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Dysentery arises from accumulation and stagnation. "Accumulation" refers to food retention; "stagnation" refers to Qi stagnation. Food accumulation desires to be expelled, but Qi stagnation prevents its expulsion, thus resulting in tenesmus (a feeling of incomplete defecation with urgency), symptoms that come and go intermittently, occurring more than a hundred times a day and night. What patients seek is nothing but relief from diarrhea, yet they do not realize that it is precisely food accumulation and Qi stagnation that cause such manifestations. Later physicians, seeing only the aforementioned symptoms, regardless of whether the stool color is red or white, or whether the pulse is large or small, uniformly employ purgative and draining agents. For food accumulation, substances like Radix Euphorbiae Hussonis (Badou, 巴豆) and Radix et Rhizoma Rhei (Dahuang, 大黄) are used; for Qi stagnation, Fructus Aurantii (Zhike, 枳壳), Flos Platycodonis (Jiegeng, 桔梗), Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae (Qingpi, 青皮), and Rhizoma Curcumae (Ezhu, 莪术) are employed; using both together will surely achieve success, among which supplementing with Huanglian Ejiao Wan (Coptis and Donkey-hide Gelatin Pill) yields particularly remarkable results. Generally, dysentery is often caused by summerheat injury, latent heat, consumption of alcohol and wheat products, and foods prepared by roasting or frying. Ejiao (Colla Corii Asini, Donkey-hide Gelatin) is especially a crucial herb for the Large Intestine; if heat-toxins are retained, it can guide their discharge; if no heat-toxins are retained, it can pacify and stabilize. If pills are unavailable in the market, one may prepare a decoction using fried Ejiao, Radix Angelicae Sinensis (Danggui, 当归), Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae (Qingpi, 青皮), Poria (Chifuling, 赤茯苓), and Rhizoma Coptidis (Huanglian, 黄连), adding Fructus Mume (Wumei, 乌梅) and thick honey to boil together. This can thoroughly cleanse foul and turbid matter. Once accumulation and stagnation are removed, the frequency of defecation naturally decreases. Subsequently, regulating with Aucklandiae Radix (Muxiang, 木香), Poria (Fuling, 茯苓), Amomi Fructus Rotundus (Suosha, 缩砂), Alpiniae Katsumadai Semen (Baidoukou, 白豆蔻), Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae (Chenpi, 陈皮), and Radix Glycyrrhizae (Gancao, 甘草) will naturally restore appetite. After eating, residue enters the Large Intestine, after which Zhenren Yangzang Tang (True Person's Nourishing Viscera Decoction) and Yijian Duansha Tang (Simple Decoction to Stop Dysentery) can be used to stop diarrhea when appropriate.

For various heat-type dysentery, bloody dysentery, and pain inside the Large Intestine following dysentery, chop radishes into pieces, grind them finely, filter to obtain a clear juice of one small cup, mix with half a cup of honey water, and boil together.
Another method: For heat-type dysentery, boil equal parts of old-year white plums, good tea leaves, and honey water. For cold-type dysentery, boil equal parts of ginger juice and honey water. Supplement with Aucklandiae Radix (Muxiang, 木香) and Semen Myristicae Crassum (Sheng Rou Doukou, 生肉豆蔻). Honey is most effective in treating dysentery.

Ginger can assist Yang energy, while tea can assist Yin energy; both can dissipate pathogens and harmonize Yin and Yang. Moreover, they can resolve summerheat toxins and toxins from alcohol and food. This method is universally applicable regardless of whether the dysentery is red or white, cold or hot. Cut old ginger into pieces the size of beans, use an equal amount of tea leaves, and decoct with fresh water. Su Dongpo recorded this as effective in his medical text for Lord Wen Lu.