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Shu's son was possessed by a woman in plain clothes; attempts to capture the entity failed, and the patient appeared dazed and foolish-like. The family detailed the condition and sought talisman water from Master Zhu Yancheng. Upon reading the account, Zhu was greatly alarmed, stating, "This must be an evil spirit of a scaled creature, with toxicity entering the Spleen and Liver; the interior pathology is deep. It cannot be cured by talisman water; I must treat it personally." He borrowed a large cauldron, boiled twenty jin of oil, burned talismans and proclamations to summon it, revealing the true form of a large white softshell turtle. As the oil boiled, the turtle jumped in and died from scalding. Zhu instructed the family to wait for the oil to cool, then use an axe to split the turtle, extracting bones and meat, sun-drying them until extremely dry, and mixing them with powdered Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen), Poria Cocos (Fuling), and Fossilized Skeletal Remains (Longgu) to make pills. Deceiving the patient by calling them tonics, he ordered him to take them morning and evening without revealing the truth. Following this, after finishing the pills, the illness was cured. (From *Yanyi Bian*.)

Song dynasty figure Wang Zuan was proficient in acupuncture and moxibustion. During the Yuanjia era, Zhang Fang's daughter stayed overnight at the gate of Guangling Temple. At night, a spirit disguised as her husband came to her, and she became bewitched and ill. Wang treated her; after inserting one needle, an otter ran out from under her quilt, and the illness was cured. (From Liu Shu's *Yi Yuan*.)

Gu Huan lived in seclusion in Kuaiji and possessed Daoist powers. Someone suffering from wind-evil asked Gu for advice. Gu said, "Do you have books at home?" The man replied, "Only the *Classic of Filial Piety*." Gu said, "Take the section 'Confucius Residing' (Zhongni Ju), place it by the patient's pillow, treat it with reverence, and the illness will heal itself." Doing so indeed resulted in recovery. When asked why, Gu explained, "Goodness exorcises evil; righteousness overcomes wickedness. This is why the patient recovered." (From Wu Jun Qi's *Spring and Autumn Northern History*. Xu Lingtai notes: The wife of Gu Yifang's Xiaolian suffered from ghost illness, and all physicians were helpless. Monk Muwen burned incense and recited the *Doctrine of the Mean* before the sickbed; after three recitations, she recovered. Yet scholars who claim to be Confucians devoutly revere Buddhist scriptures and Daoist canons—is this not contradictory?)

The Yellow Emperor's moxibustion method treats divine evils, ghosts, and manic-depressive illnesses, regardless of status. Moxa is applied to the central fleshy ridge on the inside of the upper lip for one cone (zhuang), sized like a wheat grain. Alternatively, using a steel knife to cut the inner ridge of the upper lip completely is even better.

Qin Chengzu used moxibustion to treat solitary ghosts and manic illnesses that resisted other treatments. He bound the two thumbs together tightly with soft silk rope and applied three cones of moxa. The moxa should be placed in four spots, half on the nail and half on the flesh. All four spots must be burned; if one is missed, the illness will not be cured. The efficacy is immeasurable. For infantile epilepsy, the same method is used, applying one cone sized like a wheat grain.

Li Shicai treated Zhang's daughter, who fainted in an attic. After being revived with Suhe Xiang Wan (Styrax Pills), she spoke wildly and incessantly. Her left pulse beat seven times per respiration, large and chaotic; her right pulse beat three times, faint and hard to feel. The pulses in both hands were vastly different, indicating possession. She tied her two thumbs with thread and had moxa cones applied to the junctions of the nails (Guiku Acupoint). After seven cones, the ghost pleaded to leave. She took Tiaoqi Pingwei San (Regulating Qi and Harmonizing Stomach Powder) plus Tao Nu (Peach Twig), and after several days, the possession ceased.

Yu Jiayan treated Yang Jideng's second daughter, who suffered from excessive sweating, reduced appetite, and muscle wasting. During diagnosis, her tendons twitched and muscles trembled; she was fatigued and breathless. Yu stated, "This is a pattern of great fright and severe deficiency; warm tonification is appropriate." He added much Shen Sui (Poria with Hostwood) and Suanzaoren (Ziziphus Seed) to the tonic formula, but after more than ten doses, there was no effect. He reasoned that the illness was neither external contraction nor internal injury, nor a miscellaneous disease. The sweating and trembling persisted despite tonics, and as a maiden with no family trauma, her demeanor resembled post-traumatic collapse. Suddenly realizing, "This must be an illness of evil spirits, why did her father not say so?" He observed her complexion fluctuating between red and yellow. He told her father, "There is definitely an evil spirit; I have divine medicine to drive it away." Yang finally admitted, "Every night when she sleeps, she foams at the mouth, trembles, and loses consciousness. Ginger soup and calming medicines revive her. We watch over her, but it doesn't stop. I used calming medicines because they seemed appropriate, and feared rumors from the groom's family, so I dared not speak openly." Yu asked, "Why not tell me earlier? One dose will cure her." He prescribed Rhinoceros Horn (Xijiao), Antelope Horn (Lingyangjiao), Dragon Teeth (Longchi), Tiger Bone (Hugu), Oyster Shell (Muli), Horn Frost (Jiaoshuang), Ginseng (Renshen), and Astragalus (Huangqi), ground into powder. Half a jin of mutton was decocted to yield three cups of thick broth, which was mixed with the powder. The patient took it all at once, slept peacefully, and never relapsed, becoming a legendary miracle. Since the spirit clings to the body and conflicts with human spirit-energy, causing discomfort, various spiritual relics were used, guided by the strong smell of mutton, to transfer the spirit to bones and horns, expelling it via stool, imitating ancient Zhuyou rituals. Another case involved Xiong Quji, a child with strange symptoms: normal eating/drinking but fine pulse, dull spirit, and pale complexion. His father asked what illness this was. Yu replied, "It is called 'Shihui' (House Defilement), referred to in the *Zuo Zhuan* as 'approaching women during house defilement.' That person approached women while defiled, hence incurable. Your son experienced defilement but did not approach women, so he is curable." Adding Niuhuang (Calculus Bovis) to the previous formula, he recovered in ten days. By Renwu year, Quji had passed the Xiaolian examination.

Foxes bewitch people by exposing their genitals to the victim's genitalia, causing unconsciousness. The remedy is to apply real tung oil to the victim's genitals; the fox vomits violently and leaves. This secret is kept hidden. (From *Bencao Gangmu*.)

Zhu Danxi treated a woman resembling epilepsy, with intermittent episodes of confusion and loss of consciousness. Once slightly awake, he smelled a fragrance on the bed, then she lost consciousness again. Zhu said, "Qi is deficient due to blood deficiency, allowing evil to enter." He used Qin Chengzu's ghost-moxibustion method. The patient cried, "I am leaving, I am leaving," and was cured.

Xu Qiufu treated "Ghost Points" for illnesses caused by ghosts. Needling these points expels the ghost and cures the illness miraculously.

1. Guiguan (Renzhong): 3 cun insertion.
2. Guixin (Shaoshang): 3 cun insertion.
3. Gujie (Yinbai): 3 cun insertion.
4. Guixin (Daling): 3 cun insertion.
5. Guilu (Xingjian): 3 cun insertion.
6. Guozhen (Fengfu): 3 cun insertion.
7. Guiguan (Jiache): 3 cun insertion.
8. Guimen (Chengjiang): 3 cun insertion.
9. Guibi (Jianshi): 5 cun insertion.
10. Gui'e (Frontal hairline): 2 cun insertion.
11. Guihui (Baihui): 1 cun insertion.
12. Gui'e (Yanglingquan): 3 cun insertion.
13. Guishen (Tongue seam): Prick to bleed purple blood. Treats body swelling and inability to speak due to Heart fire.

Chen Ziming treated a woman possessed by evil, resulting in abdominal masses. One pill of Taiyi Dan expelled foul matter, but the evil returned. Administering half a pill nightly, filling the room with smoke, made the evil leave permanently. (Note: Taiyi Dan here refers to Zijin Ding, not modern Taiyi Dan.)

Jin Jianfeng's son suffered from a demon illness, protruding his tongue several inches, walking upside down. Jin saw a woman hiding behind a screen, smashed and burned the screen, and the son recovered. (From *Yunjian Magazine*.)

Cai Shihu suffered for three years, hearing ghost whistles constantly. Initially terrified, he grew accustomed to it, and upon recovery, the whistles stopped. (Same source.)

In Linhai, carpenter Cai wandered drunk to Dongshan (a burial ground), mistaking a coffin for his bed. Waking up, he heard a voice from the coffin asking why he was called. A voice claimed a girl was sick due to a spirit named Ge Dage in the garden and invited Cai to help catch the ghost. The coffin voice refused, saying it had guests. Next day, Cai offered to cure the girl for a reward. Digging up the garden, he found a large root with blood, cooked and ate it, curing the girl. (From *Zhuogeng Lu*. Note: These are folklore, not medical cases.)

Tang Dynasty official Meng Shen stated: For women dreaming of intercourse with ghosts, ingest three finger-widths of deer horn powder with clear wine to expel ghost essence. *Gujin Luyan* treats cat ghosts by having the patient swallow powdered deer horn with water, forcing them to confess. (From *Bencao*.)

Professor Wang described a woman with leukorrhea. Moxibustion of Qihai failed, but Daipai succeeded. A ghost attached to the body said, "Yesterday's moxa missed me; today it hit me, so I am leaving. Sacrifice food and wine to me." The family did so, and she recovered. Wang reflected on Duke Jing of Jin's incurable disease caused by ghosts exploiting deficiency. Similarly, this woman's mental strain caused deficiency, inviting ghosts. Accurate moxa expulsion forced the ghost away. He identified Daipai point (1.8 cun below costal margin) as effective for such conditions, often combined with Baihui. Neglecting this can be fatal. (From *Zisheng Jing*.)

He Boyung diagnosed a Daoist priest unable to rise from sleep, predicting death at noon due to pure Yin pulses and ghost theft. The prediction came true. He also diagnosed Liu's grandson's drowning disaster based on abnormal Chi pulse. (From *Yunnan Records*.)

Qian Guobin treated Zhang Lin's wife, bedridden for three years with consumption-like symptoms. Pulse was deep, large, slippery, and rapid, with irregular beats. She lived in a dark room. Qian diagnosed it as Yin Evil, not consumption. Moving her room revealed fox hairs on the bedding. Exorcisms failed. Pressing the patient revealed cold winds and chest pressure causing fainting. Qian realized it was a fox spirit ("fox intersection"). He secretly prepared poison, applied it around the vulva. The fox came, was poisoned, and killed. Zhang skinned and chopped the fox. The wife recovered after a year of medication.

Suhe Xiang Wan treats transmission corpses, bone steaming, lung萎, ghost qi, sudden heart pain, cholera, vomiting/dysentery, malaria, bloody diarrhea, amenorrhea, masses, abscesses, and convulsions. Ingredients: Benzoin (Anxi Xiang) 2 liang, Siamese Rhinoceros Horn (Xijiao) 1 liang, Borneol (Bingpian) 1 liang, Musk (Shexiang) 1 liang, Cyperus (Xiangfu), Costus (Muxiang), Frankincense (Xunluxiang), Agarwood (Chenxiang), Clove (Dingxiang), Atractylodes (Baizhu) each 1 liang. Process into powder, mix with honey, make 50 pills, coat with Cinnabar (Zhusha). Take with well water, ginger tea, or warm wine. Original formula included Sandalwood, Long Pepper, and Chebula, removed by *Ju Fang* for being too drying/astringent. (Xu Lingtai: Reduce Borneol and Musk. Wang Jinshan: Suhe Xiang opens meridians; combined with Anxi Xiang, it enters organs. Borneol and Musk penetrate marrow. Horn enters Heart, Agarwood Kidney, Costus Spleen, Cyperus Liver, Frankincense Lung, Clove Stomach. Atractylodes protects Spleen. Cinnabar cools Heart fire.)

Xu Lingtai states: Evil enters where invited. If spirit is solid, evil cannot invade. Deficiency invites evil. Ghosts are like wind/cold/heat. Wei Qi deficiency invites cold; Ying Qi deficiency invites heat; Shen Qi deficiency invites ghosts. Yang decline allows ghost possession. *Neijing* mentions five colors of ghosts for five organ diseases. *Nanjing* says "loss of Yang leads to seeing ghosts," hence Ghost Bed/Ghost Chamber points exist. These points rely on Shen Qi. If Shen Qi is deficient, ghosts possess. Treating ghosts requires replenishing Shen. Phlegm, worry, or fright require treating the root. Scholars must investigate causes thoroughly. Otherwise, holding one-sided views is erroneous. Prayers may cure触犯 (offense) illnesses. Revenge ghosts (from murder, ancestors, accidents) are recorded in classics (e.g., Gongzi Pengsheng, Bo You) and cannot be cured by medicine or prayer alone.