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Li Dongyang, the Duke of Liwen Zheng from Changsha, stated that at the age of thirty-nine, he suffered from a Spleen disease. The symptoms were an ability to eat but an inability to digest, leading him to gradually reduce his food intake until he was nearly unable to eat at all. His Qi (vital energy) became increasingly deficient, and his body grew more exhausted day by day. Physicians all diagnosed it as Zhai disease (consumptive disease/chronic deficiency), and treatment with tonifying herbs aggravated the condition. As the year drew to a close, one physician said, "My methods are exhausted." If the Wood phase becomes vigorous in spring, it will inevitably injure the Spleen Earth, severely worsening my father's condition. His father heard this with great anxiety.

At that time, an old physician named Sun Jingxiang came to examine him and predicted, "It will resolve when spring arrives." Everyone found this strange and asked for an explanation. Sun replied, "The root of the illness lies in Heart Fire; thus, it resolves through the dispersing action of Wood. Those who diagnosed it as a Spleen disease failed to investigate its root cause." He then asked, "Did you perhaps suffer from melancholy?" Li replied, "Alas, indeed so. At that time, having lost his wife and younger brother, grief and sorrow intertwined, forming a chronic illness over time. Not only did physicians fail to recognize it, but I myself had forgotten it." Consequently, Li completely discontinued his previous medications and followed Sun's advice entirely. After three days, he took only three or four doses, with each dose being modest. By spring, the illness had healed. Li sighed and said, "If physicians cannot identify diseases, how can they hope to rescue people from danger?" He further sighed, "In the world, there are many who pursue fame while neglecting substance, entrusting their lives to the hands of mediocre physicians. Had I not encountered the value of this physician, but instead entrusted myself to so-called 'famous doctors,' who would have tonified when they should not have, leading to emaciation and exhaustion without realization. I record this to warn myself." (From *Lutang Wenji*)

Sheng Wenji was renowned for his medical skills in the Wu region. A teaching official named Xie fell ill with headache, fever, and aversion to cold. Initially treated as an external contraction, some physicians treated it as Wind pathogen, applying heat-clearing measures for fever and pain-relieving measures for pain. Others treated it as Qi deficiency. Consequently, the condition worsened significantly, leading to unconsciousness and cessation of food and drink intake. His family believed death was inevitable. Xie said, "Only Sheng Wenji has not yet examined my pulse." His son was sent to invite Sheng. Upon examination, Sheng said, "You were nearly killed by misdiagnosis. The treatment must first eliminate stagnation." He prescribed Er Chen Tang (Two-Cured Decoction) with 6-7 qian of Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma). He instructed the attendants, "Boil it urgently and administer it." By midnight, if the left eye moved, the Liver Qi would relax, and profuse diarrhea would indicate a chance of survival. Around midnight, sounds were heard in the abdomen, and the left eye indeed opened. He excreted about one dou of fecal matter containing hard, egg-like masses. Dissecting them with a bamboo knife revealed phlegm-wrapped wheat flour products. Subsequently, his Qi relaxed, stagnation dispersed, fluids circulated, and he requested food. When the other physicians asked for the reason, Sheng explained, "Official Xie is from the North but has lived long in Wu. Alcohol and wheat noodles both generate dampness. Dampness injures the Spleen. Once Spleen Earth is deficient, myriad diseases arise. With such a disease, using such medicine leaves no room for doubt." All physicians were convinced.