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Dysentery, regardless of whether it is red or white, belongs to damp-heat syndrome; the view that red indicates heat and white indicates cold is incorrect. There are also cases caused by food stagnation. The treatment methods include tonification and purgation. In dysentery with both red and white discharge, both dampness and heat are present, but heat syndrome presents with abdominal pain, whereas dampness syndrome does not present with abdominal pain.

Whenever there is red discharge in dysentery, this indicates that damp-heat has injured the blood level (xue fen), originating from the Small Intestine. It is treated with Siwu Tang (Four-Item Decoction) added with Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), and Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex).

Whenever there is white discharge in dysentery, this indicates that damp-heat is at the qi level (qi fen), originating from the Large Intestine. It is treated with Sijunzi Tang (Four-Gentlemen Decoction) added with Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) and Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma).

Whenever there is a mixture of red and white discharge in dysentery, this indicates that both qi and blood are injured. It is treated with Bawu Tang (Eight-Item Decoction) added with Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex), Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), and Huashi (Talcum). For the above three conditions, if there is tenesmus, Binglang (Arecae Semen) and Zhishi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus) should be added to all formulas.

In treating dysentery, regardless of red or white discharge: if at the initial stage there is tenesmus and abdominal distension and pain, first administer Sanhuang Wan (Three-Yellow Pill) and Dachengqi Tang (Major Order the Yang Decoction) to purge, followed by Xianglian Wan (Fragrant Coptis Pill) for regulation.

If dysentery with red and white discharge has persisted for a long time and the patient's vital energy is weak, and no purgation has been used previously: if purgation is now applied, it will further weaken the patient, which is contraindicated as it damages what is already insufficient; if purgation is not applied, the pathogenic accumulation remains and recovery is difficult. Use Baohe Wan (Preserve Harmony Pill) only, administered continuously several times until abdominal pain ceases, then regulate with Xianglian Wan (Fragrant Coptis Pill).

When treating dysentery, one must not recklessly use Badou (Crotonis Fructus) or Qianniu (Pharbitidis Semen); using Sanhuang Wan (Three-Yellow Pill) is safer.

For dysentery with fresh blood, use Qingxue Wan (Clear Blood Pill), taken down with decoction of Cheqiancao (Plantaginis Herba) and aged rice water.

For dysentery with white mucus that persists for a long time, use Guchang Wan (Secure Intestine Pill), taken down with aged rice water.

For pure bloody dysentery occurring in summer months, use Yiyuan San (Benefit the Primordial Powder) and stir-fried Huashi (Talcum), mixed with Hongqu (Red Yeast Rice) to form pills, taken down with aged rice water.

For prolapse of the rectum due to red and white dysentery, this is due to sinking of qi. It should be lifted and raised; Hezhong Wan (Harmonize the Middle Pill) is swallowed with Shengma Tang (Cimicifugae Decoction).

For red and white dysentery accompanied by vomiting and inability to eat, this is called Jinkou Li (Jinkou Dysentery). Using Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix) is too warming, while using Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma) causes closure; instead, use Shenling Baizhu San (Ginseng, Poria, and Atractylodes Macrocephala Powder) mixed with Shichangpu (Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma) powder, taken down with aged rice water. Once the chest and diaphragm open up, appetite will naturally return.

After dysentery stops, if fever persists or the patient becomes emaciated and weak, use Jisheng Wan (Collect the Sage Pill) for regulation.