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At the initial stage of Spring-Warmth disease, symptoms include headache, body ache, absence of sweating, aversion to cold, fever, redness of the eyes, thirst, a white tongue coating, and a floating and rapid pulse. This indicates that Warmth pathogen has invaded the Wei (Defensive) level. It is appropriate to use herbs such as Bohe (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba), Niubangzi (Arctii Fructus), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Xingren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Sangye (Mori Folium), Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus), and Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix). The treatment principle is to release the exterior using cool and acrid herbs.

The initial presentation of Warmth pathogen is no different from Cold Damage (Shanghan). Zhang Zhongjing stated: "If there is thirst, it is a Warmth syndrome; if there is no thirst, it is Cold Damage." This is a unique insight through the ages. Generally, Cold Damage must first affect the Taiyang (Greater Yang) channel, and then transmit to the Yangming (Yang Brightness) and Shaoyang (Lesser Yang) channels. The Taiyang channel is the longest; it originates at Jingming (BL1), ascends to the forehead, meets at the vertex, connects with the brain, descends along the neck, flanks the spine, reaches the waist, enters the spinal column, runs along the back of the body, and terminates at the foot. Therefore, the manifestations must include aversion to cold and fever, headache and stiffness of the neck, lower back pain, and soreness of the legs. The Yangming channel follows the Taiyang; its meridian originates on the face, flanks the nose, ascends to the forehead, follows the orbital rim, runs along the anterior aspect of the body, and terminates at the medial malleolus. Therefore, the manifestations must include eye pain, nasal dryness, and inability to lie down. The Shaoyang channel follows the Yangming; its meridian originates at the outer canthus, ascends to the temporal region, connects with the ear, follows the chest and hypochondrium, runs along the lateral aspect of the body, and terminates at the lateral malleolus. Therefore, the manifestations must include pain in the chest and hypochondrium, deafness, alternating chills and fever, vomiting, and bitter taste in the mouth. When transmitting to the Three Yin channels, it first affects the Taiyin (Greater Yin) channel, resulting in dry mouth and throat, abdominal fullness, and diarrhea, because its meridian circulates around the abdomen and surrounds the throat entering the mouth. Next is the Shaoyin (Lesser Yin) channel, resulting in sore throat, dry tongue, fever, and lower body diarrhea, because its meridian enters the abdomen, follows the throat, and flanks the root of the tongue. Finally, it reaches the Jueyin (Terminal Yin) channel, resulting in curled tongue, retracted scrotum, and cold limbs, because its meridian circulates around the lower abdomen and surrounds the genitalia. These are discussed in great detail in the *Shanghan Li* (Treatise on Cold Damage Examples). As for Spring-Warmth disease, Wood and Fire qi are blazing internally, while slight Cold pathogen invades externally. At the onset of the disease, there is aversion to cold with high fever. Although this resembles the San-Yang (Three Yang) Cold Damage, the dry mouth and tongue distinguish it. This is primarily because the Warmth pathogen was contracted first, followed by the Cold pathogen, which triggered the outbreak. Thus, initially, there are inevitably headache, body ache, aversion to cold, and fever, which seem identical to Taiyang Cold Damage. Although dispersing the exterior is indicated, due to red eyes and thirst, with heat steaming from within, cooling methods must be combined. Therefore, Bohe, Niubangzi, Sangye, and Gegen are used to release the exterior, while Huangqin, Gancao, Xingren, and Lianqiao are used to clear the interior. If there is no sweat, add Congbai (Allii Tuberosi Bulbus) and Danshi (Fermented Soybean) to assist; if there is cough, add Pipaye (Eriobotryae Folium) to drain the lung. Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix) is the exterior-releasing herb for the Taiyang channel, Gegen for the Yangming channel, and Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) for the Shaoyang channel. Now, although there is headache and body ache, Qianghuo is not used, but Gegen is used. This is because the Yangming channel follows the Taiyang channel. Since the pathogen is on the exterior, Gegen, Bohe, Niubangzi, and Sangye are used together to penetrate and release the exterior, thereby cutting off the pathway for the Taiyang pathogen to transmit to the Yangming channel. Otherwise, if the pathogen transmits to the Yangming channel, it may affect either the Qi or Blood levels, manifesting as macules or petechiae, and the transformations would likely be endless.