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In prescribing medication, one must be most adept at flexibility and adaptation, avoiding rigidity. Consider Zhang Zhongjing using Mahuang Tang (Ephedra Decoction) to treat Taiyang disease (disease of the Taiyang channel characterized by exterior syndrome) with fever, headache, floating pulse, and absence of sweating. Yet, he also employed it for Yangming disease presenting with a floating pulse, absence of sweating, and wheezing; and for concurrent Taiyang and Yangming diseases manifesting as wheezing and chest fullness. This illustrates the flexible application of Mahuang Tang. Similarly, Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction), originally intended for Wind-strike (Zhongfeng) in the Taiyang channel featuring fever and sweating, was also used for Yangming disease resembling malaria with afternoon fever (occurring around 3-5 PM), a floating and deficient pulse requiring diaphoresis; for Taiyang disease where exterior signs remained unresolved with a floating and weak pulse requiring release via sweating; for Taoyin disease with a floating pulse amenable to diaphoresis; and for Jueyin disease presenting with dysentery, abdominal distension, and body pain, where attacking the exterior was indicated. This demonstrates the flexible application of Guizhi Tang. Furthermore, Xiaochaihu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction), originally designed for Shaoyang disease involving hypochondriac pain, dry retching, and alternating chills and fever, was also applied to Yangming disease with tidal fever and chest/hypochondriac fullness; to Yangming wind-strike with wiry, floating, and large pulses, abdominal distension, hypochondriac pain, inability to sweat, generalized jaundice, and tidal fever; and to women suffering from wind-strike with persistent alternating chills and fever, whose menstruation had just ceased, indicating heat entering the Blood Chamber (Xueshi) with malaria-like symptoms. This exemplifies the flexible application of Xiaochaihu Tang. From this, we see that Zhang Zhongjing’s intent was never to rigidly adhere to specific channels or fixed formulas. The rationale behind his prescriptions often transcends verbal description, reflecting a profound medical wisdom that cannot be fully conveyed through words. Thus, a method may exist without a corresponding specific symptom pattern; a symptom pattern may exist without a corresponding specific formula. Even if Zhang Zhongjing were reborn and sought to strictly follow his established methods, I believe they would not always fit every case perfectly. Even if he spoke anew regarding new formulas, I believe there would still be aspects of strength and weakness. Alas! How can formulas exhaust all variations? How can variations be confined by fixed formulas? If practitioners can grasp Zhang Zhongjing’s underlying intent, they become Zhang Zhongjing of their own time. Why then should they be bound by his specific formulas? Therefore, I say: Prescribing requires utmost flexibility and adaptation, avoiding rigidity. However, these two characters "flexibility and adaptation" are set forth for those who lack such ability. One must understand that within this art lies an unchanging essential principle. If one ignores this essence and uses "flexibility" merely as a talking point, it leads to wild speculation and deviation from the correct path, fundamentally missing the true spirit of adaptation.