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Dysentery has several types; misdiagnosis and mistreatment can lead to immediate death or survival. Whenever the Spleen Qi is deficient and unstable, food is not digested, and there is uncontrolled diarrhea day and night without red and white purulent exudates (pus and blood in stool), this is called Spleen Diarrhea (Pi Xie). Its treatment methods vary, and one must treat according to specific symptoms. If Taiyang disease (Exterior Syndrome) transmits into the Yin meridians, presenting with diarrhea of undigested food, a faint pulse, and cold extremities, this is a critical pure-Yin syndrome. It cannot be treated without Ren Shen (Ginseng Root), Fu Zi (Aconite Lateral Root), and Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger). However, patients suffering from this are extremely rare. In contrast, during summer and autumn months, when Summerheat pathogenic factors enter the Fu organs, causing excessive purulent bloody stools, this is named "Zhi Xia" (Stagnant Downward Dysentery); it belongs entirely to the toxicity of Summerheat-Heat, steaming the intestines and rotting the stomach. This is as different from Yin-Cold dysentery as water differs from fire. Zhang Zhongjing used Huang Qin Tang (Scutellaria Decoction) as the main formula, modifying it according to symptoms; this is an unchangeable method for all ages. Nowadays, however, for heat dysentery caused by Summerheat toxicity, practitioners use Fu Zi (Aconite Lateral Root), Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig), Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger), and Lu Rong (Deer Antler Velvet). Initially, patients experience red eyes and scorched tongue coating, wailing in extreme pain. The stool color may change to resemble bean curd residue or rotten liver. As the heat penetrates deeply, it causes Jue Ni (Reversal Cold), where hands and feet become cold. Physicians fail to recognize this as Heat Jue (Cold Extremities due to Heat) and instead believe it is True Cold, further increasing the dosage of Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig) and Fu Zi (Aconite Lateral Root). This leads to gastric ulceration and intestinal perforation. Patients writhe in agony, dying as if subjected to the punishment of roasting on iron spits. I have seen many such cases and can only shed tears. Even worse, some use Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) along with Bu Yao (Tonifying Medicines) like Ren Shen (Ginseng Root) and Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber). For patients with chronic dysentery and deficiency-fatigue, this might occasionally hit the mark. However, if the pathogenic factor is not cleared, it will either become a stubborn disease or lead to death. There are many formulas for treating dysentery; by extensively consulting ancient texts, one can master their variations. Why insist on using medicines that do not belong to dysentery treatment, ensuring every prescription is erroneous?

The Six Excesses (Wind, Cold, Summerheat, Dampness, Dryness, Fire) are not only Summerheat, Dryness, and Fire that belong to Heat; even Wind, Cold, and Dampness can transform into Heat. The Classics state: "All Heat diseases belong to the category of Shang Han (Cold Damage)." It also states: "When humans are injured by Cold, they develop Heat diseases." Therefore, the general treatment for exterior infections should focus on dissipating Heat. Only in cases of Shang Han directly entering the Yin meridians, presenting with a tight pulse, greenish stools, aversion to cold, fatigue, lying curled up, dislike for drinking, and a thin white tongue coating—various signs of Cold—should Warm-Dissipating methods be used. Such cases are less than one in a thousand. Why do modern physicians label almost all mixed Cold-Heat exterior conditions with slightly severe progression as Yin Syndromes, immediately administering Ren Shen (Ginseng Root), Fu Zi (Aconite Lateral Root), Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger), and Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig)? After ingestion, the heat worsens, yet they do not suspect the cause lies in Hot Medicines. Instead, they use Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmannia Root) and Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber), claiming it is a method of Tonifying Yin to balance Yang, completely forgetting that this is an exterior infection! One must know that Yin Syndromes do not involve fever. Occasionally, extreme Cold may mimic Yang, presenting external Heat symptoms, but internal symptoms must show various Cold signs. Even then, the treatment should be to dispel the Cold, such as using Ma Huang Fu Zi Xi Xin Tang (Ephedra, Aconite, and Asarum Decoction); there is no method of "Tonifying Cold." To forcibly classify Heat pathogens as Yin Syndromes and use full-scale Warm-Tonification is truly a bizarre anomaly of the ages. Furthermore, labeling exterior infections acquired after nocturnal emissions or sexual exhaustion as Yin Syndromes is laughable. If the pathogen truly enters the Yin meridians, it constitutes a Yin Syndrome regardless of sexual activity; if it does not enter the Yin meridians, there is its own standard treatment, unrelated to Yin Syndromes. If one claims the exterior pathogen invades the Kidney due to deficiency, one must urgently expel the pathogen from the Kidney. How can one allow the pathogen to linger and consume the Kidney Yin? Additionally, after using Hot Medicines, if the heat intensifies and the physician suddenly switches to Great Cold Medicines, this is testing the disease with drugs. One must know that each disease has its specific formula. Are there no balanced, appropriate medicines for the disease? Why start with Fire (Hot) medicines and switch to Water (Cold) medicines? Yet, when the patient dies, the family blames the error of Cold Medicines rather than Hot Medicines. Why? Because upon death, the body inevitably becomes cold. If the body becomes cold after taking Hot Medicines, families believe it is not due to the medicine; if it becomes cold after taking Cold Medicines, it is clearly caused by the drug. Thus, Hot Medicines kill imperceptibly, while Cold Medicines kill visibly. Therefore, physicians prefer using Tonics and Hot Medicines, so that even if the patient dies, they can avoid blame.