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To treat thirst, it is necessary to nourish the blood. This is because blood is transformed from body fluids (Jin-Ye); when body fluids are deficient, the blood must also be deficient, hence the use of Yixue Wan (Benefit Blood Pill). After hematemesis (vomiting blood), thirst often occurs, further confirming that thirst arises from blood deficiency.

When blood is deficient and body fluids cannot ascend to moisten the upper orifices, thirst results.

Question: What causes nocturnal sweating in humans? Answer: It is caused by insufficiency of Yang Qi and excess of Yin Qi. Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) circulates twenty-five times through the Yang aspects during the day, causing the eyes to open and wakefulness; it circulates twenty-five times through the Yin aspects at night, causing the eyes to close and sleep. During sleep, Qi fails to nourish the Yang aspects, leading to the opening of Cou-Li (skin pores); once the Cou-Li are open, body fluids leak out. Yang functions to protect the exterior and maintain solidity. Upon waking, the eyes open, and Yang Qi returns to the Yang aspects, so the sweating stops abruptly. To stop sweating, Huangqi (Astragali Radix) is used as the sovereign herb to consolidate Yang Qi.

Is this related to the Zang-Fu organs? Answer: The Heart governs the five fluids, and the Kidney governs water. At Zi hour (11 PM–1 AM), a single Yang begins to generate; the red fluid of the Heart descends into the Kidney. At Wu hour (11 AM–1 PM), a single Yin begins to generate; the white Qi of the Kidney ascends into the Heart. When Heart and Kidney interact, Water and Fire balance each other, and disease does not arise. If both Heart and Kidney are exhausted, Water and Fire fail to interact; thus, usurping Yang appears below the extreme Yin, causing heat in the bones. Where all Yang meridities converge, there is pure Yin, causing sweat on the forehead, which is also the domain of the Heart. In cases where sweating occurs only on the forehead and Heart area without affecting other parts, this is due to exhaustion of both Heart and Kidney, with depletion of fluids such that their power is insufficient to moisten the whole body; thus, sweating manifests only in the Heart’s domain. I once suffered from Zhengchong (palpitations) and nocturnal sweating. Supplementing Heart and Kidney alone had little effect, but adding several slices of pig heart as a guiding agent brought rapid recovery. Medicinal guidance is crucial and must be carefully considered.

Red turbid urine and white turbid urine generally belong to Kidney deficiency, without distinction between cold and heat syndromes. Xuantu Dan (Mysterious Rabbit Pill), Xiaotusizi Wan (Small Dodder Seed Pill), Bawei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill), and Shanyao Wan (Dioscorea Pill) may be used after careful consideration. One should not recklessly employ drugs for promoting urination, clearing phlegm, drying dampness-heat, or using warm/cool properties; caution is essential. If caused by internal injury, Buyi Yiqi Tang (Tonify Middle and Augment Qi Decoction) is indicated. The Classic says: "Insufficiency of Zhong Qi (Middle Qi) leads to changes in urination and defecation." (The Zhong Qi referred to in the Classic denotes Spleen Earth. When Spleen deficiency allows Damp-Heat to sink downward, one should raise the clear Yang to descend the turbid, thereby resolving the turbidity spontaneously.) For those whose thoughts are unfulfilled and who indulge in external fantasies, the Heart should be cleared using herbs such as Yuanzhi (Polygalae Radix), Fuling (Poria), Longgu (Fossilized Bones), Shilian (Nelumbinis Nucis Plumula), and Tusi Zi (Cuscutae Semen). For those injured by excessive sexual intercourse, essence should be tonified using substances like Lujiao Jiao (Deer Antler Glue), Roubingrong (Cibotii Rhizoma), and Sangpiaoxiao (Mantis Ootheca). The Classic states: "Endless thinking and unfulfilled desires, indulgence in external fantasies, and excessive sexual activity cause the Sinews to become flaccid, resulting in Sinew Flaccidity and White Turbidity." If Red Turbidity results from essence exhaustion, it represents extreme deficiency; essence must be vigorously tonified. Reckless use of cooling herbs will surely lead to death. Furthermore, *Yaoyao Huowen* (Questions and Answers on Essential Drugs) states: "White turbidity often arises from Damp-Heat flowing downward into the Bladder. Red and White Turbidity correspond to the Classic's statement that 'insufficiency of Middle Qi leads to changes in urination and defecation.' First, Middle Qi must be supplemented and lifted; subsequently, treatment should differentiate based on the Red/White nature and Deficiency/Excess status of the Zang-Fu Qi and Blood. For injuries caused by pathogenic heat, clearing heat and tonifying deficiency are indeed required. However, if Kidney Qi is severely deficient or Fire is extremely hyperactive, harsh cold-cooling herbs should not be used vigorously; instead, counter-assistance methods should be employed. The key lies in weighing the severity of the condition."