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Analyzing the causes of Sun Xie (diarrhea with undigested food), they are primarily Wind Evil, excessive Wood energy, Cold Qi, Spleen Deficiency, and latent pathogenic factors. The *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) states: "If injured by Wind in Spring, Sun Xie will arise in Summer." It also states: "Long-standing Wind leads to Sun Xie." Based on these statements, it is evident that the disease is caused by Wind Evil. It further states: "When Jueyin [Liver/Gallbladder] excess occurs, there is borborygmus and Sun Xie." And: "When the annual Wood qi is excessive, the people suffer from Sun Xie." Based on these, it is clear that the disease is caused by excessive Wood energy. It also states: "Cold in the Stomach causes abdominal distension; Cold in the Intestines causes Sun Xie." Based on this, it is clear that the disease is caused by Cold Qi. It also states: "In diseases of the Spleen, deficiency manifests as abdominal fullness, borborygmus, Sun Xie, and indigestion." Based on this, it is clear that the disease is caused by Spleen Deficiency. It also states: "When deficient pathogens enter the human body and remain without departing, transmitting and lodging in the intestines and stomach, an excess of Cold causes borborygmus, Sun Xie, and indigestion; an excess of Heat causes the discharge of loose, mushy stools." Based on this, it is clear that the disease is caused by latent pathogenic factors. In summary, this is fundamentally due to injury by Wind in Spring. Wind Qi connects with the Liver; the evil of Liver Wood cannot flow smoothly and freely, becoming depressed and latent within Spleen Earth. When the Middle Jiao [Spleen/Stomach] is deficient and cold, the Wind Wood becomes even more excessive, while the Spleen Earth fails to govern ascending [clear yang], instead sinking downward to form diarrhea. Thus, the classics also state: "When Clear Yang is located below, Sun Xie arises." Therefore, when the ascending and generating command of Spring fails to ascend, entering Summer results in this syndrome. The pulse presents as discordant between the left and right Guan positions, or wiry and moderate, accompanied by borborygmus and abdominal pain, with undigested food in the stool. This should be treated with methods to fortify the Middle and drain Wood; if the Chi position pulse is deep and slow, and powerless upon pressure, this belongs to Lower Jiao Deficiency-Cold. Cold fails to transform grain, causing this disease, which should be treated with methods to tonify Fire to generate Earth; if the pulse is fine, small, and slow, with cold hands and feet, it is difficult to treat, but one may tentatively use methods to warm and fortify the low-lying [deficient] Spleen; if the disease persists for a long time and the anal sphincter fails to close, or the anus prolapses, this is a sinking of Yuan Qi [Original Qi], requiring urgent treatment with methods to tonify the Middle and arrest prolapse. Diseases of Sun Xie are mostly deficiency and rarely excess. If one adheres strictly to the biased view that "treating diarrhea requires promoting urination," it will inevitably lead to death, how tragic!

Someone asked: "All sages discuss Sun Xie, stating it involves Dampness combined with Wind, that excessive Dampness forms five types of diarrhea, and that treating Dampness without promoting urination is incorrect. Now, your discussion contains not a single character for 'Dampness,' and conversely claims that blindly promoting urination will lead to death. Does this not contradict the ancients?" I replied: "This text specifically discusses the latent pathogenic factor of being injured by Wind in Spring; therefore, it discusses Wind without mentioning Dampness. If Dampness were mixed in, there would be manifestations of Dampness. Only after clear differentiation can one assist with methods to promote urination. Sun Xie with the passage of clear, undigested grain belongs to Spleen Earth Deficiency-Cold, failing to transport and transform, leading to sinking. If one adheres to formulas that promote urination and direct downward, is this not kicking someone when they are already down? The entire text is based on the *Huangdi Neijing*; where is the contradiction?" They asked again: "You state that Sun Xie belongs to Spleen Earth Deficiency-Cold, hence the passage of clear, undigested grain. However, *Yi Tong* states: 'Stomach Fire, due to the rapid nature of Fire, disrupts transmission and transformation, causing邪热 [pathogenic heat] to fail to cook grain.' *Zhi Zhang* also says that undigested food should be treated with Fire [Heat]. From this, it seems inconsistent with your theory. Whose view is correct, the ancients' 'Fire' or yours 'Cold'?" I replied: "Based on my analysis of the *Huangdi Neijing*, Sun Xie belonging to deficiency is certain. What *Yi Tong* and *Zhi Zhang* refer to as 'Fire' is actually Fire Diarrhea among various types of diarrhea. One must know that Cold and Fire are easy to distinguish. If the pulse is rapid, the coating is yellow, and urine is hot and red, it is a Fire-type diarrhea; otherwise, it is Deficiency-Cold." The questioner nodded in agreement and withdrew.