Library

Sweating (inducing perspiration), purging, tonifying, and draining, as well as acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal decoctions, and medicated wines, each have their appropriate indications. Those who understand the key principles can summarize them in a single statement; those who do not are lost in endless complexity. A skilled physician treats according to what is appropriate, adhering to the principle of suitability for the specific condition. By doing so, diseases become manageable.

For instance, if pathogenic factors reside in the skin, sweating should be induced to expel them. For pathogens lingering in the body, soaking the body to induce sweating may be used. For cases of abdominal fullness and internal excess, purging is indicated. For deficiency of form and essence, tonification is applied. For conditions located high in the body, emesis (inducing vomiting) is used by following the upward trend. For fierce and rapid pathogenic factors, pressing and gathering techniques (i.e., massage) are employed. For cold in the zang organs and depletion of qi, moxibustion is used. For meridian diseases presenting with spasms and bi-syndrome, acupuncture is applied. For blood excess with accumulation, nodules, swelling, and heat, bian stones (lithotherapy) are used. For qi stagnation, flaccidity, jue-syndrome, and alternating chills and fever, daoyin (qigong exercises) are prescribed. For blocked meridians resulting in numbness, medicated wine is used. For coagulated and stagnant qi and blood affecting sinews and vessels, hot compresses with medicinal herbs are applied.

Furthermore, treatment must consider the sequence of interventions and the differentiation between root (ben) and branch (biao). Therapeutic methods vary between contrary (ni) and concurrent (cong) approaches, with dosage determined accordingly. The properties of drugs, including their weight, lightness, odd-even combinations, and preparation systems, must be referenced according to their application. Variations in local geography, climate, and altitude necessitate adjustments based on suitability. If these factors are comprehensively integrated into therapeutic practice, success is assured in every case.

Diseases such as wind-stroke, cold damage, febrile diseases, and warm malaria exhibit varying degrees of severity. In discussing formulas and diseases, wind-stroke is placed first because wind is the chief of all diseases, characterized by its migratory nature and frequent changes. Other conditions, such as cold damage, warm malaria, and miscellaneous diseases, are ordered according to their severity and urgency. Conditions affecting the nine orifices, as well as gynecological and pediatric diseases, are categorized separately.

Medicinal materials present issues of homonyms and synonyms. Some materials have different names but are identical, while others share the same name but differ in substance. Such discrepancies lead to confusion regarding their properties and uses during compounding. These have been corrected. For example, Tongluomu (Tetrapanacis Caulis) and Mutong (Akebiae Caulis) were both historically referred to as Tongcao (Tetrapanacis Medulla). Ancient prescriptions did not distinguish between them, leading to errors where Mutong was used unknowingly instead of Tongluomu. This exemplifies "different substances with the same name." Similarly, ancient texts used Gan Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata) without distinguishing between steamed, sun-dried, or raw forms. Since raw and prepared Rehmannia have different therapeutic properties, they are now distinguished as Sheng Dihuang (Raw Rehmannia Root) and Shu Dihuang (Prepared Rehmannia Root). This exemplifies "same name with different substances." Regarding nomenclature, some terms derive from the Shennong Bencao Jing (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), while others come from various commentaries. The most commonly used secular terms are adopted to avoid confusion.