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(From *Ling Shu: Ying Wei Sheng Hui Pian*)
The Yellow Emperor asked: When a person consumes hot food and drink, before the qi of the food has fully distributed, sweat appears. It may come out from the face, or from the back, or from half of the body. Why does it not follow the pathway of Wei Qi (Defensive Qi)? (After food enters the stomach, its essence qi travels to different destinations. As stated in *Jing Mai Bie Lun*: "Scattering essence to the Liver, flooding sinews with qi, turbid qi returns to the Heart, flooding vessels with essence," etc. The pathway of Wei Qi runs during the day in Yang and at night in Yin, having a constant degree. Now, with hot food just entering the stomach, its qi remains unestablished in its movement, yet sweat immediately leaks out without a fixed location. This is not following the pathway of Wei Qi, hence the question.) Qi Bo replied: This is due to external injury by Wind, which causes the interior opening of Cou Li (skin texture and pores). Hair steams and Cou Li leaks; Wei Qi rushes there, thus certainly cannot follow its normal path. (Wind is a Yang pathogen, possessing external heat. Hot food qi is fierce and rapid, possessing internal heat. Where heat gathers, it opens Cou Li, causing hair steaming and Cou Li leakage with Wei Qi rushing there, hence not following the usual path.) This qi is fierce, slippery, and rapid; seeing an opening, it exits, thus cannot follow its proper channel. Therefore, it is named Lou Xie (Leakage). (This refers to the qi of hot food; exiting without regulation, it is called Leakage. Pronounced 'piao', meaning urgent.)

(From *Su Wen: Fu Zhong Lun*)
The Yellow Emperor asked: There is a disease characterized by fullness in the heart and abdomen, where one can eat in the morning but cannot eat in the evening. What is this disease? Qi Bo answered: It is named Gu Zhang (Drum Distension). (Internal injury to Spleen and Kidney, stagnation remaining in the middle, causes fullness in the heart and abdomen, inability to continue eating, and distension like a drum, hence named Drum Distension.) The Emperor said: How should it be treated? Qi Bo said: Treat it with Ji Shi Li (Chicken Dropping Wine Decoction). One dose brings noticeable effect, two doses cure the disease. (The nature of Chicken Dropping can eliminate accumulation and direct qi downward, promoting urination and defecation; it is a formula for attacking excess pathogens. One dose shows efficacy, two doses cure. For all cases of Drum Distension caused by stagnation and excess damp-heat, it is suitable. However, for distension caused by Spleen and Kidney deficiency-cold, and middle-fullness due to qi deficiency, it is strictly contraindicated; mistaken use leads to death. According to *Pu Ji Fang*: treating middle-fullness caused by Spleen deficiency failing to control water, where water overcomes Earth, leading to failure of grain transport and qi circulation, Ji Shi Li is indicated. This explanation fails to clarify deficiency and excess, greatly deviating from the classic's intent, requiring careful examination. The method for Ji Shi Li, according to *Zheng Chuan*: Use one sheng of male chicken droppings, grind finely, stir-fry until charred, place on ground to remove fire toxicity, pour boiling water to extract juice. Take one large cup per dose, mixed with one qian each of Mu Xiang (Aucklandiae Radix) and Bing Lang (Arecae Semen), three times daily, taken on an empty stomach, stopping when symptoms resolve. Alternatively, according to *Yi Jian* and other books: Use eight he of dry male chicken droppings, stir-fry until slightly charred, add three bowls of good non-ashy wine, boil together until half remains, filter through cloth to obtain juice. Drink hot at wu geng (early morning), causing abdominal borborygmus. During Chen and Si hours (7-11 AM), pass two or three times, all black water. The next day, wrinkles gradually appear on the dorsum of feet. Drink once more, wrinkles extend to above knees, and disease cures. Of these two methods, the latter seems more convenient.) The Emperor said: Why does the disease sometimes recur? (Distension diseases often relapse.) Qi Bo said: This is because of irregular diet, hence the disease occurs occasionally. (The disease of Drum Distension originates from stagnation, so one must not indulge in diet again.) Although the disease is temporarily resolved, the pathogenic qi still gathers in the abdomen. (Although the disease is about to heal, if the Spleen is injured again, qi re-gathers.)