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(For those being treated for the first time, this method should be applied initially. If the initial illness is Wind-Cold (Shangfeng), treat it as Wind-Cold; if it is Cold Damage (Shanghan), treat it as Cold Damage; if it is Food Stagnation (Shangshi), treat it as Food Stagnation.) When a disease is in its early stage, medication can originally achieve efficacy easily. However, people often fail to clearly discern the symptoms and prescribe medications chaotically, frequently resulting in a swarm of complicated changes. If the condition is diagnosed clearly and medications are prescribed appropriately, how could there be any complicated changes?

When a person suffers from fever due to external contraction (Wai Gan), one must first disperse the pathogenic factor. Only after the pathogen recedes should one tonify the healthy Qi (Zheng Qi). In this way, the healthy Qi will not be injured by the pathogen. Use the Formula for External Contraction Fever: Chai Hu (1 qian), Jing Jie (1 qian), Ban Xia (1 qian), Huang Qin (1 qian), Gan Cao (1 qian). Decoct in water and take orally. The pathogen will disperse and the body temperature will cool. This is because the abnormal Qi of the four seasons invading the human body necessarily enters through the skin and hair into the Ying and Wei (Nutritive and Defensive levels/substances). Therefore, Chai Hu and Jing Jie are used to first disperse the pathogen at the skin and hair level. Once the pathogen is dispersed first, how can it enter the interior? Additionally, Ban Xia removes phlegm, preventing the pathogen from causing trouble by carrying phlegm; Huang Qin clears fire, preventing the pathogen from causing harm by carrying fire; and Gan Cao harmonizes the various herbs. Thus, the pathogen disperses without injuring the healthy Qi. If the fever is caused by internal injury (Nei Shang), this formula must not be used.

Symptoms of Wind-Cold (Shang Feng) inevitably include headache and body pain, cough with excessive phlegm, and clear fluid running from the nose. Palpation of the pulse will definitely reveal a Floating Pulse (Fu Mai, indicating exterior syndrome). Use the following formula: Chai Hu (1 qian), Jing Jie (1 qian), Fang Feng (1 qian), Huang Qin (1 qian), Ban Xia (1 qian), Gan Cao (1 qian). Decoct in water and take orally. One dose is sufficient to stop the symptoms; a second dose is unnecessary.

In the early stage of Cold Damage (Shang Han), there are nasal congestion, eye pain, stiffness of the neck, and headache. Palpation of the pulse will definitely reveal a Floating-Tight Pulse (Fu Jin Mai, indicating exterior cold syndrome). This is Cold Damage. Use the following formula: Gui Zhi (1 qian), Gan Cao (1 qian), Chen Pi (1 qian), Gan Ge (1 qian). Decoct in water and take orally. One dose leads to recovery.

When the pathogen resides between the Cou Li (interstices between the skin and muscles), one must use diaphoretic (sweating-inducing) herbs to vent it. Use the following formula: Jing Jie (1 qian), Fang Feng (1 qian), Gan Cao (1 qian), Jie Geng (1 qian), Su Ye (1 qian), Bai Zhu (5 qian), Fu Ling (3 qian), Chen Pi (5 qian). Decoct in water and take orally. The brilliance of this formula lies in using Bai Zhu as the Sovereign herb. Because once the Spleen and Stomach are robust, the skin/hair and Cou Li can open and close freely. Bai Zhu strengthens the Spleen and eliminates dampness, making it difficult for the pathogen to remain. Moreover, with Jing Jie, Fang Feng, Su Ye, and Jie Geng to release the exterior and disperse, how could the pathogen persist?