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Warm disease is a major category of exogenous febrile diseases. Ye Tianshi's *Wenre Lun* (Treatise on Warm Diseases) is a famous work discussing the syndrome differentiation and treatment of warm diseases. It established the four levels of Wei (Defensive), Qi, Ying (Nutritive), and Xue (Blood) as the basis for syndrome differentiation, and pointed out that the transmission patterns of warm diseases include two types: Shun Chuan (Sequential Transmission) and Ni Chuan (Reverse Transmission). Sequential transmission proceeds gradually from Wei to Qi, then to Ying, and finally to Xue; Reverse transmission goes directly from Wei to Ying. As for how to differentiate between Wei, Qi, Ying, and Xue, it mainly relies on the diagnostic characteristics of warm diseases, using observation of the tongue, examination of the teeth, and identification of macules, papules, and Bai Bo (white miliary rash) as key points. Then, combined with the clinical presentation, a diagnosis is made and treatment methods are determined. The entire text provides a complete system of theory, principles, formulas, and herbs from general principles to specific applications, playing a guiding role in clinical practice. It is now reorganized into chapters for discussion as follows.

Warm pathogenic factors enter from above (mouth and nose), first attacking the Lung. In cases of reverse transmission, they go directly to the Pericardium. The Lung governs Qi and belongs to the Wei level; the Heart governs Blood and belongs to the Ying level. Differentiating between Ying, Wei, Qi, and Xue is similar to that in Cold Damage (Shanghan); however, regarding treatment methods, there is a significant difference from Cold Damage.
Generally, the pathogenic factors of Cold Damage linger at the exterior before transforming into heat and entering the interior; warm pathogenic factors transform into heat most rapidly. If the pathogen has not yet entered the Pericardium, it remains in the Lung. The Lung connects with the skin and hair and governs Qi, so it is said that the pathogen is at the exterior. Initially, use mild acrid-cool agents. If accompanied by Wind, add herbs such as Bohe (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba) and Niubangzi (Arctii Fructus); if accompanied by Dampness, add substances such as Lugeng (Phragmitis Rhizoma) and Huashi (Talcum). Alternatively, vent the Wind outside the Heat, or drain the Dampness below the Heat. If the pathogens do not intermingle with the Heat, they will inevitably become isolated.
Otherwise, Wind carrying Warmth leads to the generation of Dryness, causing the clear orifices to become dry. This is because the essence of Water cannot ascend to nourish, resulting in the mutual depletion by two Yang pathogens (Wind is a Yang pathogen, and Warmth is also a Yang pathogen); when Dampness combines with Warmth, steaming and stagnation occur, clouding the upper part, causing obstruction of the clear orifices. This is turbid pathogens harming the clear Yang. The illness resembles Cold Damage; the method of verification is that Cold Damage often presents with changing symptoms, whereas warm diseases, even if prolonged, remain within one stage/meridian, which serves as the basis for differentiation.

As previously mentioned, using acrid-cool drugs to disperse Wind and sweet-bland drugs to drive out Dampness, if the disease still does not resolve, it indicates that the pathogen is gradually entering the Ying level. When the Ying level is affected by heat, the blood is depleted, the Shen (Spirit) becomes unsettled, symptoms worsen at night leading to insomnia, or faint macules appear. At this point, Qi-level medicines should be withdrawn immediately. If the pathogen entered due to Wind-Heat, use substances like Xijiao (Rhinocerotis Cornu) and Zhuye (Bambusae Folium); if it entered due to Damp-Heat, use products like Xijiao and Hualu (Floral Dew). Incorporate them into formulas for cooling the blood and clearing heat. If restlessness and constipation are added, Jinzhi (Human Feces Clear Liquid) may also be added. For elderly patients and those with chronic cold constitutions, Renzhonghuang (Coptidis Rhizoma soaked in human waste) can be used as a substitute. Rapidly venting the macules is essential.
If the fever does not resolve after the appearance of macules, it is due to the exhaustion of Stomach Yin. The primary treatment is sweet-cold fluids to generate fluids; in severe cases, use Yunu Jian (Jade Woman Decoction); in mild cases, use pear skin and sugarcane juice. Or, if the person’s Kidney Water was originally deficient, although the disease has not yet reached the Lower Jiao, tremors or convulsions often appear first. This must be verified through tongue diagnosis. Add salty-cold yin-nourishing herbs to the sweet-cold formula. It is crucial to secure the areas not yet affected by the pathogen beforehand, fearing further invasion.