction) with Tianma, Shichangpu, Jiangcan, Zexie, and Bohe was decocted and administered until Ji Ming hour (dawn). She then cried once or twice and began to suckle milk. The next day, she coughed, lost her voice, and had scanty urination. Chen Sha (Cinnabar) and Yiyuan San (One Gram Powder), 1 qian each, were mixed with Dengxin Cao (Juncus Effusus) decoction and administered. The fever subsided, and her voice returned. Only the cough persisted. The prescription was changed to Sijunzi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) with Chenpi, Wuweizi, Maidong, Sangbaipi, Jiegeng, Xingren, and Bohe. After one dose, she recovered completely.