Guided by the problems in the treatment of consumptive diseases by tonification methods，the present study established a metaphorical model with “boiling water in a kettle” and “lighting wood to make a fire” as the original domains and tonification in the treatment of consumptive diseases as the target domain，and explore the misconception to be avoided in this treatment strategy.Specifically，in the process of starting a fire in a coal stove，“pulling the bellows” and “digging out the ashes” symbolize the importance of tonification and dredging in the treatment of consumptive diseases by tonification methods，and stagnation from pure tonification should be avoided.Secondly，the ignition sequence of three materials，i.e.，paper，wood，and coal in the process of adding burning materials to make a fire metaphorically reflects that tonic drugs should be added gradually under the premise of “deficiency” as the chief paradox in order to avoid aggressive tonification.Finally，the metaphor of boiling less water in the kettle illustrates that it is recommended to tonify the body using mutual support of yin and yang and the balance of the five internal organs when the body is deficient in both yin and yang to avoid the consequence of only tonifying either yin or yang but harming the other.