Library

Lei Shaoyi stated: Analyzing the Six Qi (Six Climate Factors), Dryness-Jin (Metal associated with dryness) governs the period from the Autumn Equinox to the Beginning of Winter. Yu Jiayan believed that Dryness prevails after the Autumn Equinox, hence stating "Autumn does not become dry immediately," which indeed aligns with the laws of climate movement. Shen Munan said: *Xingli Daquan* states that Dryness belongs to Secondary Cold (a cold slightly milder than severe cold), yet later scholars all claim it belongs to Heat, a significant deviation. For instance, in midsummer when summer heat steams and rises, sweating makes muscles moist and not dry; in late autumn, when Dryness qi prevails, the human Lung Metal responds, causing skin and flesh to become dry and rough due to the weakness of Fire authority (warmth). Thus, Dryness belongs to Coolness; claiming it belongs to Heat is incorrect. Carefully pondering this, it is indeed not erroneous. When treating initial Dryness ailments, one should adopt methods based on Coolness. The Qi of Autumn Dryness initially invades the exterior, presenting with slight headache, aversion to cold, cough, absence of sweat, nasal congestion, and a thin white tongue coating; these are suitable for treatment with Bitter-Warm methods to level Dryness. If there is thirst with sweat and sore throat, it indicates the Coolness of Dryness has transformed into Fire; one should remove Perilla Leaf (Zisuye), Schizonepeta (Jingjie), Cinnamon Twig (Guizhi), and White Peony Root (Baishao) from the formula, adding Scrophularia Root (Xuanshen), Ophiopogon Tuber (Maidong), Butterfly Bush Flower (Niubangzi), and Fritillaria Bulb (Xiangbei) for treatment. If there is cough with air reflux, chest pain, and blood in sputum, it indicates the Lung collaterals are damaged by Dryness-Fire; one should use the Metal-Water Mutual Generation method (nourishing Kidney to moisten Lung), removing Codonopsis Root (Dangshen) and Schisandra Berry (Wuweizi), adding American Ginseng (Xiyangshen) and Eclipta Herba (Hanliancao) for treatment. If none of the above symptoms exist, but only abdominal distension and constipation occur, this indicates Dryness accumulation in the interior; one should use Songbai Tongyou Decoction method. In summary, when Dryness invades the exterior, the disease lies in the Lung; when entering the interior, the disease lies in the Stomach and Intestines. Other conditions such as Liver Dryness, Kidney Dryness, and Blood-Deficiency Dryness belong to internal injuries and are not discussed here.

Another asked: Sir, you follow Yu's *Qiu Zao Lun* saying "Autumn does not become dry immediately, Dryness qi prevails after the Autumn Equinox." However, in *Yi Chun Sheng Yi*, this is discussed in detail, and Yu's error is explicitly pointed out: if Dryness prevails after the Autumn Equinox, does the forty-five days before it have nothing to do with Autumn Dryness? Thus, it is said: "Early autumn is still hot, so Dryness is Hot; late autumn is already cool, so Dryness is Cool." This is truly enlightening words. Why do you not take it as a mirror for guidance? I replied: You do not understand the cycle of the Six Qi, nor do you realize Yu's error. Observe: from Great Cold to Awakening of Insects, the governing Qi is Wind-Wood; from Spring Equinox to Beginning of Summer, it is Sovereign Fire; from Grain Full to Minor Heat, it is Ministerial Fire; from Great Heat to White Dew, it is Wet-Earth; from Autumn Equinox to Beginning of Winter, it is Dryness-Metal; from Light Snow to Minor Cold, it is Cold-Water. These are the annual governing Qis, unchanging since antiquity. By deduction, the command of Dryness-Metal indeed lies from the Autumn Equinox to the Beginning of Winter. The forty-five days prior (White Dew, Limit of Heat, Beginning of Autumn) are still governed by Wet-Earth; how can they be mistaken for Dryness-Metal! Do you agree? The person nodded and withdrew.

Cheng Xi said: Regarding the discussion of Dryness Qi, Yu Jiayan is the foremost, followed by Shen Munan and Wu Jutong. Yu's discussion on Dryness cites the *Great Treatise*: "Water flows to wetness, fire goes to dryness, each following its kind," discussing the Repaying Qi (Rebounding Qi) of Dryness; Shen's discussion that Dryness disease belongs to Coolness, called Secondary Cold, discusses the Overcoming Qi (Dominant Qi) of Dryness; Wu Jutong's discussion includes Overcoming Qi, Repaying Qi, Proper Transformation, Counter Transformation, and Following Root/Mark theories, which can be considered definitive. He stated: For example, Zhang Zhongjing using Ephedra Herb (Mahuang), Cinnamon Twig (Guizhi), Ginger Rhizome (Shengjiang), and Aconite Root (Fuzi) treats the Overcoming Qi of Cold, the Proper Transformation of Cold, and the Root Disease of Cold; Baihu Decoction and Chengqi Decoction treat the Repaying Qi of Cold, the Counter Transformation of Cold, and the Mark Disease of Cold. Understanding this principle clarifies the Overcoming/Repaying, Proper/Counter, and Root/Mark of Dryness Qi.

Jiang Cheng said: People know Warmth is Heat, but do not know Dryness is Coolness. Considering Dryness as Heat is likely due to the bias of the character "Dryness" containing the radical "Fire." If Dryness were Heat, why would Warmth (containing water implication in context of temperature) not be Cold? One must know the seasonal order: Spring Warmth leads to Summer Heat, Autumn Coolness leads to Winter Cold. Shen Munan citing *Xingli Daquan* that Dryness belongs to Coolness truly breaks a millennium-old confusion.

Yang Ruhou said: In Autumn Dryness disease, the right pulse is rapid and large, with slight headache, aversion to cold, cough, and no sweat; this is Dryness transforming from Cold. Fever, thirst, sore throat, and sweat indicate Dryness transforming from Fire. Among the Six Qi, Dryness-Metal governs from Autumn Equinox to Beginning of Winter. Those affected by Dryness Qi get sick lightly as Dryness, heavily as Cold, transform into Wetness, or rebound as Fire. Predecessors claimed among the Six Qi, only Dryness does not cause disease, which is wrong. They likely erred because *Neijing* lacks a specific layer on Autumn Dryness. In years where Yangming governs, surely there are Dryness-Metal diseases? Generally, Spring and Autumn climates are milder than Summer's extreme heat or Winter's extreme cold. Diseases caused by latent Qi from Winter/Summer are more common than those from the governing Qi itself; diseases from latent Qi are severe, while those from governing Qi are mild. Autumn Dryness is somewhat like Spring Warmth. In mid-Autumn: there are cases of latent Summerheat erupting internally with new Coolness externally; cases of latent Summerheat combined with Wetness; Dryness transforming from Cold or Fire. Summerheat, Wetness, Dryness, and Fire mix; differentiation must be meticulous.

Furthermore: Dryness has internal and external distinctions. External Dryness occurs during Yangming Dryness command, long sunny weather without rain, yellow dust obscuring the sky, causing mental confusion, dry scaly skin; this arises from abnormal weather. Internal Dryness arises from seven emotions generating Fire-Dryness, constipation losing fluids, mineral drugs drying blood, sexual exhaustion depleting essence, irregular diet damaging stomach, or consuming roasted/spicy foods aiding Fire and consuming blood; this arises from imprudent lifestyle.

Furthermore: Dryness has exterior and interior differences. Wind, Heat, Fire are Yang; Cold, Dryness, Wetness are Yin. Although Dryness belongs to Autumn Yin, it resembles Wind-Heat. Excessive Fire damages Metal, leaving Wood unchecked to generate Wind; Wind overcomes Wetness, Heat injures Fluids, so Dryness transforms from Fire, resembling Wind-Heat. If Wind-Heat-Dryness stagnates in the exterior with balanced interior, symptoms include frequent stretching/yawning, tendon spasm, occasional aversion to cold, muscle twitching, floating-rapid-wiry pulse. If Wind-Heat-Dryness stagnates in the interior, symptoms include vexation/fullness and stifling obstruction. Thus, Dryness has exterior-interior and qi-blood distinctions. The above refers to Dryness transforming from Fire. However, Dryness also transforms from Cold. The Classic says: "Great arrival of Clear Qi is Dryness Overcoming; Wind-Wood suffers evil, Liver disease arises," belonging to Wind-Stroke. Dryness excess causes Yin deficiency, Yin deficiency causes blood shortage, leading to traction, spasm, skin wasting, or organ dryness; this is Dryness transforming from Yang, injuring interior Ying-Qi, treated by nourishing Ying and tonifying Yin. If Autumn command is excessive, Metal wins and Wind follows, Lung suffers first, belonging to Wind-Cold injury. Wind-Cold binds exterior, Qi responds to skin/hair, causing fever/no sweat, cough/wheezing, nasal congestion/hoarseness, or dry throat; this is Dryness arising from Yin, injuring exterior Wei-Qi, treated with light, ascending, warm-dispersing agents to warm Lung and dispel Cold. Though Dryness is an external pathogen, it has Yin-Yang aspects. Transforming from Yang involves Fire; from Yin involves Cold. Heat injures Yin, connecting to Zang organs; Cold injures Yang, connecting to Jing meridians. Hence, exterior-interior distinction is crucial for treatment.

Furthermore: Dryness transformation varies in sufficiency and insufficiency. Dryness opposes Wetness. *I Ching* says: "Water flows to wetness, fire goes to dryness." Wetness is generated by Water-Fire interaction; Dryness is Qi where Water-Fire do not interact. Fire not steaming Water means no clouds/rain; Water not assisting Fire means no dew/drop, thus Dryness forms. Water not moistening means Wood Qi not nourished, grass/trees wither; Fire not steaming means Earth Qi not developing, fat/marrow dries up. The reason Water-Fire do not interact is Metal's收敛 (gathering/restraining). Restraining stops Water-Fire, hence Shen hour is called Rushou (Harvest). Withered plants and dried springs verify Dryness-Metal's operation. Humans inheriting Dryness-Metal Qi correspond to Yangming Meridian, belonging to Stomach and Large Intestine. Stomach belongs to Earth but dominates Dryness, hence grouped with Large Intestine as Dryness-Metal. Metal gathers, Water-Fire do not interact, forming Dryness; thus Dryness is the Qi of Water-Fire consumption. Digestion relies on this Dryness consumption. (Western medicine notes digestion requires temperature, corresponding to Chinese Dryness Qi.) Insufficient Dryness fails to digest water, causing vomiting/diarrhea, a Wetness disease of insufficient Dryness Qi. *Neijing* under Yangming Governing Heaven, Dryness Excess section mentions great cold changing climate, borborygmus, loose stools. (Meaning: transition from summer heat to coolness causes cold inside, leading to diarrhea.) Sufficient Dryness presents differently as Cold-Dryness or Fire-Dryness. In short, Dryness is the consuming Qi of non-interacting Water-Fire, having Cold-Dryness and Heat-Dryness. Heat-Dryness is more common due to Fire seeking Dryness.

Zhang Ruwei said: Autumn Dryness disease is often ignored. Why prefix "Autumn" to Dryness? Does Dryness start immediately in Autumn? *Neijing* has Xiao (Consumption) syndrome but no Zao (Dryness) syndrome; it has Wei Bi (Flaccidity) names but no Autumn Dryness name. Dryness symptoms resemble Consumption and Flaccidity. Since Yu Jiayan clarified "Long Summer excels in Wetness, Autumn injured by Dryness," changing *Neijing*'s "Autumn injured by Wetness" to Dryness, and creating Qingzao Jiufei Decoction, debates on Autumn Dryness ensued. According to *Shuowen*, Zao means dry. From dry comes hard, from hard comes fruit. The character contains two Fires. Thus, when knotting turns to withering, Dryness symptoms intensify. Autumn follows Summerheat, carrying Wetness; thus, pre-Autumn Equinox diseases belong to Damp-Warmth. Only after Autumn Equinox, when wind is high and air crisp, Wetness exhausted, can Dryness invade. Symptoms include shivering aversion to cold, mild fever, dry cough without phlegm, burning nose, even epistaxis, dry lips/mouth, dry painful throat; this is Upper Dryness, treated with Sweet-Cool Lung-moistening methods, like watering dry objects.

Another type: heat in palms/soles, short urine, hard stool, bleeding with defecation. Lung and Large Intestine are exterior-interior; Lung heat transfers to Large Intestine causing Pi Yue (Spley Confinement) syndrome, caused by Autumn Dryness. Treat with Salty-Moistening descending methods to lubricate Large Intestine and unblock Ying-level, akin to Salt breaking hardness. Analogy: Steel in salt brine corrodes in half a year, proving Salt breaks hardness and moistens Dryness. Fish in salt brine blown by wind becomes hard; humans eating much salt feel thirsty, proving Salt can also generate Dryness. Human Dryness disease must first distinguish Cold-Dryness from Wet-Dryness. Wet-Dryness is like fish: hard but contains water, softens with heat, dries with wind; medication should not lean too much on Sweet-Cool/Moistening, but use Mild-Pungent/Mild-Warm items, as *Neijing* states "Wind can dry Wetness." Cold-Dryness changes with Qi increase, possessing Fire nature without Fire substance; treat with Sweet-Cool descending methods. Distinguishing these two covers half the theory of treating Autumn Dryness.