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Dai Yuanli stated: "Yu" (Stagnation) refers to the condition where Qi mechanism is knotted and gathered but cannot be dispersed. What should ascend fails to ascend, what should descend fails to descend, and what should transform fails to transform. This constitutes a dysfunction in transmission and transformation, manifesting as the diseases of the Six Stagnations.

Qi Stagnation presents with pain in the chest and hypochondrium, and a deep, choppy pulse; Dampness Stagnation presents with wandering pain throughout the body or joint pain, which exacerbates in cold and damp weather, with a deep, fine pulse; Phlegm Stagnation presents with panting upon exertion, and a deep, slippery pulse at the Cun Kou position; Heat Stagnation presents with dizziness and blurred vision, dark red urine, and a deep, rapid pulse; Blood Stagnation presents with weakness in the four limbs, normal appetite, blood in the stool, and a deep pulse; Food Stagnation presents with belching with a sour odor, abdominal fullness, inability to eat, a peaceful Ren Ying pulse, and a tight, excessive Qi Kou pulse.

When Qi and Blood are harmonious and balanced, myriad diseases do not arise; once there is Fu Yu (Qi obstruction and stagnation), various diseases emerge.

Treatment for Qi Stagnation: Xiangfu Zi (Cyperus Rhizome), Cang Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma).
Treatment for Dampness Stagnation: Cang Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix).
Treatment for Phlegm Stagnation: Haishi (Pumex), Xiangfu (Cyperus Rhizome), Nanxing (Arisaematis Rhizoma Preparatum), Gualou (Trichosanthis Fructus).
Treatment for Heat Stagnation: Qingdai (Indigo Naturalis), Xiangfu (Cyperus Rhizome), Cang Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus).
Treatment for Blood Stagnation: Taoren (Persicae Semen), Honghua (Carthami Flos), Qingdai (Indigo Naturalis), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Xiangfu (Cyperus Rhizome).
Treatment for Food Stagnation: Cang Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Xiangfu (Cyperus Rhizome), Zhensha (Magnetitum, stir-fried with vinegar), Shanzha (Crataegi Fructus), Shenqu (Massa Medicata Fermentata, stir-fried).

In spring, add Chuanxiong; in summer, add Kushen (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix); in autumn and winter, add Wuzhuyu (Evodiae Fructus).

Yueju Wan (Regulating Depression Pill), which resolves various stagnations, is also known as Xiongshu Wan.
Formula: Cang Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Xiangfu (Cyperus Rhizome), Fuxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma from Fuzhou), Shenqu (Massa Medicata Fermentata), Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus), in equal parts, ground into fine powder, made into water pills the size of mung beans.

All stagnations reside in the Middle Jiao (Middle Burner). Use Cang Zhu and Fuxiong to lift and raise the Qi. For instance, if food is stagnant above the Qi level, lifting the Qi will cause the food to descend naturally. The other types of stagnation follow this principle.

The Great Wind Disease (Leprosy/Mal Feng) is contracted from the killing qi of heaven and earth. Ancients called it Lifeng (Plague Wind) because its nature is fierce, violent, and terrifying. Upon contracting this disease, one must distinguish whether the pathogen is located in the upper or lower part of the body.
For pathogens in the upper part, use Zuixian San (Intoxicating Immortal Powder) to draw out phlegm and blood from the gum crevices; for pathogens in the lower part, use Tongtian San (Heaven-Penetrating Powder) to expel foul matter and old worms via the anus (Gu Dao). Although the routes of expulsion differ, they all pertain to the Yangming Meridian. Those treating this condition must understand this principle. Observe the nodules and sores: if they appear first on the head and are more numerous on the upper body, the pathogen is in the upper part; if they appear first on the feet and are more numerous on the lower body, the pathogen is in the lower part. If both upper and lower are affected, it involves both. The Yangming Stomach Meridian and Large Intestine Meridian accept everything; this is how the wind pathogen enters the human body. If Qi is affected, the disease manifests mostly in the upper part; if Blood is affected, it manifests mostly in the lower part; if both Qi and Blood are affected, it manifests in both. Unless the physician has divine skill and the patient has an iron will, few escape death. Cases developing gradually from top to bottom or bottom to top are treatable. People often neglect the disease due to its slow progression. Even if treated according to method and the illness appears cured, if the patient does not observe dietary restrictions and abstains from sexual activity, relapse is inevitable. Once relapsed, it becomes incurable. I once treated five patients; only one woman did not relapse because she was extremely poor and widowed, having nothing substantial to eat. The other four relapsed after three or four years. Sun Simiao stated: "I have treated forty or fifty people, yet not one escaped death." It is not that Sun could not cure them, but that no one could keep the taboos. This woman, in addition to the medicine for her primary disease, took over a hundred doses of modified Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction). After more than half a year, her menstruation resumed, and she achieved complete recovery.

Treatment Method: For pathogens in the upper part, use Zuixian San; for those in the lower part, use Tongtian Zaizao San (Heaven-Penetrating Regeneration Powder). Subsequently, use Tongshen San (Spirit-Opening Powder) and apply three-edged needle bleeding at Weizhong (BL40). However, those who cannot observe dietary restrictions and abstain from sex are considered incurable.

Zuixian San Formula:
Huma Ren (Sesamum Indicum Seed), Niubangzi (Arctii Fructus), Manjingzi (Viticis Semen), Gouqizi (Lycii Fructus) (each 1.5 taels, coarsely powdered and stir-fried together until purple), Bajieli (Tribuli Fructus), Kushen (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix), Gualougen (Trichosanthis Radix), Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix) (each 1.5 taels).
Grind the above eight herbs into fine powder. For every 1.5 taels of powder, mix in 3 qian of Qinfen (Calomelas). Adults take 1 qian per dose, on an empty stomach, once at noon and once before sleep, taken with light tea. Within five to seven days, foul saliva will necessarily flow from the gum crevices, the whole body will feel painful, and the patient will feel dizzy and intoxicated, ending when foul-smelling stool is passed. Adjust the dosage according to the patient's constitution, severity, and deficiency/excess. For severe and acute cases, administer Zaizao San first to purge, then after recuperation and nourishment, administer this medicine. Strictly avoid salt, soy sauce, vinegar, meat, fish, spices, fruits, and roasted foods. Only consume plain congee and bland, boiled vegetables. Eggplant is also forbidden. Only Vipera aspis (Wushao She) and Elaphe carinata (Caihua She) may be consumed, boiled in plain wine, to assist the medicinal power.

Zaizao San Formula:
Yujin (Curcumae Longae Rhizoma) (1.5 taels, raw), Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) (3 taels, processed), Zaojiaoci (Gleditsiae Spina) (3 taels, large and black ones), Baiqianniu (Pharbitidis Semen) (2.8 taels of the first harvest powder, half stir-fried, half raw).
Grind into powder. Take 5 qian at night, mixed with cold wine. Prepare a clean bucket to receive the expelled worms. If the worm mouth is black, it is an old worm; if red, it is a recent infection. Administer another dose after three or four days, continuing until no worms are expelled, thereby eradicating the root.