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The *Zhen Jing* (Needle Classic) states: "If wind is injured in spring, post-diarrhea and Chang Pi (dysentery with intestinal discharge) will arise in summer." Commentators explain that being injured by wind pathogenic factors during the spring season causes Wind-Wood to internally interfere, damaging Stomach Qi. Consequently, the clear Yang Qi that should ascend instead sinks inward, resulting in Sun Xie (diarrhea with undigested food). If prolonged, it transmits to the Taiyin Spleen channel, forming Chang Pi. This is clearly caused by wind, hence it is called Feng Li (Wind Dysentery).

The syndrome of Feng Li presents initially as diarrhea, which later transforms into dysentery. The pulse is typically deep, small, and wiry. There is mild abdominal pain accompanied by tenesmus (a feeling of incomplete defecation). It resembles Chang Feng (Intestinal Wind) but discharges clear blood. This arises from latent pathogens contracted in spring, manifesting in summer, representing a pattern of Wood excess and Earth deficiency.

For patients with a constitution inherently prone to cold, the Pei Zhong Xie Mu method (Nourish the Middle and Drain Wood method) should be used, augmented with Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix) and Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma). For patients with a constitution inherently prone to heat, the same base method should be used, but removing Wuyu (Evodiae Fructus) and Paojiang (Prepared Zingiberis Rhizoma), and adding Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Lianzi (Coptidis Rhizoma), and Wei Gegen (Prepared Puerariae Radix). If chest tightness and dark urine are present, dampness must be夹杂 (intermixed); thus, Chifuling (Poria Cocos with Red Coir) and Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma) should be added. If acid regurgitation and belching of putrid food occur, food stagnation must be intermixed; thus, Shanzha (Crataegi Fructus) and Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex) should be added.

One might ask: Ancient texts state, "Diarrhea preceding dysentery indicates the transmission of disease from the Spleen to the Kidney." Since Feng Li also begins with diarrhea followed by dysentery, does this constitute Spleen transmitting to Kidney? The answer is no. Former sages stated that diarrhea preceding dysentery is a pattern of Earth overcoming Water. Here, diarrhea preceding dysentery results from Wind Wood overcoming Stomach Qi, with Stomach disease transmitting to the Spleen. These are two distinct pathways and must be differentiated and treated accordingly. Another question arises: I often observe that dysentery occurs mostly in autumn and rarely in summer. Is it not erroneous to say it manifests in summer? The response is: Various types of dysentery mostly occur in autumn or at the transition between summer and autumn. Only Feng Li uniquely manifests in summer because the latent pathogen from spring erupts from within. As the Classics state: "Injured by wind in spring, post-diarrhea and Chang Pi arise in summer," this is precisely what is meant.

The aforementioned discussion on Feng Li concerns latent pathogens from spring manifesting in summer; other types of dysentery are different. Now, let us discuss Cold Dysentery (Han Li). Although this disease occurs at the transition between summer and autumn, injury from cold is more common than injury from summer-heat. Zhang Jingyue stated: "Heat and warmth are the normal commands of Heaven; if it is hot when it should not be, disaster ensues." It is human nature to seek coolness due to heat. Overconsumption of raw and cold foods leads to dysentery. We often see those who are cautious about illness; even during intense summer heat, they avoid cold and cooling substances, ultimately escaping the affliction of diarrhea and dysentery. Thus, the syndrome of Cold Dysentery is truly caused by seeking coolness in the heat and overeating raw/cold items. Cold causes stagnation; the Yang Qi of the Middle Jiao cannot transform and transport; clear Qi fails to ascend; Spleen Qi sinks downward. This results in abdominal pain, tenesmus, and the passage of white, thin, clear, and fishy-smelling stool. In cases with a slow pulse and white tongue coating, one should dispel cold and simultaneously support Spleen Earth, whereupon the dysentery will cease naturally. The Nuan Pei Bei Jian method (Warm and Nourish the Inferior Monitor method) should be used, assisted by Zhaka Tan (Charred Crataegi Fructus) and Muxiang. However, Cold Dysentery can also present with red blood; this must not be overlooked. Ultimately, the basis for differentiation is a slow pulse and white tongue coating. If the pulse is rapid and the tongue coating yellow, it is Heat Dysentery, and warming agents must not be applied. Physicians must always differentiate cold and heat through pulse and tongue diagnosis, and must not neglect these details.

Wang Haizang stated: "Internal injury from cold toxins, compounded by the use of cold-cooling therapies, is incorrect treatment." Moreover, blood congealed by cold seeps into the large intestine and is discharged; it moves only when warmed. Therefore, using hot medicines stops the bleeding naturally. The Classics state: "Treating disease requires seeking its root," which refers to this principle. Once the Stomach is warmed, the blood ceases to congeal and flows freely, each element remaining in its proper place.

Cheng Xi stated: "I have observed that contemporary physicians treating dysentery do not distinguish between heat and cold patterns. They immediately speak of damp-heat and immediately apply cold-cooling herbs. This is likely because they have not investigated the pulse image nor examined the tongue coating. When differentiating the cold/heat, deficiency/excess, exterior/interior, and Yin/Yang of a disease, one must carefully seek answers within the pulse and tongue coating, thereby avoiding error."