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In the *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage), warm diseases (Wenbing, febrile diseases caused by warm pathogens) originally existed, but they were mixed into the chapters dividing the six meridians and all named as cold damage, without explicitly pointing them out as warm diseases. Moreover, the causes of warm diseases vary; some are wind-warmth (Fengwen), some are damp-warmth (Shiwen), some arise from latent qi transforming into warmth (Fuqi Chengwen), and some are simply heat-warmth (Wenre). Since the causes of contracting the disease differ, the treatment methods should vary according to the specific manifestations. Some claim that warm diseases only affect the hand meridians and not the foot meridians; others claim that treatment should be divided according to the upper, middle, and lower Jiao (Sanjiao). Neither is a precise or appropriate theory. After careful deliberation, I believe that adhering to the six-meridian differentiation and treatment of the *Shanghan Lun* is the most accurate approach.

**Taiyang Meridian Manifestations**
There are cases where a person does not feel a cold has occurred, yet suddenly feels bodily soreness and weakness, lacks desire to move, has no headache, skin is not hot, seems slightly sensitive to wind, the tongue appears coating-less with a white color, and the pulse is slightly floating with a normal rate. This indicates a very mild contraction of wind pathogen, hence no sensation at the time of infection. It is suitable to use a light, clear, acrid-cool preparation to disperse it.
[Prescription] Bohe Ye (Menthae Haplocalyx Herba) 3 qian, Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus) 3 qian, Da Cong Bai (Allii Fistulosi Bulbus) 3 cun.
The above three herbs are decocted together for seven or eight boils. Take one large cup of the clear liquid and take it warm. Recovery occurs when sweating ensues throughout the body.
Bohe Ye contains menthol; its nature is acrid, cool, and fragrant, excelling at penetrating orifices. Whether inside the zang-fu organs or outside in the skin and hair pores, wherever wind pathogen hides, it can drive it out. Because its nature is cool, it is most suitable for those who have contracted warm wind. However, when decocting for oral administration, one should extract its light and clear qi, avoiding excessive boiling (excessive boiling prevents sweating). Therefore, when using it for decoction, seven or eight boils suffice. If decocted with herbs that are difficult to extract, add it later. Lianqiao is a light, clear, and dispersing herb; its diaphoretic power is less than that of Bohe Ye, but when used together, it prolongs the diaphoretic effect of Bohe Ye (I once treated a youth with a cold, prescribing single-use Lianqiao 1 liang, decocted twice. He sweated mildly throughout the night until the illness resolved, demonstrating its mild yet prolonged diaphoretic action). The shape of Cong (Scallion) is hollow; its taste is slightly acrid and sweet. It inherently possesses slight exterior-releasing properties. By rotating between Ying (Nutrient) and Wei (Defensive) levels, it best assists exterior-releasing herbs in harmonizing Ying and Wei.

In cases where the wind pathogen is heavier, besides soreness and reluctance to move, there is headache, pain in all joints of the body, hot skin, no aversion to wind, slight internal heat sensation, a floating and rapid pulse seemingly forceful, and a thick white tongue coating. It is appropriate to remove Da Cong Bai from the previous prescription, add Tianhuafen (Trichosanthis Radix) 8 qian to clear heat, and add Juhua (Chrysanthemi Flos) 2 qian to treat the headache. Bohe Ye should be added late during decoction.

In individuals with pre-existing latent qi transforming into heat (latent and inactive), triggered by a slight external contraction, the latent qi suddenly erupts, causing simultaneous interior and exterior heat. The tongue coating is thick and white, dry in the center, and the pulse is floating with a surging quality. Although this pathology involves the Yangming meridian, it can still be resolved through diaphoresis via the Taiyang pathway.
[Prescription] Sheng Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum) 1 liang (pounded fine), Tianhuafen 1 liang, Bohe Ye 1.5 qian, Lianqiao 1.5 qian.
Decoct the four herbs in one large cup of water. Take warm. Recovery occurs upon sweating. Add Bohe Ye late during decoction.
Question: This prescription heavily uses Shigao and Tianhuafen while using little Bohe Ye and Lianqiao as an exterior-releasing agent. Is there not a fear that Shigao and Tianhuafen will overly suppress Bohe Ye and Lianqiao, preventing sweating?
Answer: Although this is an exterior-releasing prescription, it essentially regulates Yin and Yang, allowing natural sweating rather than forcing it. This syndrome originates from latent qi transforming into heat, occasionally triggered by external pathogens, seeking to reach the exterior and exit. Using heavy cooling herbs combines with this heat like water poured on red-hot iron; the vigorous heat is hard to suppress. Adding small amounts of Bohe Ye and Lianqiao resolves the exterior obstruction, allowing the transformed heat in the abdomen to burst forth and resolve through sweat. Such sweating should not be artificially stopped. Even if profuse like flowing water, there is absolutely no risk of Yin collapse or Yang collapse, nor of unresolved symptoms post-sweating. This prescription resembles my proposed Hanjie Tang. Either can be used; if the syndrome and pulse diagnosis are correct, whole-body sweating occurs within moments of ingestion. Occasionally, patients afraid of Shigao's coolness take half first. They may sweat then, but taking the remainder later yields no further sweat because the heat has already exited as sweat, leaving little residual heat. From this sequential dosing, whether sweating occurs or not, one can deeply understand the mechanism of this drug's diaphoretic action. Moreover, Shigao inherently possesses exterior-releasing power.

In cases where the body feels sore, lazy, and heavy, with a heavy head reluctant to lift and heavy legs reluctant to raise, or pressing the skin leaves a slight indentation after a moment, or urination is difficult, the tongue coating is white, greasy, slightly grayish, and the pulse is floating and soggy with a normal rate. This is Damp-Warmth (Shiwen). This may result from long-term residence in damp places invading the zang-fu with dampness, or continuous rainy weather increasing atmospheric moisture, or dietary indiscretion damaging the Spleen and Stomach, causing dampness to stagnate in the Middle Jiao, compounded by wind pathogen invasion. Treatment should release the exterior externally and promote dampness drainage internally.
[Prescription] Bohe Ye 3 qian, Lianqiao 3 qian, Xiao Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma) 3 qian, Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) 3 qian, Mutong (Akebiae Caulis) 2 qian.
Decoct the last four herbs in water for over ten boils, then add Bohe Ye and boil for seven or eight boils. Take one large cup of the clear liquid warm. If urination is difficult, alongside medication, use fresh Baimaogen (Imperatae Rhizoma) 6 liang, peeled and chopped, decocted for four or five boils. Drink the clear liquid as tea when thirsty.
If the patient has hot skin and slight internal heat, remove Cangzhu and add Huashi (Talcum) 8 qian.

In early-stage warm disease presenting with panting, where the skin is not aversive to cold but feverish, and there is slight internal heat, with a floating and long pulse. This indicates phlegm-fire previously existing in the Lung, now attacked by wind pathogen. Use the Maxing Gan Shi Tang from *Shanghan Lun*, adjusting the dosages.
[Modified Maxing Gan Shi Tang] Sheng Shigao 1 liang (pounded fine), Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) 1 qian, Xingren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum) 2 qian (skin removed), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) 1.5 qian.
Decoct the four herbs in one large cup (Do not boil Mahuang first to skim foam, as the dose is small and Shigao controls it). Take warm.
If no sweat occurs after half an hour, administer Aspirin 1 grain. If still no sweat, continue administration until sweating occurs. Wind pathogen enters via the skin/hair pores; thus, it should exit via the same route.

If warm disease persists for ten days without resolution, with a white tongue coating and floating pulse, the pathogen has entered the Fu organ of Taiyang (Bladder), and urine must be yellow. Add bladder-clearing herbs to exterior-releasing and heat-clearing prescriptions. This is the method of separating and resolving pathogens. Two prescriptions are proposed below for users to choose based on heat severity.
[Prescription 1] Huashi 1 liang, Lianqiao 3 qian, Chantui (Cicadae Periostracum, cleaned) 3 qian, Difuzi (Kochiae Fructus) 3 qian, Gancao 2 qian.
Decoct the five herbs in one large cup. Take warm.
[Prescription 2] Sheng Shigao (pounded fine) 1 liang, Huashi 8 qian, Lianqiao 3 qian, Chantui (cleaned) 3 qian, Difuzi 3 qian, Gancao 2 qian.
Decoct the six herbs in one large cup. Take warm.

If warm disease reaches seven or eight days, having circulated through the six meridians, and the pulse suddenly becomes floating, not rapid, but appearing grand, use an acrid-cool preparation to assist its reaching the exterior and resolving through sweat.
[Prescription] Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix) 1 liang, Cund Maidong (Ophiopogonis Japonici Tuber, with heart) 5 qian, Lianqiao 2 qian, Juhua 2 qian, Chantui (cleaned) 2 qian.
Decoct the five herbs in one large cup. Take warm. Xuanshen is used fearing that prolonged warm disease damages the Yin aspect.

If warm disease lasts many days, circulating through the six meridians, with a floating, rapid, and thin pulse, especially floating at the Guan position anteriorly, accompanied by dizziness, frequent delirious speech, and restless limbs. This indicates external pathogen returning to Taiyang, preparing to sweat. The inability to sweat is due to severe Yin deficiency, unable to ascend to nourish and respond to Yang. Forcing sweat due to floating pulse will lead to immediate danger. Use heavy Yin-nourishing herbs for several doses. Let the rapid pulse slow and the thin pulse enlarge. When Yin Qi is abundant and ascends to respond to Yang, sweat will emerge naturally.
[Prescription] Sheng Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix) 1 liang, Sheng Huai Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma) 1 liang, Xuanshen 1 liang, Da Gan Gouqi (Lycii Fructus) 1 liang, Sheng Jing Yurou (Corni Fructus) 6 qian, Baiziren (Biotae Semen) 6 qian, Sheng Zao Ren (Ziziphi Spinosomi Semen) 6 qian (crushed), Gancao 3 qian.
Decoct the eight herbs in one large bowl of water. Wait five minutes, then mix in two raw egg yolks. Drink slowly warm. Finish one dose, then decoct another, ensuring continuous medicinal effect day and night. After three doses, spontaneous sweating should occur. If sweat does not appear by then, and the pulse is no longer rapid and thin, decoct this medicine again to take with Aspirin 1 grain, and sweat will emerge.
Question: Shan Yurou (Corni Fructus) has astringent properties; you used it heavily in Laifu Tang to stop excessive sweating. Why use it here to facilitate sweating?
Answer: The principle is subtle. Yurou is a key herb for nourishing Liver and extinguishing wind. The restlessness of the limbs indicates Liver wind stirring, which is the intent of using Yurou here. Worrying it hinders sweating shows ignorance of its nature. Yurou is extremely sour, fully acquiring Wood Qi. Thus, within its astringency lies strong unblocking properties. *Shennong Ben Cao Jing* states it expels cold-damp bi, proving this. Due to its sour astringency, it stops sweat when Yuan Qi fails to secure; due to its unblocking nature, it promotes sweat when Liver deficiency fails to diffuse. This usage comes from clinical experience, not mere theory. If pulse improves and limbs stabilize after several doses, removing Yurou is fine, but it cannot be removed initially.

Before illness onset, if the heart often feels hot, triggered by external contraction, heat intensifies. Five-center irritability, dizziness, thick white tongue coating with prickles, spicy taste in mouth, floating rapid forceful pulse. This indicates latent qi transforming into heat entering the Pericardium, bound by external pathogen, worsening internal heat, causing tongue prickles and spiciness. Use cool, moistening, clearing, and dispersing agents to clear internally and release externally. Recovery occurs with thorough sweating.
[Prescription] Xian Di Huang (Fresh Rehmanniae Radix) 1 liang, Xuanshen 1 liang, Tianhuafen 1 liang, Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma) 5 qian, Cund Maidong (with heart) 5 qian, Aspirin 2 grains.
Decoct the first five herbs, obtaining two large cups of clear liquid. Take one cup warm, followed by 1 grain Aspirin. If no sweat/heat reduction after one dose, take another cup warm with 1 grain Aspirin. If sweat occurs but heat remains, take the decoction as before, but reduce Aspirin dosage.