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At the initial stage of Winter-Warmth (Dongwen), symptoms such as headache, absence of sweating, aversion to cold with fever, thirst, dryness of the nose, and a rapid pulse indicate that Warmth pathogen is at the Exterior. It is appropriate to use herbs such as Bohe (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba), Dali (Niuqili/Fructus Arctii), Jingjie (Schizonepetae Spica), Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus), Sangye (Mori Folium), Danshi (Fermented Soybean), Loupi (Trichosanthis Pericarpium), Xingren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum), Gegen (Puerariae Radix), and Pipaye (Eriobotryae Folium) to resolve the exterior through Acrid-Cool diaphoresis.

Headache with absence of sweating, aversion to cold, and fever are originally similar to Cold Damage (Shanghan). However, the presence of thirst, dryness of the nose, rapid pulse, and dry qi indicates a difference. Since the pathogen in Cold Damage resides at the Exterior, it should theoretically be dispersed using Warm methods; whereas the pathogen in Winter-Warmth lies concealed within, requiring Clearing and Draining. If one does not use Acrid-Bitter drugs like Bohe, Jingjie, Sangye, Danshi, and Gegen to vent the Exterior, nor Acrid-Cool drugs like Lianqiao, Loupi, Xingren, and Pipaye to clear the Interior, one cannot achieve simultaneous clearing of both Exterior and Interior, inevitably leading to endless transmission and transformation of the disease.

In Winter-Warmth, if sweating occurs but the headache subsides while fever persists, accompanied by cough, thirst, and dry tongue, this indicates that the pathogen has not been resolved by sweating and is gradually transmitting to the Qi Level. It is appropriate to use herbs such as Sangye, Shashen (Glehniae Radix), Tianxing (Armeniacae Semen Dulce), Xiangbei (Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus), Lianqiao, Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix), Loupi, Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Dali, and Pipaye to Clear the Qi and reveal the pathogen.

The previous clause described headache with absence of sweating, where the pathogen was still at the Exterior, requiring opening and draining. This clause describes fever persisting after sweating, along with thirst, dry tongue, and cough, indicating that the pathogen was not resolved by sweating and is gradually transmitting to the Qi Level. Therefore, herbs such as Sangye, Shashen, Xingren, Xiangbei, Lianqiao, Loupi, and Jiegeng are used. Their nature is light, bitter, and slightly acrid, primarily clearing the Qi Level while still allowing resolution from the Exterior.

After sweating in Winter-Warmth, if there is no longer aversion to cold but rather aversion to heat, accompanied by mental restlessness, thirst, red tongue body, yellow coating, hacking cough, and hypochondriac pain, this indicates that the pathogen has transmitted to the Lung. It is appropriate to use herbs such as Shashen, Tianxing, Huafen (Trichosanthis Radix), Lianqiao, Sangpi (Mori Cortex), Heizhi (Gardeniae Fructus), Yujin (Curcumae Radix), and Pipaye to Clear the Lung and transform the pathogen.

Absence of aversion to cold after sweating indicates that the Exterior pathogen has been resolved. However, the presence of aversion to heat, mental restlessness, thirst, red tongue body, and yellow coating indicates severe Interior Heat. The persistence of hacking cough suggests the pathogen remains in the Lung. Therefore, a combination of cooling herbs such as Shashen, Xingren, Lianqiao, Huafen, Heizhi, Sangpi, and Pipaye is used to Clear Lung Qi.