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My wife, nearing forty years of age, at the end of August when the cold first set in, accidentally contracted Yin-cold Sha-toxin Qi after a heavy rain. Suddenly, during the second watch (9:00 PM - 11:00 PM), she experienced upward vomiting and nausea, and downward twisting pain in the chest and abdomen, with a momentum that was unstoppable. At that time, it was night, and medicines were not readily available, so I used salt water to induce vomiting. The pain did not subside; instead, after several more episodes of vomiting, the Qi rose further, causing the pain to intensify. Consequently, the obstruction blocked her throat, rendering her unable to speak or take any food or medicine, placing her life in imminent danger.

I suddenly recalled a secret scraping method (Gua Sha) I had obtained years prior. I selected a porcelain bowl with a smooth, narrow rim, took a cup of hot water, added one or two spoons of sesame oil, and dipped the rim of the bowl into the warm oily water to make it both warm and slippery. Holding the bowl with both hands, I gently scraped downwards along the patient's back, gradually increasing the pressure. When the bowl became dry and cold, I would re-dip and scrape again. After a while, she felt the distension and stagnation in her chest gradually moving downward, experiencing slight relief, which allowed her to produce sounds. Shortly after, there was a loud rumbling in her abdomen, followed by a profuse diarrhea, after which the pain subsided. She fortunately survived. After the purgation, she slept for the duration of a meal. Subsequently, her entire body became extremely itchy, and numerous wheals resembling coins erupted all over her skin, disappearing by the fourth watch (1:00 AM - 3:00 AM).

After recovery, I carefully analyzed the underlying principle. It is because the connections of the Five Zang Organs are attached to the back; therefore, scraping downwards causes the pathogenic factors to descend as well. Generally, if toxic vapors ascend, they cause rebellion; if they descend, they follow the natural order. Changing rebellion to compliance is why healing occurred. Although there is a recent method of scraping the arms, which can also relieve pain, in cases of deep-seated toxins and acute illness, scraping the back is indispensable. As for the origin of the wheals and bumps, it is precisely because the cold-toxic Qi filled the exterior and interior, closing the meridians and organs, leading to critical severity. Now that the internal toxin has been resolved, the Qi of the meridians can circulate, and the pathogens in both the exterior and interior dissipate. This demonstrates that for external cold-toxic invasion, if the Zang Qi is not harmonized, the exterior will not be released; if the exterior pathogens are not scattered, the Zang organs will inevitably be disharmonious. This interrelationship between the exterior and interior follows this inherent logic. Thus, treatment must distinguish between urgency and non-urgency, relying on the physician's judgment.

A few days later, a man surnamed Wei suffered from the same condition suddenly during the second watch. Due to improper treatment, he died at the fifth watch (3:00 AM - 5:00 AM) from extreme pain. Whether one encounters the correct treatment or not is what we call destiny.