Library

Mr. (22 years old): External pathogenic factors invade. Head distension occurs. Acrid dispersing agents should be used. (Cold pathogen lodging in the Lung)
Perillae Caulis (Sugeng), Apricot Seed (Xingren), Platycodon Root (Jiegeng), Mulberry Bark (Sangpi), Tangerine Peel (Juhong), Forsythia Fruit (Lianqiao).

Patient: Chills and fever, headache, epigastric stuffiness.
Fermented Soybean (Douchi), Tender Perilla Stem (Sugeng), Apricot Seed (Xingren), Platycodon Root (Jiegeng), Magnolia Bark (Houpo), Bitter Orange (Zhike).

Mr. (52 years old): Re-exposed to cold pathogen. Coldness in the back, headache, nasal congestion. (Wind-cold damaging the Defensive Qi)
Guizhi Decoction (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) with added Apricot Seed (Xingren).

Patient (19 years old): Seasonal pathogens attack externally. Defensive obstruction causes fever, headache. First, disperse the exterior pathogens. (Cold pathogen combined with Dampness)
Fermented Soybean (Douchi), Perilla Stem (Sugeng), Apricot Seed (Xingren), Magnolia Bark (Houpo), Stephania Root (Mufangji), Poria Skin (Fulingpi).

Mr. Yang (42 years old): The Taiyang meridian runs from the back to the waist. External wind-cold first damages the Yang meridians. Cloud-like turbidity rises from below to above, meridian Qi rebels causing disease, resulting in vomiting of phlegm-saliva and headache.
After frequent urination, the disease resolves, Bladder Qi flows smoothly, and the rebellious Qi turns smooth. At this point, one should unblock the interior of the Taiyang, using Wuling San (Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria). If the external contraction recurs, it will be discussed again. (Cold lodging in the Taiyang Bladder Meridian, causing Qi rebellion)

Mr. (28 years old): Labor injury damages Yang Qi, body feels cold yet feverish, headache, epigastric stuffiness, body pain. (Labor fatigue leading to Yang deficiency and cold invasion)
Apricot Seed (San qian), Cinnamon Twig (Chen Guizhi - Ba fen), Fresh Ginger (Shengjiang - Yi qian), Magnolia Bark (Houpo - Yi qian), Broad-leaved Tangerine Peel (Guangpi - Yi qian), Poria Skin (Fulingpi - San qian).

Regarding Shaoyin syndrome (Typhoid), Zhang Zhongjing established laws previously, and various sages annotated afterwards. Although Mr. possesses natural intelligence and acuity, if he were to imitate his treatment methods, it is feared he could not go beyond Zhang Zhongjing's scope. What distinguishes him from mediocre physicians lies in his ability to differentiate syndromes. He does not mistake winter-warmth, spring-warmth, wind-warmth, heat-warmth, damp-warmth, latent summerheat, internal injury, labor fatigue, or pestilence for Shaoyin syndrome. In treating warmth, summerheat, and dampness syndromes, he specifically differentiates whether the pathogen is in the Wei (Defensive) level or Ying (Nutritive) level, or whether it has injured the Qi level or Blood level, and further investigates the Triple Burner (Sanjiao). Thus, he expounds on the clear instructions of predecessors that warm pathogens contraindicate sweating, and patients with dampness contraindicate sweating; hand-meridian formulas should be used, without needing foot-meridian herbs, etc., to instruct future generations. This is where Mr. excels uniquely. As for books on Shaoyin syndrome, since Cheng Wuji's annotations, there have been hundreds of commentaries. Notable ones include Yu Jiayan's three books, Zhang Jingyue's works, chapters like "Shaoyin Three Annotations" and "Four Annotations", recently Ke Yunbo's *Laosu Ji*, *Shaoyin Lun Yi*, *Fang Yi*, and Wang Jinsan's *Gufang Xuanzhu* which analyzes 113 ancient formulas. Although various schools differ slightly in resolving doubts and clarifying meanings, all are either entering the hall or reaching the inner chambers of Zhang Zhongjing's knowledge. Practitioners should keep these books at hand and study them diligently, so as to avoid errors in clinical practice. (Comment by Hua Xiuyun)

Regarding Shaoyin syndrome, the *Neijing* states: Heat diseases are all of the category of Shaoyin. It also says: For those who contract Shaoyin and develop into warmth diseases, those occurring before the Summer Solstice are called Warmth diseases, and those after the Summer Solstice are called Summerheat diseases. It also says: Injury to cold in winter leads to Warmth disease in spring. Syndromes involve transmission through the Six Meridians, concurrent diseases, combined diseases, simultaneous infection, or direct entry. The *Nanjing* further states that Shaoyin includes five types: Wind-stroke, Cold damage, Damp-warmth, Heat disease, and Warmth disease. Their suffering symptoms differ. Additionally, with the six climatic pathogens, diseases may occur due to mutual combination and infection over time. Moreover, their presenting symptoms generally share headaches and fever, with or without sweat, aversion to wind or cold, anorexia, lethargy, lying down, irritability, and thirst, making them roughly similar. Thus, the more syndromes exist, the more obscure the principles become, no wonder physicians cannot clearly differentiate when treating patients. Even in the books they read, predecessors lacked absolute, unchangeable theories to analyze and clarify the words of *Lingshu*, *Suwen*, *Nanjing*, and all external contraction diseases, providing guidance for people. Therefore, for thousands of years, seeking a scholar like Jian Yuan who can observe the six climatic pathogens without confusion has been rare. Fortunately, we have Zhang Zhongjing's book, which differentiates syndromes via the Six Meridians and treats them with sweating, vomiting, purging, harmonizing, cooling, and warming methods. Hence, ancients said Zhang Zhongjing's methods treat not only Shaoyin but, if one fully understands the principles, can integrate and apply to all diseases caused by the six qi and miscellaneous disorders, being suitable everywhere. This is indeed a high theory, showing deep understanding of Zhang Zhongjing. However, I believe the six climatic pathogens are complex in detail and profound in principle. Even combining methods from Liu Hejian, Li Dongyuan, Zhu Danxi, and other sages, one might still worry about not achieving perfection. To cling rigidly to only Zhang Zhongjing's methods for treatment is to be narrow-minded, stuck in conventions, and unable to adapt. Now, observing Mr. Ye's book, although methods for Shaoyin are few, his differentiation of treatments for winter-warmth, spring-warmth, wind-warmth, heat-warmth, and damp-warmth truly surpasses predecessors. Using this to support Zhang Zhongjing is commendable and beneficial to learners. Readers should not ignore this. (Comment by Hua Yutang)

Comment by Xu Lingtai: This is what common people call "catching cold," a minor illness from occasional cold exposure, not a disease invading the meridians. Why drag in major Shaoyin discussions and express opinions? Upon carefully reading this compilation, there is not even a section on treating Shaoyin. Relying on these few prescriptions as Shaoyin methods makes one laugh. A physician's learning lies entirely in understanding the principles of Shaoyin, then all diseases become clear. Thus, Zhang Zhongjing's books are only two: *Shaoyin Lun* for treating Shaoyin methods, and *Jingui Yaolue* for treating miscellaneous diseases. And half of the formulas in *Jingui* come from *Shaoyin Lun*. Therefore, Shaoyin is the primary disease among diseases and the first skill for learning physicians. Now, this compilation lacks this section entirely. What books did he usually study, and what diseases did he treat? This old man practiced medicine successfully for decades; surely he handled thousands of major cases. Yet he records only these few formulas to finish. This is not the old man's fault, but the compiler's lack of definite views.