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The Way of Medicine originated with Shennong’s compilation of the *Bencao* (Compendium of Materia Medica), where one drug was used to treat one disease. However, a single disease often presents with multiple symptoms (collectively termed "Bing" [Disease], such as malaria or dysentery; specifically termed "Zheng" [Symptom/Manifestation], such as vomiting and headache accompanying malaria, or chills, fever, distension, and pain accompanying dysentery). Later sages selected drugs that corresponded to these symptoms, combining several herbs into prescriptions. Thus, in treating diseases, one must first have the drugs before forming the prescription.

Once a prescription is established, its method of combination is examined to see which ancient prescription it resembles, leading to statements like "additions and subtractions based on [Specific Prescription]." This does not mean the physician has fixed formulas such as Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia), Bawei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill), or Lizhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction) rigidly in mind to force upon patients. Regarding the method of syndrome differentiation and medication: if a patient falls ill due to a combination of Wind, Cold, Phlegm, and Food Stagnation, one must carefully assess: what proportion is Wind? What proportion is Cold? What proportions are Phlegm and Food Stagnation? The dosage of herbs is then increased or decreased according to the magnitude of these pathogenic factors. If a single prescription cannot address all aspects, the most urgent condition is treated first. Consequently, there is no superfluous herb, nor any dosage unit that has not been carefully deliberated.

Moreover, the practice of medicine relies entirely on self-reflection. If a patient’s condition fails to improve or worsens after taking my prescription, I must deeply reproach myself, extensively seeking effective prescriptions until success is achieved; through this, medical knowledge naturally advances daily. Conversely, if one ignores the specific disease and indiscriminately administers warming and tonifying herbs, claiming credit for recovery and blaming the incurable nature of the disease for death, without any reflection or adjustment, this misleads the world while the practitioner remains unaware of their error throughout their life.

Furthermore, those who rely on "stale formulas" merely name a prescription "Chaihu Tang (Bupleurum Decoction)" because it contains Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), or "Chengqi Tang (Order the Qi Decoction)" because it contains Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma). They completely ignore the profound meaning behind ancient formula formulation, acting only on casual suggestions. Their medical records plagiarize vague clichés regarding Yin-Yang, Deficiency-Excess, and the generation and restriction cycles of the Five Elements to justify the use of warming and tonifying therapies. Literati and scholars are easily deceived by this; upon seeing references to Yin-Yang and Five Elements, they assume it is a scholarly discipline with deep roots and believe it without doubt. These practitioners boast of having found a shortcut to medicine, disregarding the thousands of symptomatic prescriptions formulated by ancient sages through exhaustive thought, yet still calling themselves famous physicians.

It is not surprising that physicians propagate these practices among themselves, creating a prevailing trend. However, it is disturbing that idle amateurs also follow these fallacies, echoing quacks. When relatives or acquaintances fall ill, these amateurs intervene to "assist" the physician, using alarmist language to coerce families into purchasing expensive warming and tonifying drugs to demonstrate concern, thereby causing death. After death, they rationalize that such drugs were never guaranteed to be effective, arguing simply that families of certain social standing ought not consume cheap medicines. If another person dies from the same illness due to similar methods, it is truly pitiable.

Decades ago, some amateurs could distinguish drug properties and studied classical prescriptions extensively. Now, however, they have collectively fallen into heresy. This began with figures such as Zhao Yangkui and Zhang Jingyue, who ignored the principles of ancient formula formulation, acted on personal bias, wrote books, and established schools of thought, unaware that their errors would lead to such extreme consequences. I believe Heaven’s benevolence will bring about change soon.