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Severe cases of Shan Qi (hernia) manifest as urgent pain in the testicles connected to the lower abdomen. Some pain is located in the testicles, while some is near the Wushu (GB25) acupoint; all belong to the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian. There may be visible forms or invisible ones; there may be sounds or no sounds. Visible forms resemble melons, and audible sounds resemble frogs croaking. Since the *Suwen* (Plain Questions), famous physicians of successive dynasties have all attributed this condition to Cold. This is because Cold governs contraction and pulling; when meridians are affected by Cold, qi and blood flow are obstructed, thus causing pain. Theoretically, this is indeed the case. However, there are instances where one contracts Cold but does not develop Shan Qi; therefore, an explanation must be provided to clarify this mechanism. I have personally walked on snow at gateways, waded through water reaching my knees, and crossed ice barefoot multiple times without suffering from this disease, because my interior naturally lacks Heat. Reflecting on this, I believe this syndrome originates from Damp-Heat accumulating in the meridians, stagnating for a long time, and then being externally constrained by Cold pathogenic factors. Because the Damp-Heat cannot dissipate, pain ensues. If one only discusses it in terms of Cold, the theory is likely incomplete. Someone asked: The Jueyin meridian is distant and its position is low; how does Damp-Heat accumulate there? I replied: Excessive labor causes Fire to arise in the sinews; drunkenness and overeating cause Fire to arise in the Stomach; sexual exhaustion causes Fire to arise in the Kidneys; extreme anger causes Fire to arise in the Liver. When Fire accumulates in this meridian for a long time, the Mother organ (Liver) becomes deficient and fails to generate the Child, leading to an abundance of Dampness. Jueyin belongs to Wood, is affiliated with the Liver, which is called the "General," possessing a rapid nature. Fire is also violent. Constrained by Cold, it is natural that the pain would be sudden and severe. My view is that using equal parts of Aconite Root (Fuzi) and Gardenia Fruit (Zhizi) as a decoction yields rapid effects. Later, I modified this formula according to specific syndromes and physical constitutions, achieving success in every case. However, treating Damp-Heat requires distinguishing the proportion of Dampness versus Heat. If Dampness predominates, swelling is prominent, which characterizes the pathology. In cases complicated by Deficiency, Ginseng Radix (Renshen) and Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome (Baizhu) should be used as primary agents, assisted by draining and guiding herbs; this corresponds to a pulse that is deep, tight, yet large and empty/powerless. The pain is also mild, characterized mainly by a sensation of heaviness, dragging, and traction!

The cause of infertility often lies with women. Physicians, failing to investigate the root cause, peruse ancient prescriptions and find that Qin Gui Wan (Qin Gui Pill) has precise indications and focused intent, utilizing warm-hot herbs that align with human desires. Thus, they accept it gladly and take it decisively, willingly suffering the disaster of burning scorching, yet remaining ignorant and unrepentant. Why? When Yang essence is emitted, Yin Blood must retain it; essence forms the fetus, and blood forms the uterine sac, allowing conception to occur. Now, women who are infertile generally suffer from insufficient Blood to retain essence. The deficiency of Blood arises from various causes. However, those desiring pregnancy must tonify Yin Blood until there is no deficit. To push excess resources into forming a fetus, why use hot formulas lightly, which fry the zang-fu organs and cause qi and blood to boil, bringing disaster swiftly? Someone asked: In spring, the temperature is mild, and all things grow; in winter, the air is cold, and all things perish. Without the warmth of Qin Gui Wan, how can the uterus become warm enough to conceive? I said: The *Book of Songs* states that if a woman is harmonious and peaceful, she will joyfully bear children. Harmony means qi and blood do not conflict; peace means yin and yang do not contend. With this medicine, menstrual blood turns purple-black, gradually becoming scanty, irregular in timing. Initially, appetite increases sharply, but later, bitter taste and dry mouth appear. Yin and yang become imbalanced, qi and blood disharmonious, and diseases arise like bees swarming. How can conception occur? Even if conception happens, the child will likely be sickly and short-lived. Qin Gui Wan depletes the innate Yin essence; beware and be cautious!

The son of Commissioner Zheng Lian, aged sixteen, sought medical treatment saying: "I suffered from Lin Syndrome (strangury) starting at seven months old, recurring every five or seven days. During attacks, I experienced excruciating pain, beating the ground and crying to heaven. Only after urination did the pain subside. The discharge resembled lac mixed with millet grains, about one cup in volume, before settling." His pulse was choppy on light palpation and wiry on heavy pressure. His physique was thin and slightly elongated, with a bluish-green complexion. I surmised that his father must have taken excessive drugs for lower-jiao ailments, leaving residual heat in the fetal stage, which remained in the son's Mingmen (Gate of Life). I prepared pills made from Zi Xue (Purple Snow) and fine powder of Phellodendron Bark (Huangbai), sized like wu-tzu seeds, dried thoroughly. Each dose consisted of two hundred pills, taken with hot water, followed by food to suppress the drug's action. Half a day later, the pain intensified, radiating to the waist and abdomen, and urination finally occurred, discharging about a large bowl of substance resembling lac mixed with millet. The illness decreased by eighty percent. Later, Zhang Zizhong prescribed a single dose containing one liang of Tangerine Peel (Chenpi), half a liang each of Platycodon Root (Jiegeng) and Akebia Stem (Mutong). After another discharge of about one he of lac-millet-like substance, the patient recovered. If a father's dry-heat pathogen can affect his son, how much more so if the mother is affected? I record this to corroborate Li Dongyuan's case of red thread tumors.