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When a person is injured by cold, there are two types of syndromes: Yang and Yin. The Yang syndrome will not be discussed in detail. The Yin syndrome mentioned herein refers to the transmitted Yin syndrome, which originates from the heat diseases of the Three Yang meridians and subsequently transmits to the Three Yin meridians, presenting with symptoms such as abdominal fullness, dry throat, dry mouth with thirst, vexation and fullness, and retraction of the scrotum. There is also the direct invasion Yin syndrome, where cold pathogenic factors directly enter the Three Yin meridians without passing through the Yang meridians, presenting with symptoms such as absence of fever, aversion to cold, bluish lips, curled tongue, cold extremities, and spontaneous diarrhea. There is also the Yin syndrome resulting from the transformation of a Yang syndrome, which occurs when excessive sweating or purgation in a Yang disease leads to the depletion of true Qi, or when improper care during illness causes the heat pathogen to transform into cold, presenting similarly to the direct invasion of Yin meridians. Apart from these three, there is no so-called Yin syndrome. However, the common folk belief in the Wu region today is that any case of catching cold after sexual intercourse is termed Yin syndrome, which is truly incomprehensible. If a man contracting it due to women is called Yin syndrome, then should a woman contracting it due to men be called Yang syndrome? Since this erroneous terminology exists, it inevitably leads to misdiagnosis and the administration of warming and tonifying formulas. Even if the person indeed has Yang deficiency with pathogenic invasion, there is still the error of allowing the pathogen to intensify due to inappropriate tonification. In cases of essence depletion with hyperactive ministerial fire, combined with blazing heat pathogens, how can the harm of such misdiagnosis be overstated? It is acceptable to say that cold pathogenic factors invade due to deficiency after sexual exertion, but it is incorrect to directly term it Yin syndrome. The harm of misnaming is small, but the harm of misdiagnosis and mistreatment is great; therefore, it must be clarified.

The Six Meridians are affected gradually, and their recovery generally follows a seven-day cycle, based on the number Seven belonging to Yang. The *Shanghan Li* states: For those not suffering from simultaneous contraction of Yin and Yang meridians by cold, if the pathogen does not transmit further to other meridians and no mixed pathogenic factors are added, by the seventh day, the Taiyang disease declines, and headache slightly improves; by the eighth day, the Yangming disease declines, and body heat slightly subsides; by the ninth day, the Shaoyang disease declines, and hearing gradually returns; by the tenth day, the Taiyin disease declines, abdominal fullness resolves as before, and appetite returns; by the eleventh day, the Shaoyin disease declines, thirst ceases, dry tongue alleviates, followed by sneezing; by the twelfth day, the Jueyin disease declines, the scrotum relaxes, lower abdomen slightly descends, the vital qi (pathogenic factor) is expelled, and the patient's spirit becomes clear and bright. This discussion on the recovery of Six Meridian diseases within seven days is based on the *Suwen · Lun Re Pian* (Treatise on Heat Diseases). Commentators on both texts have made errors and failed to clarify the matter. I dare to explain as follows: "Qi" here refers to Shanghan (cold damage). "Not suffering from simultaneous contraction of Yin and Yang meridians by cold" means that Yin and Yang meridians are not simultaneously affected on the first day. "Does not transmit further to other meridians" means the pathogen stays in the current meridian and does not transmit to others. "No mixed pathogenic factors added" means the heat of Shanghan is not severe, and there is no infection with cold, wind, dampness, or warm-heat pathogens causing transformation into other diseases. Under such circumstances, one can predict the recovery dates for the Six Meridian diseases. The *Taiyang Pian* states: Those originating from Yang recover in seven days. Calculating according to this number, we know that diseases of the Six Meridians contracted on the first day will decline by the seventh day. Those contracted on the second day will decline by the eighth day. This is also a seven-day cycle. Therefore, if on the seventh day the pathogen is in the Taiyang meridian and fortunately does not transmit to Yangming, nor undergoes transformation, then by the seventh day, Taiyang disease declines, and headache slightly improves. If, however, the pathogen was contracted in Yangming on the second day and did not transmit further, by the eighth day, Yangming disease declines, and body heat slightly subsides. Or if the pathogen was contracted in Shaoyang and did not transmit further, by the ninth day, Shaoyang disease declines, and hearing slightly returns. If on the fourth day the pathogen transmitted to Shaoyin and did not transmit further, by the eleventh day, Shaoyin disease declines, thirst ceases, dry tongue alleviates, followed by sneezing. Or if on the sixth day the pathogen transmitted to Jueyin, completing the transmission without further change, by the twelfth day, Jueyin disease declines, the scrotum relaxes, lower abdomen slightly descends, the vital qi is expelled, and the patient's spirit becomes clear and bright. These last two sentences summarize the Six Meridians, meaning whether transmitted or not, when the disease declines, the vital qi is expelled and the spirit becomes clear. Cheng Wuji commented: The transmission of the Six Meridians contradicts the statement "does not transmit further to other meridians." Ma Shi's commentary on the *Suwen* states: At the seventh day, the Great Yang (Taiyang) disease declines, and headache slightly improves. This is because the initially contracted pathogen was too strong. If it had already transmitted to Yangming on the second day, where is the part that has not fully transmitted? It remains in Taiyang, improving slightly compared to the first day. By the sixth day, it reaches Jueyin, and the part not fully transmitted remains in Shaoyin, improving slightly compared to the sixth day by the twelfth day. If it truly transmitted to Yangming and then to Jueyin, it should have happened by the sixth day. The previously untransmitted pathogenic factors would remain like those in Taiyang. Headache to scrotal retraction, various symptoms chaotic and complex, worse than simultaneous contraction. How could one not die by the seventh day, yet claim the disease is declining? Moreover, if Taiyang disease must transmit through all Six Meridians, then on the second day Yangming, third day Shaoyang, the original meridian would still have headache. By the fourth day transmitting to Taiyin, since Taiyin does not reach the head, at the time of abdominal fullness and dry throat, there should be no headache. Why wait until the seventh day for headache to slightly improve? Some ask: When Taiyang transmits to Yangming, isn't there a condition where the untransmitted part remains in Taiyang? I answer: Yes, this is the syndrome of concurrent Taiyang and Yangming disease. Interpreting it as Taiyang syndrome declining and transmitting to Yangming is incorrect. Because Qibo did not include the phrases "does not transmit further to other meridians" and "no mixed pathogenic factors added," Ma Shi's commentary on the *Suwen* lost alignment with Zhang Zhongjing's intent. Some ask: What is meant by "does not transmit further to other meridians"? Does it mean that after the Six Meridians are fully transmitted, they should transmit back to Taiyang on the seventh day? Alas! This view arose from Cheng Wuji's erroneous commentary, propagated in later generations, but I have already refuted it in detail. Some ask: You say "does not transmit further to other meridians," such as Taiyang not transmitting to Yangming, is there evidence? The *Taiyang Pian* states: On the first day of Shanghan, Taiyang is affected; if the pulse is quiet, it is called non-transmission. The *Shaoyang Pian* states: On the third day of Shanghan, the Three Yang meridians' qi is exhausted, and the Three Yin meridians should receive the pathogen; if the person can eat and does not vomit, this indicates the Three Yin meridians do not receive the pathogen. These are instances of expected transmission not occurring. Although Zhang Zhongjing's text here seems questionable, stating "headache slightly improves, body heat slightly subsides, hearing slightly returns, lower abdomen slightly descends" indicates disease decline but not complete recovery. Stating "abdominal fullness resolves as before, thirst ceases, dry tongue alleviates, vital qi is expelled" indicates complete recovery. Why are the decline and recovery of the Six Meridian diseases different? In essence, Zhang Zhongjing's theory is based on the *Suwen*, learning its general principles. Regarding the timing of Six Meridian disease decline, are there precedents earlier or later? Shanghan is not rigidly bound by days. Furthermore, after six days of transmission leading to scrotal retraction, the condition is critical and urgent. To reach the twelfth day with disease decline and relaxed scrotum cannot be considered the norm. Students of medicine should understand this with flexibility.