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Another person said, "Regarding the illness of that Governor's wife, I have heard a little about it. Her ladyship sought medical treatment in a distant place and has been engaged in medication for a long time. Inquiring about her condition, she described chest and hypochondriac pain, rising Qi, alternating chills and fever, mental fatigue, and weak physical strength. Zhu Danxi stated: 'The ascending Qi mostly originates from the Liver.' Moreover, the two hypochondria belong to the Liver, and the Gallbladder is attached within the liver lobes, serving as the pivot of opening and closing. My understanding is that when Wood Qi is depressed, pain occurs; when hyperactive to the extreme, Qi ascends. When the Liver is diseased, the Gallbladder is also diseased; if the pivot becomes unresponsive and opening and closing become abnormal, it manifests as cold or heat. This is what is commonly referred to as 'Liver Qi' disorder. After the disease recedes but mental and physical strength remain weak, it is because the Yuan Qi (Original Qi) has been damaged by the pathogen. At this time, worrying about the Yuan Qi, I fear that tonifying Qi will cause further stagnation, thereby triggering Liver pathogens. Attempting to drain Liver pathogens, I fear that Qi-breaking herbs will further weaken the righteous Qi, damaging the root even more. You casually prescribed Ju Hong (Citrus reticulata Pericarpium), Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), Tian Nan Xing (Arisaematis Rhizoma), Zhi Shi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), Xing Ren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum), Yu Jin (Curcumae Radix), Huo Xiang (Agastaches Herba), and Hou Po (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex). That any efficacy was achieved is merely fortunate."

I replied, "What you say has merit, but is essentially incorrect. What you discussed is Wood depression and Qi stagnation. What I diagnosed is Phlegm-fluid retention accumulating in the Lungs and Stomach. Upon initial diagnosis, seeing the Wiry pulse (Xian Mai), I also suspected it was caused by Wood depression, but the medication was ineffective. Subsequently, observing the Wiry pulse, which became more distinct upon deep pressure (Chen Hou), I recalled that a Deep-Wiry pulse indicates fluid retention. Thus, I realized this case was actually due to fluid retention obstructing the boundary between the Lungs and Stomach, preventing Qi from flowing freely, hence the chest and hypochondriac pain. Lung Qi rotates rightward and descends; fluid retention obstructs this descending function, causing Qi to ascend. Fluid retention disrupts the circulation of Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) Qi, leading to alternating chills and fever. The weakness of mental and physical strength is caused by the disease itself; once the disease is eliminated, mental and physical strength will recover spontaneously without tonification. Therefore, using formulas such as Dao Tan Tang (Phlegm-Draining Decoction), Wen Dan Tang (Warming the Gallbladder Decoction), Si Qi Tang (Four-Seven Decoction), Er Chen Tang (Two-Aged Decoction), Yue Ju Wan (Relieving Depression Pill), Da He Zhong Yin (Great Middle-Harmonizing Drink), and Zheng Qi San (Righteous Qi Powder), specifically to ventilate and regulate Phlegm-Qi. Once Phlegm-Qi is resolved, Chest Yang becomes unobstructed, so pain ceases. Once Phlegm is removed, Lung Qi descends, so panting calms. With no obstruction to Ying and Wei Qi, chills and fever resolve. Energy recovering without tonification is like a person carrying a heavy load, whose limbs feel heavy; once the burden is lifted, are the limbs not light and comfortable? Hence, previously lying prostrate, now appearing like a healthy person. Although after a month or dozens of days, there must be fatigue and a desire to lie down, with skin feeling chilly yet not truly cold, I know this is because diet has again generated damp-phlegm internally, confining Spleen Yang, blocking Yang Qi flow and distribution. Thus, treating according to the previous method yields immediate results.

Another asked, "Then why did you not use Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata) and Rou Gui (Cinnamomi Cortex) alone to unblock Yang?"

I answered, "If it were Yang deficiency failing to distribute, one should use Fu Zi, Rou Gui, and Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) to assist Yang. In this case, however, Yang Qi is not damaged but merely inhibited by damp-phlegm, unable to distribute. It is not comparable to true Yang deficiency. Therefore, resolving phlegm, harmonizing the middle, and regulating Qi allows Yang Qi to flow freely, resulting in comfort."

Someone said, "As the proverb goes: 'Easy to find a thousand prescriptions, hard to find one effective cure.' Regarding your treatment of this illness, I privately disagree, yet over the years, your prescriptions have consistently proven effective, which is certainly not without reason. How can physicians be slighted?"