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In treating any disease, one must understand the principles of Heaven and Earth (Tian Dao Di Li), assess the patient's physical strength, inquire about daily routines and diet, and ask about sudden experiences of joy or suffering. If a disease originates internally and manifests externally, treat the interior first, then the exterior; if a disease invades from the exterior and affects the interior, treat the exterior first, then the interior. If the interior and exterior are not interconnected, treat the primary disease: in acute cases, treat the branch (Biao, symptomatic manifestation); in chronic or mild cases, treat the root (Ben, underlying cause). Address the etiology first, then the primary symptoms. When tonifying the upper body to treat lower body issues, the preparation should be gentle/slow; when tonifying the lower body to treat upper body issues, the preparation should be urgent/fast. When using highly toxic herbs to treat disease, stop when 60% of the disease is resolved; when using moderately toxic herbs, stop at 70%; when using slightly toxic herbs, stop at 80%; when using non-toxic herbs, stop at 90%. Post-treatment requires nourishment and harmony, waiting for the recovery of Zheng Qi (Vital Qi). These are texts from the *Su Wen* (Basic Questions), which physicians must know. Due to space constraints, not all can be recorded; here, only the essentials are excerpted to show the general outline. (From *Bai Zhai San Shu*)

The Way of Medicine is profound. Since Shennong, Huangdi, Qibo, and Leigong, sages have opened its source, and the wise have guided its flow, thereby saving the people from suffering and assisting the creative power of Heaven and Earth. As the world declined, scholars regarded medicine as a mere craft, disdaining to practice it themselves and leaving it to commoners. Consequently, extremely subtle and profound principles were handled by shallow and lowly minds, often failing to cure diseases and instead causing premature death. This is why Fan Zhongyan said that if he could not serve as a good minister, he would serve as a good physician. Mr. Yifangchuan stated: entrusting treatment to mediocre doctors is worse than being unfilial and unkind. Since ancient times, renowned masters such as He Huan, Bian Que, Chunyu Yi, Zhang Zhongjing, and Sun Simiao have always prioritized health preservation, regarding herbal medicine as secondary. Regarding observation of form and pulse diagnosis, they insisted on distinguishing minute details and ambiguous signs. They deeply lamented contemporary physicians who were negligent, superficial, and hypocritical, comparing the doctor's battle against disease to a general's battle against an enemy, suggesting the use of a "back-to-the-river formation" to decide victory. This merely reflects occasional references to Hua Tuo's methods; techniques like abdominal surgery and tendon repair belong to specialized arts, not the standard principles of formulas and herb properties found in the *Shennong Bencao Jing*. Today, only Zhang Zhongjing's book serves as the ancestor of all formulas, and students should take it as their model. (Preface to *Yi Shuo*)