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Damp-heat syndromes are mostly caused by Xianghuo (Ministerial Fire residing in the Liver and Kidney), and Tuhuo (Spleen-Stomach Fire) is also commonly seen. Qi is often in excess, while Blood is often deficient. Fat individuals have abundant Blood and excessive Dampness; thin individuals have solid Qi and excessive Heat. Those with a white complexion have weak Lung Qi and insufficient Blood; those with a black complexion have surplus Kidney Qi, but must beware of the color yellow. Heat damages Blood, failing to nourish the sinews, thus causing spasms and contractures; Dampness damages the sinews, failing to bind the bones, thus causing flaccidity and weakness.

Qi belongs to Yang and has no principle of Cold; for lower body conditions, treatment should combine tonification and purgation. For consumptive diseases, cold-natured herbs are contraindicated; this is the core tenet of Li Dongyuan’s academic thought. If Cold does not meet Heat, it indicates the absence of Fire; if Heat does not meet Cold, it indicates the absence of Water (Yin fluids). Lung Abscess requires emesis.

Hard work, hunger, and overeating all damage Blood. If medicinal potency is harsh, sour astringents must be used. Curled fingernails indicate that insufficient Blood fails to nourish the sinews. A body sensation as if beaten is due to Dampness damaging Blood; however, pain can also arise from Blood deficiency. Diseases of the Fu organs implicate the Zang organs' functions, and diseases of the Zang organs implicate the Fu organs' functions. When Qi and Blood are weak, avoid Zhiqiao (Fructus Aurantii Immaturus) because it depletes Qi; when Blood is abundant, avoid Dingxiang (Flos Caryophylli) because it augments Qi [Note: Textual interpretation varies, literal translation provided].

Treating disease begins with regulating Qi. Diseases are categorized into Qi, Blood, Yin, and Yang. Symptoms worsening during the day and quieting at night indicate a Yang Qi pathology without Blood involvement; symptoms worsening at night and quieting during the day indicate a Yin-Blood pathology without Qi involvement. Quiet at night but aversion to cold during the day indicates Yin overflowing into Yang; aversion to cold both day and night indicates excessive Yin in the interior with concurrent Yang deficiency, requiring draining of Cold and vigorous tonification of Yang. Quiet at night but fever during the day indicates Yang exuberance in its own sector; quiet during the day but aversion to cold at night indicates Yin exuberance in its own sector. Comfortable during the day but restlessness at night indicates Yang sinking into Yin, requiring draining of Yang and vigorous tonification of deficiency; aversion to cold during the day and restlessness at night indicates an intersection of Yin and Yang, inability to ingest food, which is fatal. Taiyang Cold Damage, Summerheat, and Food Injury share similar principles. Human Fire (Excess Fire) is treated with orthodox methods, while various Dragon Fires (Deficient/Floating Fire) are treated with reverse methods.

Various diseases involve stagnation; treatment can open the stagnation. Nausea may be caused by Heat, Phlegm, or Deficiency. Sorrow is Fire attacking Metal. If Yang is exhausted, Yin becomes deficient; if Yin is extremely excessive, Yang will not suddenly perish. In consumptive weakness, death ensues if the patient cannot tolerate tonification. Fever in various diseases can be caused by Wind, Cold, Summerheat, Dampness, Dryness, Fire, and the Seven Emotions. The notion that Cold and Dampness share the same nature, and Fire and Dryness follow the same path, is incorrect. Cold should be warmed, Dampness should be dried, Fire should be descended and cooled, and Dryness should be moistened. In all diseases, seek Phlegm-Fire, as Phlegm-Fire generates anomalous syndromes.

Pulse diagnosis, observing physical form, and examining symptoms are three different approaches; one must not adhere rigidly to just one.

In all diseases, first observe the Stomach Qi.