This is all to accommodate the patient's will. The Yellow Emperor asked: How to accommodate? [The answer was:] When entering a state, inquire about its customs; when entering a home, inquire about its taboos; when ascending the hall, inquire about its etiquette; when facing a patient, inquire about their preferences (i.e., what makes them comfortable).
The Yellow Emperor asked: How does one accommodate the patient's preferences? [The answer was:] For conditions involving internal heat leading to Xiao Ke (Wasting and Thirsting) or Xiao Dan (Atrophy Syndrome), cold methods are suitable; for patterns belonging to Middle Jiao deficiency-cold, warm methods are suitable. Heat in the Stomach leads to rapid digestion of food, causing a sensation of emptiness in the heart and a propensity for hunger. Heat above the navel indicates skin warmth there, suggesting heat in the Intestines, resulting in stool resembling porridge. Cold below the navel indicates skin coldness there, suggesting cold in the Stomach, leading to abdominal distension; cold in the Intestines leads to borborygmus and diarrhea with undigested food (Sun Xie). Cold in the Stomach and heat in the Intestines lead to both distension and diarrhea. Heat in the Stomach and cold in the Intestines lead to frequent hunger but pain and distension in the lower abdomen.
The *Zhi Zhen Yao Da Lun* chapter states: Treat cold with heat, treat heat with cold; for mild cases, treat contrary to the disease pattern (Ni); for severe cases, treat according to the disease pattern (Cong). The Yellow Emperor asked: What do you mean by Ni (contrary) and Cong (following)? Qi Bo...