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All things have a root, and in the treatment of disease, seeking the root is the primary task. The so-called "root" refers to that which is unique and singular. Generally, if caused by external pathogens, the root lies in the Exterior (Biao). If caused by internal injury, the root lies in the Interior (Li). If suffering from heat disease, the root lies in Fire (Heat pathogen). If suffering from cold disease, the root lies in Cold (Cold pathogen). If there is an excess of pathogenic factors, the root lies in Excess (Shi). If there is a deficiency of healthy Qi, the root lies in Deficiency (Xu). One must only investigate the cause of onset; the cause of the disease's onset is the disease root. The roots of all diseases are merely these six: Exterior, Interior, Cold, Heat, Excess, and Deficiency. Understanding these six allows one to clearly distinguish Exterior syndromes, Interior syndromes, and the states of Cold, Heat, Excess, and Deficiency. These six exist in opposition to each other, like ice and charcoal, and their differentiation varies. For illnesses not treated promptly at the onset, or those not cured due to misdiagnosis and mistreatment, pathological changes inevitably multiply day by day, all stemming from the disease root. It is most inadvisable to guess item by item or to have short-sighted vision focused only on the present. The Classic says: "When numerous pulses are not seen, and numerous ominous signs are not heard, when the exterior and interior correspond, do not let form precede." This is indeed the utmost importance in seeking the root. If one does not know this, one is merely a mediocre practitioner. Therefore, the wise alone know the cause and directly target the root; consequently, all resulting diseases will recede along with the resolution of the root.

Among these six, many cases present with combined manifestations, yet within them, there are sources and branches, all of which can be observed. However, the characters "Deficiency" and "Excess" summarize the preceding four categories, making them particularly crucial to differentiate. Deficiency originates from the insufficiency of Primordial Qi (Yuan Qi), while Excess arises from pathogenic Qi. If Primordial Qi is deficient, even if pathogenic Qi exists, it cannot be attacked vigorously; otherwise, the pathogen cannot be resolved, potentially leading to a situation where attack becomes unavoidable, which is the most difficult area to handle. One must assess whether the patient can withstand attack, or whether it is appropriate to use attack as tonification, or tonification as attack, thereby mastering the balance between tonifying and purging with precision. This achieves perfection. Moreover, it is common to see occasional mild ailments where the pathogenesis is not severe. At such times, knowing how to remove the root allows for cure with a single prescription. Yet, mediocre practitioners, upon encountering this, label everything as Phlegm or Fire, attacking from all directions without true insight, thereby neglecting the actual root. This often results in mild conditions worsening daily and severe conditions becoming critical, harming people entirely due to ignorance of the root and branch relationship. Indeed! Medicine values spiritual acuity; where is this acuity far? I thus say: A physician has a wise eye, looking beyond the immediate situation; a physician has a wise heart, perceiving before signs manifest. If one can truly penetrate and illuminate, understanding the subtle beginnings, then one can be called a physician—is that all? There would be no need for the concept of a "Great Medical King" (a supreme healer).