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The patient, after taking the previous medication, experiences no distension or oppression in the chest and diaphragm; this indicates that there is Yang Qi (Yang Energy) in the Upper Jiao (Upper Burner). Alternatively, the medicinal force may have been too strong, causing Heat in the Upper Jiao, resulting in abdominal fullness, empty borborygmi (intestinal rumbling), and occasional pain. This occurs because the Yang-type medication has dissipated and expelled the pathogen, causing Yin Qi from the Upper Jiao to merge into the Lower Jiao. Although there is accumulated Cold in the Lower Jiao and excess Yang in the Upper Jiao, it is difficult to directly administer medications that warm the Lower Jiao. One should use the Ash Bag Moxibustion Method: take approximately two to three sheng of charcoal ash or mulberry firewood ash, mix it with good vinegar, adjust the moisture content appropriately, stir-fry in a yin (metal pot) until the ash is hot, wrap it in cloth, place it below the navel for moxibustion, frequently replace the ash bag to maintain constant heat, and continue until the abdominal distension and pain cease. If the patient cannot tolerate the initial application, do not heed their request to stop; instead, apply intense moxibustion without stopping the replacement of ash bags. After the ash bag moxibustion, if the patient passes one or two stools, urinates two or three sheng, or sweats slightly, this indicates the outward discharge or downward evacuation of Yin Qi. Do not doubt this; only patients with mild conditions will recover. This resolves by expelling residual pathogenic factors, serving as an example.

If the pulse at the three positions (Cun, Guan, Chi) is deep, and the Cun pulse is weaker than the Guan and Chi pulses, this indicates excess Yin. One should administer Spleen-Stomach Warming Medications to dissipate the Yin Qi. These include Houpo Tang (Magnolia Bark Decoction), as well as herbs such as Chenpi (Aged Tangerine Peel), Renshen (Ginseng Root), Baizhu (Atractylodes Rhizome), Huoxiang (Patchouli Herb), Danggui (Angelica Sinensis Root), Ganjiang (Dried Ginger Rhizome), and Xixin (Asarum Root).

Haicang (Zhang Yuansu) stated: The pathogens of frost, dew, mountain mist, rain dampness, and fog, combined with drinking cold liquids, which result in a small Cun Kou (Radial Pulse at the Cun position), share the same diagnostic method, as detailed after the entry for Shenzhu Tang (Divine Efficacy Powder). This refers to Han Shi’s classification where deep pulses in all three positions, with the Cun Kou being smaller than the Guan and Chi, constitute a single syndrome pattern.

If a patient, due to excessive administration of purgative drugs, presents with deep, fine, and rapid pulses in both hands, cold extremities, irritability, and thirst, this indicates that Yang Qi has sunk into the Dantian (Lower Abdomen), and Yin Qi has reversed and filled the Upper and Middle Jiao, causing agitation. This is termed "Lower Yin Irritability." Physicians who see irritability in patients without inquiring into the cause or carefully examining the pulse logic often mistakenly administer Cooling Medications. Once these cooling drugs are taken, the disease condition worsens, leading to many cases of extreme debility and untreatable collapse!

If a patient, due to excessive purgation, presents with deep, slow, fine, and weak pulses in both hands, or generalized cold extremities including the limbs, irritability, thirst, incessant desire to drink, or a preference for lying in mud or water, one must treat with Hot-Natured Medications. Whenever administering Hot-Natured Medications, they must be taken cold. Why? It is believed that the patient's abdomen contains excessive Yin Qi. If hot decoctions are administered, Yin and Yang will repel each other, causing immediate vomiting upon ingestion. Therefore, the decoction must be allowed to become extremely cold before administration. The reason it does not cause vomiting is that the Yin Qi in the abdomen meets the frozen liquid, and like energies attract each other, so the medicine is retained. Although the medicine is cold initially, it will eventually become hot within the body; this is what is meant by "starting the same but ending differently." For instance, wine mixed with frozen drinks will eventually generate heat. Suppose one administers Zhongjing’s Sini Tang (Frigid Extremities Decoction) or similar formulas; follow the aforementioned principle. If the patient is not irritable, the hot medicine can be taken warm. However, if there is post-purgation irritability and incessant thirst for cold drinks, this aligns with the principle of injury from Cold where the patient prefers cold drinks.

The above case originally involved a Yang Syndrome mismanaged by purgation, transforming into a Yin Syndrome. It is not irritability caused by Yang Qi ascending, but rather irritability caused by Yang Qi sinking, resembling the Fu Yin (Hidden Yin) pulse. Shuhe (Wang Shuhe) stated: A short pulse indicates Hidden Yang within Yin.

Haicang stated: Taking hot medicine cold is suitable when there is Hidden Yang inside; however, if the pulse is already deficient and completely powerless upon palpation, or if the patient has historically lacked nourishment, the medicine should only be taken warm. Otherwise, the Yin Qi will fail to ferment and restore Yang, and the consequences would be severe.