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Warm diseases are distinctly different from cold damage diseases. Cold damage diseases must occur in winter, whereas warm diseases can occur in all four seasons. Cold damage is caused by contracting severe cold qi; the pathogen transmits one meridian per day, and treatment should be administered according to the Six Meridians differentiation. Warm diseases, on the other hand, are caused by contracting warm, hot, turbid, and foul qi; the transmission of the pathogen is irregular, and treatment should be based on the Upper, Middle, and Lower Jiao differentiation, as well as whether the pathogen is in the Qi level or the Blood level.

According to the warm diseases listed in ancient texts: When wind-wood qi is dominant in early spring and disease occurs, it is called Wind-Warmth (Fengwen). When warm and hot qi gradually intensifies in late spring and early summer, it is called Warmth (Wenre). When disease occurs in summer with summer heat being more prevalent than dampness, it is called Summer-Warmth (Shuwen) (Summer-warmth refers to contracting summer heat. If it manifests after the season has passed, it is called Hidden Summer-heat [Fushu]). When dampness is more prevalent than heat in late summer and early autumn, it is called Damp-Warmth (Shiwen). When the winter climate is abnormally warm, causing yang qi to fail to store itself, it is called Winter-Warmth (Dongwen). When foul epidemic qi spreads contagiously, affecting every household similarly like forced labor, this is called Warm Epidemic (Wenyi). When the foul and turbid qi is extremely severe, and various warm diseases are complicated by toxic factors, it is called Warm-Toxicity (Wendu). Although the names for these various conditions are numerous, their treatment methods essentially require carefully examining whether the warm pathogen is complicated by dampness, and determining which is more prevalent between dampness and warmth, to differentiate medication.

Currently, warm pathogens that are not complicated by dampness are collectively categorized under Wind-Warmth and listed in Volume 1. Warm pathogens that are complicated by dampness are collectively categorized under Damp-Warmth and listed in Volume 2. (Ye Tianshi's *Treatise on Warm Heat* and Xue Shengbai's *Supplementary Remarks on Warm Heat* both establish their theories by contrasting wind and dampness; thus, we follow this approach.) Within these two volumes, each is further divided into three chapters according to the Upper, Middle, and Lower Jiao. This classification allows for clear understanding at a glance.

The treatments for Wind-Warmth, Warmth, Winter-Warmth, and Warm-Toxicity in Volume 1 are generally the same (with Warm-Toxicity slightly incorporating detoxifying methods). The treatments for Damp-Warmth and Summer-Warmth in Volume 2 differ slightly in medication depending on whether dampness or heat is predominant. (Regarding syndromes where dampness and heat combine: if heat is more prevalent than dampness, they can be treated using the method for Summer-Warmth; if dampness is more prevalent than heat, they can be treated using the method for Damp-Warmth. One need not rigidly adhere to the summer and autumn seasons. There are also cases where an individual’s constitution already possesses dampness, and upon contracting external warm heat, illness ensues regardless of the season; these all fall under Damp-Warmth with identical treatment methods. Ancient texts classified syndromes by season merely as a general guideline.) As for Warm Epidemic, it is a流行 of severe epidemic qi at a certain time, which may or may not be complicated by dampness, with no fixed initial presentation. One must observe the specific manifestations temporarily and treat according to the guidelines listed in both volumes. Therefore, items regarding Warm Epidemic are included in both volumes.

In summary, warm and heat pathogens easily injure Yin fluids. Regardless of whether there is complication by dampness or dryness, constantly preventing the injury of Yin fluids is the primary principle. It is most taboo to use acrid-warm ascending and dispersing herbs such as Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang), Cinnamon Twig (Guizhi), Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix (Qianghuo), Angelicae Pubescentis Radix (Duohuo), Cimicifugae Rhizoma (Shengma), and Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu). If these are mistakenly used, Yin fluids will be severely damaged, inevitably causing mild conditions to become severe and severe conditions to become incurable. Caution is imperative.