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Taiyin disease is characterized by abdominal fullness, vomiting, inability to take food, worsening spontaneous diarrhea, and occasional spontaneous abdominal pain. If purgation is applied, it will inevitably lead to hardness and obstruction below the chest.

Taiyin disease results from the transmission of yang pathogenic factors into the interior. The Taiyin meridian spreads through the stomach; when pathogenic factors stagnate, abdominal fullness occurs. When qi fails to descend, vomiting and inability to ingest food result; when qi fails to ascend (in some editions, "ascend" is written as "above"), spontaneous diarrhea worsens, accompanied by occasional spontaneous abdominal pain. Abdominal pain caused by internal yin-cold is typically constant; however, in this case, where yang pathogenic factors interfere with the interior, although there is pain, it is not constant but rather occasional spontaneous abdominal pain. If purgation is mistakenly used, yin pathogenic factors remain in the lower chest, causing hardness and obstruction. As stated in the classics: "When a disease originates from yin, and purgation is wrongly applied, pi-syndrome (glomus) ensues."

In Taiyin wind-stroke, there is distressing pain in the four limbs. If the pulse is slightly choppy yet long, recovery is imminent.

Taiyin corresponds to the Spleen, which governs the four extremities. In Taiyin wind-stroke, distressing pain in the limbs indicates wind-pathogen affecting the extremities. When exterior pathogenic factors are mild, symptoms subside; when interior harmony is restored, the pulse becomes choppy yet long. A long pulse belongs to yang; when a yin-disease presents with a yang-pulse, life is preserved because yin resolves upon receiving yang assistance. Hence, it is said that recovery is imminent.

The time when Taiyin disease tends to resolve is from Hai hour to Chou hour.

The Spleen is Yin-Earth, which prospers during Chou, Hai, and Zi hours, trending toward Yang. Therefore, these are considered times for resolution. (Some editions use "Wang" instead of "Wang", and "Wei" instead of "Yun").

If the pulse in Taiyin disease is floating, sweating therapy may be employed, preferably using Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction). (Zhao's edition contains the formula for Guizhi Tang, see Volume 2).

The classics state: "Floating indicates the exterior, sinking indicates the interior." A floating pulse in Taiyin disease indicates that the pathogen remains in the meridians; thus, it should be dispersed through sweating.

Spontaneous diarrhea without thirst belongs to Taiyin, due to cold in the zang-organs; warming treatment is indicated. Si Ni Tang (Frigid Extremities Decoction) or similar formulas are appropriate.

Spontaneous diarrhea with thirst belongs to Shaoyin, due to cold in the Lower Jiao; spontaneous diarrhea without thirst belongs to Taiyin, due to cold in the Middle Jiao. Formulas such as Si Ni Tang should be administered to warm the zang-organs.

In Shanghan (Cold Damage), if the pulse is floating and slow, and the hands and feet are naturally warm, the condition is associated with Taiyin. Taiyin disease typically manifests with jaundice; however, if urination is normal and spontaneous, jaundice will not develop. By the seventh or eighth day, even if sudden irritability occurs with diarrhea occurring more than ten times a day, it will necessarily stop spontaneously. This is because the Spleen Qi has become substantial, allowing foul and turbid matter to be expelled.

If Taiyin disease persists to the seventh or eighth day and stool becomes hard, it indicates the disease has entered the Fu-organs and transmitted to Yangming. However, in the current scenario, at the seventh or eighth day, sudden irritability with diarrhea exceeding ten times a day indicates that Spleen Qi is substantial and foul matter is being expelled. Diarrhea accompanied by restlessness is a sign of death; here, because Spleen Qi is harmonious and expelling pathogens downward, although there is sudden irritability and frequent diarrhea, it will cease spontaneously.

Originally suffering from Taiyang disease, if the physician wrongly applies purgation, leading to abdominal fullness and occasional pain, the condition belongs to Taiyin. It should be treated with Guizhi Jia Shaoyao Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction plus White Peony Root). (Zhao's edition contains the formula for Guizhi Jia Shaoyao Tang, see Volume 10).

Since the exterior pathogen has not resolved, and the physician wrongly used purgation, the pathogen enters Taiyin via deficiency. Interior disharmony causes abdominal fullness and occasional pain. Guizhi Tang is used to release the exterior, while adding Shaoyao (White Peony Root) harmonizes the interior.

In cases of severe fullness and pain, Guizhi Jia Dahuang Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction plus Rhubarb) is indicated. (Zhao's edition contains the formula for Guizhi Jia Dahuang Tang, see Volume 10).

For conditions of extreme excess and fullness, purgation is naturally applicable; therefore, Dahuang (Rhubarb) is added to purge extreme excess.

In Taiyin disease, if the pulse is weak and the patient continues to have loose stools, if Da Huang (Rhubarb) and Shao Yao (White Peony Root) were to be used, their dosages should be reduced because the patient's Stomach Qi is weak and prone to inducing diarrhea. (Zhao's edition notes: "For patients with diarrhea, boil Shaoyao for three boils first.")

Abdominal fullness and pain indicate Taiyin disease. If the pulse is weak and the patient continues to have loose stools, although the pathogen is in the interior, it has not formed a severe excess syndrome. If one intends to use Da Huang and Shao Yao to attack fullness and pain, the dosage should be small because Stomach Qi is still weak and easily disturbed, leading to diarrhea.