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Diseases of the Taiyang (Greater Yang) Meridian manifest as pain in the head and nape, stiffness and rigidity of the lower back and spine, fever with aversion to cold, generalized body pain, absence of sweating, and a floating-tight pulse. This occurs because the Taiyang meridian connects from the spine to the Fengfu point (GV16). Thus, these symptoms arise; this is the exterior syndrome of the Three Yang meridians.

Diseases of the Yangming (Yang Brightness) Meridian manifest as bodily heat, eye pain, dry nose, insomnia, and a surging-long pulse. This occurs because the Yangming meridian governs the muscles, and its vessel runs alongside the nose and connects to the eyes. Thus, these symptoms arise; this is the interior syndrome of the Three Yang meridians.

Diseases of the Shaoyang (Lesser Yang) Meridian manifest as pain in the chest and hypochondrium, deafness, alternating chills and fever, vomiting with bitter taste in the mouth, dry throat, dizziness, and a string-taut-rapid pulse. This occurs because the Shaoyang meridian follows the costal region and terminates at the ear. It lies between the Two Yang and the Three Yin meridians, gradually entering the Three Yin; therefore, it is termed the half-exterior, half-interior meridian.

Diseases of the Taiyin (Greater Yin) Meridian manifest as abdominal fullness with vomiting, inability to eat, dry throat, naturally warm hands and feet, or spontaneous diarrhea with abdominal pain without thirst, and a deep-thin pulse. This occurs because the Taiyin meridian spreads through the stomach and connects to the throat.

Diseases of the Shaoyin (Lesser Yin) Meridian manifest as dry tongue and mouth, or spontaneous diarrhea with thirst, or a sensation of wanting to vomit but being unable to do so, or a desire to wrap oneself up and lie curled, irritability, and a strong desire to sleep, with a deep pulse. This occurs because the Shaoyin meridian passes through the Kidney, connects to the Lung, and ties to the root of the tongue.

Diseases of the Jueyin (Terminal Yin) Meridian manifest as irritability and fullness, contraction of the scrotum, or Qi rushing upward to strike the heart, pain and burning sensation in the heart, excessive thirst (Xiao Ke), hunger without desire to eat, vomiting roundworms upon eating, and if purged, diarrhea that does not stop, with a deep-string-ting pulse. This occurs because the Jueyin meridian circulates around the genitalia and connects to the Liver.

Cheng Wuji stated: When heat pathogen transmits from Taiyang to Taiyin, abdominal fullness and dry throat occur, but thirst has not yet formed. When it transmits to Shaoyin, dry mouth and tongue with thirst occur, but severe Xiao Ke has not yet formed. When it transmits to Jueyin and forms Xiao Ke, it is because extreme heat consumes water/fluids. Any condition where one drinks much water but urinates little is called Xiao Ke. The Liver resides in the lower part; when pathogen occupies it, Wood and Fire clash, causing pathogen to rush upward and strike the Heart. Wood pathogen overacting on Earth damages Spleen Qi, causing hunger without desire to eat and vomiting roundworms upon eating. Once Spleen Earth is damaged, further purgation makes Spleen Qi even more deficient, leading to persistent dysentery or diarrhea.

True Yangming Fu-organ disease transmits from exterior to interior, from meridian to organ. Since the pathogen is deep, it manifests as tidal fever, spontaneous sweating, delirious speech, thirst, aversion to heat rather than cold, throwing off clothes and blankets, flinging arms and legs, or appearance of macules, jaundice, and mania. If there is no bowel movement for five to six days, and the pulse is slippery and solid, this indicates excess heat has transmitted inward, and purgation may be applied. However, if the pulse is weak and spiritless, or if there are no signs of palpable mass, fullness, solidity, or hardness internally, blind purgation must not be used.

Zhang Zhongjing said: When the pulse is floating at all three positions (Cun, Guan, Chi), Taiyang is affected, typically manifesting on day one or two. When the pulse is long at all three positions, Yangming is affected, typically manifesting on day two or three. When the pulse is string-taut at all three positions, Shaoyang is affected, typically manifesting on day three or four. If these Three Yang meridians are affected but the pathogen has not entered the Fu organs, it can be resolved by diaphoresis (sweating method). When the pulse is deep and thin at all three positions, Taiyin is affected, typically manifesting on day four or five. When the pulse is deep at all three positions, Shaoyin is affected, typically manifesting on day five or six. When the pulse is faint and slow at all three positions, Jueyin is affected, typically manifesting on day six or seven. If these Three Yin meridians are affected and the pathogen has entered the Fu organs, it can be resolved by purgation.

Cheng Wuji commented: Pathogen affecting the Three Yang causes disease in the exterior, which legally requires resolution via sweating. However, the Three Yang can also directly enter the Fu organs; if they enter, purgation is appropriate. Hence, "if not yet entered the Fu organs, it can be resolved by sweating." Pathogen affecting the Three Yin causes disease in the interior, which legally requires purgation. However, the Three Yin can also remain in the meridians; if in the meridians, sweating is appropriate. Hence, "if already entered the Fu organs, it can be resolved by purgation."

Taiyang syndromes resembling Shaoyin syndromes occur because, despite fever and aversion to cold, the pulse is unexpectedly deep. Shaoyin syndromes resembling Taiyang syndromes occur because, despite aversion to cold and a deep pulse, there is unexpectedly fever.

Zhang Zhongjing said: In Taiyang disease, if there is fever, headache, an unexpectedly deep pulse, and body pain, and if it does not improve, one should rescue the interior deficiency, preferably using Si Ni Tang (Frigid Extremities Decoction). In Shaoyin disease, if upon initial onset there is unexpected fever and a deep pulse, Ma Huang Fu Zi Xi Xin Tang (Ephedra, Aconite, and Asarum Decoction) is appropriate.

Regarding these two conditions: In Taiyang disease, the pulse should be floating; if unexpectedly deep, it is due to deficiency of righteous Qi and interior emptiness, thus requiring Si Ni Tang to rescue interior deficiency. In Shaoyin disease, the syndrome should lack heat; if unexpectedly present, it is because cold pathogen remains in the exterior and has not yet transmitted inward, thus requiring Ma Huang Fu Zi Xi Xin Tang to scatter exterior pathogen. Both conditions involve deep pulse with fever. The presence of headache identifies it as Taiyang disease; the absence of headache identifies it as Shaoyin disease. In Shaoyin with unexpected fever, the exterior pathogen is superficial and can be resolved by sweating; this "unexpectedness" is mild. In Taiyang with unexpected deep pulse, righteous Qi is severely deficient, making sweating or purgation difficult; this "unexpectedness" is severe. From this, we see that Yang meridians sometimes require warming the interior; thus, raw Aconite paired with Dried Ginger contains dispersing intent within tonification. Yin meridians sometimes require releasing the exterior; thus, prepared Aconite paired with Ephedra contains tonifying intent within dispersal. This is Zhang Zhongjing’s treatment seeking the root; other cases can be understood similarly.