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When treating miscellaneous diseases, using too many types of herbs usually does not cause significant harm. For example, in invigorating the Spleen (Zang-Fu Organ responsible for transformation and transportation), if a large amount of Atractylodis Rhizoma (Baizhu, 白术) has already been used, then adding Dioscoreae Rhizoma (Shanyao, 山药) is acceptable; adding Dolichoris Semen (Bian Dou, 扁豆) is also acceptable; even adding Nelumbinis Semen (Lian Rou, 莲肉) and Zizyphi Fructus (Zao Rou, 枣肉) poses no problem. Similarly, in tonifying the Kidney (Zang-Fu Organ storing essence), if a large amount of Rehmanniae Radix Preparata (Shu Di Huang, 熟地) has already been used, then adding Lycii Fructus (Gou Qi, 枸杞) is acceptable; adding Cuscutae Semen (Tu Si Zi, 菟丝子) is acceptable; adding Cistanches Herba (Rong Rong, 苁蓉), Polygoni Multiflori Radix (Shou Wu, 首乌), Euryales Semen (Qian Shi, 芡实), and Eucommiae Cortex (Du Zhong, 杜仲) is also acceptable. Tonifying herbs are indeed never too many; even if the prescription for miscellaneous diseases is overly complex, the harm remains slight. If one feels it is inappropriate, reducing the number of herbs quickly may still salvage the situation. However, this is not the case with Plague (Yi Bing, 瘟疫). For instance, Puerariae Radix (Ge Gen, 葛根) is one of the mildest herbs in plague treatment. If the pathogenic factor is in the Taiyang Channel (Taiyang Jing, 太阳经 - the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian), adding Ge Gen too early may actually guide the pathogen into the Yangming Channel (Yangming Jing, 阳明经 - the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian). Furthermore, both Puerariae Radix (Ge Gen, 葛根) and Angelicae Dahuricae Radix (Bai Zhi, 白芷) belong to dispersing agents for Yangming disorders, but Bai Zhi is warm and dispersing, while Ge Gen is cool and dispersing. Bai Zhi disperses Wind-Cold pathogens in the Yangming channel, whereas Ge Gen disperses Warm-Heat pathogens in the Yangming channel. If the Warm-Heat pathogen is located in the Yangming channel, using Ge Gen together with Bai Zhi will inevitably cause mutual interference (che zhou, 掣肘), and it is likely that the outcome will not be as safe as when multiple herbs are used for other miscellaneous diseases. Therefore, when treating Plague, medication must be based on pulse and symptoms, accurately determining which channel the pathogen resides in, whether it is in the Exterior or Interior, or if it involves concurrent disease (Bing Bing, 并病 - simultaneous involvement of two or more channels) or combined disease (He Bing, 合病 - sequential involvement of two or more channels). One should strike directly at the core issue, addressing the key points, limiting the prescription to no more than five or six herbs. As for the dosage, it depends on temporary judgment, observing the patient's age and deficiency/excess status, and the depth and progression of the disease, to adjust accordingly. Hence, most prescriptions recorded in this book contain only processing methods without specific dosages, intending for practitioners to exercise flexibility and discretion.

Regarding epidemic diseases, I divide them into three categories: Plague (Wen Yi, 瘟疫), Cold Plague (Han Yi, 寒疫), and Miscellaneous Plague (Za Yi, 杂疫). With these three, the spectrum of epidemic diseases is complete. However, this is not sufficient. I recall a certain year where there was no snow throughout the winter, and the weather remained mild. In spring, there was no rain, and by summer, there was severe drought. By the end of spring, epidemics prevailed. At that time, typical Plague cases were few, while Miscellaneous Plague cases were numerous. There were children with exanthems, adults with exanthems, children suffering from dysentery or diarrhea after exanthems, adults suffering from dysentery or diarrhea, those who had diarrhea first followed by dysentery, those who had dysentery first followed by diarrhea, those with diarrhea/dysentery accompanied by abdominal distension and pain, those with distension/pain but no diarrhea/dysentery, those whose diarrhea/dysentery healed but recurred after a long delay, those whose plague recovered but recurred after a long delay, those who recurred with different symptoms from before, those with abdominal distension but no pain, those with pain but no distension, those with loss of appetite, those with fever alone, those who became aphasic after initial plague symptoms, those with swelling of the head and face, those with boils all over the body, those with scabies, those with cholera, those with pruritus, those with plague accompanied by diarrhea. In cities and villages, every household exhibited similar symptoms. Could such a wide variety be treated by a single formula like Da Yuan Yin (Origin-Reaching Decoction)? The treatment methods also differ from those for ordinary diarrhea, dysentery, distension, and pain. These all fall under the category of Miscellaneous Plague. In summary, Miscellaneous Plague encompasses virtually any disease, except for those manifesting primarily with throat/pharynx discomfort or nocturnal emission.