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Tu Weisheng stated: Among the six excess pathogens (Liu Yin, 六淫) of heaven and earth, patients are most severely and frequently affected by wind-cold. If treated appropriately, the cure is as easy as turning over one's hand; if treated inappropriately, it may later evolve into conditions such as deficiency-excess patterns (Xu Shi, 虚实), Jue syndrome (Jue Zheng, 厥证), and collapse of Yang (Wang Yang, 亡阳). This is indeed beyond what can be described by mere speculation. Zhang Zhongjing's *Treatise on Cold Damage* (*Shanghan Lun*, 《伤寒论》) takes cold damage (Shang Han, 伤寒), wind strike (Shang Feng, 伤风), and warm disease (Wen Bing, 温病) as the three major outlines, with cold damage taking precedence. This is likely because it serves as the fuse for hundreds of diseases, with life and death hanging upon this subtle pivot. However, he stated that cold damage presents with a floating pulse (Mai Fu, 脉浮), stiffness and pain in the head and neck (Tou Xiang Qiang Tong, 头项强痛), and aversion to cold (E Han, 恶寒); wind strike presents with a slow pulse (Mai Huan, 脉缓), fever (Fa Re, 发热), sweating (Chu Han, 汗出), and aversion to wind (E Feng, 恶风); and warm disease presents with fever and thirst without aversion to wind. This clearly delineates the distinct boundaries among the three with accuracy. Regarding wind-warmth and warmth, I have provided separate specific explanations in other sections. Here, I will briefly outline the condition of cold damage. Using the simplest and most comprehensive summary as a guide for practitioners, the subtlety of its application lies entirely with the individual practitioner. The Classic states: "Above Taiyang, Cold Qi governs." Because its root is Cold and its branch is Yang. The Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian (Zu Taiyang Pangguang Jing, 足太阳膀胱经) and Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian (Shou Taiyang Xiaochang Jing, 手太阳小肠经) jointly transform the water drunk by humans, penetrating the internal and external oil membranes to form the Wei Qi (Defensive Qi, 卫气) that protects the exterior of the body. If cold air from the atmosphere invades the skin and hair, and Wei Qi cannot resist, then cold qi stagnates within the skin and hair, causing disease. The floating pulse occurs because Wei Qi circulates outside the blood vessels; although constrained externally by cold, it still strives to surge outward. Stiffness and pain in the head and neck occur because the Qi of the Three Yang meridians all ascend to the head. Now, since the Taiyang Wei Qi is blocked by cold, the Qi that has already ascended cannot output to protect the exterior, and the Qi that has not yet ascended cannot reach the head and neck, thus causing pain. Aversion to cold occurs because the Wei Qi generated by Taiyang cannot go out to protect the surface. Later symptoms also include fever, stiffness and tension in the back (Bei Qiang Jin Jin, 背强急急), rebellious fullness, and coughing, all of which are caused by Taiyang being affected by cold qi. Since Taiyang generates Qi to protect the exterior, and cold pathogen binds the exterior, the pathogen's momentum desires to exit but cannot, desires to retreat but cannot, so it must exert its warm-hot power to fight against defense. Stiffness and tension in the back occur because after cold qi enters the skin and hair, it subsequently enters the meridians and shu points, which cannot transport freely. Rebellious fullness and coughing occur because Wei Qi cannot go out, becoming congested in the lungs and diaphragm. Here, I list two important formulas from Zhongjing for treating cold damage, excerpted below. For future symptom-based medication, adjustments and changes should be made entirely according to the time and disease.

Zhongjing's Mahuang Decoction (Mahuang Tang, 麻黄汤)
Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang, 麻黄) (1 qian)
Cinnamomi Ramulus (Guizhi, 桂枝) (1 qian)
Armeniacae Semen Amarum (Xingren, 杏仁) (1 qian)
Prepared Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Zhi Gancao, 炙甘草) (1 qian)

Tu Weisheng said: For the above four ingredients, first boil Ephedrae Herba in water and remove the foam on top, then add the other herbs and boil together. Strain and take warm. Cover with blankets to induce slight sweating. This is the general method for Zhongjing's treatment of cold damage. Such cases present with stiffness and pain in the head and neck, aversion to cold, and absence of sweating. However, Guizhi Decoction (Guizhi Tang, 桂枝汤) can exist without Ephedrae Herba, but Mahuang Decoction cannot exist without Cinnamomi Ramulus. This is because wind strike affects the muscle layer; since Cinnamomi Ramulus directly enters the Ying Blood (Ying Xue, 营血), it can treat wind pathogen in the Ying Blood. Cold damage affects the skin and hair layer, which is more exterior than the muscles. Although Ephedrae Herba has strong and fierce power and can directly enter the Wei Qi, to move from interior to exterior, it must pass through the muscles. Without Cinnamomi Ramulus to assist, even if its power is fierce, it may not directly reach the Ying Blood in the muscles to arrive at the Wei Qi in the skin and hair.

Zhongjing's Gegen Decoction (Gegen Tang, 葛根汤)
Puerariae Lobatae Radix (Gegen, 葛根) (1 qian)
Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang, 麻黄) (1 qian)
Cinnamomi Ramulus (Guizhi, 桂枝) (1 qian)
Paeoniae Radix Alba (Baishao, 白芍) (1 qian)
Prepared Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Zhi Gancao, 炙甘草) (1 qian)
Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens (Shengjiang, 生姜) (1 qian)
Jujubae Fructus (Dazao, 大枣) (1 piece)

Tu Weisheng said: The decoction and administration methods of this formula are the same as mentioned before. It is essentially the previous formula combined with Guizhi Decoction, removing Armeniacae Semen Amarum and adding Puerariae Lobatae Radix. The reason for adding Puerariae Lobatae Radix is that after cold pathogen enters the skin and hair, it re-enters the meridians and shu points, causing stiffness and tension in the neck and back. From this, we can see that Zhongjing's treatment of disease always teaches people to use flexible methods, not rigid ones. Add a symptom, add an herb; remove a symptom, remove an herb. For wind strike presenting with fever, aversion to wind, and sweating, there is Guizhi Decoction, which directly enters the muscle Ying Blood. For wind strike presenting with fever, aversion to wind, sweating, and additionally stiffness and tension in the neck and back, there is Guizhi Jia Gegen Decoction (Guizhi Jia Gegen Tang, 桂枝加葛根汤), which directly enters the muscles and additionally enters the Taiyang meridian. For cold damage presenting with fever, aversion to cold, and body pain, there is Mahuang Decoction, which directly moves to the skin and hair. For cold damage presenting with fever, aversion to cold, body pain, and additionally stiffness and tension in the neck and back, there is Mahuang Jia Gegen Decoction (Mahuang Jia Gegen Tang, 麻黄加葛根汤), which directly enters the skin and hair and additionally enters the Taiyang meridian. Inferring further, for wheezing and fullness, add Armeniacae Semen Amarum and Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex (Houpo, 厚朴); for distending fullness, add Poria (Fuling, 茯苓) and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu, 白术). All adjustments follow the location of the symptoms. If learners can infer other cases from one example, they will naturally possess countless methods, and how could they be clear when reading but confused when treating, with no firm grasp in their minds? Furthermore, if a patient is physically robust but lightly affected by cold, Xiao Chaihu Decoction (Xiao Chaihu Tang, 小柴胡汤) can be used, added with Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fangfeng, 防风), Schizonepetae Spica (Jingjie, 荆芥), and Puerariae Lobatae Radix (Gegen, 葛根) for treatment. If heat is slightly severe, remove Pinelliae Rhizoma (Banxia, 半夏) and酌情 add Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin, 黄芩) and Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian, 黄连); if cold is slightly severe,酌情 reduce Scutellariae Radix. This is very safe and sound.