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The "Commentaries" state: "If names are not correct, language is not in accordance with the truth of things; if language is not in accordance with the truth of things, affairs cannot be carried on to success." The names and manifestations of diseases are numerous in category. Tracing their origins, there are especially many cases that appear similar but are fundamentally different. If one can carefully perceive and clearly distinguish the true causes, why worry about the multitude of diseases?

Shanghan (Cold Damage) involves pathologies of the Six Meridians:
- Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian: Stiffness and pain in the head and neck, pain in the lower back and spine, absence of sweating.
- Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian: Feverish body, eye pain, dry nose.
- Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian: Pain in the chest and hypochondrium, deafness.
- Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian: Spontaneous diarrhea without thirst.

The condition may either improve or result in death. Improvement usually occurs after ten days, while death typically happens within six or seven days. Conditions presenting as purely cold or purely heat are also difficult to treat and are commonly referred to by the world as "Major Diseases."

Yang Du (Yang Toxin) disease arises from excessive Yang Qi and sudden exhaustion of Yin Qi. Yin Du (Yin Toxin) disease originates from deficiency-cold of Kidney Qi, or damage to the Spleen and Stomach caused by consuming cold/raw foods, leading to latent internal Yin-Cold combined with external Cold invasion.

Jue (Reversal/Cold Extremities) syndrome:
- In Yang Jue, the patient initially has fever and headache. Reversal (cold extremities) occurs only on the second to fourth day, followed by a return of fever after half a day. This indicates that deep heat triggers reversal.
- In Yin Jue, cold extremities appear immediately upon onset, indicating Yin overacting on Yang. "Jue" refers to the failure of Yin and Yang Qi to connect smoothly.
- If Jue exceeds Heat, the disease should heal; if Heat exceeds Jue, the disease progresses.
- If accompanied by rising Qi (asthma/dyspnea) and curling of the legs, it indicates the exhaustion of the Qi of the Six Fu Organs at the exterior.
- Regarding diarrhea with undigested food (Xia Li Qing Gu), exterior-releasing methods (sweating) are contraindicated. Sweating will inevitably cause abdominal fullness. If diarrhea is accompanied by slight fever and thirst, the disease will heal spontaneously.

Zhong Shi (Strike by Dampness) results from underlying deficiency of the lower body and weak Qi, exposure to frost and dew, or walking in wind and snow.

Shang Feng (Injury by Wind) affects the exterior and meridians, transmitting daily along the channels. "Zhong" (Strike) refers not to the regular winds that nourish all things, but to the deviant winds from the eight directions. Robust individuals are prone to this. Wind is tight and violent, agile and changeable; its strike is sudden, causing dizziness, floating phlegm, and mental confusion. Thus, Wind is called the "Chief of a Hundred Diseases."

Shang Shu (Injury by Summerheat) occurs during the Sanfu days when heat prevails, grass withers, and rivers dry up. Individuals with depleted Blood and Qi may be injured by summerheat. Onset is rapid. Severe infection is called "Zhong Shu" (Stroke by Summerheat/Midsummer Strike); mild cases are "Shang Shu."

Shang Shi (Injury by Dampness) results from sitting or lying in damp places, exposure to dew, or wearing sweat-dampened clothes, leading to gradual infiltration. Cases classified as "Zhong Shi" (Strike by Dampness) occur due to long-term deficiency of Spleen Yuan, chronic diarrhea, or Spleen Earth failing to control Water.

Additionally, four types of pathogenic factors may lie latent within the body, subtle and imperceptible, causing various diseases that persist for years. One must deeply reflect to find the root cause.

However, in daily life, stillness of spirit brings peace, while agitation of emotions brings chaos. Therefore: Joy relaxes Qi; Anger causes Qi to rise; Grief causes Qi to sink; Worry causes Qi to knot; Fear makes Qi insecure; Shock causes Qi to become disordered. These constitute the diseases of the Seven Emotions.

If True Qi is weak and Stomach Qi is not solid, consuming raw/cold/ice substances leads to deficiency-cold in the intestines and stomach. Engaging in sexual intercourse before recovery from major illness, extreme physical fatigue, irregular eating habits, intense mental exertion, or shouting/walking excessively depleting Qi, all give rise to Deficiency-Damage diseases.

When Essence and Blood decline, Zang organs become dry, and the Triple Burner becomes vexed and obstructed. Consuming Dan-shi (mineral pills), alcohol, fermented foods, roasted, fried, or spicy foods causes toxin accumulation in the intestines and stomach, giving rise to Excess-Heat diseases.

Summarizing various diseases: Zhong Qi (Qi Strike) resembles Zhong Feng (Wind Stroke), but treating Wind Stroke as Qi Strike is an error. Recognizing physicians' lack of understanding, these errors are criticized in writings.

Nue (Malaria) disease is invariably caused by Wind, Cold, Summerheat, and Dampness contracted in alternating seasons, combined with dietary issues, labor fatigue, and miasma qi. Chi Bai Li Ji (Dysentery with red and white discharge), known in ancient times as "Zhi Xia" (Stagnant Downward Flow), originates externally from the Five Evils and internally from indigestion of hard, cold, or hot foods, leading to stagnation. It may also arise from transmission due to long-term deficiency. Purging is contraindicated in such cases; severe cases involve numbness of hands and feet, indicating impending exhaustion of Zang organ Qi internally.

There are ten types of Shi Xue (Loss of Blood) diseases, none more severe than loss of essence/blood. These are caused by injury from the Four Qi or improper nursing.

During epidemics, one must observe climatic anomalies: Spring should be warm but is cold; Summer should be hot but is cold; Autumn should be cool but is hot; Winter should be cold but is warm. These deviations of the Six Qi generate such diseases. Severe cases spread globally; mild cases spread locally. Causes must be identified by season and not dismissed as minor ailments. Severe cases bring disaster to families; mild cases lead to critical conditions.

Beyond this, observing form, pulse, and listening to voice reveals whether a disease is treatable. The Classics state "View Jing Ming (Spirit Brightness)," meaning the brightness of the five Zang organs gathers in the eyes. Complete eyeballs yield clear vision; settled spirit yields clear sight. If vision is unclear, Jing Ming is damaged.
- Red eyes indicate Heart disease.
- White sclera indicates Lung disease.
- Dark pupils indicate Kidney disease.
- Yellow complexion indicates Spleen disease.
- Greenish hue indicates Liver disease.
- Indistinct yellow indicates pathology in the Chest.
The Five Colors represent the brilliance of Qi.
- Red should resemble cinnabar wrapped in silk, not ochre.
- White should resemble the luster of white jade, not chalk.
- Green should resemble the luster of dark jade, not indigo.
- Yellow should resemble realgar wrapped in gauze, not loess.
- Black should resemble lacquer, not charcoal.
If Zang essence is exhausted, lifespan is short.

The Five Sounds are the voices of the Zang organs, reflecting the state of internal Qi. Abundant internal Qi yields loud sounds; deficient internal Qi yields weak sounds.
- Muffled voice suggests stagnant Qi.
- Whispering, speaking only once a day, indicates Qi depletion.
- Delirious speech ignoring social norms indicates disorder of Shen (Spirit).
- Zheng Sheng (fragmented/repetitive speech) indicates loss of Yin-Yang balance. Retention leads to survival; loss leads to death.

The strength of the Six Fu organs is reflected in the body's vigor.
- The Head is the residence of Jing Ming. Drooping head and sunken eyes indicate depleted Spirit.
- Curved back and inability to bend/extend indicate failing Tendons.
- The Bone is the residence of Marrow. Trembling while walking indicates failing Bones.
- Failure of the Granary (Spleen/Stomach) to store indicates unstable Intestines/Stomach.
- Uncontrollable urination indicates unstable Bladder.
Retaining "Strength" leads to life; losing it leads to death. These must be understood comprehensively.

If Zang essence is depleted and Shen does not reside, symptoms include hoarse voice, cold body, grasping at empty air, and delirium.
Prognostic facial colors (unfavorable):
- Face red like blood, white like dead bone, black like soot.
- Face green with white eyes, face black with white eyes, face yellow with green eyes, face red with white eyes.
- Black color entering mouth/nose from ears/nose.
- Redness in ears, eyes, cheekbones, and cheeks.
- Black color appearing above hairline, extending down nose bridge and cheekbones.
- Black color appearing at Tianzhong (center of forehead), extending to nose and cheekbones.
- Face suddenly liver-colored (dark green/black), staring eyes, aversion to wind.
- Face black with blue lips, face blue with black lips.
- Face black with distension under hypochondria, unable to turn over.
- Long-standing head/eye pain, sudden blindness, Yin knotting and Yang severing.
- Loss of eye luster, trance-like state, exhaustion of Yin and Yang.
- Sunken eye sockets, mouth open like a fish, unable to close, breath not returning, inverted lips, dry gums, collapse of Tianzhu Bone (neck/spine), clenched fists, non-flowing sweat, curled black tongue, straight/dry hair, irritability, raised hair/eyebrows, cyanotic nails, involuntary defecation, fever with panting, hardness below umbilicus like iron, cracked lips, black nose, scorched tongue root, cold limbs, oily non-flowing sweat, corpse odor, fixed staring gaze. Death occurs within one day.
- Black or white color entering eyes/mouth/nose: Death within two days.
- Yin and Yang both exhausted, aphasia: Death within three and a half days.
- Open mouth, blue lips, full Renzhong point: Death within three days.
- No eye luster, earthy face, no appetite: Death within four days.
- Red face, green eyes: Death within six days.
- Black face, white eyes, black under fingernails: Death within eight days.
- Sudden blackening of teeth: Death within thirteen days.
- Liver disease, black skin: Death on Geng/Xin days.
- Heart disease, black eyes: Death on Ren/Gui days.
- Spleen disease, blue lips: Death on Jia/Yi days.
- Lung disease, red cheeks, swollen eyes: Death on Bing/Ding days.
- Kidney disease, swollen face, yellow lips: Death on Wu/Ji days.
All above are untreatable.

If yellow color appears on face and eyes, the disease may heal.
Treatable prognostic signs:
- Face yellow with green/red/white/black eyes.
- Face black with green eyes.
- Face and eyes both yellow.
- Face black with white eyes.

Generally, diseases number in the hundreds. Even ten thousand words cannot describe them all. One must study diligently and broadly. Do not consider superficial understanding sufficient. Indeed...