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Princess Li Wang suffered from a throat abscess for several days, experiencing swelling and pain, unable to eat or drink. When the imperial physicians were summoned, they stated that incision with needles and knives was necessary to drain the pus. Upon hearing this, the princess cried and refused treatment; the pain forced her to abstain from food and water. Suddenly, a folk physician appeared, saying, "I do not use blades or needles; I will merely dip the tip of a brush in medicine and apply it to the abscess, which will rupture instantly." The princess was delighted and ordered him to be called. After only two applications of the medicine, the abscess ruptured, discharging over a cup of pus and blood. She immediately felt relief from pain, and within two days, the wound healed. The method is now transmitted: the physician explained that a needle is tied inside the center of the brush, and by gently drawing it across the swollen area, the abscess ruptures and disperses. (*Records of Famous Physicians*. This is identical to the method of Yuan Jiusi in previous cases. For throat diseases requiring needling, this method is excellent, hence recorded first.)

In the fifth year of the Yuan dynasty, from spring to autumn, people in Qi and Huang prefectures suffered from acute throat bi (sudden sore throat with difficulty swallowing), with eight or nine out of ten dying; some died within half a day or one day. Pan Changyan, the Vice Prefect of Huangzhou, obtained the Black Dragon Ointment formula and saved thousands. This formula treats nine types of throat bi: using forty large pods of *Gleditsia sinensis* (Tang Shen), sliced, soaked in three dou of water overnight, decocted until reduced to one and a half dou; add half liang of powdered *Panax ginseng* (Ren Shen) and one liang of powdered *Glycyrrhiza uralensis* (Gan Cao); decoct until reduced to five sheng, strain, add one sheng of unadulterated wine and two spoonfuls of soot from the pot bottom; decoct until thick like syrup, bottle and seal, bury in the ground overnight. Each time, dissolve one spoonful in warm wine and swallow, or sweep into the throat. Continue until all foul phlegm is expelled, then hold several slices of *Glycyrrhiza uralensis* (Gan Cao) in the mouth. (*Compendium of Materia Medica*.)

Sun Zhao treated Duke Wen Lu, who developed a swollen throat one day. The Imperial Academy's Throat Department treated him, but after three days, the condition worsened. The Emperor summoned Sun to treat him. Sun said, "You must obtain one of the Chancellor's judgment brushes, remove the brush head, moisten it with water, and dab it into the throat to cure him." Sun immediately stabbed with the handle; the Duke fainted and lost consciousness, causing his attendants to be startled and sweat profusely. Sun said, "It is not that I cannot save the Chancellor." Shortly after, the Duke vomited over a sheng of pus, and after more than ten days, he recovered as before. Meeting the Emperor, the Emperor rejoiced, saying, "Sun Zhao is an excellent physician, truly skilled." (This is the same needle method as the folk physician mentioned above.)

Sun Yaban treated Du Zhi Pan Yuancong, who suffered from throat obstruction (throat bi). Sun blew half a qian of medicine into the throat; shortly after, the patient vomited pus and blood and was instantly cured. Pan visited Sun to thank him, saying, "For such an urgent affliction, only you could save me. To relieve others' urgency, only medicine can heal." He offered one hundred taels of gold and wished to obtain the formula to aid in emergencies. Sun said, "Use equal parts of pig-tooth *Gleditsia sinensis* (Zao Jiao), alum (Bai Fan), and *Coptis chinensis* (Huang Lian); dry them on new tiles and grind into powder." He gave the formula immediately but did not accept the gift. (*Ten Thousand Diseases Returned to Spring*. The formula has been seen in previous cases.)

Dou Cai treated a man suffering from throat bi, with phlegm and qi attacking upward, causing throat swelling and blockage. He moxa Tian Tu (CV-22) fifty moxibustion cones; the patient could then consume porridge. One dose of Ginger and Aconite Decoction (Jiang Fu Tang) cured him. This treats the Lung. Another man suffered from throat bi, with coarse swelling of the jaw and chin, unable to take porridge or medicine, cold limbs, and deep, fine pulses throughout. He urgently received two hundred moxibustion cones at Guan Yuan (CV-4); only then did his limbs warm up, and the pulses gradually reappear. However, the throat remained swollen, so he was still instructed to take Yellow Drug Powder (Huang Yao Zi San); after vomiting one he of thick phlegm, he was cured. This treats the Kidney.

Another man suffered from throat bi, with fine pulses throughout. Dou Cai moxa Guan Yuan (CV-4) two hundred cones, and the pulses gradually reappeared. One physician said, "This is a heat syndrome; attacking it with fire is like carrying firewood to put out a fire." He administered a dose of cooling medicine; the pulses became deep again, and the throat swelled further. With no other options, the physician used a sharp knife to stab the swollen area, releasing a cup of blood, and the patient was cured. This syndrome contraindicates cooling medicines; phlegm congeals when exposed to cold. Thus, using a knife to release lung blood caused the swelling to subside.

Zhang Zihe treated a woman suffering from throat swelling and blockage, unable to take broth or porridge; the swelling persisted for several days. Since medicine was difficult to administer and needling was ineffective, he decocted *Angelica sinensis* (Dang Gui), *Schizonepeta tenuifolia* (Jing Jie), and *Glycyrrhiza uralensis* (Gan Cao), had the patient gargle while hot, and immersed her hands in cold water. Within five or six days, the pain decreased, swelling subsided, and diet returned to normal. Throat diseases are very urgent; one must not recklessly administer needles or medicines.

Lou Quanshan treated a man with throat bi, needling the Da Xi point (likely Tai Xi, KI-3) to release half a cup of dark blood, curing him. From this, we see that throat bi is caused by the failure of foul blood to disperse. In treating this disease, acute cases must first be dispersed. If dispersion fails, next address phlegm. If that fails, next remove dirty blood.

Xue Lizhai treated a woman with throat pain; after more than ten days, sudden swelling resembling red mulberry berries occurred. Two months later, it ulcerated but did not heal, accompanied by body-wide bone and tendon pain, unresponsive to various medicines. (This was likely epidemic syphilis.) First, she took Earth Ban Xia Decoction (Tu Bi Xie Tang) for several doses until it healed. Then, Four Substances Decoction (Si Wu Tang) was used, doubling the dosage of *Smilax glabra* (Tu Fu Ling) and *Phellodendron amurense* (Huang Bai); after more than twenty doses, all symptoms resolved.

Xue Lizhai treated Shi Shewei from Futian, who suffered from throat bi. He prescribed Wind Protection and Unblocking Great Powder (Fang Feng Tong Sheng San), but the swelling prevented swallowing. This case required needling, but the jaw was locked. He therefore needled Shao Shang (LU-11) to release blood, immediately opening the mouth. He then blew Alum (Dan Fan) onto the affected area; after vomiting one or two bowls of phlegm, he administered the previous medicine again, and the patient recovered. It is common for patients fearing needling to die if not treated. (The method of hiding a needle in a brush tip is extremely ingenious.) Shao Shang is located on the medial side of the thumb, about the width of a leek leaf from the corner of the nail.

Xue Lizhai treated County Magistrate Yu, who suffered from throat bi with swelling, pain, chills, and fever. This involved the Hand Shaoyin Heart Fire and Foot Shaoyin Ministerial Fire; the condition was severe. Only needling the affected area to release blood was superior. Because he feared needling, Xue first administered Cooling Diaphragm Powder (Liang Ge San), but the medicine came out through the nose. Urgently, he agreed to needling, but the jaw was tight. He then needled both Shao Shang (LU-11) points, squeezing out dark blood by hand, which opened the mouth. He then needled the throat, treated with the previous medicine, and blew Golden Lock Key (Jin Suo Chi) powder, resulting in immediate improvement. He then administered Ginseng and Detoxifying Powder (Ren Shen Bai Du San) added with *Scutellaria baicalensis* (Huang Qin), *Coptis chinensis* (Huang Lian), *Scrophularia ningpoensis* (Yuan Shen), and *Aucklandia lappa* (Niu Bang Zi) for four doses, resolving the condition. The Classic states: "For constrained fire, vent it." Venting refers to sweating; releasing blood is one aspect of sweating. Cooling Diaphragm Powder consists of *Forsythia suspensa* (Lian Qiao), *Rheum palmatum* (Da Huang), *Mirabilite* (Mang Xiao), *Glycyrrhiza uralensis* (Gan Cao), *Scutellaria baicalensis* (Huang Qin), *Mentha haplocalyx* (Bo He), and *Gardenia jasminoides* (Zhi Zi).

Vice Director Zhang Ruhán suffered from throat pain, worsening in the late afternoon. This was deficiency of qi and blood with internal heat; Eight Treasures Decoction (Ba Zhen Tang) cured him. Later, after intercourse, he experienced fever and headache; he regularly took Tonify the Middle and Augment Qi Decoction (Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang) added with *Ophiopogon japonicus* (Mai Dong) and *Schisandra chinensis* (Wu Wei Zi), along with Six Ingredients Pill (Liu Wei Wan), preventing recurrence.

A scholar, after completing the three examination sessions, suddenly suffered from throat swelling and closure, loss of consciousness, panting with surging phlegm, sweating like water, flaccid limbs, and floating, large, rapid pulses. This was due to excessive diet and labor, causing deficient fire to flare upward. Tonify the Middle and Augment Qi Decoction (Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang) added with *Cinnamomum cassia* (Rou Gui) cured him in one dose. (For patterns of upper excess and lower deficiency, this formula should not be used lightly.)

Assistant Li suffered from throat swelling and pain, with sores on the mouth and tongue. This was wind-heat in the Upper Jiao. First, Jing Fang Detoxifying Powder (Jing Fang Bai Du San) for two doses gradually improved the throat phlegm. Then, Scrophularia and Cimicifuga Decoction (Yuan Shen Sheng Ma Tang) cured the mouth and tongue sores.

Sun Wenyuan treated his niece-in-law, who had afternoon throat swelling, frequent dizziness and fainting due to phlegm (two to three times daily), headache, and flushed face. She had never given birth; the left pulse was wiry and large, the right cun and guan pulses slippery, large, and forceful. He decocted *Schizonepeta tenuifolia* (Jing Jie), *Mentha haplocalyx* (Bo He), *Glycyrrhiza uralensis* (Gan Cao), *Platycodon grandiflorus* (Jie Geng), *Scrophularia ningpoensis* (Yuan Shen), *Bombyx batryticatus* (Jiang Can), *Bupleurum chinense* (Chai Hu), *Citrus aurantium* (Zhi Ke), *Bambusa vulgaris* juice (Zhu Ru), and *Fritillaria cirrhosa* (Bei Mu) in water. After two doses, she slept that night. However, she still had back distension, palpitations, unclear phlegm, and facial heat. He used *Scutellaria baicalensis* (Huang Qin), *Citrus aurantium* (Zhi Ke), *Glycyrrhiza uralensis* (Gan Cao), *Morus alba* root bark (Sang Bai Pi), *Lycium barbarum* root bark (Di Gu Pi), *Trichosanthes kirilowii* root (Tian Hua Fen), *Scrophularia ningpoensis* (Yuan Shen), *Peucedanum praeruptorum* (Qian Hu), *Pinellia ternata* fermented (Ban Xia Qu), *Citrus reticulata* peel (Ju Hong), and *Gardenia jasminoides* (Zhi Zi) to regulate and stabilize her.

Zhang Jingyue treated Wang Pengque, aged thirty, who suffered from throat bi for over ten days. His head and face were swollen and large, the throat extremely coarse, with shortness of breath, hoarseness, throat swelling, and mouth sores, causing severe pain. A maid supported his back; he sat but could not lie down for days. His pulse was extremely fine, rapid, weak, and minute. His voice was faint, as if unable to resonate. All medicines taken were *Scutellaria baicalensis* (Huang Qin), *Coptis chinensis* (Huang Lian), *Gardenia jasminoides* (Zhi Zi), and *Phellodendron amurense* (Huang Bai). This injury originated from yin damage, exacerbated by cold-cooling medicines, causing extreme cold below and blocking yang above. Water and drinks were difficult to enter, and he feared irritability and heat. Zhang said, "Dangerous! Delay by half a day, and he will certainly not be saved." He prescribed Calming Yin Decoction (Zhen Yin Jian), cooled with cold water, and slowly let him swallow it. One dose eliminated head and neck swelling and pain. Subsequently, Five Blessings Decoction (Wu Fu Yin) was used for several doses, and he recovered.

The wife of the Lai family, nearing thirty, suffered from deficiency consumption and throat herpes pain. Many physicians failed; her pulse was rapid but powerless, with loose stools. All medicines taken were fire-clearing and heat-reducing agents, yet the throat pain worsened. Knowing this was not excess fire, and that excessive cold-cooling had weakened the abdomen, it was also a type of false heat (ge yang). He alternately used Reconciling Yin Decoction (Li Yin Jian) and Great Supplement to Origin Decoction (Da Bu Yuan Jian). Within half a month, throat pain decreased; within half a year, the disease completely resolved.

Jingyue, in Yanjing, once saw a girl of marriageable age in mid-autumn. Without prior illness, her throat orifice became tight and dry, breathing difficult. Within half a day, the tightness worsened. Her pulse showed no heat. Her throat had no swelling or pain. Her face was clear, eyes staring, unable to speak; her voice was thin as a needle, breathing strained as a thread, stretching her neck to survive, a pitiful sight. (According to symptoms, this is definitely not an external pathogen; if Zuogui Wan combined with Sheng Mai San were administered, she might have survived.) Jingyue suspected it but could not understand. He thought wind-pathogen blocked the throat orifice, requiring acrid-warm dispersal. He thus used Er Chen Tang added with fresh ginger. (Alas! Ignorant quacks!) It had no effect. He intended to use Single Ginseng Decoction (Du Shen Tang) to save the lungs. (Ye Tianshi said: "If lung qi is exhausted, there must be spontaneous sweating and panting. This is death by blocked orifices; using ginseng would further close the qi, how could she not die? Jingyue's statement harms people deeply.") Seeing the critical situation, fearing slander, he ultimately dared not act. Other physicians also stood helpless. She died after one day and night. Another person died similarly later. For these two, Jingyue never understood the cause of their illness, a lifelong doubt, causing him great shame. He believed it must be lung qi exhaustion. If he encountered this again, he feared only Single Ginseng Decoction could save her. He wrote this to await future scholars.

Commentary: Danxi said, for throat swelling and pain, if yin deficiency causes yang qi to fly away, with phlegm knotting above, the pulse must be floating and large, and deep pressing reveals choppy quality; this is near death. It is appropriate to decoct a single ingredient of *Panax ginseng* (Ren Shen) strongly and sip it slowly. If treated as an excess syndrome, disaster follows instantly. Observing this, how can Danxi's learning be despised? The words in *Zhuan Zhong Lu*, if Danxi knew, would surely cause shame.

Ye Tianshi said: "Locking Throat Wind" is a fabricated name. Diseases include closed syndrome and collapsed syndrome. Closed syndrome: airway blockage, orifices不通, leading to death. Collapsed syndrome: massive sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, leading to collapse and death. Closed syndrome requires urgent opening of orifices; collapsed syndrome requires tonifying deficiency and consolidating. This girl's disease is a closed syndrome. Women are prone to emotional attachment; those with stubborn, depressed natures are many. Of marriageable age, there are matters difficult to speak of. Anger and depression prevent liver qi from coursing freely, certainly not for just one day. Entering autumn, liver qi becomes more constrained. Or eating raw/cold foods, or catching cold, depresses liver qi. Liver nature is urgent; upon stimulation, it erupts, affecting the orifices of heart and lung above. Unable to speak, without swelling or pain, seeing blue complexion indicates liver disease. The Classic says: "Acute diseases and sudden deaths all belong to fire." Fire constrained internally cannot reach exterior, thus resembling cold syndrome. Orifices blocked, meridians不通, pulse channels not flowing, often showing deep, stagnant, non-fire pulses. At this time, the treatment is solely Zijin Dan, ground in light ginger soup and灌ed; the orifices will open because it contains *Moschus* (She Xiang) to open orifices. After opening, use Er Chen Tang added with *Acorus tatarinowii* (Shi Chang Pu), *Curcuma wenyujin* (Yu Jin), *Citrus aurantium* (Zhi Ke), *Cyperus rotundus* (Xiang Fu) etc. to descend. If treated as collapsed syndrome using ginseng, this is adding frost to snow. For difficult-to-understand syndromes, there must be profound principles, hence detailed differentiation is necessary. Jingyue arrogantly relied on his peerless intelligence, slandering former sages. Encountering such syndromes, he was helpless, lacking insight, yet proposed tonifying with Single Ginseng Decoction. How can this be called understanding principles? I was at Min Jieshen's house in Xinchang Town. A servant woman, working as a wet nurse for Min Ruozhou, returned home upon contract completion. Mid-Autumn Festival, she went to visit, ate pear and lotus root (raw/cold), and suddenly her throat locked, unable to make sound, unaware of pain or itch, cold hands and feet, white-blue complexion, deep-hidden pulse, medicine could not enter. I treated her with the aforementioned method, and she stabilized. This arose from depression/anger and eating raw/cold foods. Also, a tailor's daughter, over twenty, unmarried, suddenly collapsed, cold hands and feet, blue complexion, no phlegm sound, closed mouth, hidden pulse. I also used Zijin Dan, opened the mouth, administered medicine, and she recovered. There are many such cases. Whenever encountering closed mouth, no pain, sudden onset, first priority is to open the orifices. If speech returns, life can be saved. If mistaken for deficiency and recklessly using ginseng, none will survive. Attached is Ta Yi Zijin Dan Formula: *Fritillaria thunbergii* bulb (Shan Ci Gu) and *Meretrix meretrix* shell (Chuan Wen Ge) each two liang; *Euphorbia erythrorhiza* (Hong Ya Da Ji), *Santalum album* (Bai Tan Xiang), *Styrax* resin oil (Su He You) each one and a half liang; *Qianjin Zi Shuang* one liang; purified realgar (Fei Jing Ming Xiong Huang) and amber (Hu Po) each five qian; borneol (Bing Pian) and *Moschus* (She Xiang) each three qian. These eleven ingredients, each ground to fine powder, mixed evenly, pounded with thick glutinous rice water into pills the size of mung beans, coated with purified cinnabar (Chen Sha). This formula treats damp-pestilence pathogens, pervasive steaming, confusion of spirit, cholera with vomiting/diarrhea, sha distension and abdominal pain,水土不服, mountain miasma and evil qi, etc., and resolves various toxins. Xue Yupiao said: "Warmer than Suhexiang Wan, cooler than Zhibao Dan, combines detoxification of Taiyi Dan, prepares for opening/closing of both formulas, truly a celestial product." (Xiong notes: The Taiyi Dan currently circulated is complex and drying/hot; suitable only for those suffering from wind, meals, dew, exposure, and cold-damp from poor diet. Applied indiscriminately, it harms people significantly.)

Yang Chengliu treated Fang's son, nearing thirty, suffering from cough, slightly better in the afternoon. Physicians treated it as wind-cold, continuously administering *Ligusticum chuanxiong* (Xiong), *Perilla frutescens* (Su), and Ten Spirits formulas. Throat swelled, phlegm surged upward. Another physician diagnosed throat bi, fiercely using bitter-cold *Scutellaria baicalensis* (Huang Qin) and *Coptis chinensis* (Huang Lian). Heat increased, throat closed further, panting like a saw, insomnia, anorexia, critical symptoms all present. Pulse: superficial full fingers, two chi pulses even more forceful, oily-red face, black withered tongue, dry cracked lips, qi rushing up from below the navel. This is kidney water insufficiency, a Liuwei syndrome. Instead of strengthening the master of water to control sunlight, they used wind-drying to rob yin and fan fire, causing phlegm surge and throat closure. Using bitter-cold again injured further. Disease progressed critically; why be surprised? He prescribed Douchi Yin (Du Qi Yin). One dose settled panting and induced deep sleep. Upon waking, swelling/pain remained, but phlegm decreased, diet increased. Subsequently, Liuwei Wan combined with Sheng Mai San, and Guipi Tang added with *Paeonia lactiflora* (Bai Shao) were alternated. After a month, cough also resolved.

Mrs. Wu had red-swollen eyes, extending to temples and shoulder blades. Mixed use of *Schizonepeta* (Jing Jie), *Saussurea* (Fang Feng), *Ligusticum* (Xiong), *Angelica dahurica* (Zhi) resulted in red membranes like films, worsening eye pain, dry mouth/lips, sensation of fire/smoke rising in throat, blockage. Heavy use of bitter-cold medicines and raw/cold foods led to throat swelling/closure, unable to swallow even a drop of water, critical situation. Pulse: two chi floating and soft, two cun flooding and vigorous, two guan tight and fine, purple tongue with slight yellow coating and puffy. During consultation, an old woman said, "Yesterday she ate several large persimmons; today water cannot go down. Even with immortal pills, what can be done against the dam in the throat?" These words clarified the cause of swelling/closure. Thinking of a method to administer medicine, he ordered the old woman to take a brick, heat it in fire, wrap in several layers of cloth, and apply to Qi Hai (CV-6). (Excellent method worthy of emulation.) Soon, the abdomen felt warm. Testing with rice soup, she could swallow. He then prescribed Aconite Nourishing Harmony Decoction (Fu Zi Yang Rong Tang). After taking it, she slept until evening, swelling/closure disappeared. This originally stemmed from liver/spleen deficient fire rushing up; reckless dispersion made fire blaze with wind; heavy bitter-cold/raw-cold caused lower jiao to become colder, fire unable to descend, congesting above causing swelling/closure. Thus, one dose of warming/tonifying cured it.

Feng Chuzhan treated He Tai Xue, with rotting/throat and tongue ulcers without pain, chest/diaphragm distension/closure, insomnia/anorexia. Pulse: left cun/guan wiry, flooding, beating fingers; right cun/guan deep, minute, nearly vanished. Normally, mental labor and anger caused internal injury and fever. Physicians mistakenly dispersed, causing red spots, mistaking for measles, using dispersing/clearing/supporting methods, increasing fatigue. Inner cheek swollen/hard, suspected rash toxin, used cooling/detoxifying methods, causing unbearable distension/pain. Labor-induced fever originally stems from middle qi deficiency. Mistaken dispersion caused nutritive qi to reverse, forming spots. Mistaken clearing/collapsing caused yin fire to float up, swelling teeth/cheeks. Suspecting rash toxin, advancing cold-cooling/clearing further depleted spleen/stomach and yuan qi. Thus, throat/esophagus rotted into holes without pain, like objects losing sun exposure, easily decaying, named "yin rot." Unlike yang fire impact causing swelling/pain. He used prepared *Rehmannia glutinosa* (Shu Di) one liang two qian, stir-fried *Atractylodes macrocephala* (Bai Zhu) two qian, *Ophiopogon japonicus* (Mai Dong) two qian, *Schisandra chinensis* (Wu Wei Zi) eight fen, processed *Aconitum carmichaelii* (Zhi Fu Zi) one qian five fen. Two doses reduced distension, ensured sleep. Changed to *Panax ginseng* (Ren Shen) three qian, *Ziziphus jujuba* seed (Zao Ren) two qian, *Rehmannia glutinosa* (Shu Di) four qian, *Angelica sinensis* (Dang Gui) one qian five fen, *Achyrantes bidentata* (Niu Xi), *Ophiopogon japonicus* (Mai Dong) each two qian, *Schisandra chinensis* (Wu Wei Zi) six fen, *Cinnamomum cassia* (Rou Gui) eight fen, decocted with ginger/jujube. Two doses restored spirit, appetite, throat began to hurt. This indicates yang harmony has turned, like ice melting and water flowing, hence pain is perceived. Externally, copper green (Tong Qing) three qian, human bone ash (Ren Zhong Bai) two qian, bovine calculus (Niu Huang) one fen, borneol (Bing Pian) two fen, *Moschus* (She Xiang) one fen, ground extremely fine, blown sparingly into throat. Saliva/phlegm surged. Blowing repeatedly flowed it out; healed in days.

Wu Fuxian treated Ke Zining, suffering from throat/tooth pain, deep/fine pulse, cold feet, loose stools. This is kidney deficiency, dragon fire flying. Intended to use *Jin Gui* Kidney Qi Pill, but he suspected fire syndrome, fearing *Cinnamomum cassia* (Gui) and *Aconitum carmichaelii* (Fu) were inappropriate. Others used *Gypsum fibrosum* (Shi Gao) and *Forsythia suspensa* (Lian Qiao) bitter-cold, worsening the disease. Seeking treatment again, he used the previous formula; one dose reduced symptoms, two doses cured.

Whenever throat initially feels obstructed, with no medicine available, twist paper to probe the nose, or sniff *Gleditsia sinensis* (Zao Jiao) powder; several sneezes can dissipate heat/toxin. Still, grind water from near the root of a plum tree and apply externally to the throat for good healing. (*Shuyuan Miscellaneous Records*.)

Yang Majun from Huangni Alley, Jinling, treated throat grasping method: dip middle finger in small amount of medicine, forcefully twist the swollen area in the throat, releasing blood and phlegm/saliva; immediately able to swallow liquids. Excellent. This implies the previous needle method; the medicine may be fake. (*Methods of Treatment Compilation*.)

Lu Yangyu said: Yu Zhongkai's wife, in Renzi year, suddenly suffered throat blockage, unable to take soup/water, six pulses peaceful, no chills/fever, only rebellious qi, panting/fullness, insomnia day and night. (Xiong notes: This is blood stasis obstruction; the person likely has much depression/anger. Pulse appearing peaceful indicates qi mechanism stagnation, flow naturally slow. If not vomited, it becomes guan ge. Some have obstruction at throat causing choking on drinking water.) I and others all treated as phlegm; medicine arrived, immediately vomited. Forced one swallow, face purple/swollen, qi blocked, eyes protruding, restless, mad-like. Vomiting all medicine juice allowed slight relief; even Niuhuang was rejected. Suspected summerheat, gave newly drawn water, same result. Also gave light ginger soup and Suhexiang Wan, heavily pressing Neiguan (PC-6), all ineffective. After seven/eight days, some said pulse not diseased but symptoms like this, it is guan ge. Now medicine cannot go down; even spiritual pills are useless. Two days later, suddenly smelled fragrance from nose, then made soup and...