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Foot flaccidity and weakness, unable to support the body, is termed *Wei Jue* (Flaccidity and Cold/Paralysis). There are two main categories: first, it belongs to the Kidney and Bladder meridians. The classics state: "Unresolved fear injures the Essence; when the Essence is injured, there is bone soreness, flaccidity and cold/paralysis, and spontaneous leakage of Essence." This indicates injury to the Kidney with depletion of Essence. It also states: "Disease of the Three Yang meridians manifests as alternating chills and fever, abscesses and swellings in the lower part, and flaccidity and cold/paralysis." This refers to disease occurring in the Bladder meridian in the lower body. Second, it belongs to Spleen dampness injuring the Kidney. The classics state: "In treating flaccidity and cold/paralysis with upward rebellion, wealthy and fat individuals often suffer from diseases caused by rich and sweet foods." It also states: "Injury by dampness in autumn leads to upward rebellion and coughing, developing into flaccidity and cold/paralysis."

If a patient presents with sensations of fire flowing in the eyes, blurred vision, tinnitus and deafness, fatigue and listlessness, night sweats with aversion to wind, abnormal gait, tilting of both feet, frequent startles during sleep, weakness in the waist and knees, emaciation below the waist, the *Buyi Shen Gan Wan* (Supplement and Tonify Liver-Kidney Pill) is appropriate. If there is weakness in the knees, inability to extend or flex, heaviness in the waist, knees, legs, and feet, and difficulty walking, the *Jian Bu Wan* (Strengthen Legs Pill) is appropriate, taken with *Yu Feng Tang* (Wind-Dispelling Decoction) as a vehicle. For those with heavy and weak legs and feet, add five fen of Han Fang Ji (Stephania Tetrandra Root, washed with wine) to *Qiang Huo Sheng Shi Tang* (Notopterygium and Dampness-Overcoming Decoction); for mild cases, add a small amount of Fu Zi (Aconite Lateral Root Preparations), and for severe cases, Chuan Wu (Chuanwu Aconite Root Preparations), to act as guiding herbs to unblock the meridians.

I once treated an elderly man with flaccidity and cold/paralysis. Repeated use of *Hu Qian Wan* (Tiger Crouching Pill) was ineffective. Later, adding Fu Zi (Aconite Lateral Root Preparations) to *Hu Qian Wan* resulted in immediate recovery, likely due to the counter-assisting power of Fu Zi. Li Dongyuan treated Hezha Gong, a Secretary of State, who was thirty-two years old. His symptoms included weak legs and knees, coldness below the umbilicus and in the sacral and genital regions, sweaty and foul-smelling genitals, and seminal emission without firmness. He had taken Lu Rong Wan (Deer Antler Pill) for one hundred days without improvement. His pulse was deep, rapid, and forceful. This was caused by rich wines and fatty foods generating internal heat, forcing Yin outward. The physician, seeing these signs, failed to recognize that excessive Yang strength failing to secure the skin led to open pores, mistaking it for internal excess cold. By administering hot medicines, he drained Yin and tonified Yang, committing the error of "reinforcing excess and depleting deficiency" (Shi Shi Xu Xu). Survival was fortunate; how could efficacy be expected? A prescription of bitter-cold herbs to nourish the Kidney was given, applied urgently, using the principle of "treating heat with cold" (Han Yin Re Yong). Upon ingestion, the medicine reached the Lower Jiao, clearing the hyperactivity of Ministerial Fire. After two doses, he recovered. The formula was not provided, nor recorded in books, to prevent misuse, which might leave the old disease unresolved while new diseases arise. These are likely formulas such as *Zi Shui Wan* (Nourish Water Pill) or *Shen Gui Zi Yin Wan* (Divine Turtle Nourishing Yin Pill). They should stop when the disease is cured; can they be taken regularly?

Regarding "Heat": *Ben Shi Fang* treats weak legs and knees using Tu Si Zi (Cuscutae Semen, Dodder Seed) five liang, Shi Lian Rou (Nelumbinis Semen, Lotus Plumule), Shan Yao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma, Yam), Hui Xiang (Foeniculi Fructus, Fennel Fruit) each two liang, Bai Fu Ling (Poria, Poria Cocos), and Wu Wei Zi (Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus, Schisandra Berry) five qian, made into pills with paste. Take fifty pills per dose, with Qu Pa Jiu (Papaya Wine) or salt water, on an empty stomach and before evening meals.

Regarding "Cold": Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Ginseng Root) soaked in wine is used to treat wind-induced leg weakness. This herb can chase galloping horses, hence the name Ben Ma Cao (Running Horse Grass); it has been effective in practice.

Regarding "Deficiency": Zhang Zhongjing's formulas state: "Extreme flesh heat causes loss of body fluids, opening of pores, profuse sweating, invasion of pathogenic wind, and weakness in the lower jiao legs." The *Yue Bi Jia Zhu Tang* (Magnolia Flower and Atractylodes Macrocephala Decoction) is appropriate.

Regarding "Exterior": *Dou Men Fang* uses Shang Lu Gen (Phytolaccae Radix, Pokeweed Root), finely cut and boiled cooked, added to green beans and boiled until soft, then eaten as rice. Also, *Zuo Jing Wan* (Left Meridian Pill) and *Xu Gu Dan* (Bone-Supplementing Elixir) from *Ben Shi Fang* are suitable for flaccidity and cold/paralysis caused by damp-phlegm and turbid blood obstructing the meridians.

Regarding "Interior".