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Astragali Radix (Huangqi) [1 qian if the condition is severe or accompanied by heat from overwork]; Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao) [5 fen for each of the above, roasted]; Ginseng Radix (Renshen) [3 fen, rhizome removed; omit if coughing].

Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui Shen) [3 fen, dried with wine or in the sun, to harmonize the blood vessels]; Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Chenpi) [2-3 fen, white pith retained, to guide qi and benefit primordial qi; must be used with sweet herbs, otherwise it drains Spleen-Stomach qi]; Cimicifugae Rhizoma (Shengma) [2-3 fen, to guide Stomach qi upward to restore its proper position, thus executing the ascending function of Spring]; Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu) [2-3 fen, to guide clear qi and ascend Shaoyang qi]; Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu) [3 fen, to descend heat in the Stomach and promote blood flow in the waist and umbilical region].

The above ingredients are coarsely crushed. Combine all as one dose. Add two cups of water, decoct until one cup remains. Adjust the amount of water based on whether the patient's qi is weak or strong. Strain the dregs. Take slightly warm, well after meals. If the injury is severe, recovery will occur in no more than two doses; if the disease has been chronic, apply modification methods according to principles of flexibility.

If there is aversion to cold and pain, add Cinnamomi Cortex (Rougui) [1-3 fen, peeled; this refers to Guixin].

If there is aversion to heat, preference for cold, and abdominal pain, add Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin) [3-2 fen, raw] to the previously added White Peony Root (Baishao). If abdominal pain occurs in summer without aversion to heat, treat similarly, addressing seasonal heat pathogens.

If there is aversion to heat and pain during cool weather, add a small amount of Cinnamomi Cortex (Rougui) to the mixture of Baishao, Gancao, and Huangqin.

If abdominal pain occurs in cold weather, remove Baishao because its sour taste and cold nature are contraindicated; add Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Fructus (Yizhi) [3-2 fen], or add Pinelliae Rhizoma (Banxia) [5 fen] and Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens (Shengjiang) [3 slices].

If there is headache, add Viticis Fructus (Manjingzi) [2-3 fen].

If pain is severe, add Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuanxiong) [2 fen]; if there is vertex or brain pain, add Ligustici Rhizoma (Gaoben) [3-5 fen].

If suffering from intense pain, add Asari Radix et Rhizoma (Xixin) [2 fen, preferably from Huayin]. These four herbs suffice for various headaches; however, if there is heat in the head, these cannot treat it; instead, use Qingkong Gao.

If there is pain below the umbilicus, add Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata (Shudihuang) [5 fen]; pain stops immediately. If not, it indicates extreme cold; add Cinnamomi Cortex (Rougui) [2-3 fen, peeled]. The "lower abdominal pain" mentioned in *Neijing* refers to cold syndromes arising from the retribution of excessive pathogenic factors. The classics state: "Great excess leads to great counteraction." This arises from transformation in heat diseases, not Jueyin Cold Damage (Zhang Zhongjing treats blood stasis in the Lower Jiao Bladder with Didang Tang/Pills).

If there is chest qi stagnation, add Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (Qingpi) [2 fen]; remove if there is shortness of breath or deficient qi.

If there is body pain due to dampness, or heaviness of the body indicating dampness, add Wuling San [1 qian, excluding Cinnamomi Cortex (Guirui)].

If Wind-Dampness intertwines causing whole-body pain, add Qianghuo, Fangfeng, and Gaoben root [each 5 fen], Shengma and Cangzhu [each 1 qian]. Do not use Wuling San, because wind herbs can overcome dampness. Prepare separately; stop when cured, as wind herbs damage primordial qi and worsen the condition.

If constipation with dryness, add Angelicae Sinensis Radix Caulis (Danggui Shao) [1 qian]. If blocked, take one mouthful of the decocted main medicine, mixed with Mirabilite (Xuanmingfen) [5 fen-1 qian]; stop once bowel movement occurs. Purging is contraindicated here to avoid ominous transformations.

For chronic phlegm-cough, remove Renshen; do not remove for acute cases. In winter, spring cold, or autumn chill, add Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang) [5 fen, roots/rhizomes removed]. In warm springs, add Petasitae Flos (Foercao) [3 fen] and Tussilaginis Flos (Kuandonghua) [1 fen]. In summer coughs, add Schisandrae Fructus (Wuweizi) [32 berries] and Ophiopogonis Radix (Maidong) [2-3 fen, heart removed]. If there is a white slippery coating on the tongue indicating cold in the chest, do not use this formula. If no cough in summer but lung protection against fire is needed, add Renshen [2-3 fen], Wuweizi, and Maidong in equal parts.

If the patient eats well but has epigastric fullness, add Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian) [1-3 fen]; if unable to eat with epigastric fullness, do not add Huanglian. For hypochondriac pain or tightness, add Chaihu [3 fen, up to 5 fen if severe].

These modifications apply to initial Heat-Zhong syndrome caused by diet, overwork, and emotional imbalance. They are contraindicated in late-stage Cold-Zhong, as sweet and sour herbs would exacerbate the condition (e.g., Huangqi, Renshen, Gancao, Baishao, Wuweizi).

Below are the Heat-Zhong and Cold-Zhong syndromes detailed in *Neijing* and *Zhenjing*.

*Tiaojing Lun* states: Blood pooling in Yang and Qi pooling in Yin constitutes Jie-Zhong (Heat-Zhong). Blood pooling above and Qi pooling below causes vexation and irritability. It also states: Diseases originating in Yin arise from diet, lifestyle, yin-yang imbalance, and emotions. Furthermore: Fatigue leads to decline of form and qi, insufficient grain qi, failure of Upper Jiao circulation, and obstruction of the lower stomach opening. Stomach qi becomes hot, steaming the chest, termed Internal Heat.

Excess Yin generates Internal Cold. Rebellious Qi ascends, accumulating cold in the chest without discharge. Lack of discharge expels warming qi, leaving only cold. Cold retention causes blood congealing and pulse obstruction, resulting in a large yet choppy pulse, termed Cold-Zhong.

In initial Heat-Zhong, Fire of the Chong Mai attaches to the interior of the Two Yin meridians and transmits to the Du Mai. The Du Mai connects at Changqiang (GV1), below the 21st vertebra. It attaches to the Cold Qi of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian. Its momentum is like a great river or galloping horse, unstoppable. Taiyang cold qi rises like a thread, piercing the vertex and forehead, descending past the nose tip into the Hand-Taiyang meridian in the chest. Hand-Taiyang corresponds to Bing (Fire/Heat); Foot-Taiyang corresponds to Ren (Water/Cold). Ren controls Bing; cold and heat rebel in the chest, causing a large pulse. Since Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine heat cannot enter the Bladder meridian,盛 qi of the eleven meridians accumulates in the chest, causing a large pulse. Extreme rebellion of Bladder qi leads to "Child making Mother Excess"; Hand-Yangming Large Intestine (Metal, the Mother) becomes dry and vigorous. Dryness carries the child's momentum, causing a choppy pulse and constipation. Thus, the "large and choppy" pulse refers to the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine pulse.

*Huangdi Zhenjing* states: Stomach disease presents as abdominal distension, pain in the epigastrium centering on the heart, radiating to both hypochondria, blockage of the diaphragm and throat, and inability to swallow food. Treat by tonifying Zusanli (ST36).

Any single symptom from the above indicates extreme Cold; all sweet and sour herbs are strictly prohibited, as clarified above.