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When the rash is just beginning to appear or has not yet appeared, a mild diaphoresis (inducing sweating) is appropriate. Sweating facilitates the patency of the skin and muscles, opens the couli (pores and interstices), allowing the pathogenic toxin to naturally emerge. Once mild sweating is observed, one should avoid overusing ascending and dispersing herbs to prevent excessive sweating that leads to the loss of Yang Qi; mild cases may worsen, while severe ones may become incurable. Symptoms of hidden and non-emergent rashes may arise from this negligence, so caution is essential. What causes the absence of sweating? It is due to a secondary contraction of Wind-Cold, causing dryness of the skin and closure of hair follicles, preventing the eruption of the rash, which often leads to internal invasion of toxins, resulting in abdominal distension and wheezing. In autumn and summer, mild ascending and dispersing herbs are suitable; in spring and winter, heavier doses for dispersion are required, aiming for mild sweating throughout the body. Regarding rattling phlegm, regardless of timing, urgent use of cold-natured herbs to descend fire and clear heat with moistening properties, assisted by ascending herbs, is necessary; otherwise, it transforms into a critical condition. Therefore, throughout the course, achieving sweating is primary. If sweating does not occur, residual toxins will likely remain later, making detoxification essential.

Autumn/Summer Mild Ascending Decoction
Cimicifugae Rhizoma (Shengma), Puerariae Radix (Gegen), Perillae Folium (Suye), Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix (Qianghuo), Paeviae Radix Rubra (Chishao), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao)

Spring/Winter Heavy Dispersing Decoction: Same as Ascending Decoction, plus
Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang), Cinnamomi Ramulus (Guizhi)

Cold-Natured Fire-Descending Decoction
Rehmanniae Radix Preparata (Shengdi), Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin), Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian), Gardeniae Fructus (Shanzhi), Gypsum Fibrosum (Shigao), Trichosanthis Radix (Huafen), Armeniacae Semen Amarum (Xingren), Perillae Fructus (Suzi), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Sheng Gancao)

Assisted Ascending Decoction
Menthae Haplocalycis Herba (Bohe), Crataegi Fructus (Shanzha), Arctii Fructus (Niubangzi), Platycodonis Radix (Jiegeng), Armeniacae Semen Amarum (Xingren), Perillae Fructus (Suzi), Cimicifugae Rhizoma (Shengma)

(Mild Fever, High Fever, Intermittent Fever, Tidal Fever, Recurrent Fever)
Red lips like cinnabar in children indicate an impending thirst caused by internal heat. However, deficiency and excess must be distinguished. Constipation and urinary retention indicate excess; treat with heat-clearing and cooling herbs. Clear urination and defecation with pale lips and thirst indicate deficiency, likely due to prior consumption of cold foods drying the Middle Qi; urgently tonify the Middle Qi. Abdominal distension with anorexia indicates a critical condition. Unlike smallpox, the onset of measles varies, occurring on days 3–4, 5–6, 8–9, or even half a month later, accompanied by alternating chills and fever, progressing to persistent high fever. If fever begins and rashes appear immediately, careful observation is needed. Mild fever implies light heat without intensity; this is acceptable at the very beginning but problematic when the rash is about to erupt, as it may fail to reach the exterior; urgently use dispersing and supporting herbs. If the toxin is light and clear before full emergence or resolution, medication may not be necessary. High fever implies intense heat persisting for days; if initial heat remains high upon eruption, the condition is severe. Initial fever leading to heavy eruption is a favorable progression; if high fever persists after full eruption, use dispersing and harmonizing herbs; if fever persists after resolution, use harmonizing herbs to prevent complications. Intermittent fever involves periods of fever followed by intervals, or sudden fever, or afternoon fever; seen before eruption, it indicates trapped toxin requiring urgent dispersing support; seen after or during resolution, it indicates incomplete toxin clearance, requiring cooling, clearing, and separating methods. Cases with post-illness Middle Qi deficiency require individualized treatment. Tidal fever occurs once daily, regular as the tide; it does not occur at the initial stage but appears after eruption or during resolution, caused by Qi and Blood dynamics; treatment should nourish Yin and subdue Yang. Recurrent fever refers to fever returning after subsiding, due to unresolved residual toxins; dispersing and resolving is superior. Improper use of drying agents will inevitably lead to untreatable conditions.