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In the folk customs of Quzhou, whenever people suffer from colds in the four seasons and present with symptoms such as fever (Fe Re) and vomiting (Ou Tu), they immediately label it as "Wocuo" (a local colloquial term for a specific pathogenic condition or skin manifestation) and resort to scraping and pulling. While scraping and pulling are not inherently harmful, if the pathogen is located in the muscles, relief can be instantaneous; however, if the pathogen resides in the meridians and collaterals (Jing Luo), medication is indispensable for cure. Most detestable is the practice of first drinking a bowl of Alum Decoction (Fan Tang), believing it necessary to treat "Wocuo". They fail to realize that "Wocuo" corresponds to what medical texts call "Hui Zhuo" (Filthy Turbidity), which should be treated with aromatic, dispersing, and resolving formulas. Instead, they administer sour and cold, astringent medicines, which only cause the filthy turbid pathogen to adhere firmly to the Qi level (Qi Fen), delaying recovery indefinitely.

Furthermore, there are vulgar physicians who scrape the patient's body with their finger joints. Upon seeing a raised line, they recklessly claim it to be "Ban" (Macules/Purpura). They ignore that when a person contracts filthy turbid seasonal pathogens, Qi mechanism stagnation and blood vessel obstruction occur. Scraping with finger joints will inevitably produce a raised line, whether coarse or fine; how can this be falsely diagnosed as a Ban syndrome? They further invent names such as Snake Ban and Flea Ban. For "Snake Ban," they insist on administering several centipedes, based on the belief that snakes fear centipedes, thereby reinforcing the credulity of laypeople. They do not know that Centipede (Wugong) is acrid, warm, and toxic, entering directly into the Jueyin Liver channel. In cases of initial seasonal pathogen infection, its use easily generates Fire (Huo), driving the most superficial pathogen deeper into the body.

Why not consult medical texts: "Ban" appears large like brocade patterns, red-purple in color and confluent, turning black indicates critical illness, representing Stomach Heat (Wei Re); thus, ancients used formulas like Ju Ban Tang (Lift Macule Decoction) and Hua Ban Tang (Resolve Macule Decoction). If red spots appear on the body, some mistakenly call them "Flea Ban" and indiscriminately prescribe herbal remedies. When the condition becomes critical, they claim Ban is difficult to treat. However, red spots smaller than mosquito bites correspond to "Zhen" (Papules/Rash) in medical texts, indicating Lung Heat (Fei Re); hence, ancients used formulas like Sheng Ge Tang (Pueraria Decoction) and Yin Qiao San (Honeysuckle and Forsythia Powder). It is lamentable that vulgar physicians confuse fake with real. By misidentifying initial seasonal pathogens as Wocuo Ban syndrome and forbidding decoction intake, they often cause mild illnesses to worsen and severe ones to become critical. This is a profound harm caused by local customs in Quzhou. In summary, scraping and pulling are harmless; the true dangers lie in the abuses of Alum Decoction, Centipede, unregulated herbs, and the prohibition of medicine. I advise patients not to overly trust vulgar physicians to avoid self-harm, which would be fortunate indeed!