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The *Huoren Shu* (Book of Living People) states: Yangming syndrome is suitable for purgation, while Shaoyin syndrome is suitable for warming. It further states: In Shaoyin disease, if within one or two days the mouth feels normal (not bitter or dry) and there is aversion to cold in the back, moxibustion should be applied, along with Sini Tang (Four Reversal Decoction). It also says: San yang syndromes are suitable for purgation, while San yin syndromes are suitable for warming. In Shaoyin disease, if fever is present with a deep pulse, it is treated with Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Tang (Ephedra, Aconite, and Asarum Decoction); in Shaoyin disease, if after two or three days Shaoyin symptoms appear but there is no exterior heat (absence of Yang), Mahuang Fuzi Gancao Tang (Ephedra, Aconite, and Licorice Decoction) is suitable; these are all formulas treating interior Yin syndromes with exterior-resolving properties. It further states: Fever accompanied by aversion to cold indicates onset from the Yang meridians, treated with Mahuang Tang (Ephedra Decoction) or Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction).

Liu Shouzhen (Liu Wansu) stated: To distinguish the principles of Yin and Yang in Shanghan (Cold Damage), when pathogenic heat is on the exterior, Fu-organ diseases belong to Yang; when pathogenic heat is on the interior, Zang-organ diseases belong to Yin. Laypeople erroneously believe there are distinct differences between cold and heat, Yin and Yang, which has misled many. Although Cold diseases do exist, they do not refer to conditions requiring sweating (exterior excess due to cold), but rather constitute miscellaneous diseases and should not be classified together with exterior syndromes requiring diaphoresis. Moreover, the Qi that generates sweat through natural creation is Yang-heat Qi, not Yin-cold Qi. Observing that all things produce fluids when heat reaches its extreme clearly demonstrates this. Furthermore, medical principles state: Body heat indicates heat in the exterior; desire for water indicates heat in the interior. In Shanghan disease, cases where the body remains cool throughout without thirst, urine is not yellow, and the pulse is not rapid, have never existed. Although Zhang Zhongjing described indications for Sini Tang (Four Reversal Decoction), this applies when there is exterior heat with an harmonious interior, and cold-purgatives were mistakenly used too early. This caused the exterior heat to fail to enter the interior, resulting in persistent diarrhea due to interior cold, or spontaneous diarrhea due to exterior heat and interior cold. In such urgent cases, Sini Tang is used to warm the interior; once diarrhea stops and the interior harmonizes, efforts should then focus on resolving the exterior. Thus, after the Sini Tang indications, Zhang Zhongjing discusses using Chengqi Tang (Descending the Qi Decoction) and other cold purgatives to clear heat. Therefore, regarding sweating treatments for Shanghan, the classics explicitly discuss Heat, not Cold. The classics mention San yin syndromes as cases where pathogenic heat resides in the Zang organs and the interior; since Zang organs represent the interior and Yin, purgation to clear heat is indicated. According to the three chapters in *Suwen* (Basic Questions) discussing Shanghan and heat diseases, all are named "Heat," with no mention of "Cold." Further inference from the theories of meridians and vital qi in *Lingnu* (Spiritual Pivot) confirms that naming them "Heat Diseases" indeed implies they are not Cold diseases. *Suwen·Re Lun* (Treatise on Heat Diseases) states: The Yellow Emperor asked, "How should they be treated?" Qibo replied, "Treatment involves unblocking the meridians of the respective Zang organs, and the disease will decline day by day. If less than three days have passed, sweating can cure it; if more than three days have passed, purgation can cure it." This outlines the general principles of exterior and interior treatment. (Note: *Zhengli Shanghan Lun* [Correct Principles of Shanghan Lun] states: If the pulse is large, floating, and rapid, the disease is in the exterior, and sweating is appropriate; if the pulse is deep, fine, and rapid, the disease is in the interior, and purgation is appropriate.) From this, even if many days have passed, if exterior signs are present and the pulse is floating and rapid, sweating is still appropriate; even if few days have passed, if interior signs are present, purgation is still appropriate. This precisely follows the pulse and signs to determine whether to sweat or purge.