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If daily life is not regulated properly, in individuals with weak Spleen and Stomach (Spleen and Stomach deficiency), the momentum of mineral drugs (Shi Shi) becomes stagnant and attacks the Spleen and Stomach, causing disharmony of their Qi. Consequently, they cannot tolerate food, leading to rebellious Qi and vomiting. With proper regulation, recovery occurs.

If daily life is not regulated properly and dietary habits are excessive, phlegm-heat generates in the diaphragm. The Qi of phlegm-heat steams the Liver. Since the Liver opens into the eyes, vision is lost accompanied by pain.

Exposure to warm environments causes the momentum of mineral drugs to fail to disperse, internally obstructing the Zang-Fu organs. Struggling with normal Qi, this results in abdominal distension and fullness.

In cases where Wind-Lao (Wind consumption) was originally present, dispersing mineral drugs were taken. If the Wind-Lao is not fully resolved, the momentum of the mineral drugs erupts. After resolving the mineral toxicity, the body remains emaciated and weak, thus still harboring the pathogen of Wind-Lao.

After taking dispersing mineral drugs, if one drinks excessively, the momentum of the mineral drugs intensifies due to alcohol, spreading through the meridians and collaterals, causing irritability and fever.

The Classics state: Spring Qi is mild, Summer Qi is hot, Autumn Qi is cool, Winter Qi is cold; this is the sequence of the Righteous Qi of the four seasons. In winter, severe cold causes all things to hide deeply. If a gentleman guards closely, he will not be injured by cold. Those who violate and encounter it contract Cold Damage (Shang Han). Any invasion by the Qi of the four seasons can cause disease, but Cold Damage is considered the most toxic because it is the most lethal Qi. Those who fall ill immediately after infection are diagnosed with Cold Damage; those who do not fall ill immediately harbor the cold toxin within the muscle and bone. In spring, this transforms into Warm Disease (Wen Bing); in summer, it transforms into Summer Heat Disease (Shu Bing). Summer Heat Disease has heat that is heavier than that of Warm Disease. Therefore, hardworking people inevitably suffer from Warm Disease in spring and summer, caused by encountering cold in winter, not by the epidemic Qi. Epidemic Qi refers to situations where spring should be warm but is cold, summer should be hot but is cold, autumn should be cool but is hot, and winter should be cold but is warm—having the Qi of another season at the wrong time. Thus, throughout the year, patients of all ages suffer from similar illnesses; this is the Epidemic Qi.

Cold Damage disease originates from Wind-Cold, entering the Cou Li (interstices), struggling with Essence-Qi, causing stagnation and blockage of Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) Qi, obstructing circulation. On the first or second day, the pathogen is between the orifices and skin, causing headache, aversion to cold, and stiffness/heaviness in the waist and back. This is pathogen in the exterior; bathing and inducing sweat leads to cure. On the third day or more, the Qi floats upward, filling the chest and heart, causing headache and chest fullness; purging (vomiting) leads to cure. On the fifth day or more, the Qi knots deeply in the Zang organs, causing abdominal distension, heaviness of the body, and painful joints; purgation leads to cure.

Heat diseases belong to the category of Cold Damage. Some recover, some die; death usually occurs between the sixth and seventh days, while recovery takes ten days or more. Why? Ju Yang (Tai Yang/Greater Yang) belongs to all Yang meridians, its vessels connect to Feng Fu (GV16), making it the master of Yang Qi. When humans are injured by cold, they develop heat disease; even with severe heat, they do not die. However, those suffering from "Liang Gan" (simultaneous injury of two meridians, typically exterior and interior) by cold will die. What are the pulse and symptoms of Liang Gan? On the first day, Ju Yang and Shao Yin (Lesser Yin) are both diseased, causing headache, dry mouth, and vexatious fullness. On the second day, Yang Ming (Bright Yang) and Tai Yin (Greater Yin) are both diseased, causing abdominal fullness, body heat, anorexia, and delirious speech. On the third day, Shao Yang (Lesser Yang) and Jue Yin (Terminal Yin) are both diseased, causing deafness, retraction of the scrotum, and cold limbs. If water and grain cannot enter and consciousness is lost, death occurs on the sixth day. After the five Zang organs are damaged, the six Fu organs are blocked, and Ying and Wei Qi do not circulate, death occurs three days later. Why? Yang Ming is the leader of the twelve meridians. Its Qi and Blood are abundant; thus, loss of consciousness persists for three days until its Qi is exhausted, leading to death.

For those not suffering from simultaneous injury: On the first day, Ju Yang receives the pathogen, causing head/neck pain and stiff spine/waist. On the second day, Yang Ming receives it; Yang Ming governs flesh, its vessels run along the nose and connect to the eyes, causing body heat, dry nose, and inability to sleep. On the third day, Shao Yang receives it; Shao Yang governs bones, its vessels follow the costal region and connect to the ears, causing chest/costal pain and deafness. If the three Yang meridians are diseased but have not entered the Zang, sweating can cure it. On the fourth day, Tai Yin receives it; Tai Yin vessels distribute to the stomach and connect to the throat, causing abdominal fullness and dry throat. On the fifth day, Shao Yin receives it; Shao Yin vessels pass through the Kidney, connect to the Lung, and tie to the root of the tongue, causing oral heat, dry tongue, and thirst. On the sixth day, Jue Yin receives it; Jue Yin vessels follow the genitalia and connect to the Liver, causing vexatious fullness and scrotal retraction. When the three Yin and three Yang, five Zang and six Fu are all diseased, Ying and Wei Qi stop, and the five Zang become blocked, leading to death. For those not suffering from simultaneous injury: On the seventh day, Ju Yang disease declines, headache lessens. On the eighth day, Yang Ming disease declines, body heat subsides. On the ninth day, Shao Yang disease declines, hearing slightly improves. On the tenth day, Tai Yin disease declines, abdomen reduces to normal, appetite returns. On the eleventh day, Shao Yin disease declines, thirst stops, no more fullness, dry tongue resolves, coughing begins. On the twelfth day, Jue Yin disease declines, scrotum descends slightly from the lower abdomen. The great pathogenic Qi departs, and the disease heals day by day.

How to treat? Treat by unblocking the meridians of each organ; the disease declines day by day. If the disease is less than three days old, sweating cures it; if over three days, purgation cures it. Tai Yang disease with headache lasting seven days or more will naturally heal as the meridian cycle ends. To prevent transmission to the next meridian, needle and tonify Yang Ming so transmission does not occur, ensuring cure.

The method of diagnosing involves observing color, listening to voice, and viewing the site of disease. The essentials of pulse diagnosis are subtle. A洪大 (Hong Da/Surging and Large) pulse indicates heat, characteristic of Cold Damage. A 洪浮 (Hong Fu/Surging and Floating) pulse in Cold Damage is favorable in autumn but prone to illness in spring. A tight pulse at Cun Kou indicates Cold Damage headache. A surging pulse indicates Cold Damage. In Shao Yin disease, aversion to cold, curled body, diarrhea, and cold limbs indicate untreatable condition; vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, and rebellion indicate death. Cessation of diarrhea with dizziness and frequent fainting indicates death. Cold limbs, aversion to cold, curled body, absent pulse, and restlessness without vexation indicate death. High breathing on the sixth day of illness indicates death. In severe Cold Damage heat, a floating and large pulse indicates survival; sinking and small indicates death. Headache with short and choppy pulse indicates death; floating and slippery indicates survival. Without sweat, a surging and large pulse indicates survival; small and thin indicates death. In severe heat, a small pulse indicates untreatable death. In Cold Damage heat disease, a surging, restless pulse without sweat indicates extreme Yang, ten deaths out of ten. Without sweat, a restless pulse is difficult to treat; with sweat, survival is possible; without sweat, recovery is hard. Headache with reverse choppy pulse is adverse and untreatable; floating and large is easy to treat; fine and small is difficult.

After sweating, vomiting, or purging, or in cases of blood loss and fluid depletion, if Yin and Yang harmonize spontaneously, healing occurs. If purgation is followed by sweating and urination is difficult, this is fluid depletion; do not treat. If urination is free, self-healing occurs. If Yang is already deficient and Chi position pulse is weak, do not sweat. If the throat is dry, do not sweat. In Cold Damage, a string-tight and fine pulse with headache and fever indicates Shao Yang disease. Shao Yang disease must not be sweated; sweating causes delirium, indicating involvement of the Stomach. If Stomach Qi harmonizes, healing occurs; if not, vexation and palpitations arise. In Shao Yin disease, a fine, sinking, and faint pulse indicates interior disease; do not sweat. If the pulse is faint, do not sweat, as there is no Yang. If Yang is deficient and Chi pulse is weak and choppy, do not purge. In Tai Yang disease, fever with aversion to cold, more heat than cold, and weak pulse indicates absence of Yang; do not sweat. If the pulse is floating, sweating is permissible. Fever with spontaneous sweating and no aversion to cold, with a fine and rapid pulse at Guan position, contraindicates vomiting. For various cases of cold limbs, vomiting is contraindicated, as is for deficient individuals. More cold than heat may allow vomiting if due to excess phlegm. Treatment of Malaria follows similarly. If head/neck are not stiff, Cun pulse is slightly floating, there is obstruction in the chest, Qi rushes to throat preventing respiration, vomiting is indicated. To determine if purgation is suitable in Cold Damage, feel the pulse: if firm and solid, or unclear, check the palm. If the palm is sweaty, purgation is appropriate. If the palm is dry, although purgation might be indicated, wait, warm the body, ensure fluids circulate, and once the palm sweats, then purge. Tai Yin disease presents with abdominal fullness and vomiting food; do not purge, as it worsens the condition and causes periodic abdominal pain. If purged, hardness below the chest occurs; if pulse is floating, sweating is indicated. Yang Ming disease presents with hardness/fullness below the heart; do not purge, as it causes diarrhea and death; caution is essential.

When Tai Yang and Shao Yang diseases combine, with hardness below the heart, stiff/headache/dizziness, purgation is contraindicated. In San Yang combination disease, abdominal fullness, body heaviness, normal bowel/bladder function, and floating/firm/rapid pulse with thirst for water contraindicate purgation. Other methods like decoction warming, acupuncture, stone therapy, nourishment, and guidance are attached hereafter.

The *Yangsheng Fang · Daoyin Fa* states: Sit upright with straight waist, slowly inhale through the nose, hold the nose with the right hand, close eyes slowly, and exhale. This treats Cold Damage headache and chills, aiming for sweating.

It also states: Raise left hand, stomp left foot, palm up, inhale through nose forty times, then stop. This removes body heat and back pain.