Huang, male, adult. In the summer of 1977, he suffered from diarrhea. After taking antibiotics, the diarrhea stopped but he developed abdominal distension and fullness, which worsened after eating, and he occasionally vomited, with a bitter taste in the mouth. His tongue was deep red with a slightly yellow coating, but he was not thirsty. He experienced stuffiness and distension in the chest and abdomen, along with fever and dysphoria. His bowel movements were normal, and his urine was clear. Analysis of the condition revealed that the diarrhea had damaged the spleen and stomach, leading to the accumulation of cold-dampness in the middle, causing chest and abdominal distension and fullness after eating. The deep red tongue, bitter taste in the mouth, and slightly yellow coating indicated that heat from the liver and gallbladder was disturbing the chest and diaphragm, while the fever and dysphoria caused vomiting. According to Article 80 of the "Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases": "In cases of cold damage, if the physician uses strong purgative pills, resulting in persistent fever and mild irritability, Gardenia and Dried Ginger Decoction should be used." This decoction was applied:
Gardenia 9g, Dried Ginger 9g
, decocted with water and taken. After taking 3 doses, the symptoms alleviated, and after taking 6 more doses, he recovered.