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In the mid-autumn of the Guiwei year, the mother of Lin Chuwan, a neighbor, contracted cold due to overexertion. She experienced dizziness (Xuanxuan) and fever (Fare). The previous physician mistakenly diagnosed this as a Taiyang exterior syndrome (Taiyang biao zheng) and administered acrid-releasing herbs (Xinfa zhi yao). After five doses, there was no improvement. When I was consulted, her six pulses were surging yet slow and powerless, with slight tremors in both hands. This resulted from excessive use of exterior-releasing agents, leading to severe deficiency of Yuan Qi (primordial qi), causing blood to fail to nourish the sinews. According to the treatment principle, warming and tonification were required. Thus, Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction) was prescribed, augmented with Rougui (Cortex Cinnamomi) and Chao Shaoyao (Stir-fried Radix Paeoniae Alba). After two doses, the fever subsided, the body became cool, and the pulse stabilized. After another two doses, the tremors ceased. Ten days later, the patient suffered from constipation. I continued using the previous formula, removing Chaihu (Radix Bupleuri), doubling the dosage of Renshen (Radix Ginseng), adding Qinjiao (Rhizoma Gentianae Macrophyllae) and Zaoren (Semen Ziziphi Spinosae), with Dazao (Fructus Jujubae) as an guiding herb. After two doses, the bowels moved smoothly, urination became clear and profuse, and she felt refreshed. Had one recklessly used Xiaoxie drugs like Xiaoshi (Natrii Sulfas) and Dahuang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei) to purge, it would have severely depleted True Yin (Zhenyin), inevitably leading to death.

In the spring of the Jiashen year, Chen Borong, younger brother of Hanlin Academician Chen Boquan, suffered from the same condition. He took exterior-releasing herbs without recovery; instead, he became increasingly lethargic. Upon palpation, his heart region pulse was deep and knotted, while other regions showed deficient and floating pulses. This was caused by fatigue and emotional constraint. He agreed that my diagnosis hit the mark precisely. He took Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction), augmented with Qianghuo (Rhizoma Notopterygii) and Heizhi (Fructus Gardeniae Jasminoidis Preparatus), with a small amount of Rougui (Cortex Cinnamomi) as an assistant. After two doses, he recovered. Inquiry revealed that for years he had been involved in litigation with a wealthy family, running back and forth in court, which caused anger and disturbance of Shen Si (spiritual thought). Alas! How could exterior-releasing herbs be used to secretly deplete True Qi (Zhenqi)? Li Dongyuan stated in *Bianhuo Lun* (Treatise on Resolving Doubts): Physicians of the world mistake conditions of "deficiency of Zhong Qi (middle qi) requiring tonification" caused by irregular diet and labor injury for excess conditions of external wind-cold pathogens. They heavily purge the exterior, severing Ying Wei (nutritive and defensive qi) from the outside, leading to death within ten days or half a month. A difference of a hair's breadth leads to an error of a thousand miles; how can one not distinguish carefully?

The so-called "Shaohan with Deficiency" (Jiaxu Shaohan) refers to cases where improper diet and lifestyle, along with fatigue or sexual excess, cause hidden depletion of Tianzhen (innate true qi). In such states, pathogens are easily invaded. If treated promptly with warming and regulating methods, one or two doses suffice for immediate cure. How could misdiagnosis lead to death? In the mid-winter of the Guiwei year of the Chongzhen era, Sun Molin, younger brother of Sun Helin, Chief Magistrate of Jiahe, aged forty, suffered from the aforementioned condition. Initially, a doctor treated him for external contraction. Due to the doctor's absence, seven doses of Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) were left for continuous daily intake. After ten days, the condition worsened. Fan Yuesheng was then consulted. Startled, he said, "The pulse has changed; what shall we do?" He advised seeking another physician. When Chen Xuetan arrived, he diagnosed it as a "Shanghan Huai Zheng" (complicated/ruined cold damage) and proposed Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng) 2 liang and Shu Fuzi (Prepared Radix Aconiti Lateralis) 2 qian decocted and taken orally. However, the patient vomited immediately after ingestion. By the next evening, Wang Zuoxi came to consult. All six pulses were absent (Tuoluo), and the patient exhibited irritability and dryness. I said, "This condition originally belongs to cold invasion due to deficiency. Was cold medicine mistakenly administered initially?" His sons replied, "It was indeed harmed by that doctor." I added, "Now that irritability and dryness have appeared with deep and absent pulses, according to treatment principles, it is incurable. Even administering Shen Fu Tang (Ginseng and Aconite Decoction) would be too late." They pleaded repeatedly, stating, "Yesterday Chen Xuetan just administered the previous decoction, but unfortunately, it could not be retained." I said again, "This disease involves Yang collapse floating upward; it presents as false heat externally and true cold internally. Only agents suitable for true heat/false cold patterns can be tolerated." They were instructed to take the previously decocted medicine, add 2 qian of Fuzi (Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata) and a few fen of Wuyu (Fructus Evodiae), decoct, let it cool, and administer. The patient slept quietly for half a day, urination became clear and long, and the family was overjoyed. On the second day, upon re-examination, the pulse showed no change. I said, "Wait three days; only then might there be hope of revival." Although Sun Molin was pleased and requested the decoction, he survived only two and a half days more, passing away the following night. Alas! Those who die after twenty days of illness are not necessarily destined to die; they die wrongly due to erroneous prescriptions. Who among physicians errs? Whom among patients is wrongly harmed? The transmission of Shanghan varies rapidly; since ancient times, there has been no method of continuously administering seven doses of cooling agents like Xiao Chai Hu Tang.