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Because tissue undergoes degeneration and defect, followed by cell division and proliferation to regenerate and repair, there is absolutely no such thing as "new growth from the very beginning." Using this theory to explain inflammation is the most accurate and precise; other theories are diverse and complex, much like Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) discussions on diseases, where one says yes and another says no, which are omitted here.

2. Causes of Inflammation The cause of inflammation can be summarized in one word: it arises from specific stimuli. Externally, for example, scalding water or fire burns; internally, for example, cold or heat qi (vital energy), and dietary substances can all act as stimuli. However, stimuli vary in intensity (e.g., drinking one cup of wine versus ten cups), and so does the resistance of the tissue. For instance, a person with high alcohol tolerance may drink ten cups without getting drunk, while someone with low tolerance cannot resist even one cup. Thus, inflammation varies in severity. During an epidemic, some individuals do not get infected at all, illustrating this principle. Stimuli that induce inflammation are generally classified into six categories: ① Chemical stimuli, e.g., frequent use of calomel has a rapid effect, causing stomatitis (inflammation of the mouth).

② Mechanical stimuli, e.g., frequent use of catheters for urination makes the urethra prone to inflammation.

③ Thermal stimuli, e.g., exposure to intense sunlight easily causes meningitis.

④ Toxic stimuli, e.g., frequent contact with arsenic compounds leads to poisoning.

⑤ Parasitic plant and animal stimuli, e.g., reproduction of intestinal parasites and various bacteria causes inflammation in that area.

⑥ Electrical stimuli, etc. The sources of stimulation also fall into two types: A. From outside the body through the skin, e.g., injuries caused by plants or animals, such as insect bites or wood splinters. Respiratory tract, e.g., air dust containing pathogens enters the throat and trachea through breathing. Digestive tract, e.g., drinking alcohol or consuming irritating foods; entering from the mouth to the stomach and intestines. Genitourinary system, e.g., transmission of gonococcus. These invade locally and act directly. All the above-mentioned parts receiving stimulation undergo changes due to local tissue alterations and blood circulation obstruction, leading directly to inflammation, e.g., when dysentery bacilli reach the intestines, intestinal inflammation occurs immediately.

B. From existing inflammatory foci within the body. A focus refers to small holes or nodules inside the body that resemble diseased areas. Sometimes, under certain conditions, these areas produce pro-inflammatory substances. These pro-inflammatory substances, similar to disease fluids infiltrating healthy areas, can induce new inflammation in those regions. Transported via blood vessels or lymphatic vessels to distant parts, they trigger new inflammation, which is the cause of inflammation.

3. Pathological Changes of Inflammation Summarized into two types: vascular changes and tissue changes. ① Vascular changes: In the early stages of inflammation, arterial hyperemia is often observed. The vascular motor nerves lose their inherent regulatory function, causing arterioles and capillaries to expand and fill with large amounts of blood. At this time, on mucous membranes (e.g., oral epithelium) or external skin, redness can be seen, resulting from congestion in that area. However, inflammatory congestion differs from simple congestion (e.g., cerebral congestion). Because it lasts for a long time, secondary changes in the vessel walls occur, allowing leukocytes to migrate out and accumulate in the tissues surrounding the vessels (infiltration). These exuded leukocytes often surround areas where harmful substances exist in the tissue (e.g., bamboo or wood splinters). This phenomenon is called chemotaxis. If the lesion progresses, erythrocytes and platelets also exude outside the vessel walls, making the inflammation more obvious. If this exudate accumulates in serous cavities or infiltrates tissues, it becomes inflammatory edema. The result is redness and swelling, such as joint swelling in febrile diseases.

② Tissue changes: In inflammation, these are divided into degenerative changes and progressive changes. Degenerative changes often show necrosis in the affected area; in chronic inflammation, the area tends to undergo caseous degeneration, commonly known as "white dryness," or yin abscesses on the outer skin. Regarding progressive changes, in mild inflammation, the exudate is soon absorbed (healing); if it progresses to a certain extent, leukocytes in the inflammatory focus perform phagocytosis to remove local bacteria and debris. New blood vessels and lymphatic vessels grow from the surrounding tissue of the focus to absorb liquid and soluble debris. Simultaneously, connective tissue cells proliferate to form granulation tissue, which eventually forms scar tissue (commonly known as scars) to heal. This is the general overview of inflammatory pathological changes.

4. Classification and Naming of Inflammation This classification and naming are summarized into four types: ① Alterative inflammation, referring to cloudiness and swelling of organ parenchyma and fatty degeneration. This is parenchymatous inflammation. I once saw a kidney removed from a patient with nephritis; visually, it had become putrefied, which belongs to this category.

② Exudative inflammation, characterized by exudative action, e.g., serous, fibrinous, purulent, catarrhal (meaning flowing out), hemorrhagic, necrotic, septic inflammation, all belong to this category. However, combined transitional changes among several types are common. TCM need not distinguish them finely; for example, catarrh, if diagnosed with fluid presence, can be presumed to be exudative inflammation, treated with diaphoretic methods. TCM has no drainage method, so it is not discussed here. Poria cocos (Fuling) in TCM herbs has a special effect on exudative inflammation, verified through repeated trials, but requires large doses.

③ Proliferative inflammation, characterized by the proliferation of connective tissue, serving as a corrective role for the above two types of inflammation.

④ Granulomatous inflammation, arising from specific infectious causes, e.g., syphilis. Although it involves granulation tissue, it maintains its state for a long time, difficult to form scars, and often tends toward necrosis.

5. Course of Inflammation There are differences in speed: fast and slow. Generally, transient inflammation recovers to normal state in a short time. Acute inflammation takes three to four weeks or several days to heal. Chronic inflammation takes even longer before healing is possible. The speed of the inflammatory course mostly depends on the strength of the stimulus (e.g., injecting dilute croton oil subcutaneously causes serous inflammation with a shorter course, while injecting concentrated croton oil causes purulent inflammation with a longer course), the duration of stimulation (e.g., short-term temperature stimulation causes simple congestion, while prolonged stimulation causes severe gangrenous inflammation), and the state of the tissue, varying in tendency (e.g., in malnourished, anemic tissues, even short-duration, light-strength stimulation causes significant inflammatory changes; similarly, in chronically congested, poorly nourished tissues, even minimal stimulation can cause high-degree inflammation). This is the general outline of the inflammatory course. (When vascular wall changes and blood component exudation in inflammation return to their original state, it is considered healed; this principle is very simple and needs no further elaboration.) 6. Outcome of Inflammation Outcome refers to the result of inflammatory disease. Generally, if the cause of inflammation persists or a second infection occurs, the inflammation naturally follows a chronic course, or the local focus becomes difficult to treat. The cause itself or its metabolic products—metabolic products being waste generated by inflammation, such as dried crusts and pus from skin inflammation—spread to various parts of the body (e.g., pus toxins from sores spreading via blood vessels causing systemic poisoning), inducing new inflammatory foci (e.g., sputum from tuberculosis patients entering the intestine via the esophagus causing intestinal tuberculosis) or producing inherent systemic symptoms (e.g., puerperal fever causing systemic blood poisoning), endangering the patient's life. The outcome of local inflammatory foci also varies depending on the cause and individual tissue predisposition. However, if tissue response is insufficient, or the cause is highly damaging and persistent, the tissue of the local focus continues initial damage, gradually falling into necrotic degeneration. Tissues formed around the primary focus inevitably fall into similar degeneration. In parenchymatous inflammation, due to fatty degeneration, softening, and absorption of parenchymal cells, organ tissues often show degenerative atrophy. In interstitial inflammation, organs become hardened with scar-like depressions on the surface. Conversely, if tissue response is strong, the cause's action is not persistent, and its harm is minimal, granulation tissue newly forms around the inflammation, gradually absorbing into the inflammation to absorb or exclude decayed and degenerated materials. New connective tissue eventually occupies the position of the inflammation, forming scars and healing. (If it is a surface sore, it can be seen with the naked eye.) If absorption of substances within the inflammation is incomplete, and residual lime deposits remain, surrounding tissue dams form, and new connective tissue capsules envelop the stimulating material, cutting off its action on surrounding tissues, allowing for relatively complete healing. The most perfect healing often leaves no trace; this pathology is briefly omitted here.

The above discussion on the general overview of inflammation is based on Western medical pathology, which might seem inappropriate to append here, potentially making the main theme of this compilation appear incongruous. However, I believe that Western medicine's discussion on inflammation is absolutely not equivalent to TCM's discussion on fever. Physicians often confuse the two, which is ridiculous. Past physicians often claimed proficiency in both Western and Chinese medicine, forcing Western theories to fit TCM frameworks, not only misleading people but also harming patients. I dare not claim to know medicine well, but after forty years of repeated experiments and long-term research, I believe that Western and Chinese medicine have principles that absolutely cannot be merged. They should not be forcibly linked, but discussing them separately is acceptable, aiming for academic renewal and true understanding. The ultimate goal is to alleviate patients' suffering. What is medicine? Is it Western or Chinese? Disease Volume III Most ancient Chinese medical texts were written by single authors, discussing various symptoms comprehensively, offering unique insights and logical arguments, listing medical cases covering all diseases. Students read these books, believe in their theories, regard them as standards, and apply them clinically. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't, and sometimes they even cause death instantly. Authors of that era talked big, only concerned with justifying their own views, unaware that they misled future generations, causing great harm. (Such writings actually contain some brilliant thoughts and genuine experiments. If these experiments were openly shared with society, they would be invaluable. However, due to the authors' arrogance, they spoke recklessly, trying to enforce their ideals throughout their entire propositions, resulting in inaccurate and incomplete generalizations, thereby burying their true specialties amidst superficial ink. Students must have sharp eyesight to extract the essence and discard falsehoods, which is the correct approach.) Even worse, they deliberately used obscure and absurd explanations (such medical books are fundamentally not written by doctors but by charlatans who borrow one or two effective medicines to treat people, intentionally creating absurd medical books, inventing strange terms, attributing them to ancient sages, immortals, or emperors. Their intent is to make patients listen to their words as if hearing Sanskrit, thinking heaven and earth are mysterious, amazed by divine techniques, thus deceiving them. Their skills are sophisticated, their hearts cunning, yet their prescription methods are extremely simple and effective. But when writing books, they intentionally create bizarre and unreasonable prescriptions to dazzle and confuse the world. Their books are deliberately disordered and written in obscure language to conceal their fraud. Later generations fell into their traps, regarding them as golden rules, explaining and annotating them, adding errors upon errors, making TCM an incomprehensible object. Recent people call it philosophy, which is still a superficial view. Actually, the essence of TCM is the highest science, and its falsehoods are not worthy of being called philosophy. Such false theories have spread to this day, becoming a major obstacle to TCM academia, truly sigh-worthy. My first step in learning medicine was to see through this source and not be fooled, so as not to consume my life's energy on these false medical books, which benefit nothing practically, leaving me lost in fog.) Self-deception and deceiving others, criticized by the world, spreading until today, unbreakable, truly a pest of TCM, speaking of which is truly hateful. (Ancient medical thoughts tended towards mythology, both East and West, which is not surprising. What I hate most is the forgery of medical books using pseudo-profound and mysterious words to deceive people. I must shout loudly to warn students. This opinion is not arbitrary; it is based on repeated experiments proving their falsity.) I have loved this field since childhood, interested from the start, trapped in these mystical medical theories. At that time, there was no Western medicine for comparison. After middle age, I was often guided by Western medicine (first by Mr. Jiang Ziquan, then by Mr. Ding Fubao), gaining new knowledge. Since then, year after year, I enjoyed it tirelessly. Accumulating over time, I gained insights into both Western and Chinese medicine. Regarding standard treatment methods for any symptom (after nearly forty years of repeated trials, I finally knew which diseases TCM excels in and which Western medicine excels in; within one disease, during certain periods and presenting certain signs, TCM herbs must be used; during other periods and signs, Western medicine must be used. Or for the same disease and same effective drug, whether Chinese or Western, which is superior, I can clearly recognize, hence daring to define standard treatment methods to inform students.), the exact efficacy of any drug (The efficacy of Chinese and Western drugs recorded in materia medica and pharmacology is vast; many have not been tested. But a few drugs are very effective for certain diseases, confirmed through multiple experiments to know their advantages. Knowing that Chinese and Western drugs should never be blindly trusted based solely on book records without doubt. Especially readers of TCM materia medica and modern medical journals must maintain a skeptical attitude. I have compared and tested Chinese and Western drugs for many years, discovering several Chinese herbs with specific effects on certain diseases, surpassing Western drugs, not recorded in materia medica, reporting frankly without a word of falsehood.), gradually recognizing, rarely making mistakes. However, I certainly do not wish to boast of being knowledgeable, claiming all diseases have special cures, speaking boldly, writing them down to mislead later generations (This is a common flaw in TCM books, students should pay attention.). Therefore, the diseases listed in this compilation are those strictly tested without doubt, only then dared I share with peers. The symptoms recorded are indeed common ailments for ordinary people, mostly dangerous and fatal diseases. Slight errors in treatment easily kill. Thus, I paid extra attention to these few diseases. The symptoms recorded in this compilation consumed much of my spirit to achieve these unique, real results, reported frankly. I hope successors continue testing and researching to advance medicine, not teaching or guiding students to claim enlightenment (People's fault lies in liking to teach others, a major flaw of ours.). Therefore, the listed symptoms and medical experiences are repeatedly tested without doubt, then selecting the most important and recent cases, presenting one or two to illustrate the rest (The presented cases are mostly recent treatments and living persons, with detailed addresses for research and visits.). As for my treatment methods and concepts when seeing patients, whether Chinese or Western, I know I may be laughed at by experts, accused of incongruous medical skills, or even opposed by the wise. However, I am not rashly discussing the integration of Chinese and Western medical theories, nor am I superficially boasting about mastering both. I truly know that part of Chinese and Western medicine is completely different and absolutely cannot be integrated. I have experimented for years, treating people, and systematically recorded experiences. I firmly believe my medical skills have reached this level. This medical skill might even be a medium for mixing and communicating Chinese and Western medicine, a guide in the transition between old and new medical theories. Is it TCM theory? Is it Western theory? When clinical, I clearly know which is applicable and adopt it. Is it Chinese herb? Is it Western drug? I can apply them freely and obtain assistance (This medication method comes from decades of experimentation, absolutely not reckless abuse of Western drugs risking lives, do not misunderstand.). Truly recognizing, at a certain stage of a disease, using a certain drug is absolutely effective, and truly knowing certain methods and theories are absolutely wrong for certain diseases. Is it TCM saying? Is it Western saying? I have a part that truly judges right or wrong, not only not confused by overly mystical TCM theories (not knowing how many years it took to jump out of this maze), but also absolutely not constrained by the word "science" in Western medicine (This is not rashly opposing science, but due to years of experience finding flaws in Western treatment, which are flaws of science itself.). In this article, I will not make pointless rebuttals between Chinese and Western medicine, especially regarding TCM theories, which are too numerous to refute. Readers should know that half of the theories not adopted in this article are from repeated experiments and are truly unacceptable.

Infectious Diseases I. Category of Infectious Diseases (There are many types of infectious diseases. Those recorded here are only treatment methods I have experienced for many years and found definitely effective. Other diseases not definitely identified or tested for a short time are omitted.)