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Wang Shishan treated a woman who experienced diarrhea for three days with every menstrual period, which would only cease after the menstruation began. Upon examining her pulse, it was found to be soggy and weak (soggy and weak indicates deficiency), pointing to Spleen deficiency. The Spleen belongs to Earth and governs dampness and blood. When menstruation is about to commence, Spleen-blood first flows into the Sea of Blood (Chong Mai) and then descends as menstrual flow. Since Spleen-blood has become deficient, it becomes too weak to properly transport and transform internal dampness. [Commentary: The terms "soggy and weak" suffice to prove Qi deficiency of the Spleen rather than Blood deficiency; the medication used was appropriate. However, the theory that "blood deficiency fails to transport" is questionable.]

Another woman, over forty years old, tall in stature but fragile in complexion, suffered from amenorrhea. Her right pulse was floating, soft, and large, while her left pulse was deficient, soft, small, and approaching rapidity. Normally, she experienced diarrhea before her menstrual period. In April of this year, she contracted wind-cold causing coughing; after taking herbal decoctions and bathing, she sweated excessively, leading to diarrhea lasting for a month. In June, following another bath, she suffered from malaria six or seven times. Although the malaria subsided, her mental clarity remained impaired. By the end of August, her menstrual flow became excessive, leukorrhea occurred intermittently, and diarrhea persisted. She felt pain in her right foot. Previously, she had sprained her heel, but now the pain extended to the buttocks, legs, waist, hypochondrium, sacrum, and neck, with pulling pain in the meridians on the right side. A single cough caused sharp, stabbing pain in the lumbar region. The symptoms were lighter during the day and heavier at night, accompanied by incessant cries of pain. Fortunately, the pain subsided slightly, and her appetite remained normal. Upon detailed analysis, excessive menstrual flow, intermittent leukorrhea, diurnal lightness with nocturnal heaviness, and unregulated diarrhea all point to Yin depletion due to lower body hemorrhage. It should be treated as Blood deficiency. However, administering Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) with pain-relieving herbs exacerbated the condition. [Commentary: Based on the pulse and syndrome differentiation, this is clearly Spleen Qi sinking. How can it be considered Yin depletion requiring Blood tonification? This is a grave error.] In September, Wang Shishan re-examined the patient and realized that this case aligns with Zhang Zhongjing’s principle of "Yang generation leads to Yin growth." Excessive menstruation, leukorrhea, and chronic diarrhea are all caused by Yang deficiency and sinking. This is termed Yang collapse. The pattern of being lighter during the day and heavier at night occurs because daytime Yang is vigorous, allowing the Spleen to perform its transporting functions effectively, thus preventing Blood stasis, resulting in lighter symptoms. At night, Yin is dominant, and Yang cannot fulfill its role, losing its normal transporting function, causing Blood to stagnate, hence heavier symptoms. Consequently, he prescribed herbs that assist Yang, such as Renshen (Radix Ginseng) and Baizhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae). After taking five to seven doses, the pain decreased. This also illustrates...