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If, after three days of Taiyang cold damage (Shanghan), the Shaoyang pulse is small, it indicates that the disease is about to resolve.

In the Yangming Chapter, it states: "On the first day of cold damage, the Taiyang channel is affected; on the second day, the Yangming channel; on the third day, the Shaoyang channel." It also says: "After three days of cold damage, if the Yangming pulse is large." If, on the third day, a small Shaoyang pulse is observed instead of a large Yangming pulse, it signifies that the pathogenic factor has not transmitted into the Yangming fu-organ, and the illness is likely to heal spontaneously. This aligns with the principle in the Taiyang Chapter: "On the first day of cold damage, when the Taiyang channel is affected, if the pulse remains quiet/stable, it indicates no transmission." This implies that although the pathogenic factors have traversed all six channels, they have not transmitted inward to the interior, allowing the body to resolve the condition naturally through sweating.

After three days of cold damage, the diseases of the three yang channels are exhausted, and the three yin channels should theoretically be affected. However, if the patient can eat and does not vomit, this indicates that the three yin channels are not affected by the pathogen.

On the first day of cold damage, the pathogen affects one channel; by the sixth day, it has traversed all six channels. At this point, healthy qi recovers, pathogenic factors retreat, and resolution occurs through sweating. Those who do not resolve within the expected timeframe do so because excess yang causes transmission into the Yangming fu-organs, while excess yin causes transmission into the zang-organs of the three yin. Shaoyang lies between Yangming and the three yin (specifically Taiyin). Excess yang leads to transmission into the fu; excess yin leads to transmission into the zang. On the third day of cold damage, when the pathology is in Shaoyang, a small Shaoyang pulse indicates that the pathogen has not transmitted into the Yangming fu-organ, suggesting that yang is not in excess. If yin were in excess, the pathogen would enter the zang-organs of the three yin. Since the three yang channels are exhausted, the three yin should be affected. Yet, if the patient can eat and does not vomit, it shows that the zang-organs of the three yin have not accepted the external pathogen. After waiting another three days, if the pathogen only transmits to the meridians of the three yin, the body should naturally resolve through sweating.

Taiyin disease manifests as abdominal fullness, vomiting, and inability to eat, which constitutes a zang-organ disease rather than a meridian disease. Therefore, Zhang Zhongjing stated: "This is due to cold in the zang-organs." The Yangming Chapter discusses fu-organ diseases (meridian diseases have corresponding fu-organ manifestations), while the Three Yin Chapters discuss zang-organ diseases, not merely meridian diseases. When yin and yang are balanced and the zang-fu organs function harmoniously, the pathogen may fail to transmit, which is an inevitable principle. It is said: "Diseases originating from yang heal in seven days; diseases originating from yin heal in six days." This is a fixed numerical rule. The general principles of meridian diseases in the six channels are summarized under the Taiyang channel. For wind-strike (Zhongfeng) occurring within six days, regardless of the affected channel, Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) is appropriate. For cold damage occurring within six days, regardless of the channel, Mahuang Tang (Ephedra Decoction) is appropriate. Only when the pathogen enters the zang or fu organs do yin and yang become imbalanced, leading to variable healing times and infinitely changing treatment methods. Generally, once the pathogen enters the zang or fu, the Taiyang exterior syndrome ceases. If the pathogen remains in the meridians without entering the zang or fu, the Taiyang syndrome will not suddenly cease; rather, it presents as exterior syndromes of other meridians. The term "exterior" refers solely to the skin and hair follicles. Once the pores open, the Taiyang pathogen resolves, and consequently, the pathogen in other meridians also resolves. If the pores remain closed, how could the Taiyang pathogen suddenly cease? Because the Taiyang pathogen has not ceased, when the diseases of all six channels are exhausted, Mahuang Tang or Guizhi Tang should generally be used. Cheng Shi argued: "On the first day of cold damage, Taiyang is affected; if the pulse is quiet, there is no transmission. On the third day, a small Shaoyang pulse indicates impending resolution. On the third day, the three yin should be affected; if the patient eats well and does not vomit, the three yin are unaffected. If this were true, even meridian transmission would cease, which is utterly absurd."