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Qian Zhongyang stated: Diarrhea and dysentery with yellow, red, or black stool all indicate Heat syndromes. Diarrhea and dysentery with clear and white stool, containing undigested food residues, all indicate Cold syndromes.

Li Dongyuan stated: White dysentery indicates Damp-Heat injuring the Qi level (Qi Fen). Red dysentery indicates Damp-Heat injuring the Blood level (Xue Fen). Dysentery with mixed red and white stool indicates chaos between Qi and Blood.

Luo Qianfu stated: In children, diarrhea with white color is mostly due to Cold invasion. Diarrhea with pus and blood is mostly due to Heat and Food Stagnation.

Xue Ji stated: If the fingers of the hands and feet are hot and the patient prefers cold drinks, it is a Excess Heat syndrome, treatable with Xianglian Wan (Coptis and Cinnamon Pill). If the fingers of the hands and feet are cold and the patient prefers hot drinks, it is a Deficiency Cold syndrome, treatable with Liling Tang (Poria and Bupleurum Decoction). If accompanied by heavy body and limb pain, this indicates Damp-Heat injuring the Spleen, treatable with Shengyang Yizhe Tang (Raise Yang and Benefit Stomach Decoction). If urination is difficult, this indicates Yin and Yang failing to distinguish clearly, treatable with Wuling San (Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria). If Damp-Heat subsides but chronic dysentery persists, this indicates Spleen Qi sinking, treatable with Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Benefit Qi Decoction) with increased doses of Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma) and Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix). If diarrhea is accompanied by vomiting or abdominal pain, this indicates Spleen and Stomach Deficiency Cold, treatable with Yigong San (Yi Gong Powder) plus Paoyang (Prepared Ginger) and Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix). If the condition transforms into malaria, use Liujunzi Tang (Six-Gentleman Decoction) plus Shengma and Chaihu. If stagnation has cleared but diarrhea continues, this indicates Spleen Qi deficiency, treatable with Sijunzi Tang (Four-Gentleman Decoction) plus Roudoukou (Myristicae Semen). If Cold signs are present, add Wuzhuyu (Evodiae Fructus) and Paoyang; if Heat signs are present, add Chaohuang Xuanlian (Stir-fried Black Coptidis Rhizoma); taking it as pills is particularly effective.

Excess Heat leads to constipation. Deficiency Cold leads to rectal prolapse. This occurs because vomiting and diarrhea cause Spleen deficiency, leaving the Lung without nourishment, resulting in Deficiency of Large Intestine Qi and subsequent prolapse. Treatment primarily focuses on Buzhong Yiqi Tang. If the prolapsed tissue is crimson or painful, this indicates Blood deficiency with Heat, adding Mudanpi (Moutan Cortex) and Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix) to the formula; in severe cases, add Chuanlian (Coptidis Rhizoma). Externally, wash and fumigate with Huaijiao (Sophorae Tonkinensis Fruit) decoction. If the prolapsed tissue is pale, non-swollen, non-painful, and without bleeding, this belongs to Qi deficiency. Use only Buzhong Yiqi Tang to raise and lift the Qi, or add Wumei (Mume Fructus) to astringe. Generally, hot fingers of hands and feet belong to Stomach Heat; cold fingers of hands and feet belong to Stomach Cold. If children have anal itching or a preference for sweets and fatty foods, leading to Damp-Heat congestion in the Large Intestine, or wet toxins generating parasites that erode the anus, internally administer Fei'er Wan (Fatten Child Pill) and externally apply powder of Xionghuang (Realgar) and Tonglv (Chalcanthite) into the anus. If the child cannot eat due to illness, and parasites erode the anus due to lack of nourishment, this condition is called "Huhe" (Fox-Hu Syndrome), treatable with Huanglian Xijiao San (Coptis and Rhinoceros Horn Powder). If the erosion penetrates inward deeply, it is incurable.