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Chen Wushan suffered from epigastric pain. Physicians treated it as fatigue and exhaustion, but to no avail. Another physician treated it as cold pathogen and used acrid-dry herbs, which exacerbated the pain. A subsequent physician administered Radix Crotonis (Badou) pills for purgation, resulting in profuse watery diarrhea without any accumulated matter. Although the pain slightly subsided, his face became puffy, he experienced chest stuffiness, and his feet swelled. Later, Physician Zhang prescribed two qian of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen) and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu) to strongly tonify the Spleen and Stomach, leading to phlegm-cough with rebellious Qi, intense heat in the upper jiao, dry throat, inability to lie on the right side, and bowel movements two to three times a day. This condition originated from the previous purgation with Badou pills; after seven days, the diarrhea persisted, and food intake significantly decreased. I was consulted. The pulse at both Cun positions was soggy and weak, Guan positions were slippery, and Chi positions were surging and large. I stated: Based on the symptoms, the root cause is stagnant fire. The indiscriminate use of decoctions and forceful purgation has aggravated the condition. If treated gently, recovery will naturally follow. I prescribed Er Chen Tang (Two-Aged Decoction) modified with Ginger-processed Coptidis Rhizoma (Jiang Lian), Immature Bitter Orange (Zhishi), Turmeric Rhizome (Jianghuang), Platycodon Root (Jiegeng), Radish Seed (Luobozhi), and Peucedani Radix (Qianhu). After one dose, the hot cough resolved, and he could lie on his right side. After two more doses, his appetite improved, and his stool formed. That evening, anger triggered a recurrence of phlegm-cough and hypochondriac pain, accompanied by irritability. I switched to a formula of Tangerine Peel (Juhong), Fritillaria Bulb (Beimu), Trichosanthes Fruit (Gualou), Poria (Fuling), Gardenia Fruit (Shanzhizi), Peucedani Radix (Qianhu), Green Tangerine Peel (Qingpi), Licorice Root (Gancao), Chenpi, and Radish Seed (Luobozhi), decocted in water. The condition stabilized.

Wu Xiaofeng, aged fifty, had no children. He habitually suffered from pain due to alcohol accumulation, with diarrhea occurring around noon, passing thick and sticky substances. His abdominal pain had persisted for many years. Treatment should focus on clearing damp-heat in the middle jiao while nourishing the Spleen. I used three liang of Talcum (Huashi), five qian each of Glycyrrhiza Root (Fangcaozhi) and Myristica Seed (Rouguo), one tael five qian of White Peony Root (Shaoyao) processed with wine, three qian of Aucklandiae Radix (Muxiang), and four qian of Red Yeast Rice (Hongqu). These were made into pills using Medicated Leaven (Shenqu) paste. Two qian were taken with warm water morning and evening. Before finishing the course, the accumulation was eliminated, and he subsequently fathered a son.

Shen Dayuan, Mr. Yuyang, suffered from stuffiness and obstruction in the middle jiao due to food retention and phlegm-fluids, resulting in a sensation of incomplete defecation and occasional bloating. Upon palpating his pulse, the Cun positions were short and weak, Guan was slippery, and both Chi positions were deep, slippery, and forceful. I stated: There is damp-phlegm in the Spleen and Stomach meridians, stagnating and transforming into heat. By clearing the Middle Palace (Spleen/Stomach), allowing clear Yang to ascend and turbid Yin to descend, Qi and Blood will naturally flourish. This is a method of tonification through non-tonification. I prescribed Er Chen Tang (Two-Aged Decoction) modified with Immature Bitter Orange (Zhishi), Wine-processed Coptidis Rhizoma (Jiu Lian), Wine-processed Scutellaria Root (Jiu Qin), Talcum (Huashi), Turmeric Rhizome (Jianghuang), Aucklandiae Radix (Muxiang), Kudzu Root (Gegen), and Hawthorn Fruit (Shanzha). He recovered after two doses.