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Sun Simiao stated: Various cases of deficiency-related vexation and heat resemble Shaoyang disease (Shaoyang disorder). However, the patients do not exhibit aversion to cold, nor do they have body pain; thus, it is known that this is not Taiyang disease (Taiyang disorder), and sweating therapy should not be used. The head does not hurt, and the pulse is neither tight nor rapid; thus, it is known that this is not interior heat, and purgative therapy should not be used. In such cases where neither exterior nor interior can be attacked, forcing an attack will inevitably deplete the righteous Qi (Zheng Qi), leading to high mortality and being difficult to save. For this deficiency-related vexation, only Zhuye Tang (Bamboo Leaf Decoction) should be used. If there is vomiting, one dose of Jupi Tang (Tangerine Peel Decoction) should be administered; if it does not improve, re-differentiation of syndrome is necessary. This method was used frequently by Gong Tai with great efficacy. Deficiency-related vexation after Shanghan (Cold Damage) also takes this decoction.

The Huoren Shu (Book of Vitality) cites Wang Shuhe saying: When there is heat, it should not be aggressively attacked; attacking heat may cause cold to arise. It is appropriate to take Zhuye Tang.

Zhang Zhongjing stated: For Shanghan resulting in emaciation, shortness of breath, and rebellious Qi causing a desire to vomit, Zhuyegao Tang (Bamboo Leaf and Ophiopogon Decoction) is the primary treatment.

Guo Yong stated: There are two formulas named Zhuye Tang in the Qianjin Fang (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold). For Huoluan (Cholera-like disorder) with unresolved heat, Zhuye Tang is used, which differs from the formula Zhuyegao Tang. If there is interior deficiency-related vexation that cannot be attacked, Zhuye Tang should be used, which corresponds to the deficiency-related vexation mentioned earlier. This is essentially Zhang Zhongjing's Zhuyegao Tang.

Guo Yong stated: Wang Zhonggong said: There are five types of symptoms resembling Shanghan. One is Feng (Wind); two is Shi (Dampness); three is [missing character in original text]; four is Huoluan (Cholera-like disorder); five is Xu Fan (Deficiency Vexation). The above four conditions are discussed in Zhang Zhongjing's treatises. Only Xu Fan originated from Sun Simiao.

Pang Anshi stated: Xu Fan resembles Shanghan, with fever and restlessness, but without headache or body pain, and the pulse is not rapid. Zhuyegao Tang should be used as the main treatment. It also treats middle-jiao rebellious Qi and vomiting when the pulse is slippery and rapid.

He further stated: For Xu Fan, or rebellious vomiting, with a pulse that is wiry, fine, hollow, or slow, slight coldness in the hands and feet, and coldness in the chest, Jupi Tang should be used. It also treats sudden diarrhea caused by cold, using only Ginger (Shengjiang, Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) and Tangerine Peel (Jupi, Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), boiled in water.

Guo Yong stated: The manifestations of Shanghan and Shiqi (Seasonal Epidemic Qi) are numerous. They are named Shanghan, Wenbing (Warm Disease), Shixing (Seasonal流行), Wenyi (Warm Epidemic), or Wendu (Warm Toxin). Some consider them mild, others severe; the discussions vary, causing confusion. Generally, these diseases often manifest immediately upon infection, which indicates a mild condition; those that manifest after a period indicate a severe condition. For instance, regarding Shanghan, Zhang Zhongjing believed that contracting cold in winter and getting sick immediately is called Shanghan. Since it manifests upon initial infection without accumulated toxic qi, although named Shanghan, the condition is mild.

Zhang Zhongjing also stated: If it does not manifest immediately, the cold toxin hides in the skin and muscles, transforming into Wenbing in spring and Re Bing (Heat Disease) in summer. This means having been injured by cold and then infected by warm pathogenic factors, the two pathogens contend and merge into one disease. Like encountering robbers who have accomplices, how can one withstand it? Therefore, Shanghan contracted in winter but not manifesting until spring is more severe than Shanghan contracted in winter. Those manifesting at the Summer Solstice occur because the cold toxin is shallow in the skin and pores, allowing righteous Qi to easily overcome it, so it does not stay long and manifests immediately. If the toxin is slightly deeper, entering the muscles, righteous Qi cannot overcome it alone; it must rely on the warming Qi of spring to open the pores before manifesting, hence called Wenbing. If the toxin is abundant, lingering for a long time and penetrating deep into the bone marrow, it requires the scorching heat of mid-summer to mobilize it. Thus, Shanghan contracted in winter becoming Re Bing in summer is even more severe than Wenbing. Hence, ancients said that Shanghan contracted in winter, if mild, manifests as Wenbing before the Summer Solstice; if severe, manifests as Shubing (Summer Heat Disease) after the Summer Solstice. These three are fundamentally Shanghan, differing only in immediate versus delayed manifestation, and varying greatly with pulse changes. There are also cases where one does not contract cold in winter but gets sick in spring due to incorrect Qi. These diseases lack cold toxin as a root; although named Wenbing, they are milder than Shanghan contracted in winter and re-infected by warm Qi in spring. However, Chunwen (Spring Warmth) and Donghan (Winter Cold) diseases are self-induced by personal infection. If an entire village, state, or family suffers from the same illness simultaneously, this is Wenyi (Warm Epidemic). This is not a self-induced disease from winter cold. It arises because spring should be warm but is cold, summer hot but cool, autumn cool but hot, winter cold but warm—incorrect climate. Strong individuals contracting it suffer mildly; weak individuals suffer severely. Hence, it is named Wenyi, also Tianxing Shixing (Heavenly Transmission Seasonal Flow). If during winter cold days, an entire region suffers the same illness, it is also a seasonal Han Yi (Cold Epidemic). Generally, Shanghan contracted in winter manifesting after a delay has cold toxin as a root; re-infected by incorrect Qi of the four seasons, the condition becomes severe. Diseases like winter Shanghan, spring Wenqi, and seasonal epidemics lack such accumulation; they manifest immediately upon infection, affecting people superficially, and cannot be equated with cold toxin accumulating and manifesting later. Only Wendu (Warm Toxicity) is neither Shanghan nor Wenbing. It occurs when one feels cold in winter, first contracting the incorrect warm toxicity of winter warmth, then being constrained by cold. The skin and pores close tightly; the toxin cannot enter inward nor exit outward. It requires warm weather to remove external cold, allowing warm Qi to circulate. After long stagnation, the toxin damages the skin and muscles, causing rashes like brocade patterns or ulcers, which then erupt. Zhang Zhongjing said: Unseasonable warmth in winter is named Dongwen (Winter Warmth). The toxicity of Dongwen is vastly different from Shanghan. This refers to Wendu. Mild infections are easy to resolve; severe infections affect everyone due to unseasonable warmth, often becoming epidemics. Essentially, it is warmth followed by cold, hence vastly different from Shanghan. However, seasonal Qi has correct and incorrect aspects. Why? The Da Lun (Great Treatise) states: Spring Qi is mild, Summer Qi is hot, Autumn Qi is cool, Winter Qi is freezing. This is the order of correct Qi of the four seasons, referring to diseases of correct Qi.

It also states: Spring should be warm but is extremely cold; summer should be hot but is cool; autumn should be cool but is hot; winter should be cold but is warm. Having such Qi out of season causes illnesses among young and old throughout the year to be similar. This is Shixing Qi (Seasonal Flowing Qi), referred to as incorrect Qi toxicity harming humans. Guo Yong's discussion on Shanghan nomenclature appears in Volume 1. Here, he analyzes Shixing and Wenyi, detailing them below.