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Translation:

It is said that deficiency syndromes can give rise to disease, and excess syndromes are also diseases. Treating a deficiency syndrome according to the principles for an excess syndrome will aggravate the illness and worsen the condition. One must understand the cold or heat nature internally and examine the clinical manifestations externally. In cases of three excesses and two deficiencies, the Shen (Spirit) becomes unsettled; in cases of three deficiencies and two excesses, the person falls ill.

Regarding the pathology of deficiency, its onset is rapid; regarding the pathology of excess, its onset is slow. Before an excess syndrome causes harm, a deficiency syndrome may already have precipitated disaster, moving swiftly. The Liver, Heart, Spleen, Lung, and Kidney generate each other in a Mother-Child relationship. The Lung, Liver, Spleen, Kidney, and Heart restrain each other in a controlling cycle.

For instance, when the Stomach and Spleen meridians are deficient, symptoms such as vomiting, hiccups, and inability to eat occur. When Heart Qi is insufficient, palpitations and fright arise. If both the Mother and Child organs are deficient, resulting in urinary retention and difficulty, would it be appropriate to treat with diuretics? Therefore, those who understand internal mechanisms know that when the Mother organ is deficient, it relies on the fullness of the Child organ to compensate; when the Child organ is deficient, it relies on the nourishment of the Mother organ to recover.

If there is heat in the Lung home, should it be purged? If the Large Intestine is slippery and loose, is warming therapy applicable? Physicians often only investigate the deficiency of the Mother organ and regulate the excess of the Child organ. If one attacks the Child organ, the Mother organ will also become deficient. This is what is meant by "The Mother can cause the Child to be full, and the Child can cause the Mother to be deficient." Treating Spleen disease by purging the Heart represents the principle of "regulating excess leading to deficiency" (Li Shi Zhi Xu).

It is said that both Shanghan (Cold Damage) and Douzhen (Smallpox/Chickenpox) discuss the concepts of exterior and interior, but they differ significantly and involve opposite pathogenic transmissions. Shanghan transmits from the exterior to the interior, whereas Douzhen originates from the interior and emerges to the exterior. The feverish physical signs and symptoms are quite similar to Shanghan. Families of patients, failing to distinguish the severity, mix up the received pathogens, and administer Shengma Gegen Tang (Cinnamon Twig and Pueraria Root Decoction) or overdose it. Although the exterior syndrome has resolved, sweating continues incessantly. Excessive sweating leads to interior deficiency and thirst, while heat enters the deficiency and transforms entirely into rashes and pustules. Naturally emerging rashes, though widespread and numerous, fail to develop into proper pustules, appearing merely as small red spots. This occurs because the heat power is limited, the interior and exterior are not continuous, and Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) Qi do not receive assistance, causing them to fail midway and gradually turn black and depressed. This is not due to food toxicity or wind invasion, but rather a major error caused by improper promotion of eruption. Violating natural laws, death occurs without understanding the cause. This is termed "benefiting the exterior while injuring the interior" (Li Biao Shang Li). Even with excellent prescriptions, it is difficult to restore balance. How tragic!

It is said that pediatric fever is the same as in adults. Heat in the Sanjiao (Triple Burner) causes thirst; Lung shock with diarrhea and empty irritability causes thirst; upper excess and lower deficiency cause thirst; failure of Water and Fire to interact causes thirst; latent summerheat and accumulated heat cause thirst; exhaustion of body fluids causes thirst.

Thirst itself has no fixed etiology, only the presence of heat. If heat is at the exterior and agitates the interior, the interior itself has no heat, but due to receiving deficiency, exterior heat transmits to the interior, paradoxically causing thirst. If both exterior and interior are deficient, drinking water enters the Spleen, dampness affects the head, face, hands, and feet, leading to edema. If physicians use purgative methods, they only exacerbate the disease. One should employ methods to support the exterior and rescue the interior, perhaps preserving life. Many die from such conditions.