麻木须分左右上下，左因气中之血虚，归脾汤；右因血中之气虚，黄 建中汤；左右俱
麻木，十全大补汤；上身麻木，清阳不升也，补中益气汤；下体脚软麻木至膝者，胃有湿痰死血
，妨碍阳气不得下降，故阴气渐逆而上也，四物汤加人参、牛膝、薏苡仁，引阳气下降；下
身麻木，脉豁大无力，宜八味汤加人参；十指麻木，脾不运也，宜温脾土；一指麻木，中风
验案
一人年三十，身体怯弱，素有劳伤，脚渐麻至膝，昼夜不定。方用八味汤加人参，纳气
一人右半身无力，麻木，身肥，脉沉细，独脾脉浮。此脾虚而有寒湿也。用白术八两，
半夏二两五钱，甘草五钱，秦艽三两，薏苡仁一两，生姜四两，米糊丸。
一人独四肢麻木。此脾虚不运而气血不行于四肢也，不可作风治。方用四君子加陈皮醒
脾，桂枝行阳于四肢而愈。
人身体属阴，其所以和柔者阳气也，阳虚则浑身强硬矣，宜补肾温胃。阳者胃脘之阳，
肾者真阳之窟也。若因恼怒而身强，肝气逆也，宜平肝顺气。如因受寒而身强，阳不舒也，宜温
中散寒。如因多食而身强，脾不运也，四逆散消食健脾。若因厥而身强，治厥而身强自愈。
身强一证，阳气闭寒者有之，所因不同，宜随证而施治。不专于虚，亦有实证而阳不得通畅
者，疏之则愈，不可用补也。当以脉辨之。
验案
一人身热，至六七日，医用地黄汤，遂致身体硬强，六脉沉伏，目定口呆，气喘不能吸
入。此能呼不能吸，病在中焦实也；中焦实者，脾不运。方用远志、茯神各一钱，附子四分，去
白广皮六钱，磁石、苏梗各一钱五分，沉香二分。一帖身和，六帖而安。盖脾者为胃行其津
液者也，脾不运则胃阳不行于肌肉，肉内无阳，所以强耳！醒其脾则胃阳通而身和矣。
麻木的症状需要区分左右和上下部位。左侧麻木是因为气中的血虚，使用归脾汤；右侧麻木是因为血中的气虚，使用黄芪建中汤；左右两侧都麻木，使用十全大补汤；上身麻木，是清阳之气不能上升所致，使用补中益气汤；下肢脚软麻木直至膝盖的，是因为胃中有湿痰和瘀血，阻碍阳气下降，导致阴气逐渐逆冲而上，使用四物汤加入人参、牛膝、薏苡仁，以引导阳气下降；下身麻木，脉象豁大无力，适宜使用八味丸加入人参；十个手指麻木，是脾脏运化功能失常所致，适宜温补脾土；单个手指麻木，是中风的征兆。
验案：
有一位三十岁的患者，身体怯弱，素有劳损内伤，脚部逐渐麻木直至膝盖，昼夜症状不定。方药使用八味丸加入人参，以收纳肾气。
另一位患者右半身无力且麻木，身体肥胖，脉象沉细，唯独脾脉浮起。这是脾虚且有寒湿所致。使用白术八两，半夏二两五钱，甘草五钱，秦艽三两，薏苡仁一两，生姜四两，用米糊制成丸剂。
还有一位患者仅四肢麻木。这是脾虚运化失职，气血不能运行至四肢所致，不可当作中风治疗。方药使用四君子汤加入陈皮以醒脾，桂枝以通行阳气于四肢，从而痊愈。
人的身体属阴，之所以能保持和柔状态，是因为有阳气的作用。阳气虚弱则浑身僵硬，适宜补肾温胃。所谓阳，是指胃脘之阳；肾，是真阳的根源。如果因为恼怒而导致身体僵硬，是肝气上逆所致，适宜平肝顺气。如果因为受寒而导致身体僵硬，是阳气不舒展所致，适宜温中散寒。如果因为多食而导致身体僵硬，是脾运化功能失常所致，使用四逆散消食健脾。如果因为厥证而导致身体僵硬，治疗厥证后身体僵硬自然自愈。
身体僵硬这一病症，有的是因阳气闭阻受寒所致，病因不同，应当随证施治。并不专属于虚证，也有实证导致阳气不得通畅的情况，此时疏通即可痊愈，不可使用补法。应当通过脉象来辨别。
验案：
有一位患者身体发热，到了第六七天，医生使用了地黄汤，结果导致身体硬强，六脉沉伏，眼睛呆定，嘴巴张开，气喘而不能吸入气息。这种能呼不能吸的情况，病在中焦实证；中焦实证，是脾运化功能失常。方药使用远志、茯神各一钱，附子四分，去白广皮六钱，磁石、苏梗各一钱五分，沉香二分。服用一帖后身体调和，服用六帖后安宁。这是因为脾是为胃输送津液的器官，脾不运化则胃阳不能运行于肌肉，肌肉内缺乏阳气，所以出现僵硬！唤醒脾的运化功能，胃阳就能通达，身体也就调和了。
Numbness must be differentiated by left/right and upper/lower positions. Numbness on the left is due to deficiency of blood within Qi, treated with Guipi Tang (Spleen-Restoring Decoction); numbness on the right is due to deficiency of Qi within Blood, treated with Huangqi Jianzhong Tang (Astragalus Middle-Builder Decoction); numbness in both left and right sides is treated with Shiquan Dabu Tang (Ten-Tonics Great-Replenishment Decoction); numbness in the upper body indicates failure of Clear Yang to ascend, treated with Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Middle-Boosting Qi-Enhancing Decoction); softness and numbness in the lower limbs extending to the knees are caused by damp-phlegm and dead blood in the Stomach obstructing the descent of Yang Qi, causing Yin Qi to gradually rebel upwards, treated with Siwu Tang (Four-Substance Decoction) added with Renshen (Ginseng), Niuxi (Achyranthes Root), and Yiyiren (Coix Seed) to guide Yang Qi downwards; numbness in the lower body with a large, empty, and forceless pulse is suitable for Bajia Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill) added with Renshen (Ginseng); numbness in all ten fingers indicates failure of Spleen transportation, suitable for warming the Spleen Earth; numbness in a single finger is a sign of Zhongfeng (Wind-Stroke).
Clinical Case:
A thirty-year-old patient had a weak constitution and chronic overstrain injury, with numbness gradually spreading from the feet to the knees, varying day and night. The prescription used Bajia Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill) added with Renshen (Ginseng) to grasp Qi.
Another patient had weakness and numbness in the right half of the body, was obese, with a deep and fine pulse, but the Spleen pulse alone was floating. This indicated Spleen deficiency with cold-dampness. The formula consisted of Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome) 8 liang, Banxia (Pinellia Tuber) 2.5 liang, Gancao (Licorice Root) 5 qian, Qinjiao (Gentiana Macrophylla Root) 3 liang, Yiyiren (Coix Seed) 1 liang, and Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger) 4 liang, made into pills with rice paste.
Another patient suffered exclusively from numbness in the four limbs. This was due to Spleen deficiency failing to transport, causing Qi and Blood not to circulate to the limbs; it should not be treated as Wind-Stroke. The formula used Sijunzi Tang (Four-Gentlemen Decoction) added with Chenpi (Tangerine Peel) to awaken the Spleen, and Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig) to circulate Yang Qi to the limbs, resulting in recovery.
The human body belongs to Yin; its pliability and flexibility are maintained by Yang Qi. If Yang Qi is deficient, the whole body becomes stiff, requiring tonification of the Kidney and warming of the Stomach. "Yang" refers to the Yang of the Epigastrium; the Kidney is the cavity of True Yang. If stiffness arises from anger, it is due to rebellious Liver Qi, requiring soothing of the Liver and regulation of Qi. If stiffness arises from cold exposure, it is due to constrained Yang, requiring warming the interior and dispersing cold. If stiffness arises from overeating, it is due to Spleen transportation failure, treated with Sixni San (Four-Inverse Powder) to digest food and strengthen the Spleen. If stiffness arises from Jue syndrome (Cold Extremities), treating the Jue will resolve the stiffness spontaneously.
Stiffness may result from closure of Yang Qi by cold, but etiologies vary, so treatment must follow the pattern. It is not exclusively a deficiency condition; there are excess conditions where Yang Qi cannot flow freely, which require unblocking rather than tonification. Pulse differentiation is essential.
Clinical Case:
A patient had fever for six or seven days. After a physician administered Dihuang Tang (Rehmannia Decoction), the patient developed severe body stiffness, deep and hidden pulses in all six positions, fixed eyes, open mouth, panting with inability to inhale. This presentation of exhalation without inhalation indicates an Excess pattern in the Middle Jiao; specifically, Spleen transportation failure. The formula used Yuanzhi (Polygala Root) and Fushen (Poria with Hostwood) each 1 qian, Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Lateralis Radix) 4 fen, Qu Bai Guangpi (Dried Tangerine Peel) 6 qian, Cishi (Magnetitum) and Sugeng (Perilla Stem) each 1.5 qian, and Chenxiang (Aquilaria Wood) 2 fen. After one dose, the body harmonized; after six doses, peace was restored. This is because the Spleen transports fluids for the Stomach; when the Spleen fails to transport, Stomach Yang cannot reach the muscles. Lack of Yang in the muscles causes stiffness. Awakening Spleen transportation allows Stomach Yang to flow, restoring harmony.