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Whenever excessive consumption of raw, cold, or hard-to-digest foods causes stagnation in the epigastrium, leading to fever, asthma (wheezing), chest oppression with pain that is tender to pressure, and constipation persisting for five to six days or even more than ten days without bowel movement, it closely resembles Jie Xiong syndrome (Chest Binding Syndrome). However, it absolutely must not be treated with Da Xian Xiong Tang (Major Intra-thoracic Decoction) or Xiao Xian Xiong Tang (Minor Intra-thoracic Decoction). The etiology of Jie Xiong syndrome involves pathogenic factors sinking inward due to improper use of purgatives, where they bind with internal phlegm. In contrast, this condition presents with binding pain from the onset, caused by tangible food obstruction blocking Qi transformation, rather than a blockage of Qi dynamics itself. Treating it according to the protocol for Jie Xiong would perforate the intestines and damage the stomach, injuring both form and Qi.

The headache on both sides indicates that food stagnation has obstructed the ascending Qi of the Shaoyang channel. The tongue coating may be thick white or thick yellow, covered with black, signifying that blood in the epigastrium has been forced to coagulate by cold food. Small red millet-like papules appearing on the tip of the tongue, which may turn purple-black and spread to the sides, accompanied by intense heart heat as if burning, dry mouth desiring water but unwillingness to swallow, indicate that Stomach Yang fails to govern transportation and ascends improperly, compounded by the presence of dead blood (stasis). Therefore, after children recover from febrile diseases caused by food injury, they often vomit a few mouthfuls of blood or pass blood once or twice in stool; this is the cause. Generally, febrile diseases and internal abscess syndromes are frequently complicated by blood stasis.

Within three to five days, if there is uncontrolled drinking of water, it is because retained food steams and rots, transforming into heat. At this stage, the whole body is hot, consciousness is clouded, the chest is elevated, and breathing is coarse. If mistakenly diagnosed as Wen Du (Warm Toxicity) and treated with cooling and resolving methods, Yang Qi will be damaged, causing the food to become undigested and leading to profuse diarrhea. There are also cases with cold limbs, a hot forehead, fatigue and weakness, intermittent breathing, spontaneous sweating, and night sweats. If mistakenly diagnosed as Yin Deficiency and treated with tonification, Middle Qi will become more depressed, and fullness/stagnation will worsen. Severe cases may transform into Chang Yong (Intestinal Abscess) or Wei Yong (Stomach Abscess), accumulate into Fei Yong (Lung Abscess), or mildly transmit as Li Ji (Dysentery).

This disease confines both the form and Qi of the Yangming Stomach Fu organ and severely damages the Qi transformation of the Taiyin Lung Zang. Even worse, if other foods were consumed first and not digested, followed immediately by raw and hard foods, the condition is particularly severe, indicating that both the upper and lower parts of the Stomach are confined. Improper treatment can lead to death or survival in an instant; thus, Li Dongyuan was always vigilant regarding this. Recently, many children suffer from this syndrome, either from nursing/eating while exposed to wind or from mixing grains and fruits. Initially, there is sudden high fever, especially on the cheeks, and severe abdominal pain; this soon changes to alternating chills and fever, with heat starting at night, peaking at Wu Geng (3-5 AM), and subsiding at dawn. The forehead and palms are often hot, while the nail tips are sometimes cold. The abdomen becomes distended, gradually leading to an elevated chest and rapid breathing, loose stools that are difficult to pass, or initially watery diarrhea. Children with weak constitution who cannot transform heat will suffer from persistent diarrhea and failure to rise; those who do transform heat will generate internal phlegm, which congests the Lungs and presses on the Heart, transmitting as Jing Feng (Convulsive Disease).

Parents and physicians, assuming that since diarrhea has occurred, food stagnation is ruled out, begin by using exterior-releasing formulas to deplete Middle Qi, followed by heat-clearing formulas to freeze Stomach Yang. Over time, some treat it as Man Jing Feng (Slow Convulsion) using phlegm-resolving sedatives, others as Yin Deficiency nourishing Kidney Yin, or as Qi Deficiency strengthening Spleen and Lung. Some administer Bing Lang (Areca Seed) and Mu Xiang (Aucklandia Root). Parents may refuse medication out of fear, or take it without proper follow-up, leading to chaotic administration of attacking and tonifying agents. By the time the child's chest protrudes above the head and the abdomen is larger than a winnowing basket, it is incurable. This condition could have been resolved with one or two doses of Jiao Zha (Charred Hawthorn Fruit), Tao Ren (Peach Kernel), Chen Pi (Tangerine Peel), and Zi Wan (Aster Root)! Yet, collective medical deliberation led to delay and lack of strategy; witnessing such situations is both laughable and lamentable.