Although vomiting originates in the Stomach, its causes are manifold. Thus, there are differences due to Cold, Heat, food, blood, and Qi, all of which can cause vomiting. According to some theories: "Cold Qi is above, Sorrow Qi is below; when these two Qi contend, only ejection occurs without intake." This is but one perspective and not a comprehensive discussion. Moreover, Qi disorders belong to internal causes and have seven distinct types; Cold pathogens involve external causes, differentiated by the Six Excesses (Wind, Cold, Summerheat, Dampness, Dryness, Fire), all causing rebellious Qi. If they stagnate in the Stomach, vomiting ensues; it is not limited merely to Sorrow Qi. Furthermore, there is undigested retained food causing middle-jiao fullness and overflow; accumulation of the Five Drinks (Phlegm, Yin, Water, Dampness, Retained Fluid) leading to vomiting with Qi rebellion; entrenched Cold or accumulated Heat; and blood stasis causing obstruction. Additionally, there is leakage of Qi from the Triple Burner resulting in immediate vomiting after eating, vomiting with diarrhea, and bleeding from stool. All these present with similar symptoms and must be carefully differentiated.

When the patient has Cold in the Stomach, palpitations in the epigastrium (dandan), cold limbs, and vomiting immediately after eating, it is named Cold Vomiting. This may occur due to excessive food injury damaging Stomach Qi, or as a result of previous sweating or purging therapies during illness, leading to deficiency and Cold of the Stomach Qi.

For treating Cold Vomiting with a weak pulse, frequent urination, and slight fever on the body: if cold limbs are present, it is difficult to treat.
Gancao (Licorice Root, roasted): 1 qian; Ganjiang (Dried Ginger): 3 qian 3 fen; Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root, raw, peeled, navel removed): 6 qian weight.
Grind into a coarse powder. Take 3 qian weight per dose, decoct with two zhan of water until reduced to 0.7 zhan, strain, and take warm before meals.

Treatment is the same as above.
Liuhuang (Sulfur): any amount.
Grind this single herb finely using a willow wood pestle. Mix with fresh Ginger Juice and steamed dough paste to form pills the size of Sophora seeds. Take 50 pills per dose, washed down with Rice Decoction, before meals.

Lingye Dan (Spiritual Liquid Pill) treats Deficiency-Cold in the Stomach, accumulation of Phlegm-Fluids, indigestion of food and drink, belching with acid regurgitation, constipation despite diarrhea, chest and heart fullness, and aversion to the smell of food; also for women with morning sickness (pregnancy-induced nausea/vomiting) who cannot retain food.
Liuhuang (Sulfur, crushed); Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root, peeled, navel removed, cut to mung bean size, each 1 liang); Ludou (Mung Bean, 4 liang, boiled in one bowl of water until dry, then dried).
Grind into powder. Use fresh Ginger Juice to make a wheat flour paste for binding, forming pills the size of Sophora seeds. Take 50 pills per dose, washed down with Rice Decoction, before meals.