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I have studied the *Neijing* (Classic of Internal Medicine), the *Jingui Yaolue* (Essential Prescriptions from the Golden Cabinet), and various works by later experts. The discussions on diseases caused by the six excesses (Six Evils) generally relate to the four seasons. Thus, there is Cold Damage (Shanghan) in winter, Warm Diseases (Wenbing) in spring, and Summerheat-Dampness in summer. However, the pathogenic factor of Dryness in autumn was not discussed. It was not until Mr. Yu Jiayan wrote his treatise on Autumn Dryness that a new perspective was truly opened. Nevertheless, it was not because our master Zhang Zhongjing lacked insight that he omitted this condition; its manifestations are scattered throughout various clauses. For instance, in the *Jingui Yaolue*, there is Dan Nue (a type of malaria characterized by high fever without chills); and Wen Nue (malaria with less cold and more heat). Furthermore, the *Neijing* attributes Pi Dan Xiao Ke (spleen heat leading to diabetes-like symptoms) to Wind Fa (wind generation), and attributes madness following heat-needle treatment for Cold Damage to Feng Wen (Wind-Warmth). All these conditions are treated with methods such as sweet-cool moistening and clearing/purifying the Lung and Stomach. Are these not signs of Dryness-Fire?

In my thirty-plus years of clinical experience, paying close attention to this condition, I have found that it mostly arises because the autumn climate is too warm, rainfall is delayed, wind and yang transform into dryness, swirling throughout the universe. This leads to a desiccating force that attacks the Lungs when they are deficient. When the Lungs lose their clear and descending function, symptoms such as Sa Sa E Han (feeling chilly as if splashed with cold water), Xi Xi Fa Re (feverish feeling like being covered by feathers), nasal congestion and dryness, cough with reverse flow of qi, epistaxis (nosebleed), red tongue, and dry teeth arise. Generally, those who contract this condition must have an innate deficiency of Yin, with hyperactive Yang prevailing. They may be thin and tall, or have a dark complexion lacking luster, possessing a Wood-Fire constitution. Such cases are common. This is akin to "water flows to wetness, fire moves toward dryness"; similar things attract each other, making infection easy. Moreover, when Yang is excessive, it becomes Fire; Fire necessarily follows Dryness and first injures Metal (Lung). Therefore, the symptoms often manifest as changes due to Lung Heat. The Qing Zao Tang (Clear Dryness Decoction) authored by Yu Jiayan, which employs sweet-cold to nourish Yin and pungent-cool to clear the Lungs, is indeed an excellent prescription for this condition, a boat of compassion saving the world.

At the initial stage of Autumn Dryness, there is head distension, absence of sweat, Sa Sa E Han (chilliness), Xi Xi Fa Re (feverish sensation), nasal congestion and dryness, white tongue coating with scanty fluids. This indicates Dryness-Heat injuring Qi, with the pathogen still at the exterior level. It is appropriate to use Lou Pi (Trichosanthis Pericarpium), Sha Shen (Glehniae Radix), Tian Xing (Semen Armeniacae Amarum), Jie Geng (Platycodonis Radix), Sang Ye (Mori Folium), Lian Qiao (Forsythiae Fructus), Yu Jin (Curcumae Radix), Bo He (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba), Xian He Ye (Nelumbinis Folium), Pi Pa Ye (Eriobotryae Folium), and Xi Gua Cui Yi (Citrullae Velamen) to employ Pungent-Cool dispersing and resolving methods.

This clause serves as the outline for Dryness syndromes. Whenever Autumn Dryness arrives, it is invariably due to excessive autumn sun causing Yang Qi to transform into Wind, Wind transforming into Dryness, and Dryness transforming into Fire, thereby first injuring Lung Metal. If a person has insufficient True Yin and Hyperactive Wood-Fire, they unconsciously attract Dryness according to similarity. In the early stage, the pathogen first invades the skin and hair, then enters the Lungs. Thus, Sa Sa E Han (chilliness), Xi Xi Fa Re (feverish sensation), nasal dryness, and noisy breathing occur, presenting nothing but signs of Dryness-Heat. However, this condition is not analogous to Cold Damage, nor is it identical to Warm Diseases. One must absolutely avoid using Pungent-Warm ascending agents, which would exacerbate the Dryness; nor should one use excessively Cold agents, which would suppress Lung Qi. Therefore, it is suitable to use Sha Shen (Glehniae Radix), Tian Xing (Semen Armeniacae Amarum), Lian Qiao (Forsythiae Fructus), and Jie Geng (Platycodonis Radix) to clear Lung Heat, combined with Yu Jin (Curcumae Radix), Bo He (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba), He Ye (Nelumbinis Folium), and Pi Pa Ye (Eriobotryae Folium) to ventilate the interstices. This allows the Lungs to regain their clear and descending function, so that Dryness transforms and clears naturally, preventing the spread of pathological changes.