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Those who discuss the governance of a state often use medicine as an analogy. How benevolent this statement is! The True Qi (Zhen Qi, vital energy) is like the people; pathogenic factors are like thieves and robbers. If there are thieves, it is necessary to eliminate them before stopping. A virtuous chancellor or general must first examine the reality and emptiness of troops and provisions, and whether the current situation permits action, before moving. If movement is rash and frivolous, our people will first suffer from the thieves, then from the military campaigns; when the people are exhausted, the state becomes weak. Taking risks for luck is what petty people do. All phenomena in the universe are clearly manifested with karmic retribution. How can one not study this carefully? Let me give one or two examples as general principles.

A relative of Mr. Lu from Yongkang was thin with dark skin. He enjoyed drinking wine throughout his life and did not feel sleepy even after heavy drinking. Approaching fifty years of age, he also had a concubine. Suddenly, one day, he experienced severe aversion to cold with shivering, and claimed to be thirsty but did not drink. I palpated his pulse: it was large and weak, except for the Right Guan position which was slightly full and rapid, becoming choppy upon deep pressure. Thus, I diagnosed it as internal stagnation of heat from alcohol, unable to vent outward, belonging to exterior heat rather than deficiency. I prescribed a single herb, Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix), decocted in Gan Ge Tang (Puerariae Decoction). He consumed a total of Liang Er (approx. 75g) of Huang Qin and Liang Yi (approx. 37.5g) of Gan Ge. He sweated profusely and was well by the next morning.

Mr. Ye suffered from dysentery (Zhi Xia), with severe tenesmus, fitting the syndrome for Cheng Qi Tang (Gut-Draining Decoction). I said: The Cun Kou (Inch Position) pulse is deficient. Although the physical appearance suggests excess, his face is yellowish-white. This must be due to overeating in the past, injuring the Stomach Qi (Wei Qi, digestive energy). It is better to endure hardship for one or two days. Therefore, I administered more than ten doses of tonifying herbs such as Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), and Shao Yao (Paeoniae Radix). By the third day, the Stomach Qi had slightly recovered, and I gave two doses of Cheng Qi Tang, after which he recovered. Had I not first tonified and repaired the injured Stomach Qi, and instead immediately used Cheng Qi Tang to purge, I fear that after the illness subsided, would he not avoid becoming emaciated and exhausted?

Another maid, with purplish skin and slightly fat, had a沉 (calm/depressed) nature and worried much. Approaching forty years of age, her menses had stopped for three months. In the center of the lower abdomen, there was a Qi mass (gas lump). Initially the size of a chestnut, it gradually grew to the size of a steamed bun. I palpated her pulse: both hands were choppy, yet palpable upon deep pressure. When asked to press the mass, she felt severe pain; it projected half a cun above the skin. I prescribed Qian Jin Xiao Shi Wan (Thousand-Gold Stone-Dissolving Pill). After four or five doses, she suddenly stated that her nipples had turned black and secreted fluid, fearing pregnancy. I said: No, a choppy pulse does not indicate pregnancy. I gave another three or five doses. Palpating the pulse again, it felt slightly hollow. I realized: The medication was too harsh. I instructed her to stop the previous medicine. I prescribed Si Wu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) with doubled Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), assisted by Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium). After thirty doses, waiting for the pulse to become complete and robust, I resumed giving Xiao Shi Wan. After four or five doses, she suddenly reported that the mass had receded by one circumference, so I told her to stop taking it. Half a month later, menstruation occurred with severe pain, discharging half a sheng of dark blood containing dozens of particles resembling pepper seeds. This indicated the mass had reduced by half. She came again to request medicine to eliminate the remainder. I advised her: Do not be impatient. The mass has loosened; do not attack further. If the next menstruation occurs, it should completely disappear. The next time menstruation occurred, small dark blood clots were discharged, and the mass receded by another circumference. She came again to ask for medicine. I said: Just observe dietary and lifestyle taboos; it will completely disappear next month. Later, it indeed happened so. Generally, attacking medicines are borne by the disease when the disease exists. If the pathogen is light but the medicinal force is heavy, the Stomach Qi will be injured. The Stomach Qi is pure, clear, and harmonious Qi. It is only compatible with grains, meats, vegetables, and fruits. Medicinal substances all possess biased/overbearing Qi. Even herbs like Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix) and Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) have biased properties, let alone attacking medicines. This woman’s Stomach Qi was naturally weak, and her good blood (Jingxue, nutritious blood) was also scant. If the mass were completely eliminated and the medicine stopped, very little Stomach Qi would remain. Having discussed this to the utmost, what more is there to say about medicine?