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In cold damage disease, the initial manifestation of cold limbs is due to the sudden invasion of cold pathogenic factors and the abrupt obstruction of Yang Qi; the subsequent fever indicates the gradual recovery of Yang Qi and the impending decline of Yin pathogens. If cold limbs persist for five days and fever also lasts for five days, this represents the normal pattern of Yin excess followed by Yang recovery. The deeper the cold limbs, the deeper the fever; the milder the cold limbs, the milder the fever. This signifies that where there is excess, there is a counter-reaction; the more severe the excess, the more vigorous the reaction. This does not imply using the severity of exterior cold limbs to predict the depth of interior heat.

When cold damage presents with cold limbs first and fever later, the prognosis is generally favorable, as Yang recovers and Yin is dispelled; when fever precedes cold limbs, the prognosis is generally ominous, as Yin advances and Yang retreats.

If cold limbs last four days and fever only three, it reveals signs of weak Yang; without waiting for recurrent cold limbs, one can know the disease is progressing by the fifth day. If fever lasts four days and cold limbs only three, it reveals signs of declining Yin; without waiting for recurrent fever, one can know the disease will surely heal by the fifth day.

Taiyin disease has indications for purgation using Guizhi Jia Dahuang Tang (Cinnamon Twig plus Rhubarb Decoction); Shaoyin disease has three indications for urgent purgation using Dachengqi Tang (Major Order the Qi Decoction); Jueyin disease has an indication for purgation using Xiaochengqi Tang (Minor Order the Qi Decoction). When pathogens enter the Three Yin meridians, the disease is deep; those who fortunately survive do so because the pathogens exit via the Yang meridians! Zhang Jiming stated that for Taiyin Spleen Meridian, if warm-dry qi fails to circulate, it should be resolved through warming and draining via the Yangming Meridian, such as in Guizhi Jia Dahuang Tang; for Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, although Fuzi (Aconite Lateralis Radix Preparata) is used, combined with Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba), and Jueyin Liver Meridian uses Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus), it is known that Shaoyin pathogens also exit via the Taiyang Meridian, and Jueyin pathogens via the Shaoyang Meridian; when Taiyang and Shaoyang are constrained and fail to circulate, they should exit via the Yangming Meridian. Thus, all Three Yin meridians have indications for purgation.

Wind pathogen is a qi that agitates Yang Qi and leaks body fluids, causing fever and spontaneous sweating, which differs from the fever and absence of sweating seen in cold damage. Here, Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) is used to disperse pathogens outward, while Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix Alba/Rubra) internally stabilizes body fluids; Zhi Gancao (Prepared Licorice Root) combined with the acridity of Guizhi is sufficient to repel external pathogens, and combined with the sourness of Shaoyao is sufficient to secure the interior; Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) and Dazao (Jujubae Fructus) combine sweet and acrid properties to assist righteous qi in expelling pathogens. Since the muscle layer is loose but pathogens remain, Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) is not used for surface release, but Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus) is used to assist Yang for the exterior; since sweating has occurred and Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi) is naturally harmonized, Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum) is not used to clear interior heat, but Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix) is used to astringe Yin for the interior. This is why Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) differs significantly from Mahuang Tang (Ephedra Decoction) and Da Qinglong Tang (Major Green Dragon Decoction).