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Any non-stroke conditions such as deviation of the mouth and eyes, hemiplegia, weakness of the four limbs, tremors, shaking, spasms, and contractures belong to diseases of the sinews and bones. The Liver governs the sinews, the Kidney governs the bones; the Liver stores Blood, and the Kidney stores Essence. When Essence and Blood are deficient and cannot nourish the entire body, sinews suffer from slackness or tension, and bones suffer from atrophy and weakness. This is fundamentally due to the damage of Essence and Blood. Just as a tree withers when sap fails to reach a branch, human hemiplegia is similar. The Classic states: "The feet can walk only when they receive Blood, and the palms can grasp only when they receive Blood." Now that such severe hemiplegia occurs, is it not due to the decline and failure of Qi and Blood? Mr. Chen from Linchuan said: "To treat wind, first treat the Blood; when Blood flows, wind extinguishes itself." This implies that Liver pathogenic factors arise from Liver Blood deficiency. When Liver Blood is deficient, dryness Qi takes advantage, causing Wood to transform under Metal (Metal controls Wood), and Wind inevitably follows. Therefore, treatment should focus on nourishing Blood to eliminate dryness; once True Yin is restored, false Wind will dissipate naturally. Using wind-dispelling drugs would allow Wind to overcome Dampness, making the Blood even drier, which is highly inappropriate.

1. Conditions such as hemiplegia, spasms, atrophy, and weakness originate from Yin deficiency, as previously detailed. However, Qi and Blood are inseparable; thus, within Yin there is Qi, and within Yin there is Blood. How to differentiate them? Blood does not move without Qi, and Qi does not transform without Blood. If Blood lacks Qi, the disease manifests as flaccidity and paralysis; if Qi lacks Blood, the disease manifests as twitching and spasms. Why? Because Qi is active; without Qi, there is no movement, and without movement, lifting is impossible. Blood is static; without Blood, there is no calmness, and without calmness, relaxation is impossible. Therefore, for loose sinews, one should attribute it to Qi deficiency; for tight sinews, one should attribute it to Blood deficiency. For Blood deficiency, San Yin Jian (Three Yin Decoction), Da Ying Jian (Great Camp Decoction), or Xiao Ying Jian (Small Camp Decoction) are appropriate. For Qi deficiency, Wu Fu Yin (Five Blessings Drink), Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction), or Shi Quan Da Bu Tang (Ten Complete Tonifying Decoction) are appropriate. This differs slightly in principle from the immobility of Atrophy Syndrome or the restlessness of Bi Syndrome; see those sections for details.

All non-stroke conditions arise from deficiency in both the exterior and interior. Exterior diseases affect the meridians, while interior diseases affect the Zang organs. The treatment method is primarily to tonify Yuan Qi. If there are no concurrent syndromes, one should not combine purging and tonifying, as this yields no benefit. Since physical collapse and mental confusion stem from the damage of the root, where is the pathogen? Only by restoring the original Qi can recovery be hoped for.

1. In the initial stage of sudden collapse and critical unconsciousness, observe whether death signs are present. If there are no death signs, and the form and Qi are intact without Phlegm-Qi obstruction, stabilize the patient and press Renzhong (GV26); they will gradually awaken. Alternatively, slowly administer warm water or ginger soup to await awakening, then diagnose and treat based on symptoms. If there is no Phlegm or Qi stagnation, but breath is faint, complexion is pale, and the pulse is weak indicating sudden collapse, urgently administer Du Shen Tang (Single Ginseng Decoction) or light ginger soup. If Phlegm is severe, use expectorant methods to induce vomiting; if Phlegm is mild, administer one Wan of Bao Long Wan (Embrace Dragon Pill) mixed with warm water to temporarily open the Phlegm orifice. Do not use if there is no Phlegm sound. If unconsciousness is due to Qi Jue (Qi Collapse) with Qi congestion, wheezing, fullness, and closure preventing awakening, administer one Wan of Su He Wan (Styrax Pill) mixed with light ginger soup to temporarily open the Qi mechanism. Do not use if Qi is not congested. For prolonged unconsciousness or locked jaw, powder Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), Ya Zao (Gleditsiae Spina), or Xi Xin (Asari Radix), and insufflate a small amount into the nose. If sneezing occurs, it is treatable; if not, it is untreatable. Alternatively, insufflate smoke from burning paper dipped in Gleditsiae Sinensis powder into the nose.

1. After middle age, many people suffer from these conditions, indicating their decline. The Classic states: "At forty, Yin Qi is halved," referring to Yin deficiency. Humans are born from Yang but rooted in Yin; if the root declines, illness ensues; if the root fails, danger arises. The root refers to True Yin. People know Yin deficiency as a single entity, but do not realize there are two types: Water deficiency within Yin leads to heat and dryness, affecting Essence and Blood; Fire deficiency within Yin leads to cold and stagnation, affecting Spirit and Qi. If both Water and Fire are injured, both Form and Spirit are damaged, making treatment difficult. For Fire deficiency, Da Bu Yuan Jian (Great Supplement to the Source Decoction), You Gui Yin (Right Restoration Drink), You Gui Wan (Right Restoration Pill), or Ba Wei Di Huang Wan (Eight-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) are suitable to replenish the source of Fire. For Water deficiency, Zuo Gui Yin (Left Restoration Drink), Zuo Gui Wan (Left Restoration Pill), or Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) are suitable to strengthen the master of Water. If both Qi and Blood are deficient, urgently use Da Bu Yuan Jian to reverse the condition. Avoid pungent-warm herbs like Ginseng, Atractylodes, Ginger, and Cinnamon in cases of excess heat and fire; avoid cooling herbs like Shu Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata), Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Tuber), and Shi Hu (Dendrobii Caulis) in cases of excess cold and dampness. If Qi deficiency causes sudden collapse without Phlegm, Fire, or Qi excess, and one mistakenly diagnoses stroke, using Niu Huang Wan (Calculus Bovis Pill) or Su He Wan again to scatter Qi is incurable.

1. Non-stroke caused by excessive Fire is a Yang syndrome. For severe Fire, treat the Fire directly using Xi Xin Yin (Remove Fuel Drink), Chou Xin Yin (Draw Out Fuel Drink), or Bai Hu Tang (White Tiger Decoction). For mild Fire, tonify Yin concurrently using Yi Yin Jian (One Yin Decoction), Er Yin Jian (Two Yins Decoction), or Jia Jian Yi Yin Jian (Modified One Yin Decoction). When treating Fire, once it is reduced by 60-70%, treat the root. Since Yang excess injures Yin, treating heat must address the Blood level. Severe cases use bitter-cold herbs; mild cases use sweet-cool herbs, aiming to return to Yin.

1. Non-stroke caused by excessive Cold is a Yin syndrome, requiring warming of Fire. For mild Cold, Wen Wei Yin (Warm Stomach Drink) or Ba Wei Di Huang Wan is appropriate. For severe Cold, You Gui Yin, Hui Yang Yin (Restore Yang Drink), Li Zhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction), or Si Ni Tang (Frigid Extremities Decoction) are appropriate. Since Cold excess injures Yang, treating cold must address the Qi level and align with Yang. In cases of Yang collapse with severe Cold, moxa Guanyuan (CV4), Qihai (CV6), and Shenque (CV8) to restore Yang Qi.

1. Non-stroke vertigo, tremors, and confusion result from Qi deficiency in the upper body. The Classic states: "When Upper Qi is insufficient, the brain feels empty, the head tilts painfully, and the eyes feel dizzy." It also says: "Upper deficiency causes vertigo." Upon slight onset, tonify Middle Qi with Wu Fu Yin. For severe deficiency, use Da Bu Yuan Jian or Shi Quan Da Bu Tang. Otherwise, sudden collapse may follow. Danxi said: "No Phlegm, no vertigo." Is vertigo always Phlegm? This view is flawed; see the Vertigo section for details.

1. Non-stroke numbness and insensitivity occur because Qi and Blood do not reach the area. Qi deficiency causes numbness; Blood deficiency causes woodiness. Persistent numbness leads to worsening hemiplegia and atrophy, indicating Po (Corporeal Soul) deficiency. The Classic states: "Fei disease involves no pain, inability to control limbs, and mild mental confusion. If speech is possible, it is treatable; if speech is lost, it is untreatable." This is similar, differing only in severity. Also: "Ying Qi deficiency causes insensitivity; Wei Qi deficiency causes immobility; both deficient cause insensitivity and immobility, though flesh remains normal." Disconnection between body and will indicates death. Treat by nourishing Qi and Blood; do not mistake it for Phlegm.

1. Summer sudden collapse with non-stroke convulsions results from Fire controlling Metal and Heat injuring Qi, known as Summer-Wind. For Qi deficiency, use Renshen (Ginseng Radix) or Shi Wei Xiang Ru Yin (Ten-Ingredient Elsholtzia Drink). If Water fails to control Fire causing irritability and thirst, use Sheng Mai San (Generate Pulse Powder) or Renshen Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang (Ginseng, Bamboo Leaf, and Gypsum Decoction). If Fire alone is excessive, use Melon Water Mung Bean Drink or Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix) and Lian Zi (Nelumbinis Semen) to clear heat temporarily. If solely Qi injury without Fire, use Du Shen Tang or Si Jun Zi Tang. If latent Yin is internal with Yang deficiency and Qi collapse, use Fu Zi Li Zhong Tang (Aconite Regulate Middle Decoction) or Liu Wei Hui Yang Yin (Six-Ingredient Restore Yang Drink) boldly. Do not claim summer contraindicates warm-hot herbs; this is ignorance.

1. Obese people often suffer non-stroke due to Qi deficiency. Why? Bone is ruler, flesh is minister. Obesity means softness overcomes hardness, Yin overcomes Yang. Flesh forms from Blood, belonging to Yin; thus, obese people have Qi deficiency. However, obesity brings Dampness and stagnation, obstructing Qi flow. If Phlegm-Qi congestion exists, clear and drain temporarily using Phlegm treatments. If no Phlegm but Qi collapse and sudden fall, use Si Jun Zi Tang, Liu Jun Zi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction), Shi Quan Da Bu Tang, or Da Bu Yuan Jian.

1. Non-stroke with irritability, heat, spontaneous sweating, and dysuria should not be treated with diuretics. External loss of fluids reduces urine; further diuresis depletes Yin Water, failing to control Fire, worsening irritability. Once heat recedes and sweating stops, urination returns naturally. Spontaneous sweating often relates to Yangming syndrome; diuretics are contraindicated. Use Sheng Mai San or Yi Yin Jian. For severe Fire, use Jia Jian Yi Yin Jian.

1. Non-stroke enuresis results from Kidney Qi collapse, a critical condition. Tonify with Renshen, Huang Qi (Astragali Radix), Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), and Bai Zhu (Atractodis Rhizoma). However, Ming Men (Gate of Life) Fire decline prevents retention. Severe cases require Rou Gui (Cinnamomi Cortex) and Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata).

1. Corpse Jue, Wine Jue, Phlegm Jue, Qi Jue, and Blood Jue are all considered stroke by laypeople but actually belong to non-stroke. See the Jue Ni (Jue Collapse) section for details.