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When a patient experiences periodic sweating without recovery, it indicates that the pathogenic factor has not been resolved through sweating, and thus the pathogen is certainly not one that can be expelled merely by inducing sweat. Then why does it say that inducing sweat before the onset of symptoms leads to cure? According to the original text: This is due to disharmony of Wei Qi (Defensive Qi). Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) functions to connect Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi) with Wei Qi. Since Wei Qi is disturbed by Wind Pathogen and cannot harmonize internally with Ying Qi, inducing sweat here actually assists the power of Ying Qi to move outward and harmonize with Wei Qi. When Ying Qi and Wei Qi merge, the pathogen has no place to lodge. In cases where spontaneous sweating persists without cure, it is because Wei Qi and Ying Qi are discordant; Zheng Qi (Upright Qi) fails to secure the exterior, causing Body Fluids to leak through the interstices, but this leakage does not involve direct confrontation with the pathogen. Inducing sweat causes full-body steaming, replenishing Zheng Qi throughout the body. Wind Pathogen drums Wei Qi outward; now, following the pathogen, we strengthen Ying Qi to drive out the Wind Pathogen.

Ying Qi circulates within the vessels, while Wei Qi circulates outside the vessels. Both complete fifty cycles around the body day and night. If there is any discrepancy in their speed or timing, disease occurs. When Wei Qi is injured by Wind, its movement accelerates, but Ying Qi cannot respond; if Ying Qi cannot respond, Wei Qi’s strength also becomes insufficient, leading to laxity of the Cou Li (pores and skin texture), hence the periodic sweating. Guizhi Tang stimulates the fluids of Ying Qi to moisten the dryness of Wei Qi, ensuring smooth opening and closing mechanisms and a tight exterior. For the Mahuang Tang (Ephedra Decoction) syndrome characterized by Ying Qi injury from Cold, tight pulse, and absence of sweat, this represents simultaneous injury of both Ying and Wei Qi by Cold. The previous assertion that "Cold injures Ying but not Wei" is erroneous. Cases specifically involving Ying Qi injury by Cold usually stem from Cold-Dampness entering from below, bypassing the skin and hair, and directly penetrating the meridians to enter the sinews and bones. This causes blood coagulation and gradual slowing of circulation, failing to correspond with Wei Qi, thereby triggering alternating chills and fever. Recent cases of Cold Malaria are mostly due to Cold-Dampness entering from below; treatment should emulate the method of Jiuwei Qianghuo Tang (Nine-Ingredient Notopterygium Decoction), warming the Lower Jiao (Lower Burner) and unblocking the interior-exterior meridian qi of Shaoyin (Lesser Yin) and Taiyang (Greater Yang). This cannot be accomplished solely by Guizhi or Chai Hu (Bupleurum). Guizhi Tang’s ability to stop sweating exceeds its ability to induce sweating; therefore, when aiming to induce sweat with it, one must drink hot porridge and cover warmly to assist the action.

The *Qianjin Fang* (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold) states: Whenever taking anti-dysentery medicine, symptoms initially worsen. Fools do not understand this and immediately stop taking the medicine, which is inadvisable. As long as the medicine corresponds to the root cause of the disease, even if symptoms worsen temporarily, continue taking it. After repeated doses, improvement will gradually become apparent. Only if the medicine is mismatched should it not be taken at all. The *Shenrou Wushu* (Five Books of Shenrou) notes: For patients whose Yang Qi is depressed and sunken due to long-term use of cold-cooling medicines, switching to Sijunzi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) and Baoyuan Tang (Preserve Origin Decoction) warms the Spleen and regulates the Lungs, raising Yang Qi so that pathogenic factors gradually retreat to the exterior. When retreating to the Yangming (Yang Brightness) stage, vomiting, loose stools, or watery diarrhea may occur; when retreating to the Shaoyang (Lesser Yang) stage, headache and alternating chills and fever may appear; when retreating to the Taiyang stage, fever, aversion to wind and cold, and stiffness/pain in the neck and spine may manifest. At this time, it is crucial to intensify efforts to support Zheng Qi and treat according to the specific pattern to achieve complete recovery. One must not suspect this as a new external contraction, nor doubt it as a medication error requiring a change in method. Further misdiagnosis would make treatment difficult. I believe that modern physicians are overly concerned with Liver Yang rising. Upon encountering headache from wind-cold, they immediately diagnose "Liver Yang Rising" and apply cooling agents to douse it. Later, when True Fire (Kidney Yang) sinks and Yin pathogens (Cold-Damp/Yin Evil) fill the body, causing heavy head and distending skull, they still claim "Liver Yang is too hyperactive." Wise physicians use formulas to promote Yang and expel Yin to reverse the condition. Once slight signs of Yang ascending appear, such as dry mouth and slight thirst, these are dismissed as medication errors aggravating Liver Yang, inevitably leading to a pursuit of extinguishing Yang until death. This is truly lamentable!

In treating external contractions, if external symptoms decrease but internal symptoms worsen, this indicates the inward sinking of pathogenic factors. If treatment allows inward-sunk pathogens to gradually emerge to the exterior, with exterior symptoms increasing daily and interior symptoms decreasing daily, this indicates the restoration of Zheng Qi. Initially presenting with aversion to cold and fever, if treatment slightly alleviates chills and fever but increases chest fullness, vomiting, and anorexia, this is Wind-Cold sinking inward. Initially presenting with abdominal distension, if treatment resolves the distension but leads to uncontrollable loose stools, this is the collapse of Zheng Qi downward. Thus, there are cases where increased external symptoms actually reflect medical merit, while decreased external symptoms reflect medical fault. Physicians and patients must possess firm insight and resolve, remaining unswayed by appearances, to maintain correct treatment during changes and to adjust correctly when errors occur.

Zhou Shenzhai stated: Patients with Spleen Qi deficiency and a wiry pulse will inevitably develop Malaria after taking Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction); patients with Spleen Qi deficiency and excessive Dampness will inevitably develop Dysentery after taking Buzhong Yiqi Tang. This is the pathogen seeking an exit; continuing the previous decoction will lead to self-healing. (This aligns with the view in *Shenrou Wushu*.)

Zhu Danxi treated a deficient patient suffering from dysentery. He first administered Liu Junzi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction), taken in large amounts over a long period. Although symptoms appeared to increase daily, the patient showed little reaction. Once Zheng Qi was sufficient, a single dose of anti-dysentery medicine rapidly cleared the disease. This demonstrates supreme insight and decisiveness. Furthermore, whenever Cold-Dampness lies latent internally, warm medicines must be used first to transform it into Damp-Heat. During this transformation phase, patients may experience epigastric stuffiness, fullness, drowsiness, and fatigue, appearing less energetic than at the initial diagnosis.

There are sudden transformations that are particularly alarming, requiring firm insight to manage. For example, Xu Shuwu treated Li Xindao, who had hidden Yang causing cold limbs. He prescribed Poyin Dan (Break Yin Pill). Within half an hour, the patient became irritable and restless. Xu said: "This is the transformation of Yang." After an hour, the patient indeed sweated and stabilized. This corresponds to Zhang Zhongjing’s statement that "extreme restlessness, locked jaw, and agitation" indicate the resolution of disease. Similarly, Zhao Qingchu described treating a Taiyang disease patient whose prolonged course failed to utilize purgation. He prescribed modified Siwu Chengqi Tang (Four Substances and Da Huang Decoction). Moments later, the patient suffered severe abdominal stabbing pain, locked jaw, wide eyes, and unconsciousness. By dawn, the passage of abundant black stool led to recovery.