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If the eruption is slow on the back, it belongs to the Foot-Taiyang Meridian; use Jingjie Gancao Fangfeng Tang (Schizonepeta, Licorice, and Saposhnikovia Decoction). If the eruption is slow on the front of the body, it belongs to the Hand-Yangming Meridian; use Shengma Gegen Tang (Cimicifuga and Pueraria Decoction). If the eruption is slow in the four limbs, it belongs to the Foot-Yangming Meridian; use Fangfeng Shaoyao Gancao Tang (Saposhnikovia, Peony, and Licorice Decoction). These are all agents for resolving toxicity and promoting eruption, which must not be ignored.

Miao Zhongchun stated: Shazhen (measles/rubella-like diseases) is a disease caused by the fire-heat pathogens of the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. It occurs mostly in children, but adults occasionally suffer from it as well. It probably belongs to the category of seasonal epidemics. Its symptoms mostly include coughing, frequent sneezing, excessive tearing in the eyes, frequent diarrhea, phlegm accumulation, fever, thirst, and irritability. In severe cases, restlessness, confusion, sore throat, cracked lips, and coma occur, which are its signs. The treatment method should focus on cooling and dispersing. Medicinals should be selected with acrid-cold, sweet-cold, or bitter-cold properties to promote eruption. Sour-astringent drugs are strictly contraindicated, while acrid-dispersing drugs are most suitable. Mistakenly using warming-tonifying drugs will lead to immediate disaster. Acrid-dispersing drugs include Jingjie Sui (Schizonepeta Spike), Gan Ge (Pueraria Root), Xihe Liu (Tamarix Twig), Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum), Mahuang (Ephedra Herba), and Shuniuzi (Arctii Fructus); cooling drugs include Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix), Gualou Gen (Trichosanthis Radix), Bohe (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba), Zhuye (Bambusa Leaves), and Qingdai (Indigo Naturalis); sweet-cold drugs include Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Sheng Gancao (Raw Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), and Zhe Jiang (Sugar Cane Juice); bitter-cold drugs include Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex), Beimu (Fritillariae Bulbus), and Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus), all of which are applicable medicinals. Based on the severity of the condition, determine the dosage; stop when the illness is cured, avoiding excessive medication.

Shazhen is caused by heat pathogens in the lungs and stomach. At the initial stage, coughing is inevitable; one should clear heat and vent toxins, and must not forcibly suppress the cough. For coughing after the rash appears, only use Beimu, Gualou Gen, Gancao, Maidong, Kujiegeng (Platycodonis Radix), Xuanshen, and Bohe to clear residual heat and eliminate phlegm congestion; the condition will heal spontaneously. Do not use astringent agents like Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus). If wheezing is severe, it is due to heat pathogens obstructing the lungs; do not use antitussive/wheezing-relieving drugs. Instead, use a large dose of Zhuye Shigao Tang (Bamboo Leaf and Gypsum Decoction) with two xu of Xihe Liu, and two qian each of Xuanshen and Bohe. In winter, if cold is severe and shazhen toxins are depressed internally by cold qi, preventing eruption, add one dose of Mahuang stir-fried with honey and wine; the symptoms will stop immediately. For cases with very high fever, Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction) with Xihe Liu can be used, but Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma) is contraindicated, as it will inevitably cause wheezing. If diarrhea is severe, do not stop it; simply use Huanglian, Shengma, Gan Ge, and Gancao, and the diarrhea will stop naturally. Patients with shazhen do not need to fear diarrhea; diarrhea allows the heat pathogens of the Yangming meridian to resolve, which aligns with the principle of dissipating pathogens from both exterior and interior. If diarrhea persists after the rash, or if pus and blood appear in the stool, it is due to heat pathogens sinking inward. Astringents are strictly forbidden; one should use ascending and dispersing methods, specifically Shengma, Gan Ge, Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Gancao, Huanglian, and Biandouhua (Lablab Flower). If pus and blood appear in the stool, add Huashi (Talcum Powder); the condition will heal spontaneously. If sores persist after the rash, it is because residual heat remains; decoct Jinyinhua (Lonicerae Japonicae Flos), Lianqiao, Jingjie Sui, Xuanshen, Gancao, Huanglian, and Mutong (Akebiae Caulis) thickly for drinking, which is effective.

Treatment of shazhen should not rely solely on symptomatic therapy but must treat the root, which refers to the heat pathogens of the Hand-Taiyin Lung and Foot-Yangming Stomach meridians. Once the heat pathogens are resolved, all symptoms will recede.

For shazhen that fails to erupt, accompanied by wheezing, coughing, irritability, oppression, confusion, and mania:
Dry Xihe Liu leaves, grind into fine powder, mix with water, take 4 qian at once; the symptoms will settle immediately. This is a mysterious prescription.

Another Prescription formulated by Zhongchun:
Chan Tui (Cicada Slough, 1 qian), Shuniuzi (Arctii Fructus, fried and ground, 1.5 qian), Jingjie Sui (Schizonepeta Spike, 1 qian), Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix, 2 qian), Sheng Gancao (Raw Licorice, 1 qian), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix, dehearted, 1.5 qian), Gan Ge (Pueraria Root, 1.5 qian), Bohe Ye (Mint Leaf, 1 qian), Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma, 1 qian), Xihe Liu (Tamarix Twig, 5 qian), Zhuye (Bamboo Leaf, 30 slices). For severe cases, add Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum, 5 qian) and Dongmi (Rice Grain, a pinch).

Another Prescription: Add Huangqin, Huanglian, and Huangbai to treat.

In winter, if shazhen cannot erupt due to cold, causing wheezing, thirst, oppression, and restlessness, use Mahuang (Ephedra Herba) with nodes removed, soaked in hot water, then stir-fried with honey and wine. Add 1 qian or 7-8 fen to the shazhen formula; one dose will cause immediate eruption. The formula includes Gan Ge, Maidong, Beimu, Qianhu (Peucedani Radix), Jingjie Sui, Xuanshen, Xihe Liu, Gancao, and Zhimu. One dose results in immediate eruption.

Recorded in Miao's *Bencao Jing Shulou* (*Elucidation of Materia Medica*):
Chichengmu (Red Tamarisk), also known as Xihe Liu, Guanyin Liu, or Sanmian Liu, has a sweet taste, slightly salty, warm nature, and is non-toxic. In recent times, it has been used as a divine drug for dispersing shazhen heat toxins that fail to erupt. The classics state: "What arrives at Shaoyin manifests as ulcers and rashes," which aligns with Liu Shouzhen's assertion that "all pain, itching, ulcers, and sores belong to Heart Fire." Since heat toxins blaze in the lungs and stomach, macules and rashes erupt between the muscles. As the lungs govern skin and hair, and the stomach governs muscles, this herb enters the Lung, Stomach, and Heart meridians. When the toxins in these three meridians are resolved, evil pathogens penetrate the skin, and internal heat dissipates. This demonstrates the functions of opening, ascending, and dispersing, characterized by sweet, salty, and slightly warm properties.

Indications: Used in combination with Shigao, Zhimu, Bohe, Jingjie Sui, Xuanshen, Niuzi (Arctii Fructus), Maidong, Zhuye, Lianqiao, Huangqin, and Gancao to treat macules and rashes that fail to erupt or do not erupt thoroughly. In cases of severe heat and blazing toxins, with prickles on the tongue, extreme thirst, delirium, and purple-black macules, adding it to Sanhuang Shigao Tang (Three Yellows and Gypsum Decoction) yields significant effects. Used alone or combined with other herbs, it treats all stages of shazhen.

Wang Shuangchi stated: Chichengliu (Red Tamarisk), also known as Xihe Liu, has branches and leaves resembling cypress cones, belonging to the willow family. It grows beside water marshes; before rain, clouds evaporate above the trees, hence the name Yushi (Rain Master). Its nature is sweet, acrid, salty, and cold. It can drain lung heat, dispel blood stasis, draw moistening energy upward to vent toxins, and remove stagnant miasma causing measles. It is the best choice for such conditions.