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Lü Zu (Immortal Lü) said: Only by understanding the prognosis of life and death in diseases can one practice medicine. Identifying signs of death within conditions that appear curable, and identifying signs of life within critical conditions, is not an easy task. For instance, if a patient with Shanghan disease (Cold Damage) does not sweat after seven days, they will die; this is a typical fatal condition. However, I believe that although intense pathogenic fire appears critical, it does not necessarily lead to death. Conversely, if cold-natured medicines are mistakenly used to forcibly suppress the heat, it may indeed cause death. This illustrates discerning life from within a seemingly fatal situation.

Hua Zhenren (Perfected Person Hua) said: Truly a unique and exquisite text.

Lü Zu said: In treating Lao Zhai (chronic consumptive disease), one must not use harsh or overpowering medicines. Instead, herbs with properties to clear deficient heat should be preferred. The prescription is as follows: Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmannia Root) 5 qian, Di Gu Pi (Cortex Lycii) 5 qian. (Although the number of ingredients is large, the combination is precise, yielding miraculous effects upon consumption.)

Another method is used for treating deficiency labor (Xu Lao) before it develops into typical Lao Zhai symptoms. The prescription is as follows: Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmannia Root) 1 liang, Shan Yao (Dioscorea Rhizome) 1 liang, Shan Zhu Yu (Cornus Fruit) 3 qian, Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber) 3 qian, Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra Berry) 5 qian.

If the previous prescription proves ineffective, there must be accumulation of "Lao worms" (parasitic pathogens) and corpse-like qi in the body. Another prescription is available: Gui Jian Yu (Branches of Euonymus) 3 qian, Bie Jia (Carapax et Plastrum Testudinis) 1 liang, Di Li Fen (Powder of Dioscorea esculenta/Bitter Yam) half jin, Sheng He Shou Wu (Raw Polygonum Multiflorum Rhizome) half liang. Take half of each ingredient, decoct with water, and take orally; efficacy will be achieved.

Ge Zhenren said: This disease is difficult to treat; it is either biased towards heat or bias towards cold; either more clearing agents are used, or more tonifying agents are used. At that time, there was no standard formula to follow. Now, with Lü Zu's formula, slight adjustments can be made for concurrent administration, allowing water to overcome fire, resolving the condition of chronic yin deficiency. It seems to involve using Di Huang Pi (Bark of Rehmannia Root) 1.5 qian, Shan Yao (Dioscorea Rhizome)... Those who skillfully use Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill)...

Liu Zhenren said: Once Lao disease has fully formed, it is the most difficult to treat, because parasites consume the person's qi and blood. If one merely tonifies qi and blood without knowing how to use antiparasitic substances, even after food intake... (text fragment) Add antiparasitic substances 8 liang, Bie Jia (Carapax et Plastrum Testudinis)... grind into a paste and form pills.

Cao Xian (Immortal Cao) said: For cases where Lao disease has not yet formed but is about to develop, the prescription is as follows: Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmannia Root) 1 liang, Di Gu Pi (Cortex Lycii) 5 qian, Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix) 5 fen, Bei Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra Chinensis Fruit) 5 fen, Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome) 1 qian, Shan Yao (Dioscorea Rhizome) 3 qian, Bai Jie Zi (Sinapis Semen) 1 qian. Decoct with water and take orally. The brilliance lies in mild tonification, avoiding the drawback of excessive bias. Although Shu Di Huang is used in large quantities, Ren Shen and Bai Zhu promote qi movement, naturally counteracting its cloying and stagnating nature, thus achieving rapid results. If people mistakenly believe that Ren Shen and Bai Zhu assist yang, and that Shu Di Huang is overly dampening, they fail to understand the key principle.

Liu Shouzhen said: I have a prescription that is miraculously effective in treating Lao worms. Fei Zi (Torreya Seed) half jin, Bie Jia (Carapax et Plastrum Testudinis) 1 jin, Di Li Fen (Powder of Dioscorea esculenta) 8 liang, Da Gan (Liver of Hydrurga leptonyx/Sea Otter Liver) 1 piece, Bai Wei (Cynanchum Atratum Root) 4... (text fragment)