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The symptoms caused by epidemic pathogens are similar regardless of age. If only one person falls ill and does not infect others, it is due to this individual's own exposure to external pathogens, not an epidemic of a major disaster. The origins of epidemics vary: for instance, if spring should be warm but turns cold, a cold epidemic occurs; if winter should be cold but turns warm, a warm epidemic occurs. Extending this logic, if summer should be hot but turns cool, autumn should be cool but turns hot, dryness should prevail but warmth appears, or excessive dampness from prolonged rain and excessive dryness from prolonged drought occur, any deviation that is excessive can lead to an epidemic. The *Treatise on Cold Damage* (*Shanghan Lun*) only annotates warm and cold epidemics, failing to recognize that abnormal conditions of the Six Qi (Wind, Cold, Summer Heat, Dampness, Dryness, Fire) can all trigger epidemics. Therefore, treatment should follow the specific abnormalities of the seasonal climate. In summary: when the season should be warm but is cold, dispersing cold pathogens constitutes treating the epidemic; when the season should be cold but is warm, clearing heat and warmth constitutes treating the epidemic; when the season should be dry but is damp, eliminating damp pathogens constitutes treating the epidemic; when the season should be damp but is dry, clearing dryness and fire constitutes treating the epidemic.

Cold epidemic refers to the contemporary occurrence of cold damage disease. Having been exposed to cold pathogens, one should use acrid-warm herbs to release the exterior. If there is no accumulated heat internally and Taiyang syndrome (a pattern of illness involving the Taiyang channel) is present, in northern regions during winter, Mahuang Guizhi Tang (Ephedra and Cinnamon Twig Decoction) is used, while in southern regions, Qianghuo Baidu San (Notopterygium and Toosendan Powder) is employed. If exterior pathogens have not yet dispersed but internal accumulated heat exists, only harmonizing methods like Qianghuo Chonghe Tang (Notopterygium and Harmonizing Decoction) are suitable; cooling agents should not be used. If Yangming syndrome (a pattern of illness involving the Yangming channel) is present, Gegen Tang (Pueraria Decoction) is used in the north, and Shengma Gange Tang (Cimicifuga and Kudzu Decoction) in the south. If Shaoyang syndrome (a pattern of illness involving the Shaoyang channel) is present, Chaihu Guizhi Tang (Bupleurum and Cinnamon Twig Decoction) is used in the north, and Chaihu Fangfeng Tang (Bupleurum and Saposhnikovia Decoction) in the south. Once cold pathogens are dispersed but internal constrained heat remains, treat according to the method of clearing interior heat in cold damage.

Warm epidemic refers to the contemporary occurrence of heat-damaging disease. When heat pathogens accompany exterior signs, use acrid-cool herbs to release the exterior. For Taiyang exterior signs, use Qianghuo Chonghe Tang. For Yangming exterior signs, use Shengma Gange Tang. For Shaoyang exterior signs, use Xiaochaihu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction). Acrid-warm herbs are strictly contraindicated in warm epidemics. If internal constrained heat exists, Liangge San (Cooling the Diaphragm Powder), Sanhuang Tang (Three Yellows Decoction), or Renshen Baihu Tang (Ginseng White Tiger Decoction) may be used. If downward-indicating signs are present, select from Sanyi Chengqi Tang (Three Yi Da Huang Pill Decoction). If exterior pathogens remain, disperse them first, then clear and purge internally.

Damp epidemic refers to the contemporary occurrence of damp-damaging disease. Symptoms of damp pathogens should be differentiated into cold-damp and heat-damp. Fever without sweating, body pain with stiffness, thirstlessness, and a soggy, small pulse indicate Taiyang cold-damp syndrome. Treat with acrid-warm herbs to release the exterior using Qianghuo Baidu San or Qianghuo Shengshi Tang (Notopterygium and Damp-Overcoming Decoction). If Shaoyang signs appear, add Chaihu; if Yangming signs appear, add Cangzhu (Atractodes Rhizome) and Baizhi (Angelica Dahurica Root). Fever with profuse sweating, thirst with desire to drink, and a surging, rapid pulse indicate Yangming heat-damp syndrome. Treat with acrid-cool herbs to resolve the muscle layer using Shengma Gange Tang combined with Shenzhu Tang (Divine Artisan Decoction). If accompanied by Taiyang exterior signs, combine with Qianghuo Chonghe Tang. If Shaoyang signs appear, combine with Xiaochaihu Tang.

Dry epidemic refers to the contemporary occurrence of dry-damaging disease. Dry-heat patterns often injure the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Channel and Hand-Taiyin Lung Channel. Thus, dry-fire patterns frequently manifest as irritability, thirst, wheezing, and counterflow qi. Use dry-clearing herbs such as Renshen Baihu Tang or Qingzao Tang (Clear-Drying Decoction). Strictly avoid warm-dry herbs, sweating methods, and diuresis to prevent severe depletion of body fluids. This differs from internal injury dryness, which might involve cloying yin-nourishing herbs.

Mahuang Tang (Ephedra Decoction) and Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) see "Aversion to Cold".
Qianghuo Baidu San see "Fever".
Shuangjie San (Double-Resolving Powder) see "Mania".
For cold epidemics, acrid-warm herbs are appropriate. For warm-heat epidemics, even if exterior signs exist, only use this formula for acrid-cool double resolution.
Gange Shigao Tang (Kudzu and Gypsum Decoction) see "Alternating Chills and Fever".
Taiyang warm epidemic should be treated with Shuangjie San. Yangming warm epidemic is treated with this formula for double resolution. If Shaoyang is involved, combine with Xiaochaihu Tang.
Liangge San see "Mania".
For warm epidemic with exterior signs, use the previous formula for double resolution. If exterior pathogens are resolved, use this formula to clear the interior.
Zhimu Shigao Tang
Zhimu (Anemarrhena Rhizome), Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum), Jingsmi (Rice), Gancao (Licorice Root), Maidong (Ophiopogon Tuber).
Liangge San generally treats upper jiao interior heat. This formula specifically treats Yangming stomach heat. If lower jiao heat exists, add herbs to clear the lower jiao.
Sanhuang Tang
Huanglian (Coptis Rhizome), Huangqin (Scutellaria Root), Dahuang (Rhubarb Root).
The previous two formulas treat upper jiao warm-heat. If all three jiaos are hot and stool is dry and constipated, use this formula.
Liuyi San (Six-to-One Powder)
In summer, for damp-heat warm epidemics, use this to clear and drain damp-heat via the lower orifices.
Shenzhu Tang
Fangfeng (Saposhnikovia Root), Shu Cangzhu (Prepared Atractodes Rhizome), Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum), Gancao (Licorice Root).
For damp-heat epidemic pathogens, differentiate between exterior and interior. If damp-heat is interior, use cold herbs to clear heat and bland herbs to promote urination. If damp-heat is exterior, use wind-dispelling herbs to scatter dampness and drying herbs to overcome dampness, assisted by Shigao and Gancao, so that damp-heat is entirely eliminated.
Cangzhu Fangfeng Tang
For wind-damp epidemic pathogens, releasing the exterior is the quickest method. Fangfeng overcomes dampness, Cangzhu dries dampness. If accompanied by cold, add cold-natured herbs; if accompanied by heat, add heat-natured herbs. These two phrases open infinite understanding.
Shu Fu Tang
Shu Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Lateral Root), Baizhu (Atractodes Macrocephala Rhizome).
For cold-damp epidemic pathogens at the exterior, use acrid-warm herbs to scatter dampness. If cold-damp is interior, treat with this formula.
Renshen Baihu Tang see "Tidal Fever".
Dry-heat epidemic pathogens first injure the Lung and Stomach. Thus, in seasonal febrile diseases presenting with cracked lips and extreme thirst, use this formula immediately.
Qingzao Tang see "Wheezing and Counterflow".
For Yangming dry-heat epidemic patterns, use the aforementioned Baihu Tang. If dryness injures Lung qi, presenting with fever, wheezing, and cough, use this formula to clear the Lung. If Yangming dry-heat rushes upward to penalize the Lung, combine both formulas.