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Chang Zhongming suffered from damp-bi syndrome (Dampness Bi Syndrome) for five or seven years. After Zhang Ling employed the emetic method, purgation could be performed five to seven times. The medications used included Zhouche Wan (Boat and Cart Pill), Junchuan San (Abyssal River Powder), Tongjing San (Meridian-Penetrating Powder), Shenxiong Wan (Divine Cardamom Pill), and Yishen Wan (Kidney-Nourishing Pill). From spring to autumn, more than ten treatments were necessary for recovery. Mr. Chang's condition did not require acupuncture; both he and his son were suitable candidates for emesis, though the twelfth lunar month was an inappropriate time. Wishing to wait until spring, fearing my eastward journey, I proposed temporarily suppressing the major pathogenic factors. When the spring climate became mild and human qi ascended, we could employ emesis again to eliminate the root cause. Ultimately, the treatment followed this discussion, resulting in a cure.

Miu Zhongchun treated the eldest son of Gao Cunzhi, who had suffered from abdominal pain for two years. He recovered after taking medicines such as Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), and Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma). After recovery, he developed arm pain. Each episode occurred at one spot on the arm, between the flexion and extension of fingers, with unbearable swelling and pain, resolving only after three to four days. During pain, the hand could not move. Miu stated: "This is the residual effect of the previous illness; deficient fire wandering causes harm." He immediately prepared a pill formula. Patients were instructed to take it during the fourth or fifth watch (late night/early morning) until complete recovery. The formula consisted of Shengdihuang (Rehmanniae Radix Recens) 1 jin, Danpi (Moutan Cortex) steamed 6 liang, Yurou (Corni Fructus) 8 liang, Fuling (Poria) steamed with human milk 6 liang, Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma) 8 liang, Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma) 6 liang, Tiandong (Asparagi Radix) 6 liang, Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix) 8 liang, Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus) 8 liang, Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix) wine-steamed 8 liang, Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) honey-fried 8 liang, Gouqi (Lycii Fructus) 8 liang, Sharen (Amomi Fructus) 2 liang, Ganjuhua (Chrysanthemi Flos) 8 liang, Heshouwu (Polygoni Multiflori Radix) 1 jin, Huqianjinggu (Tigris Ossis Anterior Tibialis) two pairs酥-roasted, Jili (Tribuli Fructus) stir-fried and thorns removed 10 liang, Tusizi (Cuscutae Semen) 3 liang. These were made into pills with honey. Each dose was 5 qian, taken on an empty stomach with plain boiled water.

A woman suffered from arm pain and limb spasms, unable to flex or extend. Symptoms worsened upon exposure to cold. Her pulse was tight and fine. This corresponds to Chen Liangfu’s description: liver qi deficiency, invaded by wind-cold, flowing into blood vessels and meridians, clashing with sinews. When sinews lack nourishment, they become dry and tense, causing pain. Initially treated with Shujin Tang (Sinew-Relaxing Decoction), then with Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) added with Danpi (Moutan Cortex), Zelan (Leonuri Herba), and Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), she recovered. Another case involved arm pain preventing elevation, or pain shifting left and right, caused by latent phlegm in the Zhongwan (CV12) region and stagnant spleen qi. Treatment with Fuling Wan (Poria Pill) or Kongxian Dan (Controlling Saliva Pill) was indicated.

County Magistrate Hu suffered from migrating pain throughout the body. Two months later, swelling appeared on the dorsum of the left foot, followed shortly by a lump on the thigh. Light palpation revealed a floating pulse; heavy palpation revealed a slow and sluggish pulse. This indicated insufficiency of blood and qi, loose interstices (couli), and invasion of cold pathogens into the deficiency. Four doses of Jiajian Xiao Ming Tang (Modified Minor Rescue Decoction) and several doses of Duhuo Jisheng Tang (Angelica Pubescens and Dogwood Decoction) eliminated the pain. Subsequently, Tuoli San (Support Interior Powder) was used with doubled amounts of Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Huangqi (Astragali Radix), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), and Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma). After 100 doses, he recovered.

Shi Peiran treated Xu Hubu Zanwu, who suffered from painful bi syndrome (Painful Bi Syndrome) and could not walk for ten days. Previous treatments failed. Diagnosis revealed the disease originated from failing to close windows against wind at night, frequent exposure to wind and dew, and sexual intercourse while standing, disturbing the sinews and bones. Xu admitted this but noted no one had identified the cause. Shi recalled a summer when the heat was intense, forcing them to sleep outdoors under cool breezes and fans. Shi said, "It is not difficult; I will cure you." He prescribed Danshen Hugujia (Salvia and Tiger Bone Wine) and Bixie Juanbi Tang (Dioscorea Hypoglauca and Bi-Relieving Decoction). Within a month, the illness vanished, and walking returned to normal.

Jiang Zhongfang treated Zhang Shiguan, aged 19. In spring, he suffered from whole-body bone and joint pain, gradually developing small bony prominences. Long-term medication was ineffective. Examination showed lumps resembling longan seeds, which were actually contracted sinews, not true bones. Jiang attributed this to damp pathogens entering the sinews and causing contraction. He needled Weizhong (BL40) and Dazhui (GV14) to treat the posterior aspect, and Neiguan (PC6) and Zusanli (ST36) for the anterior aspect. Internally, he administered Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Shengdihuang (Rehmanniae Radix Recens), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Qinjiao (Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix), Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus), Sangzhi (Mori Ramulus), Zhigancao (Prepared Licorice Root), Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix), Yiren (Coicis Semen), Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix), and Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens), adding three parts wine to enhance efficacy. Within days, the bony prominences shrank, and within a month, they disappeared completely.

Liu Yunmi treated a woman over thirty who feared cold in winter, accompanied by headache, heavy dragging pain in the back, radiating pain to the waist, legs, and calves, and inability to raise her right arm. Physicians primarily used Wuji San (Five Accumulations Powder) added with Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix) and Wuyao (Linderae Radix) to disperse congealed cold and promote stagnation. While this alleviated fear of cold and lower back pain, the head, calf, and right arm pain only slightly improved, and the heavy dragging back pain remained unchanged. Liu reasoned that physicians knew how to disperse cold but failed to unblock yang qi, knowing how to move stomach and kidney qi but failing to reach the upper jiao yang. Since yang qi originates in the chest and the back is the mansion of the chest, he consulted texts finding a formula using Jianghuang (Curcumae Longae Rhizoma) as the sovereign herb, combined with Qianghuo, Baizhu, and Gancao in quarter doses. He added Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) 3 fen. After the first decoction, three-quarters of the pains subsided. A second dose, using one-third of the original amount and boiling with the dregs, resulted in complete recovery. Jianghuang effectively reached the upper jiao yang without confusing blood or qi treatments.

Xu Lingtai stated: "There are cases where the treatment method is correct but ineffective throughout. This occurs when pathogenic qi is deep-seated and stubborn, beyond the reach of generic prescriptions. Diseases confined to the skin, hair, ying, and wei levels, even if severe, are shallow and easily expelled. However, chronic diseases of the zang-fu, sinews, and bones, such as consumption, palpitations, distension, diaphragmatic obstruction, wind-bi, flaccidity, and tetanus, develop over time. Pathogens embed in zang-fu and sinews like oil penetrating dough, merging with healthy qi. Patients often change doctors repeatedly. Physicians seeing failure may prescribe indiscriminately, worsening the condition and depleting yuan qi until death ensues. Such stubborn diseases cannot be cured by ordinary formulas. Modern compendia often list ancient formulas for wind-bi followed by general remedies. This approach lacks a prognosis for cure. One must investigate the specific type, root cause, and progression of the disease, inquire about past medication errors, and seek comprehensive ancient and modern treatments, applying them sequentially. Constantly monitor efficacy and adapt flexibly. Stubborn diseases may then have a chance of cure. Clinging to a few general formulas leads to failure. Therefore, treating major diseases requires profound learning, sharp intellect, and persistent, specialized treatment. Additionally, extremely severe and chronic cases resistant to all medicines may suddenly recover with very mild prescriptions. This happens because the disease originally had a specific remedy, but previous treatments were incorrect. Upon encountering the correct medicine, recovery follows naturally."

Da Huoluo Dan (Great Meridian-Unblocking Pill) treats all types of stroke paralysis, flaccidity-bi, phlegm-tetanus, spasms and pain, carbuncles and sores, traumatic injuries, pediatric convulsions, and amenorrhea in women. Ingredients include Baihuashe (Bungarus multicinctus), Wushaoshe (Zaocys dhumnades), Weilingxian (Syneilesis Rhizoma), Liangtoujian (Saussureae Radix) soaked in wine; Caowu (Aconiti Radix), Tianma (Gastrodiae Rhizoma), Wei Quanxie (Scorpio) detoxified, Shouwu (Polygoni Multiflori Radix) soaked with black beans, Guiban (Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum) roasted, Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba), Guanzhong (Cyati Spora), Zhigancao (Prepared Licorice Root), Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix), Guanzi Gui (Cinnamomi Cassiae Ramulus), Huoxiang (Agastaches Herba), Wuyao (Linderae Radix), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Shudi (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata), Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) steamed, Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix), Chenxiang (Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum), each 2 liang; Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma), Chishao (Paeoniae Radix Rubra), Moyao (Myrrha) defatted and ground separately, Dingxiang (Caryophylli Flos), Rushiang (Boswelliae Resina) defatted and ground separately, Jiangcan (Bombyx Batryticatus), Tiannanxing (Arisaematis Rhizoma) processed with ginger, Qingpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride), Gusuibu (Drynariae Rhizoma), Baiko (Cardamomi Fructus), Anshixiang (Styrax) boiled in wine, Zhifu Zi (Aconiti Radix Preparata), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Zheng Fuling (Poria) steamed, Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma) washed and baked in wine, Yuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), each 1 liang; Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix) 2.5 liang; Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix), Hu Jinggu (Tigris Ossis Tibialis) roasted, Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), each 1.5 liang; Xuexie (Dracaenae Sanguis) ground separately 7 qian; Dilong (Pheretima) roasted, Xijiao (Rhinocerotis Cornu), Shexiang (Moschus) ground separately, Songzhi (Pini Resina), each 5 qian; Niuhuang (Bovis Calculus) ground separately, Bingpian (Borneolum Syntheticum) ground separately, each 1.5 qian; Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) 3 liang. Fifty ingredients total, ground into powder, formed into pills the size of longan seeds with honey, coated with gold foil, taken with aged wine. Xu Lingtai commented: "Stubborn phlegm, evil wind, heat toxins, and blood stasis entering the meridians cannot be penetrated except by this formula. It is an essential medicine for major limb diseases." Other texts mention Huoluo Dan using only Dilong (Pheretima) and Rushiang (Boswelliae Resina) among four or five herbs; this is a formula for robust commoners with excess pathogens and is inadequate here.

Ye Tianshi treated Wu Mou, whose pulse was wiry and slightly rapid. His body wasted away daily. He suffered from oral and lingual ulceration, shoulder and back pulling pain, numbness in joints, itching of skin and knees, vertigo, and tinnitus for several years. This resulted from mental exertion and accumulated fatigue, causing yang to ascend and move internally, scorching sinews and damaging fluids. As the ancients said, "vigorous fire consumes qi," representing the transformation of yang qi. Initially, he formulated a prescription to clear heat from the blood level, followed by nourishing blood to extinguish internal wind. Advised rest and avoidance of labor to prevent flaccidity and tetanus. Prescription: Shengdi (Rehmanniae Radix Recens), Yuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix), Tiandong (Asparagi Radix), Danshen (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Xijiao (Rhinocerotis Cornu), Lingyangjiao (Saigae Tataricae Cornu), Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus), Zhuyexin (Bambusae Folium). Pill Formula: Heshouwu (Polygoni Multiflori Radix), Sheng Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Heima (Sesami Fructus Nigrum), Dong Sangye (Mori Folium), Tiandong (Asparagi Radix), Nvzhenzi (Ligustri Lucidi Fructus), Fushen (Poria cum Radix), Qingyan (Natrii Chloridum).