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Mr. Shen Qingyue experienced tinnitus every time at the fifth watch (early morning), discomfort in the abdomen, and a sensation of body heat with spontaneous sweating upon slight exertion. The pulse at the right Guan position was slippery, large, and forceful, while the left pulse was harmonious and slow. This condition originated from sleeping exposed to wind; he had phlegm-fire in the upper Jiao (Upper Burner) normally. Severe vertigo, cold sweats profusely, immobility, and vomiting upon slight movement occurred after overexertion or hunger in the afternoon. All these were caused by phlegm-fire, for "without phlegm, there is no vertigo." Initially, Huoxiang Zhengqi San (Patchouli Powder to Rectify the Qi) was given for one dose to dispel pathogenic factors in both the exterior and interior; subsequently, Wendan Tang (Warm the Gallbladder Decoction) with Tianma (Gastrodiae Rhizoma) was administered, after which vertigo and vomiting ceased. On the next day, the right Guan pulse remained slippery, indicating that food stagnation and phlegm-fluids in the Middle Jiao (Middle Burner) had been firmly consolidated for a long time and were difficult to dislodge immediately. Therefore, Erchen Tang (Two-Cured Decoction) with Zhishi (Aurantii Fructus), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Huashi (Talcum), Tianhua Fen (Trichosanthis Radix), Tianma (Gastrodiae Rhizoma), and Zhuru (Bambusae Caulis in Taenia) was used for regulation. Later, Danggui Longhui Wan (Angelica Sinensis and Gardenia Pill) with Niudan Xing (Arisaema cum Bile) and Qingmengshi (Calcareous Schist) was prescribed. After several doses, he recovered completely.

Mrs. Pan Jingyu could not sleep during the latter half of the night. Her complexion was sallow, her muscles emaciated, and she suffered pain in both temples and the supraorbital ridge. Her stools were loose, and she felt hot and weak in the limbs upon slight exertion. Her pulse at the left Cun position was surging and slippery, a pattern persisting from spring to autumn. This was due to Spleen deficiency and excessive fire in the Liver and Heart meridians. Initially, Sijunzi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) with Jiuhuanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma fried with wine), Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), Baibian Dou (Dolichos Lablab Semen), Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma), and Huashi (Talcum) was used for regulation. At night, Anshen Wan (Spirit-Calming Pill) by Qian Zhongyang was given in small quantities, taken down with Dengxin Tang (Junci Medulla Decoction). After eight days of medication, she could sleep, and the temple pain subsided. Subsequently, Liujunzi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction) with Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Qinjiao (Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix), Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Baishao Yao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), and Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) was administered, leading to complete recovery.

Elder Zang Liu suffered from hematemesis (vomiting blood) above and hematochezia (bleeding from the anus) below, with distension in the chest, diaphragm, and back. The origin was anger injuring the Liver, compounded by injury from eating dog meat, resulting in fever and thirst. Physicians all diagnosed it as Yin deficiency with fire hyperactivity and treated it with nourishing Yin and descending fire. Consequently, the chest and back distension worsened, and bleeding increased. Upon examination, I found both Guan pulses to be surging, slippery, and forceful. I told him: "This is an excess syndrome of the Liver and Spleen meridians. Treating it as Yin deficiency is incorrect!" The *Neijing* states: "Anger injures the Liver. In severe cases, it leads to vomiting blood and lower discharge." The distension and pain in the chest and back are caused by blood stasis. The Spleen was injured by the dog meat, thus failing to control the blood. The erroneous use of herbs such as Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex), and Zimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma) has further damaged the Spleen and caused upper Jiao blood stasis to stagnate more severely. Only by regulating Qi, strengthening the Spleen, and promoting digestion can the outcome be perfect. Elder Zang said: "People say this is consumptive disease (Lao Que), hence fever and hematemesis. Blood vomiting upwards indicates injury to the Yang collaterals; blood flowing downwards indicates injury to the Yin collaterals. With both Yin and Yang injured, it should be incurable according to the rules. Why do you insist it is not Yin deficiency?" I replied: "The pulse classics state: 'A rapid but forceless pulse indicates Yin deficiency.' Your current pulse is certainly not indicative of Yin deficiency. The classics also state: 'Heat from Yin deficiency typically arises between the Shen, You, and Xu hours (3 PM - 9 PM), subsides at midnight, and recurs the next day, like the tide.' Since the afternoon is governed by Yin, it is called tidal fever of Yin deficiency. Your fever occurs regardless of day or night, and your symptoms do not match Yin deficiency. Therefore, treating it as Yin deficiency is wrong." Elder Zang was greatly delighted and said: "You are indeed a physician of exceptional insight. Please grant me a dose to save my life." I immediately prescribed Shanzha (Crataegi Fructus), Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma), and Zhishi (Aurantii Fructus) as the sovereign herbs to regulate Qi and promote digestion; Danshen (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix), Danpi (Moutan Cortex), Taoren (Persicae Semen), Huashi (Talcum), and Maogen (Imperatae Rhizoma) as the minister herbs to resolve blood stasis; Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) and Lugen (Phragmitis Rhizoma) as the assistant herbs to clear the heat from dog meat. After four doses, the chest and back felt relaxed, and hematemesis stopped. However, abdominal discomfort persisted. The previous prescription was combined with Baohe Wan (Preserve Harmony Pill) by Zhu Danxi and administered. After another four doses, half a bucket of extremely foul-smelling black stool was passed, and sleep and appetite returned to normal.