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A woman fell ill in early autumn, experiencing chills and shivering (Saxi Ehan), followed by fever after the cold subsided, gradually developing a cough. After taking exterior-releasing and dispersing medicines, the condition did not improve, and her body became increasingly weak and emaciated. By early winter, she was given tonics containing Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen) and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu). Consequently, she felt even more lethargic, nearly dying, lost her appetite, had a cough without sound, suffered from incessant diarrhea, and was in critical condition on the verge of death.

Jiayan (Yu Chang) examined her pulse and said: This illness is entirely caused by erroneous medication. Initially, the chills and fever at the skin and hair level indicated that Lung Metal was injured by the dryness of the season. Since the lungs already harbored heat, exterior-releasing methods were no longer appropriate. The subsequent use of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen) and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu) for tonification caused the closure and stagnation of Lung Qi. This resulted in a hoarse cough, chest and abdominal fullness, and loss of appetite. The heat within the lungs had nowhere to vent and rushed urgently into the Large Intestine. Food entered but was not digested or transformed, passing through directly; if no food was eaten, the filth in the intestines also rushed out with the Qi. Hence, the diarrhea was unceasing. Therefore, any disease where the administration of acrid-warm tonic agents leads to diarrhea falls into this error. Now, using herbs that clear Metal and moisten the Lungs, while simultaneously clearing and moistening the intestines, both the source and the branch will be cleared, and the chills, fever, cough, and diarrhea will cease together. The prescription consists of Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin), Lycii Cortex (Gupi), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao), Armeniacae Semen Amarum (Xingren), and Coagulum Hematis Asini (Ejiao). After the first dose, the diarrhea slightly stopped. After four doses, the chills and fever were completely eliminated. After a few more doses, the cough was fully cured.

Wind-cold (Shangfeng) must be assessed according to the season and distinguished by severity. If contracted during the severe cold of winter and presenting heavily, it is wind injuring the Wei (Defensive) level and transmitting through the meridians. In the other three seasons, it is a mild case of Wind-Cold Exogenous Pathogen (Ganmao Fengxie). The Classics state: "When injured by wind, the upper part is affected first." Thus, in wind-cold, the Lungs are always the first to receive the pathogen, which is also termed an internal syndrome. The Classics further state: "If the interior pores (Couli) are closed and resisting, even great wind and severe toxins cannot harm." Generally, if the Lungs are deficient, the Xuanfu (pores) do not close; if the Spleen is deficient, the muscles are not filled. Wind pathogens take advantage of this deficiency to lodge in the meridians. If the Couli are closed and the Wei Qi is solid, how can wind pathogens enter? Shicai (Li Zhongzi) stated that wind pathogens entering the human body must enter via the Shu points, which are all located on the back. Therefore, the back is usually firm and dense, preventing wind from affecting it. For those who have already received wind pathogens, exposing the back to the sun allows heat to penetrate, causing the wind to dissipate silently. While the Classics refer to invasion due to deficiency, if a person inherently has phlegm-heat obstructing the Taiyin and Yangming meridians, forming a "nest" of phlegm-fluid retention, wind pathogens can easily be bound externally, as if invited. This is described as wind riding upon fire's momentum, and fire borrowing wind's power, mutually inciting each other. To treat excess patterns, administer acrid-warm formulas in autumn and winter, and acrid-cool formulas in spring and summer, to release the muscle layer and disperse via slight sweating. To treat deficiency patterns, release the wind pathogen and strengthen the Wei Qi; focusing solely on dispersing may lead to excessive sweating and Yang collapse, or repeated recovery and relapse, which are treatment errors. To treat combined wind-fire patterns, use acrid-cool herbs to disperse externally and sweet-cool herbs to harmonize internally; avoid bitter-cold herbs, lest the healthy Qi fail to extend and the pathogen fail to resolve.

Shuxie Lijin Tang [Self-made] treats aversion to wind, fever, nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, phlegmy cough, or headache. [Mild cases present only with pain in the supraorbital ridge.]
Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), Jingjie (Perillae Folium) [Disperse wind pathogens.] Qianhu (Peucedani Radix) [Remove wind-phlegm.] Xingren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum) [Disperse wind-cold stagnant Qi in the Lung meridian, relieve lung Qi rebellion causing wheezing and cough.] Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix) [Enters the Lung to open and diffuse, relieving nasal congestion.] Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) [Harmonizes the Middle and supports Righteous Qi.] Suzi (Perillae Fructus), Juhong (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Rubrum) [Descend Qi and eliminate phlegm.] At onset, fresh ginger (Shengjiang) may be added; [if prolonged, wind transforms into heat, so avoid use.] For headache, add Chuanxiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma); [use with caution in patients with Yin deficiency and hyperactive fire or hemoptysis.] Alternatively, add Ganju (Chrysanthemi Flos). For absence of sweating [indicating concurrent cold pathogen, as wind and cold often accompany each other], add Zisu (Perillae Folium). For wind-cold with heat [due to overindulgence in alcohol or heavy clothing/blankets leading to wind invasion], with dry throat and sore throat, hoarseness or aphonia, add Bohe (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba) [a key herb for upper wind obstruction] and Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum) [Acrid nature releases the muscle layer, cold nature clears heat]. This is a formula to disperse wind pathogens and clear/benefit Lung Qi. When initially exposed to wind, only clearing and dispersing should be used; if prolonged, wind transforms into heat, requiring treatment based on accompanying symptoms. It is common to see people treating wind exposure as a minor ailment, not only failing to treat it but indulging in sexual activity, alcohol, and rich meats, damaging Lung collaterals through coughing, leading to persistent hemoptysis, and eventually dying of consumptive deficiency. This is the patient's fault. Or, in postpartum wind exposure, physicians rigidly adhere to the theory that postpartum requires major tonification of Qi and Blood, failing to clear and release, instead using sour-astringent tonics. This causes the wind pathogen to become entrenched and internal heat to blaze, leading to untreatable conditions. This is the physician's fault. These two examples serve as warnings; applying this principle to other cases is expected of the wise.