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Xu Donggao said: In general, when treating diseases, if the Stomach Qi (Stomach Energy) is substantial, attacking pathogens will eliminate them, and the disease is often easily cured. If the Stomach Qi is deficient, attacking pathogens will not remove them. This is because the root is already deficient; further attack weakens the Stomach Qi even more, rendering it unable to transport and transform the medicinal power, so the disease remains unchanged. It is not that the medicine cannot remove the disease, but rather that the governing Qi fails to move the medicinal efficacy. If one attacks violently, the Original Qi (Yuan Qi) will be damaged, and the disease will become more severe. If one fails to recognize the appropriate timing and exhausts the Original Qi through attack, death will ensue. For example, in cases of deficiency-heat, why does heat worsen after taking cold-cooling medicines? The Classic says: "Why does heat worsen after taking cold medicines?" Qibo replied: "This occurs because only the Wang Qi (Exuberant Pathogenic Qi) was treated, leading to a counter-effect." If the Stomach Qi is not deficient, even if there is disease, it may heal spontaneously without attack, which is why Chinese medicine using herbs often achieves effectiveness. Observing that common people who eat simple food often recover from illness without medication confirms this. Therefore, it is said: "One who treats diseases without examining the deficiency or excess of the Spleen and Stomach is not qualified to be a great physician."

He also said: Zhang Zhongjing of the Han Dynasty wrote *Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders* (*Shanghan Lun*), focusing specifically on external injury (exogenous pathogens). However, the secret of caring for the Spleen and Stomach's Original Qi within his work is rarely known by physicians of later generations. Looking at his Shaoyang syndrome (Lesser Yang Syndrome), the use of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen, 人参) in Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) is to prevent pathogenic factors from entering the Three Yin channels, or perhaps fearing slight Spleen and Stomach deficiency allowing pathogens to invade. Thus, Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen, 人参) and Licorice Root (Gancao, 甘草) are used to consolidate the Spleen and Stomach and replenish the Original Qi. This shows that even in treating external injuries, internal causes were never forgotten. As for formulas such as Shengma Decoction for Yang Toxicity, Renshen Baidu San (Ginseng Powder to Rescue from Disaster), Hua Ban Tang (Spot-Resolving Decoction), Huanglian Tang (Coptis Decoction), Baitong Tang, Lizhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction), Zhi Gancao Tang (Honey-Fried Licorice Decoction), Jupi Tang (Tangerine Peel Decoction), Wuweizi Tang (Schisandra Decoction), Gualou Gen Tang (Trichosanthes Root Decoction), and Jianzhong Tang (Establish the Middle Decoction), none failed to use Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen, 人参) to treat exogenous conditions. This demonstrates that Master Zhongjing’s formulation of prescriptions was divine and unfathomable. Some might claim he only excelled in external injuries and did not understand internal injuries; this truly reflects a lack of understanding of him. Why do physicians today fail to grasp the principle of Original Qi? They merely adhere to the erroneous doctrine in Wang Lun’s *Miscellaneous Writings* (*Zazhu*) prohibiting the use of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen, 人参), sticking rigidly to this view. They prefer using bitter-cold herbs to attack the superficial symptoms of disease, thereby harming the populace and causing untimely deaths. How widespread is this! Occasionally, patients’ families are half-doubting and half-believing, refusing to follow either doctor, which merely delays death rather than accelerating it. Directly due to procrastination, waiting until the Original Qi is exhausted, they ultimately die without rescue. Can this be considered wise? Moreover, in this era, with the population growing rapidly and innate constitution becoming thinner, combined with labor and struggle for fame and profit, even disregarding dangers of fire and water, indulging in alcohol and lust to deplete true essence—if one does not believe this leads to internal injury of the Original Qi, I would not believe it. Observing that patients with miscellaneous diseases suffer Spleen and Stomach damage even with slight use of attacking methods, and some even die from inability to eat, all can be inferred from this.