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Madam, wife of Mr. Han Yuezhai (Official Title: Qianxian), who always suffered from severe pain in the umbilical and abdominal regions late at night, requiring hot salt compresses for two shi (approx. four hours) to relieve it. The next day, she invariably experienced headache, tightness in both Taiyang acupoints (lateral temples), and generalized body ache. This is a syndrome of excess above and deficiency below. Initially, Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Fencao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Preparata), Jiu Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma prepared with wine), Bohe (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba), Tianma (Gastrodiae Rhizoma), Juhong (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Fuling (Poria), Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma Preparatum), and Manjingzi (Vittariae Spora) were decocted in water and administered. After several doses, the headache completely ceased, leaving only cough and slight chest pain. The Cun positions of both wrists presented floating and slippery pulses, while the Chi positions were weak. Subsequently, Lu Jiao Shuang (Cornu Cervi Degelatinatum), Lu Jiao Jiao (Colla Cornus Cervi), Buguzhi (Psoraleae Fructus), Yuanzhi (Polygalae Radix), Gouqizi (Lycii Fructus), Jinlingzi (Meliae Fructus), and Xiangfuzi (Cyperi Rhizoma) were processed with refined honey into pills, sized like wutong seeds. Seventy pills were taken on an empty stomach and before afternoon meals, washed down with light salt water, resulting in recovery.

The young son of Mr. Ding Zhenlan (Xiaolian degree holder), aged only two, suffered from Nuomu (malaria-induced splenomegaly) with qi stagnation upward, cough, fever starting in the afternoon and subsiding around Zi-Chou hours (11 PM–3 AM), incessant crying, oral thrush (white patches resembling goose mouth), significant depletion of spirit and qi, and unresolved sores and scabies all over the body following smallpox/variolous eruption. Various treatments proved ineffective. Some employed moxibustion, others acupuncture, and some applied plaster; all methods failed. I stated: "Infants nursing at the breast have thin and fragile zang-fu organs; one must not indiscriminately attack or tonify. Ginseng may exacerbate his cough, and moxibustion may startle his spirit; how can these yield results?" I prescribed Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) and Biejia (Trionycis Carapax et Plastrum), each 1.5 qian; Qinghao (Artemisiae Annuae Herba), Maiya (Hordei Fructus Germinatus), and Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), each 0.8 qian; one Wumei (Mume Fructus); Beimu (Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus) and Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), each 0.6 qian; and Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) 0.3 qian. Eight doses resulted in complete recovery.

The wife of the son of Sun Kangyu, Magistrate of Wujin, was the daughter of Mr. Zang Weiyu. At sixteen years old, after delivering a daughter following two days of difficult labor, she accidentally contracted wind-pathogen and subsequently consumed wheat cake. The physicians at the time failed to examine carefully and administered Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) and Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma). Immediately thereafter, she developed high fever, delirium, thirst, profuse sweating as if washed, panting, and diarrhea consisting of yellow watery stool without fecal matter, occurring countless times within a day and night. Urine output was scant, food intake ceased, and the condition became critical. It was early June. The gynecological physician, seeing persistent heat, administered cold-natured herbs such as Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix), Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), and Huang Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma), causing symptoms to worsen. Then, large doses of Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Rou Dou Kou (Myristicae Semen), and Gan Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Preparatum) were used to stop diarrhea. In one day, 2 liang 4 qian of Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) was used, yet diarrhea increased in frequency, heat intensified, panting and sweating worsened, and delirium persisted. Physicians, hands tied by convention, declined further treatment, citing: "The classics state that sweat like oil and unceasing panting indicate a fatal case." Furthermore, sweat with unremitting heat, diarrhea with unremitting heat, delirium with coma, and a洪大 (surging-large) pulse postpartum are all contraindications with no hope of survival. Only Fuzi Lizhong Tang (Aconite Decoction to Regulate the Middle) might offer a slim chance. Fortunately, I was invited by Governor Gu Xiaoxi to treat him, and upon examining her, I found chaotic and disordered pulses throughout, beating seven to eight times per respiration, with the Right Guan position being particularly hard. After much deliberation, I reasoned that sweating in summer is common, but wind-pathogen, food stagnation from wheat cake, and blood stasis had not resolved; the tonification was too abrupt. The classics state: "Blood accumulation manifests as hallucinations, seeing ghosts." Treatment should focus on resolving blood stasis and food stagnation, clearing summerheat, and there is still hope for life; do not abandon her easily. Mr. Zang Yuyu, elder brother of Weiyu, a physician of refined taste, strongly agreed with my assessment and urged me to prescribe. I said: "Prescriptions follow symptoms and cannot be bound by routine; unusual symptoms require unusual medicines." Thus, Yi Yuan San (Benefit Primordial Powder) 6 qian was used as the Sovereign herb to resolve summerheat and clear heat. Zhang Zhongjing stated: "For those with thirst and difficulty urinating, one should first promote urination." Especially in watery diarrhea, this is essential as the Sovereign. Tang Qiu Zi (Sugar Ball Fruit) 3 qian served as the Minister; Hong Qu (Monascus Ruber) and Zelan Ye (Lycopus Lucidus Herba), each 1.5 qian, served as Assistant to resolve blood stasis and calm the spirit; Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma) 1.5 qian served as Assistant-Assistant; Juhong (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Banxia Qu (Pinelliae Fermented Rhizoma), and Fuling (Poria) served as Envoy to regulate spleen qi; Jing Sanleng (Sparganii Rhizoma) 0.5 qian served as Vanguard to break the stagnation caused by previous Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) and Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma). Decocted in water and drunk. Upon ingestion, she slept slightly, and delirium stopped. Two consecutive doses reduced bowel movements by half that night. The next day, the same prescription reduced heat significantly, with only two bowel movements containing yellow stool. Lochia flowed slightly, expelling a few dark blood clots. On the third day, pulses became ordered, spirit converged, and she drank a bowl of porridge, showing signs of vitality. Jing Sanleng (Sparganii Rhizoma) and Hong Qu (Monascus Ruber) were removed from the previous formula, and Bai Biandou (Dolichoris Lablab Semen Album) added. That night, one bowel movement occurred, passing black stool. Thereafter, heat completely subsided, and stools solidified. Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) combined with Yi Yuan San (Benefit Primordial Powder), Qinghao (Artemisiae Annuae Herba), Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma), Bai Biandou (Dolichoris Lablab Semen Album), Jiu Chao Baishao Yao (Paeoniae Radix Alba prepared with wine), and Pao Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Preparatum) was used for regulation until stability was achieved.