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After the treatment of purgation for warm epidemic, both Qi and Blood are deficient. The spirit is unclear and confused; the patient only wishes to sleep facing inward on the bed, in a state between sleeping and waking, unresponsive to calls. This indicates that the Righteous Qi (Zheng Qi, healthy energy) has been depleted. Rather than administering inappropriate medication, it is better to remain quiet and wait for the Righteous Qi to recover naturally; then the spirit will clear, and speech will gradually become distinct. If attack methods are used now, the pulse will likely become rapid, and the four limbs will gradually become cold. This is the disaster of "making deficiency more deficient," with danger imminent at dawn or dusk. For any such syndrome where there is no significant heat in the exterior or interior, Ren Shen Yang Rong Tang (Ginseng Nourishing Harmony Decoction) should be used to tonify. If the patient can eat, the Righteous Qi will naturally recover, and the aforementioned symptoms will disappear spontaneously; if they cannot eat, the Righteous Qi will be further depleted, and the deficiency syndrome will worsen, requiring vigorous tonification.

In the spring months, when grasses are dry, they flourish only after receiving rain nourishment; in the late winter, dead branches remain unmoistened even if irrigated. Elderly people are most contraindicated against depletion and exploitation. If Cheng Qi Tang (Purgative Decoction) formulas are administered, the damage is tenfold compared to the benefit; if Ginseng (Ren Shen) and Atractylodes (Bai Zhu) are used, the effect is less than one-tenth of what is needed. This is because the Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) Qi of the elderly are withered and stagnant, and their minute Yuan (Original) Qi is easily consumed and difficult to restore. This differs from youths, whose Qi and Blood have very rapid vitality. Their condition is such that once the pathogenic factor is removed, the Righteous Qi recovers immediately. Therefore, the elderly should cautiously use purgation, and youths should cautiously use tonification, let alone misuse them! However, for those who are elderly but have robust constitution, or young but have weak constitution, adjustments must be made according to circumstances, and one should not rely solely on general rules.

Warm epidemic presenting with fullness and distension below the heart indicates that the pathogen is in the interior. If one purely uses aromatic, dry, and Qi-breaking herbs such as Qing Pi (Green Tangerine Peel), Zhi Shi (Immature Bitter Orange), and Bing Lang (Areca Seed) hoping to relieve the distension, this is a great error. One fails to realize that internal obstruction and Qi closure originally distinguish between the host (Ben Qi, intrinsic Qi) and the guest (Ke Xie, extrinsic pathogen). Suppose the root lies in emotional depression and anger causing Liver Qi to rise, or excessive eating causing Stomach Qi to become filled and solid, without interference from external toxic pathogens or guest pathogens. It is merely an internal stagnation of one's own Qi. Administering herbs like Mu Xiang (Aucklandia Root), Sha Ren (Amomum Fruit), Dou Kou (Cardamom), and Zhi Ke (Bitter Orange Peel) will cause the rising Qi to descend and the closed Qi to open, yielding visible effects. Now, however, epidemic toxic Qi has transmitted to the chest and stomach, causing dysfunction of ascending and descending Qi, leading to distension. This is actually the guest pathogen affecting the host Qi. Once the guest pathogen is removed, the host Qi will naturally ascend and descend, and the distension will vanish immediately. If one exclusively uses Qi-breaking agents, they can only break the Righteous Qi; how can the toxic pathogen be excreted? How can the distension be resolved? The treatment method requires Xiao Cheng Qi Tang (Minor Purgative Decoction) to achieve cure. Subsequently, due to dryness and constipation in the intestines and stomach, lower blockage prevents the middle Qi from circulating freely, causing upper Jiao Qi to fail to descend and accumulate. Even if residual pathogens remain in the Mo Yuan (Membrane Source), there is no path forward. Thus, the exterior, interior, upper, middle, and lower Jiao are all obstructed, resulting in the syndrome of痞满燥实 (fullness, distension, dryness, and solidity). Administration of Da Cheng Qi Tang (Major Purgative Decoction) opens one aperture, thereby opening all apertures; once the major gate is opened, all minor gates are cleared. The pathogens previously stagnated in the intestines and stomach descend through this route. Once the intestines and stomach are relaxed, any residual pathogens remaining in the Mo Yuan can reach the stomach and descend with momentum. It is like a blocked river: once the front boat moves, the following boats follow in succession. At this point, the pathogenic accumulation is expelled, and distension is instantly relieved, all relying on the power of Da Huang (Rhubarb Rhizome). Da Huang is inherently not a Qi-breaking herb; due to its moistening and strongly descending nature, it can expel pathogens and extract toxins, break accumulations, and guide stagnation. Zhi Shi and Hou Po (Magnolia Bark) are added merely as assistant and guiding herbs. If purely Qi-breaking substances are used, body fluids are further depleted, heat accumulation becomes more fixed, stagnant Qi has no outlet, and epidemic toxins have no path to escape. To expect these to broaden the chest and benefit the diaphragm is extremely deluded.