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The *Shuowen Jiezi* defines "Shan" (Hernia/Abdominal Pain) as pain in the abdomen. The *Shiming* explains that "Shan" is homophonous with "Shen," referring to Qi rushing upward. Therefore, abdominal pain caused by rebellious Qi ascending is what is meant by "Shan"; Xu Shen's explanation was brief, while Liu Xi's was detailed! The "Han Shan" (Cold Hernia) in the *Jin Gui Yao Lue* precisely refers to this condition; hence, it is placed after the chapter on abdominal fullness and is not grouped with "Hu Shan" (Fox Hernia). None of its individual textual entries mention the anterior genitalia even once. Chao Yuanfang of the Sui Dynasty understood this principle; thus, the various hernia syndromes recorded in the *Bing Yuan* (*Zhu Bing Yuan Hou Lun*) also do not involve the anterior genitalia. Precisely because "Shan" is not a disease of the anterior genitalia or testicles, women can also suffer from it. Examples include "Jue Shan" (Rebellious Hernia) in the *Su Wen*, and categories such as "Xue Shan" (Blood Hernia) and "Shi Shan" (Stone Hernia) in the *Wai Tai Mi Yao*. "Shan" takes "Han Shan" (Cold Hernia) as the orthodox type. As for conditions like "Hu Shan" (Fox Hernia) that are primarily associated with the anterior genitalia, they are named "Shan" only because they are accompanied by abdominal pain; if they do not accompany abdominal pain, they are directly referred to as "Yin Suo" (Yin Retraction) or "Yin Leng" (Yin Cold). There is a clear logic to be found within the classical texts. In recent times, people have taken "Hu Shan" (Fox Hernia) as the orthodox "Shan," thereby failing to recognize what disease the "Han Shan" (Cold Hernia) in the *Jin Gui Yao Lue* represents, leading to the abandonment of formulas containing herbs such as Wutou (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata). By the time of Zhang Shiwen's *Zhang Shi Yi Tong* and Xu Lingtai's *Gui Fan* (likely referring to his works on medical principles), "Hu Shan" and "Han Shan" were merged into a single category, and those with superficial understanding further categorized them as "Gan Qi" (Liver Qi) disorders.

The *Su Wen* contains the term "Ge" (Obstruction), the *Shang Han Lun* contains "Ge" (Repulsion), and the *Bing Yuan*, *Qian Jin Fang*, and *Wai Tai Mi Yao* contain "Ge" (Diaphragm/Qi Stagnation). Their pronunciations and meanings are similar, but essentially they are not what is currently referred to as "Ge" (Dysphagia/Regurgitation syndrome). Why is this so? "Ge" refers to difficulty in excretion (Classics state "Yang obstruction leads to difficulty in excretion"; Wang Bing's commentary frequently uses "Ge," meaning blocked and obstructed, leading to inability to discharge). This corresponds to the stagnation at the Guanyuan point mentioned in Zhongjing's writings, and the internal closure and external repulsion described in formula books. "Ge" refers to vomiting and regurgitation (seen in *Shang Han Ping Mai Fa*; Wang Bing's commentary on the *Su Wen* also uses this term), taking its meaning from the concept of repulsion/barrier. "Ge" (as in Diaphragm Qi) refers to Qi stagnation in the diaphragm region. It has five subtypes and varied symptoms, but all are caused by cold, food retention, and Qi knotting. These differ significantly in severity from the current "Ge" (Dysphagia). Treating "Ge" (Obstruction) can benefit the two bowels; treating "Ge" (Repulsion) can calm the Stomach Qi (based on Zhongjing's Gan Jiang Huang Qin Huang Lian Ren Shen Tang syndrome); treating "Ge" (Diaphragm Qi) can circulate Yang Qi. However, the "Ge" (Dysphagia) discussed today refers to what Xu of Wujiang described as a withered stomach opening unable to receive food. This is actually the extreme stage of "Ye" (Choking/Dysphagia) and "Fan Wei" (Regurgitation), belonging to the "Six Extremes" (Liu Ji), and thus often results in death with no medicinal cure available. One must not conflate them simply because the characters "Ge" (Diaphragm) and "Ge" (Dysphagia) are identical, or because "Ge" (Obstruction), "Ge" (Repulsion), and "Ge" (Dysphagia) share similar pronunciations.