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Pan Yuancong, the Supervisor of the Guard, suffered from acute throat obstruction (Hou Bi). Sun Simiao was summoned. He took powder from his pocket and blew it into the patient's throat. After a short while, Pan vomited pus and blood, and recovered immediately. Pan offered one hundred taels of gold as a reward and wished to obtain the prescription for emergencies. Sun Simiao imparted the formula to him: equal parts of Zhi Ya Zao (Gleditsia Sinensis Fruit with Spines), Bai Fan (Alum), and Huang Lian (Coptis Chinensis Rhizome), dried on a new tile and ground into powder. One qian was taken per dose. Sun said, "A divine prescription is priceless; how can it be exchanged for profit?" Thus, he refused the gift.

Wen Lubgong (Wen Yanbo) once suffered from throat swelling, which worsened over three days. The Emperor summoned Sun Simiao to treat him. Sun said, "This illness requires a brush from the Chancellor to cure." He dipped the brush tip in medicine and touched it to the throat, concealing a needle within the brush tip, and pricked the area at will. Wen fainted, and his attendants were shocked. Sun said, "It is not that I cannot save the Chancellor from this emergency; in an instant, he will vomit several sheng of pus and blood, and recover in ten days." Upon meeting the Emperor later, the Emperor rejoiced, saying, "Sun Simiao is truly a good physician." From this, we see that throat obstruction is caused by the stagnation of evil blood. In treating such acute conditions, one must first disperse the pathogen; if ineffective, then resolve phlegm; if still ineffective, then remove stagnant blood.

Yang Lizhi, Prefect of Guangzhou, suffered from painful ulceration of the throat and could not eat. He sent an official to summon Ji Lao for diagnosis. Ji Lao said, "No medicine is needed; simply eat one slice of fresh ginger, and you will be saved." Yang's son showed reluctance, asking how one could consume spicy food with a sore throat. Yang said, "Ji Lao is a divine physician; eating it will do no harm." So, he ate one slice, found the flavor extraordinary, and gradually consumed more than half a jin. The throat swelling subsided instantly, and his appetite returned. Yang thanked Ji Lao and asked for the explanation. Ji Lao said, "The Chancellor often eats partridge meat. Partridges like to eat Pinellia ternata seedlings, so he likely ingested their toxicity. Only ginger can detoxify this, hence the efficacy."

There are five types of diarrhea (Xie Xie): Pi Xie (Spleen Diarrhea), Wei Xie (Stomach Diarrhea), Da Chang Xie (Large Intestine Diarrhea), Xiao Chang Xie (Small Intestine Diarrhea), and Da Jia Xie (Large Constriction Diarrhea). However, tracing the source, it is generally caused by dampness infiltrating due to Spleen disease. Summarizing the treatment principle, nothing is more important than strengthening the Spleen and leaching out dampness. As for diarrhea associated with Phlegm-Fire disease, this belongs to deficiency of both Spleen and Kidney. Why? Because Kidney decline fails to secure, and Spleen weakness fails to transform. When Spleen Qi is deficient, the Qi of the Lanmen (gate separating clear and turbid fluids) is also deficient, thus failing to separate clear from turbid, causing water and dregs to mix into the Large Intestine. Hence, stools may be loose or diarrheic. The method should use Shi Tu (Solidifying Earth/Spleen tonification) as the sovereign herb, Yi Shui (Benefiting Water/Kidney tonification) as the minister, Qing Jin (Clearing Metal/Lung clearing) as the assistant, and Dou Se (Astringing/Stopping diarrhea) as the courier. "Shi Tu" refers to Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome), Bai Shao (White Peony Root), and Shan Yao (Dioscorea Opposita Tuber). "Yi Shui" refers to Guo Zhi (Psoralea Fructus/Bu Gu Zhi) and Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra Berry). "Qing Jin" refers to Wu Wei Zi, Dong Hua Tian (Asparagus Cochinchinensis Root/Tian Dong), Dong Hua Mai (Ophiopogon Japonicus Tuber/Mai Dong), and Sha Shen (Glehnia Root). "Dou Se" refers to He Zi (Chebula Fruit), Rou Kou (Nutmeg), Lian Rou (Lotus Seed Cotyledon), and Qian Shi (Euryale Seed). When Kidney Qi is solid, it secures naturally; when Spleen Qi is solid, it transforms naturally; when Metal Qi is clear and肃 (solemn/clear), it functions naturally. Even if there is external cold and internal heat, or food stagnation, one should only disperse and guide digestion, never blindly attack with purgatives. Attacking pathogens harms righteous Qi, and might stir up slippery heat, making it difficult to control.

I believe diarrhea is the beginning of Yin loss and fluid depletion. For those with Phlegm-Fire disease suffering from diarrhea, it is like dead leaves after frost, rarely failing to wither and fall. Why? Because Yin deficiency generates fire, and diarrhea further depletes Yin, causing Clear Yang Qi to sink further and Ministerial Fire flames to rise higher. This leads to lower urgency and upper throat pain, with various symptoms arising. At this moment, trying to strengthen the Earth (Spleen) hinders the Lung (Metal), and trying to clear the Metal (Lung) obstructs the Spleen. Can physicians avoid being hindered? Temporarily use herbs that fortify Earth and clear Metal, grind them into powder, make pills, and take them slowly. This follows the intent of not violating the Harmony of Heaven. Ban Gu said, "Having an illness but not seeking medical help yields a 'middle doctor' (average outcome); this is exactly what is meant."