燥为六淫之一，《内经》于此条，并未大畅其说。至西昌喻氏着《秋燥论》一篇，谓世俗相沿，误以湿病为
燥病，解者亦竞以燥病为湿病，而于《内经》所谓“秋伤于燥，上逆而咳，发为痿厥”数语，全然误会，可谓
独具只眼，大声喝破矣。惟篇中谓秋不遽燥，大热之后，继以凉生，凉生而热解，渐至大凉，而燥令乃行焉。
此则燥字之义，乃作大凉解，而燥中全无热气矣。独不思“秋阳以暴之”一语，朱子注中，谓秋日燥烈，言
暴之干也。可见秋阳甚于夏日，燥非全主乎凉。乃篇中又申其说，以为天道春不分不温，夏不至不热，则
秋不分不燥之意，隐然言下矣。信斯言也，则必秋分以后，方得谓之秋燥。是燥病亦只主得半季，而秋分
以前之四十五日，全不关秋燥矣。由斯以推，则冬至以后方是伤寒，春分以后方是春温，夏至以后方是
三气；而于冬至以前，春分以前，夏至以前，秋分以前之四十五日内，所感者为何气，所得者谓之何病乎？
愚谓燥者干也，对湿言之也。立秋以后，湿气去而燥气来。初秋尚热，则燥而热；深秋既凉，则燥而凉。以燥
为全体，而以热与凉为之用，兼此二义，方见燥字圆相。若专主一边，遗漏一边，恐非确论。窃附管见或亦
愚者千虑之一得云。
肺受燥热，发热咳嗽，甚则喘而失血，清金保肺汤主之。
清金保肺汤（自制）
天冬（一钱五分） 麦冬（一钱五分） 南沙参（三钱） 北沙参（三钱） 石斛（二钱） 玉竹（三钱） 贝母
（二钱） 茜根（二钱） 杏仁（三钱） 蒌皮（三钱） 茯苓（二钱） 蛤粉（三钱） 梨（三片） 藕（五片）
清金保肺，必先甘凉养胃，以胃为肺之来源，脾为肺母也。二沙、麦冬、玉竹、石斛，是肺药亦是胃药。甘不
妨胃，润能保肺，是先贤之定法，亦是费氏的绝唱。祖怡注。
肺受燥凉，咳而微喘，气郁不下，润肺降气汤主之。
润肺降气汤（自制）
沙参（四钱） 蒌仁（四钱） 桑皮（二钱） 苏子（二钱） 杏仁（三钱）
旋复花（一钱绢包） 橘红（一钱） 郁金（二钱） 合欢花（二钱） 鲜姜皮（五分）
此方重在气郁不下，为咳而微喘之原因。乃秋凉抑郁肺气，凉而兼燥，肺少津液上供，肺气不得下降
而咳。郁解津回，燥能转润，而气自下降也。祖怡注。
Dryness is one of the Six Excesses (Wind, Cold, Summer-heat, Dampness, Dryness, and Fire). The *Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) did not elaborate extensively on this aspect. Later, Yu Jiayan from Xichang wrote an essay titled "Treatise on Autumn Dryness," pointing out that common practice erroneously confuses Dampness diseases with Dryness diseases, and commentators often interpret Dryness diseases as Dampness diseases. They completely misunderstood the *Neijing*'s statement: "Injury by dryness in autumn leads to rebellious Qi causing cough, developing into flaccidity syndrome and cold extremities." This can be considered a unique insight that loudly exposes these errors. However, the essay argues that autumn does not become dry immediately; rather, after intense heat, coolness arises. As coolness emerges and heat dissipates, gradually becoming very cool, the influence of dryness then prevails. Here, the meaning of "dryness" is interpreted as extreme coolness, devoid of any hot Qi. Did they not consider the phrase "The autumn sun dries it out"? Zhu Xi's commentary states that the autumn sun is dry and fierce, referring to drying through exposure. This shows that autumn sunlight is more intense than summer's, and dryness is not solely associated with coolness. Furthermore, the essay extends this argument, implying that just as heaven's way dictates warmth only after the Spring Equinox and heat only after the Summer Solstice, dryness occurs only after the Autumn Equinox. If one believes this, then only after the Autumn Equinox can it be called "Autumn Dryness Disease." Consequently, dryness disease would only cover half the season, leaving the forty-five days before the Autumn Equinox entirely unrelated to autumn dryness. By this logic, Winter Cold would only occur after the Winter Solstice, Spring Warmth only after the Spring Equinox, and the Three Qi only after the Summer Solstice; what pathogenic factor is contracted, and what disease is named, during the forty-five days preceding these solstices and equinoxes? I believe "dryness" means dryness, defined in contrast to dampness. After the Start of Autumn, dampness recedes and dryness arrives. In early autumn, when heat remains, it manifests as dryness combined with heat; in late autumn, when coolness sets in, it manifests as dryness combined with coolness. Taking dryness as the substance and heat/coolness as its function, encompassing both meanings reveals the complete nature of "dryness." Focusing exclusively on one side while neglecting the other is likely not an accurate conclusion. I privately offer my humble opinion, hoping it may be one gain from a thousand reflections by a fool.
When the Lung is affected by Dryness-Heat, symptoms include fever and cough, which may progress to wheezing and hemoptysis. It is treated with Qingjin Baofei Decoction.
Qingjin Baofei Decoction (Self-made formula)
Asparagi Radix (Tiandong, 1.5 qian) Ophiopogonis Radix (Maidong, 1.5 qian) Adenophorae Radix (Nanshashen, 3 qian) Glehniae Radix (Beishashen, 3 qian) Dendrobii Caulis (Shihu, 2 qian) Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma (Yuzhu, 3 qian) Fritillariae Bulbus (Beimu, 2 qian) Rubiae Radix et Rhizoma (Qigen, 2 qian) Armeniaci Semen Amarum (Xingren, 3 qian) Benincasae Pericarpium (Loupi, 3 qian) Poria (Fuling, 2 qian) Margarita Powder (Gafen, 3 qian) Pyri Fructus (Pear, 3 slices) Nelumbinis Rhizoma (Lotus Root, 5 slices)
To clear Metal and protect the Lung, one must first nourish the Stomach with sweet-cool herbs, because the Stomach is the source of the Lung, and the Spleen is the mother of the Lung. Nanshashen, Beishashen, Maidong, Yuzhu, and Shihu are herbs for both the Lung and the Stomach. Sweet flavors do not hinder the Stomach, and moistening properties protect the Lung; this is a established method of the sages and also a masterpiece of Fei Boxiong. (Zuyi's note)
When the Lung is affected by Dryness-Cool, symptoms include cough with slight wheezing and Qi stagnation failing to descend. It is treated with Runfei Jiangqi Decoction.
Runfei Jiangqi Decoction (Self-made formula)
Glehniae Radix or Adenophorae Radix (Shashen, 4 qian) Benincasae Semen (Louren, 4 qian) Mori Cortex (Sangpi, 2 qian) Perillae Fructus (Suzi, 2 qian) Armeniaci Semen Amarum (Xingren, 3 qaven)
Inulae Flos (Xuanfuhua, 1 qian, wrapped in silk) Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Juhong, 1 qian) Curcumae Radix (Yujin, 2 qian) Albiziae Flos (Hehuanhua, 2 qian) Zingiberis Recens Cortex (Xiangjiangpi, 0.5 qian)
This formula focuses on resolving Qi stagnation that fails to descend, which is the cause of cough and slight wheezing. Autumn coolness depresses Lung Qi; coolness combined with dryness reduces Lung fluids available for upward supply, preventing Lung Qi from descending and causing cough. Once stagnation is resolved and fluids return, dryness transforms into moisture, and Qi naturally descends. (Zuyi's note)