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Heart and abdominal distension arises from the deficiency of the zang-fu organs, allowing pathogenic factors to lodge within, attacking the Heart and Spleen. This involves the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian; when the Spleen is deficient, distension occurs. It also involves the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, which originates below the little toe, travels upward to connect with the Bladder; its straight branch ascends from the Kidney into the Lung; its branch emerges from the Lung and connects with the Heart. When the zang-fu are deficient, pathogenic factors lodge in these two meridians, battling with healthy Qi (Zhengqi), accumulating internally. Qi converges on the Spleen; Spleen deficiency leads to distension, causing vexation, fullness in the heart and abdomen, rapid breathing, and distension.

Upon pulse diagnosis, a slow and slippery pulse indicates distension and fullness. Treatments involving decoctions, hot compresses, acupuncture, and stone therapy have separate specific formulas. Methods for tonification, nourishment, and Daoyin (guiding and pulling exercises) are attached hereafter.

The *Yangsheng Fang* (Prescriptions for Nourishing Life) · *Daoyin Fa* (Methods of Guiding and Pulling) states: Extend the right leg, bend the left knee, press inward, coordinating with five breaths. This guides the Spleen Qi, eliminating cold-heat pathogens in the heart and abdomen, and pathogenic distension in the chest and diaphragm. Practicing according to this method draws out heat from the Spleen, removing cold-heat in the heart and abdomen, and pathogenic distension in the chest and diaphragm. Long-term practice prevents injury by cold-heat and seasonal pathogens, known as the "Method of the True Person."

Chronic heart and abdominal distension results from disharmony of the fu-zang organs, where cold pathogenic factors invade and converge on the Heart and Spleen. Spleen deficiency causes distension; stagnation and accumulation form pathological products, flaring up intermittently, thus becoming chronic. If chronic distension persists, Spleen deficiency allows cold to accumulate, and Stomach Qi also becomes cold. The Spleen and Stomach are exterior-interior partners; thus, both fu and zang become cold, leading to indigestion. If cold migrates into the Large Intestine, it transforms into dysentery (diarrhea).

Pain in the chest and hypochondrium arises from deficiency in the branches of the Gallbladder, Liver, and Kidney meridians, invaded by cold pathogenic factors. The branch of the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian passes through the inner canthus, descends to the chest, and follows the interior of the hypochondrium. The Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian originates at the hairline of the big toe, ascends into the abdomen, pierces the diaphragm, and distributes along the hypochondrium. The branch of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian emerges from the Lung, connects with the Heart, and pours into the chest. The branches of these three meridians all traverse the chest and hypochondrium; pathogenic factors invading this area damage these meridians. The battle between pathogenic factors and healthy Qi causes the chest and hypochondrium to pull and contract, resulting in acute pain.

Upon diagnosing the Cun Kou (radial artery) pulse, a wiry and slippery pulse indicates that wiriness corresponds to pain and slipperiness to excess; pain manifests as tension, and excess as vigorous pulsation. The interplay of wiry and slippery pulses indicates seizing sensation, rapid breathing, and pain in the chest and hypochondrium.