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Tian Shi (Heavenly Master) said: The so-called "treatment by deception" refers to using formulas intended for false heat to treat diseases manifesting as false heat, and using drugs intended for false cold to treat symptoms manifesting as false cold. For instance, if a person suffers from sore throat, dry mouth, dry tongue, and fever, people may assume it is a heat syndrome, but it is not actually heat; rather, it is true cold internally with false heat externally manifested. Conversely, if a person has ice-cold hands and feet, experiences limb reversal (Jue Ni), or trembles and fears cold, people may assume it is a cold syndrome, but it is not actually cold; rather, it is true heat internally with false cold externally manifested. At such times, if the diagnosis is not accurate, life and death can change in an instant. I use medicines for treating false heat to address symptoms of false cold, and medicines for treating false cold to address diseases of false heat; this is employing the false against the false.

The formula for false cold consists of: Fuzi (Aconite Lateralis Radix Preparata) 1 qian, Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex) 1 qian, Renshen (Ginseng Radix) 3 qian, Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) 5 qian, half a pig bile, and 3 spoons of bitter vegetable juice. First, decoct the first four herbs in two bowls of water. Then, cool the decoction by soaking it in ice water. Add the pig bile and bitter vegetable juice, mix well, and take all at once for immediate recovery. This formula contains entirely hot-natured drugs. If taken warm, they would likely cause deficient fire to rush upward and be vomited out entirely. By taking hot drugs cold, I sufficiently align with their nature to guide them downward. Moreover, the bitterness of the bitter vegetable juice and bile serves to deceive and bypass the defensive barriers established by the false heat above. This is because when there are heat symptoms in the upper jiao, the lower jiao must be extremely cold. When hot drugs enter and reach the lower jiao, they meet what is welcomed there. However, the "gates" of the lower jiao are guarded by "strong thieves" (pathogenic factors). Without sending in "spies" (the cooling/bitter agents), entry will surely be rejected. With no supplies inside and no reinforcements outside, what can be done? Now, I use bile and vegetable juice as gifts to win over the guards at the gate. Not only will they not reject us, but they will also guide our troops into the territory. This is precisely the strategy of "borrowing a path to destroy Guo," is it not?

As for the formula for false heat, it is different. Within the chest and heart, there is a mass of evil fire entrenched in the middle jiao. If one does not strike directly at the core to capture the chief culprit, how can the remaining factions scatter? However, if the military strategy is flawed, the enemy will resist to the death, making rescue impossible. The formula uses: Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) 3 qian, Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) 2 qian, Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) 3 qian, Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) 3 qian, Chao Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus Praeparatus) 2 qian, Banxia (Pinelliae Tuber) 3 qian, Zhiqiao (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus) 1 qian, Fuling (Poria) 3 qian, and Shichangpu (Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma) 3 fen. Decoct in water and take orally. The brilliance of this formula lies in using Huanglian alone to penetrate directly into the Heart Meridian; assisted by Zhizi as a vice-general, striking straight in to disperse all evil; further using Chaihu and Baishao to cut off the enemy's supply lines; and employing Banxia and Zhiqiao to slaughter the remnants. Once the central plains are pacified, the four corners will submit without battle. However, since fire and heat reside in the center, if not used appropriately, the thief's momentum will become even more rampant, preventing direct penetration. Therefore, Shichangpu, which is pungent and hot, is added. Taking it while hot allows the hot medicine to harmonize with the hot environment, avoiding conflict and instead assisting each other. This is another subtle application of the treatment-by-deception method.

Lord Zhang said: Your explanation is thorough and satisfying; what more could I say? However, false heat and false cold are not limited to these two syndromes. Let me elaborate further. For example, if a person suffers from panting and restlessness, with phlegm-saliva sounding like sawing without cessation, people may assume it is heat, but it is not. It is due to extreme cold in the lower origin forcing fire to float upward, causing panting. This is the most urgent and critical syndrome. If one does not urgently tonify the Fire of the Gate of Life (Mingmen) and Kidney Water, that slender thread of weak yang will inevitably sever. The formula uses: Shudi (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata) 4 liang, Shanzhuyu (Corni Fructus) 3 liang, Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix) 3 liang, Bei Wuwei Zi (Schisandrae Fructus) 1 liang, Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix) 1 liang, Fuzi (Aconite Lateralis Radix Preparata) 1 qian, and Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex) 1 qian. Take cold after soaking in ice water; one dose brings recovery. Fuzi and Rougui are potent drugs that break through gates and seize doors; their nature is extremely hot. If not placed within Shudi, Shanzhuyu, and Bei Wuwei Zi, the lone yang would surge upward boiling violently due to the intense heat. The妙 (wonder) of the formula lies in using Shudi and Shanzhuyu to sufficiently support the fire; Maidong nourishes the source of Lung Metal transformation, enabling Metal to generate Water, and sufficient Water generates Fire, preventing Fire from flying wildly. Furthermore, Niuxi guides the action downward rather than upward. Crucially, soaking in ice water deceives the heat of the upper jiao, allowing the medicine to reach the Kidney Palace. Once the Kidney Palace is warmed, the upper jiao becomes cool, and the fire returns to its residence. What worry remains regarding panting and phlegm? Additionally, some suffer from red and swollen eyes persisting for years. People assume it is heat, but do not realize it is not; it is also Kidney Fire rising and failing to descend. The method uses Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia), adding Maidong, Juhua (Chrysanthemi Flos), Baishao, and Danggui, each 3 liang, and Chaihu 5 qian. Grind all into powder and form pills with honey. Swallow 5 qian daily; one course guarantees complete recovery. Although this disease is mild, many people suffer from it, confused and unenlightened, so I specifically highlight it. Although this is not strictly a treatment-by-deception method, the symptoms are indeed false heat, allowing for analogical extension. Regarding the method for false cold, none is more exquisite than the formula of Tian Shi Qi (referring to the skilled physician mentioned earlier); it can govern such cases generally, so I will not repeat it.

Lord Hua said: I agree.