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The disciple asked, "The *Neijing* states that 'if one is injured by cold in winter, one will inevitably suffer from warm disease in spring,' and also that 'if one fails to store essence in winter, one will inevitably suffer from warm disease in spring.' Zhang Zhongjing only discusses warm disease (Wenbing, febrile diseases caused by warm pathogens) but does not explicitly specify 'Spring Warmth' (Chunwen). Is warm disease exclusively occurring in the spring season?"

The answer was, "The three months of winter are called the period of closure and storage. The ancient sages followed the qi of winter to nourish the zang organs, keeping their intentions as if hidden or concealed, as if having private thoughts, as if already satisfied. They avoided cold and sought warmth, preventing the skin from opening and sweating, so that qi would not be frequently depleted. This is the way to nourish the zang organs, preparing the foundation for the generation of life in the coming spring. Therefore, the *Yueling* records that the former kings closed the passes on the day of the Winter Solstice, merchants did not travel, and rulers did not inspect the regions, which was indeed a matter of great caution. Regarding 'injury by cold in winter,' it occurs because one lacks the efficacy of living in solid and sealed dwellings, leading to open pores and internal encroachment of cold qi. However, at that time, the disease does not manifest immediately; it erupts only after being affected by the warm qi of spring. The skin and muscles are governed by the Yangming Stomach Meridian. Cold toxin hides within the skin and muscles, and the pathogenic factors long stagnating in the Yangming meridian, once released, reach outward to the Taiyang meridian. Thus, it proceeds from Yangming to Taiyang, not entirely from Taiyang to Yangming and Shaoyang. Therefore, its treatment differs from wind-cold pathogens entering from the exterior to the interior. However, this is still considered a mild form of warm disease. If it is warm disease due to 'failure to store essence in winter,' one violates the law of closure even more, engaging in sexual activity frequently. In such individuals, kidney water is deficient first. Upon contact with warm pathogens, the evil enters directly through the deficiency, presenting an unstoppable momentum. Such pathogens often enter directly into the Shaoyin meridian and cannot be treated according to the Taiyang meridian. Generally speaking, for warm disease due to 'injury by cold in winter,' where the pathology is in the Taiyang meridian, one must urgently preserve the fluids in the stomach. For warm disease due to 'failure to store essence in winter,' where the pathology has entered the Shaoyin meridian, one must especially urgently protect the fluids in the kidneys. As for the claim that warm disease must occur in spring, in the four seasons, if there is qi inappropriate to the season, illness is inevitable. Just as the *Neijing* says 'if one is injured by dampness in autumn, cough arises in winter,' does cough necessarily occur only in winter? Therefore, Zhang Zhongjing's general principles never rigidly adhere to the four seasons when discussing disease."

The disciple asked again, "There are cases of warm disease that are appropriately cured using warm medicines. Why is this?"

The answer was, "This precisely refers to the disease caused by latent qi indicated by Zhang Zhongjing. Zhang Zhongjing said: 'For disease caused by latent qi, one must palpate the pulse. If the pulse is weak and faint, there should be pain in the throat, resembling injury, but it is not Hou Bi (sore throat/tonsillitis).' The patient says, 'Indeed, there is severe throat pain. Although so, now I also desire diarrhea.' According to the syndrome of Hou Bi, it is mostly caused by warm pathogens stagnating in the Three Yang meridians and should be treated according to the Yang meridians. Now, although there is pain in the pharynx, it resembles injury but is not true injury, and the pulse appears weak and faint, indicating that the disease is not in the Taiyang or Yangming meridians but in the Shaoyin meridian. In individuals who failed to store essence in winter, the Shaoyin Kidney organ is already diseased. The Shaoyin meridian runs alongside the throat, hence the throat pain. Yang qi rebels upward, and Yin qi cannot consolidate itself, so although there is throat pain, heat will inevitably trigger diarrhea again. Throat pain accompanied by diarrhea constitutes a Shaoyin syndrome. If mistakenly diagnosed as Hou Bi and treated according to the Yang meridians, death will follow immediately. Furthermore, there are cases where the body is burning hot, completely resembling an exterior syndrome of the Yang meridians, yet the pulse is weak and faint and often mixed with Shaoyin symptoms. This indicates internal true cold with external false heat. Administering cold and cooling herbs will accelerate death. All these situations require urgent warming treatment. Zhang Zhongjing's general principles are rigorously listed here. The same warm disease presents with clearly distinct yin and yang, cold and heat natures. Unless the pulse diagnosis accurately distinguishes truth from falsehood, a slight error leads to a huge discrepancy. How many would not be confused by similar-looking symptoms?"