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In the *Suwen: Feng Lun* (Treatise on Wind in the Basic Questions), the Yellow Emperor asked: When wind pathogen injures the human body, it may manifest as cold-heat alternation, heat in the middle jiao, cold in the middle jiao, leprosy (Lifeng), hemiplegia (Piangu), or generalized pain. All are caused by wind. Their symptoms vary, and their names differ. Some penetrate deeply into the five zang and six fu organs. I do not understand the mechanism; I wish to hear your explanation. Qibo replied: The wind pathogen lodges between the skin and muscles. It cannot circulate inward nor be excreted outward. Wind is agile and changes rapidly. When the couli (pores) open, one feels chilly; when they close, one feels feverish and stifled. The chilliness leads to decreased appetite; the heatiness consumes muscle tissue. Thus, the person becomes emaciated and unable to eat, a condition named Cold-Heat (*Hanre*). If wind follows the Yangming meridian into the stomach and ascends along the vessels to the inner canthus of the eye: if the person is obese, the wind cannot be excreted outward, resulting in Heat in the Middle Jiao (*Rezhong*) with yellowing of the eyes; if the person is thin, the wind is excreted outward, manifesting as cold, resulting in Cold in the Middle Jiao (*Hanzhong*) with tearing. If wind enters together with the Taiyang meridian, traveling through the shu points of various vessels and scattering between the muscle layers, interfering with Wei Qi (Defensive Qi), causing obstruction in its pathway, the flesh swells and develops sores. If Wei Qi stagnates and fails to circulate, that area of flesh becomes insensible (*Buren*). In cases of Leprosy (*Lifeng*), Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi) is hot and turbid, causing nasal collapse, facial discoloration, and skin ulcers. This is due to wind-cold lodging in the vessels and not departing. In spring on Jia-Yi days, injury by wind is called Liver Wind; in summer on Bing-Ding days, Heart Wind; in late summer on Wu-Ji days, Spleen Wind; in autumn on Geng-Xin days, Lung Wind; in winter on Ren-Gui days, Kidney Wind. Wind entering the shu points of the zang-fu organs causes Wind of the respective organs. Entering through specific portals, it causes Biased Wind (*Pianfeng*). Ascending via the Fengfu point, it causes Brain Wind (*Naofeng*). Entering the head connections, it causes Eye Wind (*Mufeng*). Wind after drinking alcohol causes Leakage Wind (*Loufeng*). Wind after sexual intercourse with sweating causes Internal Wind (*Neifeng*). Wind after washing hair causes Head Wind (*Shoufeng*). Long-standing wind entering the interior causes Intestinal Wind (*Changfeng*) with undigested stool diarrhea. Wind lingering at the couli causes Leakage Wind (*Xiefeng*). Therefore, wind is the chief of all diseases. Its transformations lead to other illnesses without fixed patterns, yet always originating from wind. The Emperor asked: What are the different manifestations of wind affecting the five zang? I wish to know the diagnostic signs and pathological states. Qibo said: Lung Wind presents with profuse sweating, aversion to wind, pale complexion, frequent cough, shortness of breath, improving during the day and worsening at night. Diagnosis is at the supraorbital region, showing white color. Heart Wind presents with profuse sweating, aversion to wind, dry lips, irritability, red complexion, and slurred speech when severe. Diagnosis is at the mouth, showing red color. Liver Wind presents with profuse sweating, aversion to wind, sadness, bluish complexion, dry throat, irritability, and aversion to women. Diagnosis is below the eyes, showing green color. Spleen Wind presents with profuse sweating, aversion to wind, lethargy, desire to remain inactive, sallow complexion, and poor appetite. Diagnosis is on the nose, showing yellow color. Kidney Wind presents with profuse sweating, aversion to wind, puffy face resembling edema, back pain preventing upright standing, dark complexion, and difficulty urinating. Diagnosis is on the muscles, showing black color. Stomach Wind presents with sweating on the neck, aversion to wind, dysphagia, chest fullness, abdominal distension worsened by cold clothing or cold food, and diarrhea. The body is emaciated while the abdomen is distended. Head Wind presents with sweating on the head and face, aversion to wind, headache worsening before windy days and improving on windy days. Leakage Wind presents with profuse sweating, inability to wear single clothes, sweating upon eating, severe whole-body sweating, panting, aversion to wind, wet clothes, dry mouth, thirst, and inability to perform labor. Leakage Wind (*Xiefeng*) presents with profuse sweating soaking clothes, dry mouth, wind invading from above, inability to perform labor, and generalized body pain with chills.

In stroke, it is crucial to distinguish between Closed Syndrome (*Bizheng*) and Collapsed Syndrome (*Tuozheng*). Closed syndrome requires opening methods; collapsed syndrome requires securing methods. Differentiation relies on identifying a deficient and large pulse. Even in closed syndrome with qi blockage, the six pulses may be imperceptible; one must not mistake this for collapsed syndrome due to the absence of pulse.

**Prescription for Preventing Impending Stroke:**
Astragali Radix Huangqi (honey-fried, 5 qian), Saposhnikoviae Radix Fangfeng (1.5 qian), Ginseng Radix Renshen (1.5 qian), Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Juhong (1 qian), Angelicae Sinensis Radix Danggui Shen (wine-washed, 2.5 qian), Akebiae Caulis Mutong (2.5 qian), Gardeniae Fructus Zhizi (1 qian), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Gancao (0.5 qian), Carthami Flos Honghua (0.3 qian).
For Spleen-Stomach deficiency with weak voice, add Ginseng Radix Renshen (3 qian), Dioscoreae Rhizoma Shanyao (1.5 qian), Coicis Semen Yiren (2 qian), Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma Baizhu (1 qian). For internal heat, increase Zhizi to 2 qian and consume more snow pears. For thirst, add Ophiopogonis Radix Maidong (2.5 qian), Schisandrae Fructus Wuzhiwei (0.5 qian). For vertigo, add Gastrodiae Rhizoma Tianma (1 qian). For phlegm-dizziness, add Inulae Flos Xuanfuhua (0.5 qian). For numbness and weakness in legs and knees, add Eucommiae Cortex Duzhong (processed with ginger juice), Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix Niuxi (wine-soaked), Dendrobii Caulis Shihu (wine-soaked), each 1.5 qian. For restless sleep, fright, and unsettled mind, add Ziziphi Spinosomi Semen Suanzaoren (stir-fried) and Poria Fu Shen, each 1.5 qian. Decoct these ingredients in two units of water until one unit remains. Add one cup of Bamboo Juice Zhuli and one spoonful of Pear Juice Lizhi. Take warm at any time.

Medical texts often fixate on Six Meridian syndromes, using modifications of Xiao Xuming Tang. They fail to realize that *Neijing* states wind is the chief of all diseases, agile and changeable. One must examine the manifestations of the twelve meridians to avoid errors of reinforcing excess or draining deficiency.

Before stroke onset, internal heat is invariably present. Extreme heat generates wind, causing the mother organ to become excessive. Hence, ancestors viewed fire as the root and wind as the branch. Treatment prioritizes descending Heart Fire; once Heart Fire descends, Liver Wood calms naturally. This is the method of draining the son when there is excess. Treating it as wind with acrid-hot dispersants causes harm. Qi-regulating methods also rarely succeed. Wise practitioners should ponder this deeply.

*Tai Ping Guang Ji* records: Liang Xin diagnosed a court official, saying the wind disease was deep and advised immediate departure. The official consulted Zhao E, a horse doctor in Yangzhou, who confirmed the critical nature. He prescribed consuming unlimited fresh pears, juiced if necessary. After ten days of only eating pears, the official felt refreshed. This verifies the efficacy of descending fire and clearing heat. *Bencao* records a scholar cured by pears under physician Yang Jilao, similar to the official.

In early stroke, vomiting is absolutely contraindicated. Acrid agents, including Ginger Decoction Jiangtang, are strictly forbidden.

Modern physicians treat "Qi Collapse" of the five zang—characterized by open mouth, relaxed hands, closed eyes, urinary incontinence, and snoring—with large doses of Renshen and Fuzi decoctions, often saving patients. This proves no case is incurable. Past physicians mistakenly viewed this as excess rather than deficiency. Using Qi-moving and wind-dispersing drugs often led to death. Thus, it was labeled incurable Qi Collapse. Countless other deficiency cases were misdiagnosed, leading to recovery or death.

Physicians often start with Ba Wei Shunqi San, which usually fails. Ba Wei Shunqi San treats phlegm-excess; using it for deficiency is like adding fuel to fire. Misidentifying it as a primary wind treatment causes grave errors. Subsequently, Er Chen Tang and Si Wu Tang plus Danxing and Tianma are used, claiming stability, yet failing. This is due to blindly using Banxia and Nanxing for phlegm and Danggui and Chuanxiong for blood generation, lacking flexibility. One must recognize that Da Bu Ren Shen is essential to unblock vessels and support True Yuan. For phlegm, Zhuli with少许 Jiangzhi is suitable. Dry agents should be avoided. Danggui and Dihuang are cloying, obstructing Spleen Qi and preventing transformation, thus failing to cure flaccidity. Renshen, entering Yin and Yang, unblocks vessels effectively, though this is often ignored despite being recorded in *Bencao*.

An old physician in my village suffered right-sided paralysis for two years. Rumors of his death proved false. He explained he nearly died after ineffective Qi-moving and phlegm-resolving drugs. Evening confusion prompted him to drink Shiquan Dabu Tang, restoring clarity. Daily use over months allowed him to walk with a cane. As the Classic says: "Where pathogen gathers, Qi is deficient." By treating deficiency and ignoring pathogen directly, the pathogen left. Had he continued wind-dispersing drugs, he would have died. However, sticking to fixed formulas delayed recovery. Early intervention would have been faster. I record this for wise practitioners.

This elder initially took wind-dispersing drugs, prolonging illness for over a year. Later, due to age and Qi deficiency, tonics worked. Daily intake resolved the crisis. Yet, rigid adherence to formulas is dangerous.