Library

Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) (2 liang), Shui Zhi (Hirudo) (20 pieces), Meng Chong (Ophryogenia) (25 pieces), Tao Ren (Persicae Semen).
The above four herbs are pounded and divided into four pills. One pill is decocted in one sheng of water until the volume reduces to seven he, then taken orally. At this time, blood stasis should be discharged; if not, continue taking it.

In Shanghan (Cold Damage) or Fengzhong (Wind Strike), on the first day, the disease transmits to the Taiyang (Greater Yang) meridian; on the second day, to the Yangming (Bright Yang) meridian; on the third day, to the Shaoyang (Lesser Yang) meridian; on the fourth day, to the Taiyin (Greater Yin) meridian; on the fifth day, to the Shaoyin (Lesser Yin) meridian; and on the sixth day, to the Jueyin (Terminal Yin) meridian. It transmits one meridian per day and completes the cycle through all six meridians in six days; this is a fixed number. The so-called "non-transmission" refers to non-transmission to the Zang-Fu organs (viscera and bowels), not that it does not transmit to the meridians. Regarding the transmission of meridians in Shanghan, there have been countless errors and misconceptions. The principle is actually not difficult to understand; these errors arise merely from a lack of clarity in medical theory.

Generally speaking, whether due to sweating, vomiting, purging, loss of blood, or depletion of body fluids, if Yin and Yang achieve self-harmony, the disease will necessarily heal itself.
Sweating, vomiting, and purging leading to loss of blood and body fluids inevitably cause damage. However, as long as the pathogenic factor recedes and the healthy qi recovers, with Yin and Yang harmonized and without excess or deficiency, the disease will necessarily heal itself. If a disease is not characterized by Yin excess overcoming Yang, then it is Yang excess overcoming Yin. Only when it is balanced and unbiased can it heal itself.

Headache due to Taiyang disease will heal itself after seven days because the pathogenic factor has exhausted its course within the meridian. If one wishes to prevent further transmission to the next meridian, needling the Foot-Yangming meridian can stop the transmission, resulting in recovery.
Healing after seven days refers to the statement "those originating in Yang heal in seven days." Since the six meridians are fully traversed in six days, healing occurs on the seventh day. As stated in *Suwen: Re Lun* (Plain Questions: Treatise on Heat): "On the seventh day, the Taiyang disease declines, and the headache lessens." Yang energy is most abundant in the Yangming meridian. If Yangqi stagnates and heat becomes excessive in the Yangming meridian, the pathogenic factor pervades all six meridians. Even if the pathogen does not enter the Fu organs, the exogenous pathogen in the meridians remains vigorous and refuses to dissipate outward, inevitably transmitting again through the six meridians. Needling the Foot-Yangming meridian to drain the stagnant heat prevents further transmission, leading to natural recovery.

Patients suffering from Wind diseases, after the exterior syndrome resolves but still feel unwell (lacking clarity of spirit), will heal after twelve days.
*Suwen: Re Lun* states: On the seventh day, the JuYang (Taiyang) disease declines, and the headache lessens; on the eighth day, the Yangming disease declines, and the body heat lessens; on the ninth day, the Shaoyang disease declines, and deafness slightly improves; on the tenth day, the Taiyin disease declines, abdominal distension subsides as before, and appetite returns; on the eleventh day, the Shaoyin disease declines, thirst stops, fullness disappears, dry tongue improves, and sneezing occurs; on the twelfth day, the Jueyin disease declines, the scrotum relaxes, the lower abdomen feels slightly comfortable, the vital qi (pathogenic factor) is expelled, and the disease heals. In Fengzhong (Wind Strike), once the exterior syndrome resolves, recovery should be immediate. If the patient still feels unwell, it indicates that residual heat remains. By the twelfth day, when the meridian pathogens are completely resolved, recovery is inevitable. Although the interior qi differs between Cold-Wind and Warm-Heat diseases, their meridian connections and the timeline of pathogen acquisition remain the same.