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Lumbar pain caused by food stagnation arises from food retention in the Spleen and Qi stagnation in the Kidney. The Kidney receives and stores the essence transmitted by the Spleen. If food fails to digest, what is transmitted to the Kidney is not the subtle Qi of nutrients, but rather stale and turbid Qi. Upon receiving this, the Kidney suffers from chaotic Qi damaging its essence; how can there be no pain? There are also cases where excessive sexual intercourse after drunkenness or overeating allows the accumulation of wine and food to enter the Shaoyin (Lesser Yin) channel due to deficiency, causing lumbar pain with difficulty in bending forward and backward. The general principle of treatment is to dredge the source and clarify the flow. Some suggest using Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) combined with Erchen Tang (Two Aged Substances Decoction), adding Maiya (Sprouted Hordeum Vulgare Fructus), Shenqu (Medicated Leaven), Duzhong (Eucommiae Cortex), Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex), Guigui (Cinnamomi Ramulus), Sharen (Amomi Fructus), Geghua (Broussonetiae Flos), Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix), etc. Alternatively, take one piece of aged Shenqu (Medicated Leaven), heat it until red-hot, immerse it in strong yellow wine, remove the Shenqu, and swallow Qing'e Wan (Qing'e Pill) orally while warm. Two doses result in complete recovery. Qing'e Wan (see previous section).

Lumbar pain caused by blood stasis results from sprains, strains, or standing upright and lifting heavy objects abruptly. The waist is the pivot of the body; flexion, extension, bending, and turning all depend on it. Once injured, blood vessels become congealed and sluggish, and meridians become obstructed and stagnant, causing sudden severe pain and inability to turn the body. The pulse is choppy (Se), and symptoms are lighter during the day and heavier at night. Huixiang Jiu (Fennel Wine): Po Guzhi (Psoraleae Fructus, stir-fried until fragrant), Huixiang (Foeniculi Fructus, stir-fried), Lagui (Cinnamomi Ramulus, equal parts). Grind into powder, take 2 qian per dose, mixed with hot wine, before meals. Po Guzhi treats lumbar pain and promotes blood circulation. (*Ren Zhai Zhi Zhi Fang Lun*) Heji Jufang's Fuyuan Tongqi San (Revive the Origin and Promote Circulation Powder) treats lumbar and hypochondriac pain due to sprains and strains. Bo Shang Huixiang (Foeniculi Fructus imported from overseas, stir-fried), Chuanshanjia (Manis Squama, stir-fried with clam powder, 2 liang each), Yanshusuo (Corydalis Rhizoma, stir-fried with vinegar), Bai Qianniu (Pharbitidis Semen, stir-fried), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, honey-roasted), Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, white pith removed, 1 liang each), Nanmuxiang (Agarwood Lignum, 1.5 liang). Grind into powder, take 1 qian per dose, taken down with hot wine, before meals.

The Classic states: "The left and right are the pathways of Yin and Yang." It also states: "Liver Qi arises on the left, Lung Qi resides on the right." Therefore, the left belongs to the Liver; the Liver stores Blood. Blood is Yin, yet the Liver exhibits external Yang and internal Yin. The right belongs to the Lung; the Lung governs Qi. Qi is Yang, yet the Lung exhibits external Yin and internal Yang. Due to the distinct attributions of Yin-Yang, Zang-Fu organs, Qi, and Blood, pain in the left hypochondrium is mostly due to retained Blood, whereas pain in the right hypochondrium is entirely due to Phlegm accumulation. How can they be treated uniformly? Although Phlegm-Qi may indeed flow to the left, it must contend with Blood to cause pain, unlike right-sided hypochondriac pain, which is unrelated to Blood.