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He Xi Feng (Crane Knee Wind) refers to a condition characterized by thin calves and swollen knees. The *Classic of Acupuncture* states: "The knee is the mansion of sinews." If there is inability to flex and extend, and stooping while walking, it indicates that the sinews are exhausted. Treatment should focus on dispelling wind, regulating qi, invigorating blood, and strengthening sinews. One may use *Shiquan Dabu Tang* (Complete Great Tonifying Decoction) added with *Duzhong* (Eucommiae Cortex), *Niuxi* (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix), and *Qianghuo* (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix); or *Wuji San* (Five Accumulations Powder) added with *Songjie* (Pinus Massoniana Node). For pain due to blood deficiency and cold deficiency, use *Siwu Tang* (Four Substances Decoction) added with *Jingjie* (Schizonepetae Spica) and *Niuxi*, administered together with *Huoluo Dan* (Meridian-Unblocking Pill). Once qi and blood flow smoothly, further administer *Bawei Wan* (Eight-Ingredient Pill) added with *Lurong* (Cervi Cornu Degelatinatum) and *Niuxi* for regulation; when righteous qi is robust, the disease will naturally resolve. If complicated by wind-dampness, use *Huangu Dan* (Bone-Changing Pill). If knee swelling and pain occur after diarrhea, it is because wind pathogen has invaded the Three Yin meridians due to deficiency; use *Da Fangfeng Tang* (Great Saposhnikovia Decoction). If oral medication yields no immediate effect, apply the external *Leihuo Zhen Fa* (Thunder-Fire Needle Method). Apply once daily without damaging the muscle tissue. The formula consists of 5 qian of Qiai (Artemisia argyi from Qichun), 5 fen of Dingxiang (Caryophylli Flos), and 3 fen of Shexiang (Moschus), ground uniformly and placed in a paper tube. Place three to five layers of coarse paper over the painful area, ignite the tube, and cauterize until sinew and vessel mobility is restored; efficacy appears within a few days. Additionally, for early-stage He Xi Feng presenting as diffuse swelling without redness and limited mobility, before ulceration occurs, grind aged Mustard Seed (Sinapis alba semen) into fine powder, mix with ginger juice, scallion white juice, and honey, and apply to the affected area for one shichen (two hours). Blistering and peeling skin will lead to self-healing. These two methods are contraindicated if pus has formed.

In women, He Xi Feng arises from irregularities in pregnancy, childbirth, or menstruation, or from liver-spleen damage due to depression and anger, leading to injury by external pathogens. Initially, limb sinew spasms occur, followed by gradual knee enlargement and leg thinning, resembling a crane's knee. Cases with high, red, and painful swelling are easy to treat; those with diffuse, non-red, non-painful swelling are difficult. Ulceration with thick pus within two to three months is easy to treat; ulceration with clear pus after half a year is difficult. Misuse of purgative therapies injuring primordial qi makes treatment even more difficult. Generally, securing primordial qi is paramount. For poor appetite and fatigue, use *Liujunzi Tang* (Six Gentlemen Decoction); for afternoon fever, internal heat, and alternating chills and fever, use *Xiaoyao San* (Free and Easy Wanderer Powder); for fever and aversion to cold, use *Shiquan Dabu Tang*; for insomnia and palpitations, use *Guipi Tang* (Spleen-Restoring Decoction); for delayed menstruation, use *Buzhong Yiqi Tang* (Middle-Warmer-Boosting Qi-Supplementing Decoction); for early menstruation, use *Jiawei Xiaoyao San* (Modified Free and Easy Wanderer Powder); for weak kidney water, use *Liusheng Dihuang Wan* (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill); for kidney deficiency with wind invasion, use *Anshen Wan* (Kidney-Calming Pill) and *Shenqi Wan* (Kidney-Qi Pill) interchangeably. After ulceration, strongly tonify spleen and stomach. If pain persists despite pus discharge, or if symptoms such as chills, fever, irritability, and thirst appear, these indicate qi and blood deficiency; focus entirely on tonification to ensure ultimate recovery.

Yu Jiayan stated: He Xi Feng is essentially bi-syndrome (painful obstruction) of wind-cold-dampness at the knee. If the knee bone enlarges daily while upper and lower muscles waste away, do not treat the knee directly first; instead, nourish blood and qi to gradually restore muscle nutrition, then treat the knee. This is largely similar to treating pianku (hemiplegia/paralysis). Urgently irrigate the parts not yet wasted to restore qi-blood circulation and nutrition. Ignoring this and using only wind-dispersing herbs like Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) and Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix) rarely fails to cause complete wasting. Thus, aggressively attacking the bi-obstruction in He Xi Feng will inevitably lead to foot痿废 (flaccidity/uselessness). Ancient formulas for pediatric He Xi Feng used *Liusheng Dihuang Wan* added with Lurong and Niuxi, focusing on not treating wind directly, which is a sound principle. Children’s cases are often not caused by wind-cold-damp bi, but rather by congenital kidney qi deficiency and thinness, with yin-cold condensing in the waist and knees. Therefore, Liusheng Dihuang Wan tonifies kidney water, Lurong tonifies kidney fire, and Niuxui guides the action to the joints to strengthen the surrounding sinews. This is an excellent method of treating the root rather than the branch.