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After recovery from plague, the methods for convalescence are often neglected, yet it should be known that this constitutes a crucial phase of post-illness recuperation with significant implications. For instance, relapse caused by overeating is termed "Food Relapse" (Shi Fu); one caused by anger is termed "Qi Relapse" (Qi Fu); one caused by excessive physical exertion is termed "Labor Relapse" (Lao Fu); and one caused by sexual excess is termed "Female Labor Relapse" (Nu Lao Fu). These are recorded in medical classics and widely known, yet violations still occur. Furthermore, there are three other aspects most easily overlooked by people, which do not fall under the categories of the aforementioned relapses. Even if many days have passed since recovery, if Qi and Blood are not yet sufficient, violating these precautions may readily lead to lifelong ailments. The first is sexual indulgence: sexual intercourse necessarily expels the essence of the whole body; if Qi and Blood are not replenished, they cannot recover within seven days. Frequent sexual activity will inevitably accumulate damage leading to deficiency exhaustion (Xu Lao) and shorten lifespan. The second is physical fatigue: whether traveling far or performing hard labor, exhausting the sinews and muscles may not feel painful at the time, but later leads to flaccidity of limbs and premature aging, with suffering beyond words. The third is enduring hunger: after recovery, when feeling hungry, one must eat moderately; one must never forcibly endure hunger. If the timing passes, appetite may disappear, and forced eating will fail to digest. Thus, injury occurs beforehand due to hunger, and further injury occurs afterwards due to forced eating. This damages the Spleen and Stomach (Zhong Zhou) and injures Lung Metal, leading to chronic cough (Lao Sou) and the formation of Spleen-Stomach diseases. People often neglect these three aspects, so caution is imperative.

Headache, Fever, and Thirst
The Taiyang (Greater Yang) channel is governed by Cold Water. The Hand-Taiyang channel transforms Qi via Bing Fire within Cold Water. When Yin prevails, Ren Water governs the Qi and transforms into Cold; when Yang prevails, Bing Fire violates the seasonal order and transforms into Heat. Therefore, although the Taiyang channel belongs to Cold Water, it is prone to Heat diseases. Failure to store Essence during winter causes Ministerial Fire to ascend and leak, damaging the closing and storing Qi of Cold Water. With Fire flourishing and Water deficient for a long time, contracting disease in spring or summer leads to closure of Defensive Qi (Wei Qi) and stagnation of Nutritive Qi (Ying Qi), further depleting Cold Water. Consequently, upon contracting disease, fever and thirst appear without aversion to cold. The Taiyang channel is on the exterior of the Six Channels, so pathogenic factors attack it first. Its meridian descends from the head to the neck and runs along the back of the body, hence headache, neck stiffness, and rigidity of the lower back and spine. The Lungs govern Wei Qi, the Liver governs Ying Qi, and both are commanded by the Taiyang channel. The Taiyang meridian resides in the region of skin and hair, which controls both Ying and Wei Qi. In plague diseases, Wei Qi is closed and Ying Qi is stagnant; the treatment method should clear Heat from the Ying level and open the closure of Wei Qi. Treatment should cool the Lung Metal, nourish Kidney Water, and open the skin and hair, using Yuan Shuang Dan as the primary prescription.
Yuan Shuang Dan treats Taiyang headache and neck pain, rigidity of the lower back and spine, fever, and thirst.
Floating Duckweed (San Qian) Ophiopogon Tuber (Er Qian, heart removed) Scrophularia Root (Er Qian) Moutan Bark (Er Qian, wine-washed) Peony Root (Yi Qian) Licorice Root (Yi Qian) Fresh Ginger (San Qian, sliced) Jujube (Two fruits, split)
Decoct in water, take hot, cover with clothing to induce slight sweating. Another formula removes Scrophularia Root and Ophiopogon Tuber, with identical treatment indications.

Body Pain, Tight Pulse, Restlessness, and Anhidrosis
When plague affects the Taiyang channel, symptoms include floating pulse, headache, fever, and sweating, because Wind nature is dispersing and Qi fails to close. If the pulse is floating and tight, accompanied by fever, aversion to cold, body pain, lower back pain, restlessness, anhidrosis, and panting, this indicates Cold binding the exterior preventing the expulsion of pathogens. Generally, plague involves sweating, while Cold plague involves anhidrosis, because Wind nature is dispersing while Cold nature is closing and storing. Excessive closure of Defensive Yang prevents pathogen expulsion, causing Ying stagnation and failure to reach the surface, resulting in restlessness and panting. Treat similarly to Cold Damage (Shang Han), using Fuping Huangqin Tang to clear and disperse Heat in the meridians.
Fuping Huangqin Tang
Floating Duckweed (San Qian) Scutellaria Root (Yi Qian) Apricot Seed (Er Qian, soaked, skin and tip removed) Licorice Root (Er Qian, honey-fried) Fresh Ginger (San Qian) Jujube (Two fruits, split)
Decoct in flowing water until half a cup remains, take warm, cover with clothing.

Vexing Heat, Dryness, and Thirst
(Vexing heat, dryness, and thirst differ from the previous fever and thirst. Hence, Baihu Tang is used instead of Yuan Shuang Dan.)
When the disease is in the Taiyang channel and has not entered the Yangming Fu organs, vexing thirst does not arise abruptly. However, in individuals with strong Yangming Dryness, if Channel Heat is constrained externally and Dryness responds internally, vexing thirst appears. The Yangming channel transforms Qi via Dryness Metal; when Fu Dryness manifests, symptoms of Dry Heat and difficult defecation occur. Now, although Fu Dryness has not yet manifested, Chest Dryness moves first, giving rise to vexing thirst. Since the Taiyang exterior syndrome is unresolved, use Fuping Shigao Tang to moisten Lung Metal and resolve the exterior, cutting off the source of Dry Heat entering the Fu organs. Once the exterior syndrome is resolved, use Baihu Jia Yuanmai Tang alone to clear Dryness and generate fluids. For Qi deficiency, add Ginseng to tonify Qi, as resolving the exterior may lead to Yang deficiency, fearing that clearing Dryness might cause Yang collapse.
Baihu Jia Yuanmai Tang treats post-Taiyang vexing heat, dryness, and thirst.
Gypsum (San Qian, crushed) Anemarrhena Rhizome (Yi Qian) Licorice Root (Yi Qian) Rice (A pinch) Scrophularia Root (Er Qian) Ophiopogon Tuber (San Qian, heart removed)
Decoct in flowing water until rice is cooked, take half a cup, hot.
Renshen Baihu Jia Yuanmai Tang treats post-Taiyang Qi deficiency with vexing thirst.
Gypsum (San Qian, crushed) Anemarrhena Rhizome (Qian Ban, wine-fried) Honey-fried Licorice Root (Yi Qian) Rice (A pinch) Ginseng Root (Yi Qian) Scrophularia Root (Er Qian) Ophiopogon Tuber (San Qian, heart removed)
Decoct in flowing water until rice is cooked, take half a cup, hot.