（内经名中寒。即直中阴经真寒证。）
【因】其人胃肾阳虚。内寒先生。外寒后中。如内经曰。阴盛生内寒。因厥气上逆
。寒气积于胸中而不泄。不泄则溢气去。寒独留。留则血凝。血凝则脉不通。故中寒。
中寒者。寒邪猝时直中阴经。阴邪横发而暴也。病较伤寒为尤甚。当分三阴经证为首要
。
【证】寒中太阴者。初起即怕寒战栗。头不痛。身不热。口不渴。便四肢厥。
上吐下利。脘满腹疼。小便不利。舌苔白滑带灰。甚或灰而滑腻。灰而淡白。寒中少
阴者。初起恶寒厥冷。蜷卧不渴。心下胀满。小腹绞疼。下利澄澈清冷。水多粪少。
小便白或淡黄。甚则面赤烦躁。欲坐井中。身有微热。渴欲饮水。水入即吐。少饮即脘
腹胀满。复不能饮。甚或咽痛气促。或郑声呃逆。舌苔淡白胖嫩。或苔虽灰黑。舌质嫩
滑湿润。或由淡白转黑。望之似有芒刺干裂之状。扪之则湿而滑。寒中厥阴者。初
起即手足厥冷。上吐涎沫。下利清水有生腥气。心下胀满。汤药入口即吐。手足指甲皆
青。恶寒战栗。甚则自汗淋漓。筋惕肉 。面赤戴阳。郁冒昏沉。舌卷囊缩。舌苔青滑
。或青紫而滑。或淡紫带青。色黯质滑。
【脉】寒中太阴。沉濡而迟。甚或沉濡而微。寒中少阴。脉沉而微。甚则
沉微欲绝。寒中厥阴。脉细欲绝。甚则脉绝。脉还出者生。不出者死。脉渐渐缓出
者生。暴出者死。此皆阴盛没阳之危候。陶氏所谓不拘脉之浮沉大小。但指下无力。
重按全无。便是阴证。凭脉下药。最为切当是也。
【治】太阴证。轻则胃苓汤为主。重则神香圣术煎为主。极重则附子理中汤为主
。呕甚兼呃。加姜半夏（四钱）、上沉香（八分）、真柿蒂（三十枚）。腹胀痛甚。
加真川朴（钱半）、明乳香（八分）、泻多不止。加煨肉果（一钱）、灶心土（五方包
煎。）少阴证。轻则真武汤为主。重则附姜白通汤为主。稍缓则附姜归桂汤。再缓则
附姜归桂参甘汤。若阳回身温。吐利已除者。此汤加炙绵 、炒冬术（各一钱）、酒炒白
芍（钱半）、北五味（十二粒）、温和平补以收功。厥阴证。轻则当归四逆汤加吴
茱萸（八分）、生姜汁（一匙分冲）、重则通脉四逆汤加吴茱萸（盐水炒一钱）、紫
桂（一钱、研冲）、极重则回阳急救汤主之。外治灸气海（在脐下一寸五分）、丹田、
（脐下二寸）、关元（脐下三寸）三穴。用大艾六七壮、灸至肢温脉出为度。
【秀按】直中太阴。手足微冷。呕吐不渴。自利腹满。脉来沉缓。少阴则手足厥冷
。脉必沉微。厥阴则肢冷脉细。甚则脉绝。青唇舌卷。筋吊囊缩。然皆面色青黯。即有
虚阳上泛。面虽赤色。亦不红活光彩。必多娇嫩带白。舌色或青或紫。或白苔满布而滑
。手足自冷。爪甲或青或紫。血色自不红活。皮肤决无大热。甚则冰冷透手。此皆阴证
之的据也。治法虽以附、姜、破阴回阳为必要。而附子究为大毒之品。急救虽不得不用
。过服则每有留毒。往往见面红目赤。躁扰烦渴不已。若解药稍迟。血从耳目口鼻出者
必死。解药急用犀角五黄汤。（犀角一钱、川连三钱、芩、柏、山栀各二钱、鲜生地
、麦冬各三钱、生甘草二钱、先用生绿豆一两、水三碗、煎至绿豆皮开、取清汤代水煎
药、约至八分两碗、冲生莱菔汁半盏、时时冷冻饮料。）以解附毒最良。
【廉勘】阴证伤寒者。即直中太阴、少阴、厥阴之寒证也。故一名直中三阴真寒证
。省曰中寒。近世通称为冷痧急证。见其足蜷筋吊者。即名吊脚痧。见其眶 瘪者。即
名陷瘪 痧。见其吐泻腹痛者。即名霍乱痧。或名吐泻痧。见形取名。以便通俗。而于
病源病理。并不切实推求。就余所验。其病多发于夏秋之间。每在亢旱
酷热之时。猝然大雨狂风。凡山中阴毒之HT 水。住家阴沟之污水。均被狂雨之大水。冲
入江河。诸凡淘米洗菜。煮饭煽茶。饮之食之者。无一不沾染其毒。中其毒者猝然暴发
。病势稍缓者。轻则但为寒疟。为冷泻。重则为阴霍乱。尚有三阴症状可辨。势急者。
肝肾脾胃亦皆沾染其毒菌。治当先救脾胃。至若附子。固治阴毒之寒证。但生附子市肆
多不备。只备淡附子。仅有温燥寒湿之功。实无破阴回阳之力。其性能远不如姜桂椒
萸。而其为大热大毒。世皆熟悉其性。成则归功于他药。败则归咎于附子。故予治此证
。弃而不用。别筹新法。兹将历验者约略陈之。初起先解其阴毒。以止吐利腹痛。用鲜
生姜四两。原粒胡椒十粒。紫金片一钱。共捣取汁。冷冻饮料一二盏。即将其渣和入黑白芥
子各一钱。鲜葱白十枚。共捣成饼。先用麝香五厘。 桂末一分。填入脐中。将饼罨在
胸腹脐间上下。以小熨斗盛炭火烫运之。以行其气血。干则和姜葱汁烧酒松节油等再熨
。熨至手足温和。吐利均止者生。另用烧糟捣艾叶包擦两手足湾。以肢温筋宽为度。若
吐泻脱元。六脉沉微似伏。甚则脉绝者。急用姜汁磨广木香一小匙。调当门子五厘。和
入别直参三钱重汤炖温服之。脉至者生。不出者死。惟脉绝则两手全无。须重按至骨间
全无者。方是绝脉。若沉按忽隐忽现。则为脉陷下而已。
【病因】患者胃肾阳气虚弱，体内寒气先产生，外部寒气随后侵入。正如《内经》所说：“阴气盛则生内寒。”由于厥逆之气向上冲逆，寒气积聚在胸中而不能排泄，不排泄则溢出的正气离去，只有寒气独自留存。寒气停留则血液凝滞，血液凝滞则脉道不通，因此发生中寒。所谓中寒，是指寒邪突然直接侵犯阴经，阴邪横发且发病急骤。此病比伤寒更为严重，应当首先分辨三阴经的证候。
【症状】寒邪侵犯太阴经者，初起即怕冷战栗，头不痛，身体不发烫，口不渴，四肢厥冷，上吐下泻，脘腹胀满腹痛，小便不利，舌苔白滑带灰色，严重时灰而滑腻，或灰而淡白。寒邪侵犯少阴经者，初起恶寒厥冷，蜷缩卧倒且不口渴，心下部胀满，小腹绞痛，下利清稀澄澈寒冷，水多粪少，小便色白或淡黄，严重时面赤烦躁，想坐在井中，身体有微热，想喝水但水入即吐，稍喝一点就脘腹胀满，再次无法饮水，严重时咽喉痛气促，或说胡话呃逆，舌苔淡白胖嫩，或者舌苔虽灰黑但舌质嫩滑湿润，或由淡白色转为黑色，看起来似乎有芒刺干裂的样子，但摸上去却湿而滑润。寒邪侵犯厥阴经者，初起即手足厥冷，上吐涎沫，下利清水且有生腥气味，心下部胀满，汤药入口即吐，手足指甲皆呈青色，恶寒战栗，严重时自汗淋漓，筋肉跳动，面色泛红如戴阳状，郁冒昏沉，舌头卷缩睾丸收缩，舌苔青滑，或青紫而滑，或淡紫带青，色泽暗而质地滑润。
【脉象】寒邪侵犯太阴经，脉象沉濡而迟，严重时沉濡而微弱。寒邪侵犯少阴经，脉象沉而微弱，严重时沉微欲绝。寒邪侵犯厥阴经，脉象细弱欲绝，严重时脉绝。脉象渐渐恢复出现的为生机，不复现的为死证。脉象逐渐缓和出现的为生机，突然暴出的为死证。这些都是阴盛阳衰的危重征象。陶氏所说的“不拘泥于脉象的浮沉大小，只要指下感觉无力，重按完全无感，便是阴证”，凭脉用药最为恰当。
【治疗】太阴证，轻症以胃苓汤为主方，重症以神香圣术煎为主方，极重症以附子理中汤为主方。呕吐严重兼有呃逆者，加姜半夏（四钱）、上沉香（八分）、真柿蒂（三十枚）。腹胀疼痛严重者，加真厚朴（一钱半）、明乳香（八分）；腹泻不止者，加煨肉豆蔻（一钱）、灶心土（五方包煎）。少阴证，轻症以真武汤为主方，重症以附姜白通汤为主方，稍缓者用附姜归桂汤，再缓者用附姜归桂参甘汤。若阳气回复身体温暖，呕吐腹泻已除者，此汤加炙黄芪（各一钱）、炒白术（一钱）、酒炒白芍（一钱半）、北五味子（十二粒），温和平补以收功。厥阴证，轻症以当归四逆汤加吴茱萸（八分）、生姜汁（一匙分次冲服），重症以通脉四逆汤加吴茱萸（盐水炒一钱）、紫肉桂（一钱研末冲服），极重症以回阳急救汤主之。外治法灸气海穴（在脐下一寸五分）、丹田穴（脐下二寸）、关元穴（脐下三寸）三穴。用大艾炷六七壮，灸至肢体温暖、脉象复出为止。
【秀按】直中太阴经，手足微冷，呕吐不渴，自利腹满，脉来沉缓。少阴经则手足厥冷，脉必沉微。厥阴经则肢冷脉细，严重时脉绝，嘴唇发青，舌头卷缩，筋脉拘急，睾丸收缩。然而这些病症面色都是青黯的，即使有虚阳上泛，面部虽然发红，也不红润鲜活光彩，必定多娇嫩带白。舌色或青或紫，或白苔满布而滑润。手足自然冰冷，爪甲或青或紫，血色不红润鲜活。皮肤绝对没有大热，严重时冰冷透手。这些都是阴证的确实依据。治疗方法虽然以附子、干姜破除阴寒、回复阳气为必要，但附子终究是大毒之物，急救时虽然不得不用，过量服用则往往留下毒素，常常出现面红目赤，躁扰烦渴不已。如果解毒药稍晚使用，血从耳目口鼻流出者必死。解毒药急用犀角五黄汤（犀角一钱、川黄连三钱、黄芩、黄柏、山栀各二钱、鲜生地、麦冬各三钱、生甘草二钱，先用生绿豆一两、水三碗，煎至绿豆皮开，取清汤代替水煎药，约煎至八分两碗，冲入生莱菔汁半盏，时时冷冻饮用），以此解除附子毒性最好。
【廉勘】阴证伤寒，就是寒邪直接侵犯太阴、少阴、厥阴的寒证。所以又称直中三阴真寒证，省称中寒。近代通称为冷痧急证。见到脚蜷缩、筋脉拘急的，就名叫吊脚痧；见到眼眶凹陷瘪陷的，就名叫陷瘪痧；见到呕吐腹泻腹痛的，就名叫霍乱痧，或名吐泻痧。根据形态取名，以便通俗，但对于病源病理，并不切实推求。据我验证，这种病多发于夏秋之间，经常在亢旱酷热之时，猝然大雨狂风，凡山中阴毒的积水，住家阴沟的污水，都被狂雨的大水冲入江河，凡是淘米洗菜、煮饭烧茶，饮用食用的人，无一不沾染其毒。中毒者突然暴发，病情稍缓的，轻则只是寒疟、冷泻，重则为阴霍乱，还有三阴症状可以辨别；病情急迫的，肝肾脾胃也都沾染了毒菌，治疗应当先救脾胃。至于附子，固然能治疗阴毒的寒证，但市场上多不备有生附子，只备淡附子，仅有温燥寒湿的功效，实在没有破阴回阳的力量。其性能远不如姜、桂、椒、萸，而且它为大热大毒，世人皆熟悉其性，成功则归功于其他药物，失败则归咎于附子。所以我治疗此证，弃而不用，另筹新法。现将历次验证的方法略述如下：初起先解其阴毒，以止吐利腹痛，用鲜生姜四两，原粒胡椒十粒，紫金片一钱，共捣取汁，冷冻饮用一二盏，然后将药渣和入黑白芥子各一钱，鲜葱白十枚，共捣成饼，先用麝香五厘，肉桂末一分，填入脐中，将饼敷在胸腹脐间上下，用小熨斗盛炭火烫运，以行气血，干了则和姜葱汁、烧酒、松节油等再熨，熨至手足温和，吐利均止者为生。另用烧酒糟捣碎艾叶包裹擦拭两手肘窝，以肢体温暖、筋脉舒缓为度。若吐泻导致元气脱失，六脉沉微似伏，严重时脉绝者，急用姜汁磨广木香一小匙，调当门子（麝香）五厘，和入别直参（高丽参）三钱，隔水炖温服之。脉象恢复者生，不复现者死。只有脉绝且两手全无脉搏，必须重按至骨间全无者，才是绝脉。若沉按时忽隐忽现，则是脉陷下而已。
(The *Neijing* refers to this as Zhonghan (Middle Cold), which is the True Cold Syndrome where pathogenic cold directly invades the Yin meridians.)
[Etiology] The patient suffers from deficiency of Yang Qi in the Stomach and Kidneys, causing internal cold to arise first, followed by external cold invading. As stated in the *Neijing*: "Excess of Yin generates internal cold." Due to the counterflow of Jue Qi (Rebellious Qi) moving upward, cold qi accumulates in the chest without being discharged. If not discharged, the overflowing vital energy departs, leaving only cold behind. When cold remains, blood coagulates; when blood coagulates, the vessels become obstructed, thus resulting in Zhonghan (Middle Cold). Zhonghan refers to pathogenic cold suddenly and directly invading the Yin meridians, with Yin pathogens erupting violently. This condition is more severe than Shanghan (Cold Damage) and requires prioritizing the differentiation of syndromes of the Three Yin meridians.
[Symptoms] In cases where cold invades the Taiyin Meridian, initial symptoms include aversion to cold and shivering, absence of headache, absence of fever, absence of thirst, cold limbs, vomiting and diarrhea, fullness and pain in the epigastrium and abdomen, and difficult urination. The tongue coating is white, slippery, and grayish; in severe cases, it may be gray, slippery, and greasy, or grayish and pale white. In cases where cold invades the Shaoyin Meridian, initial symptoms include aversion to cold and cold limbs, curling up in sleep without thirst, fullness below the heart, cramping pain in the lower abdomen, clear and cold watery diarrhea with more water than feces, and white or pale yellow urine. In severe cases, there is redness of the face, irritability, a desire to sit in a well, slight body heat, thirst for water but immediate vomiting upon drinking, abdominal distension after even small sips preventing further drinking, sore throat, shortness of breath, muttering delirium, hiccups, a pale white and swollen tender tongue coating, or a gray-black coating with a tender, slippery, and moist tongue body. The color may turn from pale white to black, appearing cracked and thorn-like visually, but feeling wet and slippery to the touch. In cases where cold invades the Jueyin Meridian, initial symptoms include cold limbs, vomiting of saliva/phlegm, passage of clear watery stool with a raw fishy odor, epigastric fullness, immediate vomiting of any liquid ingested, cyanosis of fingernails and toenails, aversion to cold and shivering, profuse spontaneous sweating, muscle twitching, floating false Yang manifesting as redness of the face (Daiyang), mental depression and drowsiness, curled tongue, and retracted testicles. The tongue coating is green and slippery, or purple-green and slippery, or pale purple with a green tint, dark in color and smooth in texture.
[Pulse] In cold invading the Taiyin Meridian, the pulse is deep, soggy, and slow; in severe cases, it is deep, soggy, and faint. In cold invading the Shaoyin Meridian, the pulse is deep and faint; in severe cases, it is deep, faint, and nearly imperceptible. In cold invading the Jueyin Meridian, the pulse is thin and nearly imperceptible; in severe cases, the pulse ceases. A gradual return of the pulse indicates survival; its absence indicates death. A gradually slowing pulse returning indicates survival; a sudden emergence indicates death. These are all critical signs of Yin excess extinguishing Yang. As Mr. Tao stated: "Regardless of whether the pulse is floating, sunken, large, or small, if it feels powerless under the fingers and completely absent upon heavy pressure, it is a Yin syndrome." Prescribing medication based on the pulse is most appropriate.
[Treatment] For Taiyin syndrome, mild cases are treated primarily with Weiling Tang (Poria Decoction), severe cases with Shenxiang Shengzhu Jian (Aromatic Sage-Invigorating Decoction), and extreme cases with Fuzi Lizhong Tang (Aconite Regulate-the-Middle Decoction). For severe vomiting with hiccups, add Jiang Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma Preparatum, 4 qian), Shang Chenxiang (Aquilaria Lignum, 8 fen), and Zhen Shidi (Diospyri Fructus, 30 pieces). For severe abdominal distension and pain, add Zhen Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex, 1.5 qian) and Ming Ruxiang (Boswelliae Resina, 8 fen); for persistent diarrhea, add Wei Rougu (Myristicae Semen, 1 qian) and Zaoxin Tu (Caulis Trichosanthis preparatus/Fired Hearth Earth, wrapped and decocted, 5 fang). For Shaoyin syndrome, mild cases are treated primarily with Zhenwu Tang (True Warrior Decoction), severe cases with Fuzi Bai Tong Tang (Aconite White Passage Decoction), slightly milder cases with Fuzi Gui Gu Tang (Aconite Cinnamon Return-Glucose Decoction), and even milder cases with Fuzi Gui Gu Shen Gan Tang (Aconite Cinnamon Return-Ginseng Licorice Decoction). If Yang returns, the body warms, and vomiting/diarrhea cease, add Zhi Huangqi (Prepared Astragali Radix, 1 qian each), Chao Baizhu (Stir-fried Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, 1 qian each), Jiu Chao Baishao (Wine-stir-fried Paeoniae Radix Alba, 1.5 qian), and Bei Wuweizi (Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus, 12 grains) to gently warm and tonify to conclude treatment. For Jueyin syndrome, mild cases are treated with Danggui Sini Tang (Angelica Sinensis Replenish-Cold Decoction) plus Wuzhuyu (Evodiae Fructus, 8 fen) and Shengjiang Zhi (Zingiberis Recens Juice, 1 spoon taken separately); severe cases with Tongmai Sini Tang (Unblock-Vessels Replenish-Cold Decoction) plus Wuzhuyu (Salt-water stir-fried Evodiae Fructus, 1 qian) and Zi Gui (Purple Cinnamomi Ramulus, 1 qian ground and taken separately); extreme cases with Huiyang Jijiu Tang (Restore-Yang Emergency Rescue Decoction). External therapy involves moxibustion on Qihai (CV6, 1.5 cun below umbilicus), Dantian (CV4, 2 cun below umbilicus), and Guanyuan (CV4, 3 cun below umbilicus). Use six or seven large moxa cones until limbs warm and pulse returns.
[Xiu's Commentary] Direct invasion of Taiyin presents with slightly cold hands/feet, vomiting without thirst, spontaneous diarrhea, abdominal fullness, and a deep-slow pulse. Shaoyin presents with cold limbs and a deep-faint pulse. Jueyin presents with cold limbs and a thin pulse, potentially ceasing entirely, with blue lips, curled tongue, tendon contraction, and retracted testicles. However, the facial color is always blue-dark. Even if deficient Yang floats upward causing facial redness, it lacks vitality and brightness, appearing delicate and white. The tongue is blue, purple, or covered with a slippery white coating. Hands and feet are naturally cold; nails are blue or purple with dull blood color. Skin has no significant heat, often ice-cold to the touch. These are definitive evidence of Yin syndromes. Although treatment necessitates using Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) and Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) to break Yin and restore Yang, Fuzi is highly toxic. While necessary for emergency rescue, overdose leaves residual toxin, often causing red face, red eyes, restlessness, and unquenchable thirst. Delayed antidote administration leading to bleeding from ears, eyes, mouth, or nose results in death. The best antidote is Xijiao Wuhuang Tang (Rhinoceros Horn Five-Yellow Decoction): Xijiao (Rhinocerotis Cornu, 1 qian), Chuanlian (Coptidis Rhizoma, 3 qian), Qin (Scutellariae Radix, 2 qian), Bo (Phellodendri Cortex, 2 qian), Shanzhi (Gardeniae Fructus, 2 qian), Xian Shengdi (Rehmanniae Radix Recens, 3 qian), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix, 3 qian), Sheng Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, 2 qian). First decoct 1 liang of fresh Moutan (Moutan Cortex? Note: Text says Sheng Lv Dou - Green Bean) in 3 bowls of water until skins split, take clear soup to decoct herbs to 8 fen (approx 2 bowls), mix with half a cup of fresh Raphani juice, and drink cold frequently.
[Lian's Verification] Yin syndrome Shanghan refers to cold directly invading Taiyin, Shaoyin, and Jueyin meridians, also called Direct Invasion of Three Yin True Cold Syndrome, or simply Zhonghan. Modern times commonly call it Lengsha (Cold Sand) acute syndrome. Cases with curled legs and contracted tendons are named Diaojiao Sha (Hanging Foot Sand); those with sunken eye sockets are named Xiandie Sha (Sunken Eye Sand); those with vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain are named Huoluan Sha (Cholera Sand) or Tuxie Sha (Vomit-Downfall Sand). Names are derived from appearance for popular understanding, but pathology is often ignored. My experience shows this disease occurs mostly in summer and autumn during droughts and intense heat, suddenly triggered by heavy rain and strong winds. Mountainous yin-toxic stagnant water and household sewage are washed into rivers by these floods. Anyone washing rice/vegetables or cooking tea/water that consumes this contaminated source contracts the toxin. Onset is sudden. Mild cases present as Han Nue (Cold Malaria) or Leng Xie (Cold Diarrhea); severe cases as Yin Huoluan (Yin Cholera) with distinguishable Three Yin symptoms. Urgent cases involve liver, kidney, spleen, and stomach contamination by toxins/bacteria; treatment must prioritize saving the Spleen and Stomach. Regarding Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata), although it treats Yin-toxic cold, raw Fuzi is rarely available; only Dan Fuzi (Lightly Prepared Aconite) is sold, which only warms and dries damp-cold but lacks power to break Yin and restore Yang. Its efficacy is far inferior to Ginger, Cinnamon, Pepper, and Evodia. Since its high heat and toxicity are well-known, success is credited to other herbs, while failure is blamed on Fuzi. Therefore, I discard it and employ new methods verified over time. Initial treatment resolves Yin toxin to stop vomiting, diarrhea, and pain: use 4 liang fresh Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens), 10 original Hulao (Piperis Longi Fructus), and 1 qian Zijinpian (Calami Rhizoma? Note: Specific local herb), crush to extract juice, and drink cold (1-2 cups). Apply residue mixed with 1 qian each of Hei/Bai Jiezi (Brassicae Semen Nigrum/Sinapis) and 10 fresh Congbai (Allii Fistulosi Bulbus) as a cake. Place 5 li of She Xiang (Moschus) and 1 fen of Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex) in the umbilicus, cover with the cake, and apply heat via a small iron pot with charcoal to promote Qi and Blood circulation. Reapply with ginger/onion juice, liquor, and pine resin oil if dry. Survival is indicated by warm limbs and cessation of vomiting/diarrhea. Additionally, rub elbows with fermented rice lees crushed with Artemisia mugwort leaves until limbs warm and tendons relax. If vomiting/diarrhea cause Yuan Qi collapse with deep/faint/imperceptible pulses or ceased pulse, urgently grind Guang Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix) in ginger juice (1 spoon), mix with Dangmenzi (Moschus, 5 li), and 3 qian Biezhi Shen (Korean Ginseng), decoct warm and administer. Pulse return indicates survival; absence indicates death. True pulse cessation requires no pulse at all, even with heavy pressure to the bone. If the pulse is hidden yet intermittently visible upon deep pressure, it is merely Sunken Pulse (Mai Xian Xia), not true cessation.