Wu Ying (Five Stiffnesses) syndrome is characterized by the head tilting backward to seek breath, difficulty in moving or shaking the body, Qi stagnation causing pain that radiates to the chest and diaphragm, cold and stiff palms and soles. This occurs because Yang Qi fails to nourish the four extremities. The Classics state: "The Spleen governs the four limbs." It also states: "The Spleen governs all Yin meridians." Now, with cold and stiff hands and feet, there is exclusively Yin without Yang, making it difficult to treat. If the abdominal tendons appear cyanotic and tense, this indicates Liver Wood overacting on Spleen Earth; one should urgently use Liu Jun Zi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction), Pao Jiang (Prepared Ginger), Rou Gui (Cinnamon Bark), Chai Hu (Bupleurum Root), and Sheng Ma (Cimicifuga Rhizome) to restore true Qi. If caused by Wind pathogen, treatment should refer to the management of Convulsive Disease (Jing Feng). This condition originates from disease in the Liver and Spleen organs; one should tonify the Spleen and soothe the Liver, while referring to the treatments for Spasm Syndrome (Jing Zheng) and Acute/Chronic Convulsions (Ji Man Jing Feng).

Xiao Xu Ming Tang (Minor Continuation of Life Decoction) treats Stroke (Zhong Feng) presenting with loss of consciousness, rattling phlegm, opisthotonos, aphonia, and cold extremities.
Ingredients: Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba), Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix, stir-fried), Chuan Xiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, stir-fried), Xingren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum, peeled and de-pitted, stir-fried), Han Fangji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix), Guanzi Gui (Cinnamomi Cortex, peeled, each 0.5 liang), Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix, 7.5 qian), Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, processed, peeled and navel removed, 2 qian).
Usage: Take 1 qian per dose, decoct in water and drink.
Liu Jun Zi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction) (Formula see entry under Tian Diao).

Stroke (Zhong Feng) is prevalent in the Northwest. In the Southeast, where the climate is warm and pores are loose and open, those suffering from such conditions mostly have symptoms resembling stroke (Lei Zhong Feng). Moreover, children's primordial Qi is not yet full, and their skin and hair follicles are not secure; their condition easily shifts from deficiency to excess or vice versa. When external pathogens invade, they manifest as high fever and convulsive jerking, coarse breathing and surging phlegm, even progressing to coma and locked jaw. These resemble stroke; mistakenly administering Xiao Xu Ming Tang often leads to death. Even adults rarely suffer from true stroke, let alone children! For any of the aforementioned symptoms, one must differentiate the cause: If Yangming Meridian Qi is deficient and Wind pathogen invades, causing tendon and vessel spasm, it is an Exogenous Cause; if Foot Jueyin Liver Fire is blazing, causing unilateral tendon spasm, it is an Endogenous Cause; if Spleen and Lung are weak, and pores are not tight, allowing external pathogens to enter; or if acute convulsions were treated with excessive mineral drugs damaging Liver Blood, or after vomiting and diarrhea internal fluids are lost failing to nourish the Liver, resulting in facial deviation, these all belong to the category of insufficient Liver Blood and Liver Fire generating Wind, which are types of stroke-like syndromes.
Treatment verified prescriptions (scattered across various syndromes)