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Individuals who laugh incessantly without cause, or laugh alone when away from others, behaving differently from their usual selves, are often thought by people to have pathogenic heat in the Heart (Zang organ). However, it is unknown that this is actually due to excessive fire in the Pericardium. The condition resembles possession by spirits, but it is definitely not caused by such entities. If possessed by spirits, there would be extraordinary signs, not merely spontaneous laughter. The Shanzhong (Pericardium region) acts as an assistant to the Heart; if overheated, its authority becomes majestic, leading to arrogance and self-importance, indulgence in desires, extravagance, and doing everything possible, finding satisfaction everywhere, and feeling pleased with everyone. Later, even things that need not be joyful become joyful, and things that should not be happy become happy. Is this the original intention of a minister? It is rather due to excessive power and overwhelming influence causing habitual changes. Excessive fire in the Shanzhong manifests as spontaneous laughter, which is precisely similar. The treatment method is to drain the fire of the Pericardium, and the laughter will stop naturally. Use Zhi Xiao Dan (Stop Laughing Decoction): Sheng Zao Ren (Semen Ziziphus Jujubae, 3 qian), Huang Lian (Rhizoma Coptidis, 2 qian), Xi Jiao Xie (Hornis Rhinocerotis, 0.5 qian), Dan Sha Mo (Cinnabar powder, 1 qian), Dan Pi (Cortex Moutan, 3 qian), Sheng Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae, 1 qian), Mai Dong (Radix Ophiopogonis, 3 qian), Fu Shen (Poria with Hostwood, 3 qian), Dan Shen (Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, 2 qian), Tian Hua Fen (Radix Trichosanthis, 2 qian). Decoct in water and take orally. One dose stops the laughter, two doses completely stop it, and three doses result in full recovery.

This formula drains the fire of the Pericardium but essentially calms the Jun (Monarch) Heart. When the Heart is clear and bright, the Bao Luo (Pericardium Collaterals) dare not act against the ruler with private joy. Therefore, calming the Heart is indeed calming the Pericardium.

Using Pu Bai Yin (Calamus and Biota Decoction) for this condition is also effective.
Shi Pu (Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii, 1 qian), Xuan Shen (Radix Scrophulariae, 1 liang), Mai Dong (Radix Ophiopogonis, 1 liang), Bai Zi Ren (Semen Platycladi, 3 qian), Bei Mu (Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae, 1 qian). Decoct in water and take orally. Recover in four doses.

Some individuals exhibit irregular laughing and crying, suddenly crying alone, then suddenly laughing alone. People think it is caused by ghosts, but who knows it is actually accumulated phlegm resembling ghostly possession. When Heart Qi is deficient, it cannot control itself, giving rise to diseases of crying or laughing. Heart Qi deficiency fails to generate Stomach Earth, leading to Stomach Qi deficiency as well. Once Stomach Qi is deficient, food and drink entering the Stomach do not transform into essence but instead generate phlegm. Where does this phlegm go? It inevitably remains in the Stomach. The Stomach suffers from the surging of phlegm-dampness and must borrow Qi from Heart Fire to assist itself. Since Heart deficiency fails to generate Earth (note: text implies Heart generates Spleen/Stomach), phlegm takes the opportunity to enter the Heart Palace. The Heart dislikes the invasion of phlegm, firmly closing and refusing to accept it, yet fearing the sinking of Stomach Earth, thus causing Heart pain. When pain occurs, one cries; when pain subsides, one laughs. What ghosts are there? The treatment method is to use phlegm-resolving drugs to induce vomiting; once the phlegm is expelled, both crying and laughing will heal. Formula: Fu Ling (Poria, 5 qian), Bai Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, 5 qian), Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae, 3 qian), Chen Pi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, 3 qian), Ban Xia (Rhizoma Pinelliae Preparatum, 3 qian), Zhu Li (Bamboo Sap, 2 he). Add five bowls of water, decoct to three bowls, take in one dose. Sweep the throat with a goose feather to induce vomiting of several shu of phlegm for recovery.

Phlegm located in the Upper Jiao cannot exit unless induced to vomit. Without using Er Chen Tang (Two-Aged Decoction) as an emetic, although old phlegm may exit, new phlegm will accumulate, and the laughing/crying will have no end. Only by using Er Chen Tang as an emetic can both old and new pathologies be treated permanently.

Using Jia Wei Shen Fu Yin (Modified Ginseng and Poria Decoction) for this condition is also effective.
Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng, 5 qian), Fu Ling (Poria, 5 qian), Ban Xia (Rhizoma Pinelliae Preparatum, 3 qian), Tian Hua Fen (Radix Trichosanthis, 3 qian), Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae, 1 qian), Zhu Li (Bamboo Sap, 2 he), Fu Zi (Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata, one slice). Decoct in water and take orally.

Some individuals feel inexplicable sadness, weeping continuously. People think it is possessed by demons, but who knows it is due to Zang Dryness (Organ Dryness). Zang Dryness refers to Lung Dryness. The *Neijing* states: Sadness belongs to the Lung, and the emotion of the Lung is sadness. It also says: When essence and Qi congregate in the Lung, sadness arises. Thus, weeping is governed by the Lung. When the Lung Meridian is deficient, Lung Qi becomes dry and lacks nourishment, presenting a state of decline and desire to cry. Spontaneous sadness with tears clearly indicates Lung Qi insufficiency. Deficiency of the Lung requires tonifying the Lung, is there any doubt? However, the Lung is a delicate organ; simply tonifying the Lung does not yield immediate benefits. One must tonify the Mother of Lung Metal (Spleen Earth); when Earth is prosperous, Metal naturally prospers. Tonifying the mother in deficiency is indeed the proper way to tonify the Lung. Use Zhuan Yu Tang (Transform Joy Decoction): Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng, 3 qian), Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae, 2 qian), Xiao Mai (Frumentum Tritici Vulgaris, 5 qian), Da Zao (Fructus Jujubae, 10 pieces), Bai Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, 5 qian), Fu Shen (Poria with Hostwood, 3 qian). Decoct in water and take orally. Full recovery in ten doses.

This formula uses Ren Shen, Bai Zhu, Fu Ling, and Gan Cao to tonify Spleen Earth. When Earth is prosperous, how can Lung Metal remain weak? But Lung dryness leads to sadness; if one does not moisten the Lung and resolve dryness, but instead assists Earth to generate Fire, does it not increase dryness? Not so. Assisting Earth to generate Fire actually helps Metal generate Qi. When Qi is prosperous, Lung dryness resolves naturally. Wheat matures in early autumn, possessing the Qi of Autumn Metal. Within Ren Shen, Bai Zhu, Fu Ling, and Gan Cao, it has no true Fire Qi, so they mutually assist each other to achieve success.

Using Jia Wei Shen Zhu Tang (Modified Ginseng and Atractylodes Decoction) for this condition is excellent.
Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng), Tian Hua Fen (Radix Trichosanthis), Di Gu Pi (Cortex Lycii - *Note: Text says Sheng Di, corrected to Sheng Di Huang based on context "Sheng Di"*), Sheng Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae Preparata, 5 qian each), Bai Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae), Mai Dong (Radix Ophiopogonis, 1 liang each). Decoct in water and take orally.