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The Master said: Pulse diagnosis should assess excess (Tai Guo) and deficiency (Bu Ji). If the Yang pulse is faint and the Yin pulse is wiry, chest bi syndrome with pain occurs. This is because it is attributed to extreme deficiency. Now, knowing that Yang deficiency is located in the Upper Jiao, the reason for chest bi and heart pain is precisely due to the wiry Yin pulse.

In chest bi disease, symptoms include panting, coughing and spitting, chest and back pain, and shortness of breath. The cunkou pulse is deep and slow, while the guan pulse is slightly tight and rapid; this is primarily treated with Gualou Xiebai Baijiu Tang (Trichosanthes Fruit, Macrostemon Rhizome, and White Wine Decoction). A healthy person without chills or fever who suffers from shortness of breath and insufficient respiration has an excess condition.

Patients with Ben Tun (Running Piglet) disease feel qi rushing up from the lower abdomen to the throat. During attacks, they feel as if they are about to die, followed by relief. These conditions all arise from fright. If qi rushes upward causing chest and abdominal pain, along with alternating chills and fever, Bentun Tang (Pueraria Root Decoction) is indicated.

The Master said: Among diseases, there are Ben Tun (Running Piglet), vomiting of pus, fright/trepidation, and Fire Evil. These four categories of disease all originate from fright.

The Duyang pulse is faint and wiry. According to the method, abdominal fullness should occur. If there is no fullness, there must be obstruction in the lower part, difficult defecation, and pain in both feet. This is deficiency-cold ascending from below, and warm herbs should be administered. For patients with abdominal fullness, tenderness upon palpation indicates excess, which can be purged. If the tongue coating is yellow and purging has not yet been performed, the yellow coating will disappear after purging. Abdominal fullness that decreases temporarily but returns to its original state indicates cold, requiring warm herbs.

The Duyang pulse is tight and floating. Tightness indicates pain, floating indicates deficiency. Deficiency leads to borborygmus (intestinal rumbling), while tightness indicates hardness and fullness.

A double-wiry and slow pulse indicates hardness below the heart (epigastrium). A large and tight pulse indicates Yin within Yang, which can be purged.

Abdominal fullness and pain indicate excess, requiring purgation.

Abdominal fullness that does not decrease, or where any decrease is negligible, requires purgation.

For abdominal fullness accompanied by fever for dozens of days, with a floating and rapid pulse but normal appetite, Houpo Sanwu Tang (Magnolia Bark Three-Ingredient Decoction) is indicated.

For abdominal fullness and pain, Houpo Qiwu Tang (Magnolia Bark Seven-Ingredient Decoction) is indicated.

The cunkou pulse is slow and relaxed. Slowness indicates cold, relaxation indicates Qi stagnation. Cold and Qi knotted together cause twisting pain.

The cunkou pulse is slow and choppy. Slowness indicates cold, choppy indicates blood deficiency. Those prone to cold often yawn; those with clear nasal discharge, fever, and normal complexion sneeze easily. In cases of middle-cold with diarrhea, it is due to interior deficiency. If one wants to sneeze but cannot, it indicates cold in the abdomen. Thin individuals with periumbilical pain likely have wind-cold obstructing Grain Qi circulation; if purged inappropriately, Qi will rush upward. If it does not rush, a Pi (glomus) formation will occur below the heart.

A wiry cunkou pulse indicates hypochondriac stiffness, urgency, and pain, with aversion to cold.

A floating and slippery cunkou pulse indicates headache. A slow and delayed Duyang pulse indicates cold and deficiency; when deficiency and cold knot together, the patient desires warm food. If cold food is consumed, it causes sore throat.

A faint cunkou pulse with a tight and choppy chi pulse indicates cold, deficiency, and insufficient blood, resulting from improper sweating followed by purging. Tightness in the center indicates cold remains; this is originally cold energy, so why sweat and purge? A floating and tight pulse resembles a wiry pulse, like a bowstring, unyielding to pressure. A rapid and wiry pulse indicates cold should be purged. Unilateral hypochondriac pain with a tight and wiry pulse indicates cold, treated with warm purgatives, specifically Dahuang Fuzi Tang (Rhubarb and Aconite Decoction).

A wiry and tight cunkou pulse means Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) does not circulate, leading to aversion to cold; tightness means loss of appetite. Wiry and tight knotted together indicates Han Shan (Cold Spasm). A floating and delayed Duyang pulse indicates wind-deficiency and cold spasm. Cold spasm presents with periumbilical pain; during attacks, cold sweat appears, hands and feet are cold, and the pulse is deep and wiry; Da Wutou Tang (Large Aconite Decoction) is indicated.

Question: How to distinguish residual food (Su Shi)? The Master said: A floating and large cunkou pulse, which feels choppy upon pressure, and a micro and choppy chi pulse, indicate residual food.

A cunkou pulse tight like a turning rope, varying left and right, indicates residual food.

A tight cunkou pulse indicates headache from wind-cold, or undigested residual food in the abdomen.

A slippery and rapid pulse indicates excess with residual food, requiring purgation.

Diarrhea with loss of appetite indicates residual food, requiring purgation.

After severe purging, if there is no bowel movement for six or seven days, persistent irritability, and abdominal fullness/pain, this indicates dry stool. This is due to pre-existing residual food. If residual food is in the upper Wan (cardia), emesis should be induced.