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Whenever waterpox (Shuidou) appears, initially ten or so spots emerge. After one day, vesicles appear on the tips of these spots. On the second and third days, more spots gradually emerge. By the fourth day, the whole body itches, the pustule heads all rupture, and with a slight increase in high fever, they will scab over and heal. However, patients with this type of pox must avoid "fa-wu" (hair-raising foods/trigger foods), and recovery takes seven to eight days.

Waterpox also presents symptoms similar to Shanghan (Cold Damage). When fever lasts for two or three days before eruption, accompanied by coughing, flushed face, watery eyes, sneezing, or runny nose, it differs from regular smallpox. It is easy to erupt and easy to resolve; treatment focuses on clearing heat and detoxifying.

Zhou Shenzhai stated: Ma (Measles) initially emerges from the Yin meridians and transmits to the Yang meridians. In the human body, Fire pathogenic factors act rapidly. Metal of the Lung resides superiorly and fears Fire; Earth of the Spleen resides centrally and fears Wood. If Fire flares upward, Lung Qi is impaired; thus, Fire should be dispersed. By unblocking blood vessels and moistening skin and hair, the Lung remains uninjured, allowing the Left Kidney to be sufficient. Wood receives nourishment, Liver Blood becomes moist, and Spleen Blood can be stored, so how could Spleen Yin be injured? The Spleen connects blood vessels, and the Stomach governs the four limbs. When Stomach Qi rises, Lung fluids descend, generating Yuan Qi (Primal Qi), allowing all things to grow. The Spirit transformation of the Heart relies on the Spleen obtaining its true essence; where does Fire transformation arise? Generally, Fire is a pathogen arising from deficiency. Excess patterns are easy to remove, but deficiency is difficult to support. Before eruption, the Lung is first affected by pathogens, so the exterior should be released, allowing pathogens to scatter through sweat. If sweat cannot be induced, or if sweating is excessive, and measles appear intermittently or remain hidden, it is an ominous sign. This is due to insufficient Yuan Qi and Spleen deficiency failing to control blood. One should tonify the insufficiency of Spleen Yin; adding a small amount of Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) and Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig) among blood-nourishing herbs is harmless. Quack doctors do not understand this principle, believing that measles should be treated with cooling herbs and smallpox with warming and tonifying herbs. Since smallpox has distinctions between initial clearing and subsequent tonifying, they assume no such warming intent exists for measles. If sweat cannot be induced, further purgation should not be used; purging transforms into Fire, leading to incurable Lung Heat—this is point one. If spontaneous sweating, vomiting, or purgation occur before or after eruption, Zhen Qi (True Qi) is already damaged, harming the Spleen and Lung first. Measles primarily involve the Spleen and Lung; careful consideration is required regarding contraindications of sweating, vomiting, and purgation. The Stomach prefers damp-heat and ascending Qi. If clear Qi sinks, presenting with dark urine and thirst, use Gegen (Puerariae Radix), Qianhu (Peucedani Radix), Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix), Gancao (Licorice Root), Niubangzi (Arctii Fructus), Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus), Mutong (Akebiae Caulis), etc. If injury is due to diet, presenting with abdominal pain, diarrhea, clear urine, and no thirst, it is a Cold pattern; use Wuling San (Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria) plus Shenqu (Massa Medicata Fermentata), Shanzha (Crataegi Fructus), and Sharen (Amomi Fructus). Or if vomiting/purgation led to no sweat, do not purge again; instead, wait patiently for nourishment until Shen recovers and harmony returns—this must not be overlooked. Many doctors who treat weak Yuan Qi according to standard protocols kill patients without remorse. For cases persisting over ten days after sweating, vomiting, or purgation, indicating chronic illness with Yang deficiency, promote Yang generation and Yin growth using Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) plus Renshen. Add Shashen (Glehniae Radix) for severe heat; do not overuse cold herbs, as this destroys Spleen Qi—this is point two. For eruptions occurring in two waves unevenly: for those already erupted, nourish the buds to prevent withering using Xiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Chishao (Paeoniae Radix Rubra), and Mutong; for those not yet erupted, release the exterior using Sugge Tang (Perilla and Kudzu Decoction) plus Qianhu, Jiegeng, and Niubangzi. Add Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix) for sore throat. If blood vessels bleed recklessly, use Xijiao Dihuang Tang (Rhinoceros Horn and Rehmannia Decoction) or Shengma Gegen Tang (Cimicifugae and Kudzu Decoction) plus Chenxiang (Aquilariae Lignum), Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus), and Lianqiao. Do not neglect Yin while attacking the exterior, causing Yin-Blood to move recklessly—this is point three. Measles should not burst open; bursting is ominous. They should not remain hidden; hidden and spiritless leads to death. If eruptions do not reach the feet but appear complete, and disinfection is not performed, using purely cold herbs causes Yin-Blood stagnation and prevents Yin from venting, allowing Heat to transmit to the Blood Chamber. This may lead to vomiting, purgation, or internal Heat stagnation transforming into Gan Lao (Childhood Malnutrition/Tuberculosis-like syndrome), resolving in one or two months, or progressing to death—this is point four. If eruptions subside after three or four days, there is internal Heat; use Siwu Tang plus Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Zhizi, and Mutong. After seven or eight days, if Heat persists with internal deficiency and strong pathogens remaining, support Righteous Qi to expel Pathogens; nourish Yin to moisten Spleen and Lung, preventing mutual destruction, using Huangqin, Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Dengxincao (Junci Medulla), Renshen, Shashen, Tiandong (Asparagi Radix), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Danggui, Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma), Lianzi (Nelumbinis Semen). Add Zhuye (Bambusae Folium) and Zaoren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen) for irritability; adjust based on severity. Failing to nourish Yin and mistakenly using Yin-nourishing methods is error five. Profuse phlegm-saliva, delirium, and thirst indicate interior patterns; rescue Yin using Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction). Using Xiaodu Yin (Disinfecting Drink) to disperse Righteous Qi leads to Lung failure and death—error six. Constipation and dry menstrual blood require Xiong Gui Tang (Chuanxiong and Angelica Decoction) plus Honghua (Carthami Flos) and Maren (Cannabis Seed), because Blood deficiency fails to nourish the Liver and Stomach Qi fails to ascend. Conversely, using Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) to drain Liver Blood leads to Kidney failure—error seven. Fine sores covering the entire mouth within one or two days with no empty space indicate trapped Fire; disperse it using Xiaodu San (Disinfecting Powder) plus Gancao, Jiegeng, Niubangzi, and Lianqiao. Conversely, using purely cold herbs to force toxins inward is error eight. Black spots/craters inside the mouth after crusting is ominous, fearing gastric rot and untreatability. If residual heat persists for weeks with thirst indicating deficiency, use Shengmai San (Generate Pulse Powder) combined with Siwu Tang to nourish Qi and Blood preventing desiccation. However, for chronic illness lacking Yang, do not follow standard protocols blindly, as this causes Spleen deficiency and anorexia. Alternatively, hard sores on tongue/mouth on days 4-6 transform into Gan disease or gastric rot; use Xiaodu San, Ganjie Tang (Licorice and Platycodon Decoction) plus Xuanshen, Shashen, and Paojiang (Prepared Ginger). Conversely, using Baihu Tang damages Stomach Qi—error nine. Post-measles dysentery is due to Spleen deficiency failing to awaken; use Xiong Gui Tang. For white dysentery, use Wei Jiangsheng (Roasted Fresh Ginger); for red dysentery, use Xianglian Wan (Fragrant Coptis Pill). Do not use drastic purgatives. If diarrhea/dysentery persists, greatly tonify Qi and Blood; drastic purgation drains Yuan Qi, leading to yellow distension and death—error ten.

For releasing the exterior: in Winter, use Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba), Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix), Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix) and Xiaodu Yin. In Spring and Summer, use Sugge Tang plus Lianqiao, Gancao, and Jiegeng. Add Niubangzi for sore throat. Qianhu and Beimu (Fritillariae Bulbus) are indispensable in all seasons. Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma) is feared to raise toxins to the throat and should not be used lightly; however, if diarrhea occurs causing Qi sinking, it should be used. For vomiting, use Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Beimu, Jiangzhi (Ginger Juice), and Zhuru (Bambusae Caulis in Taenia). Coughing before and after indicates Wind-Cold invasion; release the interior to expel pathogens. Overly clearing herbs destroy the Stomach's generating Qi; overly tonifying herbs stir Stomach Fire. Neither is the correct treatment for rashes. Only by tonifying Yin within Yang and treating according to syndromes, avoiding bias toward cold or heat, will Yuan Qi be sufficient, making eruption and resolution easier. If Yuan Qi declines, toxins stagnate at the exterior, causing exterior Heat, drying up Fire and Earth, depleting True Yin, leading to incurable conditions.