According to the *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon): "Lung heat causes the lung leaves to wither, and the five zang organs are thereby affected, leading to the onset of Wei syndrome (flaccidity syndrome characterized by weakness and atrophy of the limbs)." Heart qi heat generates Mai Wei (pulse flaccidity), resulting in relaxed calves that cannot support the body on the ground; Liver qi heat leads to Jin Wei (tendon flaccidity), causing Zongjin (general term for tendons and ligaments, especially around the genitalia) to relax and hang loose; Spleen qi heat produces Rou Wei (muscle flaccidity), resulting in numbness and inability to bear weight; Kidney qi heat generates Gu Wei (bone flaccidity), causing the feet to be unable to support the body. However, in treating Wei syndrome, one should exclusively focus on the Yangming channels. The Yangming channels are the sea of the five zang and six fu organs, primarily moistening the Zongjin, which binds the bones and facilitates joint movement. Thus, if the Yangming is deficient, the Zongjin becomes lax, and the Dai Mai (Girdle Vessel) fails to exert its pulling force, leading to foot flaccidity and inability to use the legs.

One might ask: The Hand Yangming Large Intestine channel is the Fu organ of the Lung, and the Foot Yangming Stomach channel is the Fu organ of the Spleen. Why does the method for treating Wei syndrome select only the Yangming channels? Please explain clearly. Mr. Danxi replied: The *Neijing* states, "All types of Wei syndromes arise from Lung heat." This single sentence reveals the general principle of treatment. The classic further states: "The East is excess, the West is deficient; drain the South, tonify the North." Although this discusses tonification and draining based on the generation and restriction cycles, the fundamental principles do not exceed this framework. The East corresponds to Wood and the Liver; the West to Metal and the Lung; the South to Fire and the Heart; the North to Water and the Kidney. Among the Five Elements, Fire has two aspects. Although there are two kidneys, water predominates. Yang is often in excess, while Yin is often insufficient. Hence, the classic says, "One water cannot overcome two fires," which is inevitable. Lung metal is dry and resides in the upper jiao, governing Qi, and fears Fire. Spleen earth is damp and resides in the middle jiao, governing the four limbs, and fears Wood. Fire nature is flaming upward; if desires are unregulated, Water loses nourishment, Wood lacks fear and insults what it overcomes, and the Lung suffers from Fire pathogenic factors becoming hot. Wood nature is rigid and urgent; when the Lung is heated, Metal loses nourishment, Wood lacks fear and insults what it overcomes, and the Spleen is injured by Wood pathogenic factors. Lung heat prevents the regulation of the whole body, and Spleen injury prevents the four limbs from functioning, causing various Wei syndromes to manifest. Draining the South clears the Lung channel so the East is not excessive, preventing Spleen injury. Tonifying the North descends Heart Fire so the West is not deficient, preventing Lung heat. Thus, when the Yangming is full, the Zongjin is moistened, capable of binding bones and facilitating joints. The method for treating Wei syndrome lies nowhere else. Luo Longji also stated: When Wind and Fire are blazing, one should nourish Kidney Water. Dongyuan used Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) as the sovereign herb, assisted by other tonifying herbs, to treat various Wei syndromes without a fixed formula. Cases may involve phlegm accumulation, excessive dampness, excessive heat, equal parts of damp-heat, or accompanying Qi stagnation. Formulating prescriptions according to the specific disease demonstrates true mastery in treating Wei syndrome. Although the medication hits the mark, improper care renders even a sage physician ineffective. Natural products are yang-natured, and rich flavors generate heat; these are maxims of the sages. For patients with Wei syndrome, if they do not maintain a bland diet, I know they will certainly not recover safely.

Danxi said: Wei syndrome must never be treated as Wind disease using wind-dispelling herbs. Etiologies include Damp-Heat, Damp-Phlegm, Qi deficiency, Blood deficiency, and Blood stasis. For Damp-Heat, add herbs that dry dampness and descend yin-fire, such as Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex), and Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix), to Dongyuan’s Jianbu Wan. For Damp-Phlegm, add Cangzhu, Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Huangqin, Huangbai, Zhuli (Bambusae Caulis in Taenia), and Jiangzhi (Zingiberis Recens Juice) to Erchen Tang. For Qi deficiency, add Huangqin, Huangbai, and Cangzhu to Sijunzi Tang. For Blood deficiency, add Huangbai and Cangzhu to Siwu Tang, decocted to deliver Buyin Wan (see Deficiency Damage section). Some cases involve food retention or dead blood obstructing downward flow, generally belonging to Heat. Use Shenzhu Siwu Tang and Huangbai.

Qingzao Tang (Dongyuan’s Formula) treats Wei syndrome caused by warm-heat transforming into pathology, where Dry Metal is invaded by Damp-Heat pathogens, severing the source of Cold Water (Kidney Water) production. Severance leads to Kidney deficiency, causing severe Wei-Jue syndrome, with flaccid paralysis below the waist.
Huangqi (Astragali Radix) (1.5 qian), Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma) (1 qian), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Chuanpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma) (each 0.5 fen), Wuweizi (Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus) (9 pieces), Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Baifuling (Poria), Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma) (each 0.3 fen), Maimendong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Danggui shen (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Shengdihuang (Rehmanniae Radix), Qu mo (Endofunghi Mass), Zhuling (Polyporus), Jiu Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex prepared with wine) (each 0.2 fen), Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Gancao (Licorice Root, roasted) (each 0.1 fen).
Chop the herbs. Decoct half liang with water, take warm on an empty stomach.

Jianbu Wan treats knee weakness, inability to flex when extended or extend when flexed, heaviness in the lower back and legs, and difficulty walking.
Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix), Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) (each 0.5 liang), Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix) (3 qian), Chuan Wutou (Aconiti Radix Preparata) (1 qian), Chao Huashi (Talcum), Zhi Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma preparata) (each 0.5 liang), Fangji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix) (1 liang), Kushen (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix) (1 qian, wine-processed), Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex) (0.5 qian), Gualougen (Trichosanthis Radix) (0.5 liang, wine-processed), Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma) (3 qian).
Grind into powder, form pills with wine paste the size of paulownia seeds. Take 70 pills per dose, delivered with Yufeng Tang decoction on an empty stomach.

Yufeng Tang (See Wind Section).
Erchen Tang (See Malaria Section), Sijunzi Tang, Siwu Tang (See Deficiency Consumption Section).

Note: The distinction between Wind and Wei is pain: painful conditions are Wind, painless conditions are Wei. The classic states: Pain indicates Excess, no pain indicates Deficiency. Wind and Wei are merely Excess and Deficiency. Dongyuan said: When Qi is abundant, the disease is vigorous; when Qi declines, the disease subsides. Why? When human Qi and Blood are substantial, Wind-Cold lodges in the meridians, causing pathogenic and righteous factors to clash, resulting in pain. When human Qi and Blood are weak, Phlegm-Fire arises within the hands and feet, righteous energy cannot overcome the pathogen, and Wei-Bi manifests. Mr. Danxi said: Wei syndrome must never be treated as Wind disease using wind-dispelling herbs. Wind is Excess, whereas Wei is Deficiency. Dispelling pathogens and tonifying deficiency must not be confused.