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The diseases and syndromes discussed in medical texts and pulse diagnosis are numerous, but summarizing their essentials, they do not go beyond the two categories of External Contraction (Wai Gan) and Internal Injury (Nei Shang). However, External Contraction involves differences among Wind, Cold, Summerheat, Dampness, Dryness, and Fire. Since they cause different diseases, their treatment methods are distinctly different. Therefore, Zhang Zhongjing divided the diseases into Six Stages (Taiyang, Yangming, Shaoyang, Taiyin, Shaoyin, Jueyin) for syndrome differentiation and treatment, to distinguish Yin and Yang, Exterior and Interior, Deficiency and Excess, Cold and Heat. This is the primary content that must be thoroughly studied in the *Treatise on Cold Damage Pathogens* (*Shanghan Lun*). When Cold damage pathogens transmit inward, they transform into Heat syndromes; the key lies in distinguishing the depth of the pathogen. If the Exterior pathogen has not been resolved, one must first resolve the Exterior before treating the Interior. Making an error here may cause the external pathogen to sink inward, resulting in critical conditions. In cases where initial contraction of Wind and Cold directly enters the Yin channels, due to insufficiency of the patient's original Qi, one should warm the Middle and assist Yang, and must not mistakenly induce sweating to release the Exterior. Zhang Zhongjing has already detailed these distinctions. Only in the regions south of the Yangtze River, where Wind and Cold are not as severe as in the North, slight use of Acrid-Warm exterior-releasing herbs can resolve the condition. Cases transmitting inward often result from improper initial treatment, causing the Exterior Qi to become closed and the disease to worsen, which is due to unclear syndrome differentiation. Generally, Wind is transformed from Yang Qi. The classics state that Wind is the leader of a hundred diseases; it moves freely and changes frequently, so it varies with Cold, Heat, Warmth, and Coolness. In cold seasons, it is Wind-Cold; in warm seasons, it is Wind-Warmth. After Frost Descent, Cold Qi intensifies daily. Until Winter Solstice, when a single Yang begins to rise from below, and until Start of Spring when Yang Qi emerges from the earth, the Yin Qi descending from above remains strong, so Cold pathogens are prevalent. After Spring Equinox, Yang gradually rises and Yin gradually sinks into the earth, and the climate becomes warm. By the Si month (lunar April), Yang Qi fully ascends above ground, so Cold pathogens decrease. Thus, the classics state that diseases occurring before Summer Solstice are named Warm Diseases, while those after Summer Solstice are named Summerheat Diseases. Warmth refers to pure Yang Qi; when warmth is excessive, it becomes Fire pathogen. Summerheat is named so because at Summer Solstice, a single Yin begins to descend while Yang descends from above. The transformation of Yin and Yang creates an atmosphere of combined Fire and Dampness. Consequently, the Qi of the human body also changes accordingly. Before Summer Solstice, the human body has abundant internal Yang and deficient external Yin; if there is a Cold pathogen, it easily transforms into Heat. After Summer Solstice, the body has abundant external Yang and deficient internal Yin. Since Summerheat is formed by the combination of Fire and Dampness, and Dampness is a Yin pathogen, one must not lightly administer Cold medicines. Ancient formulas for treating Summerheat sometimes use Sheng Jiang (Prepared Ginger), Fu Zi (Aconite Lateralis Radix Praeparata), and Rou Gui (Cinnamon Bark), all based on the profound principles of Yin and Yang, differing from the treatment methods for Warm-Heat pathogens. Students must understand this. As for Autumn Dryness, there are also differences in Yin, Yang, Cold, and Heat, which I have clearly distinguished in my previous work, *Six Qi Theory*. This is the general overview of External Contraction. Regarding miscellaneous Internal Injury syndromes, Zhang Zhongjing’s *Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold for Emergencies* (*Jingui Yaolue*) has clarified the main outline, focusing on distinguishing between Deficiency and Excess. Any injury to the Original Qi caused by erratic emotional movements is Deficiency; any accumulation caused by irregular diet is Excess. For Deficiency syndromes, one must distinguish between Yin/Yang and Qi/Blood. Yin and Yang are rooted in Kidney Yuan (Original Qi), while Qi and Blood are generated from Spleen and Stomach. Therefore, injuries to Qi and Blood are relatively easy to treat by regulating and tonifying the Spleen and Stomach; injuries to Yin and Yang are difficult to treat by nourishing the Kidney Yuan. If Yin essence is damaged but the Spleen and Stomach are strong and stools are firm, moistening and nourishing Yin methods can be used. However, if the Spleen and Stomach are weak and accompanied by loose stools, Yang is also injured, making it untreatable. If Yang is damaged, and the Spleen and Stomach are weak with unconsolidated stools, the patient must be able to tolerate Yang-assisting herbs for a favorable outcome; if they cannot tolerate them, Yin essence is also withered, making it untreatable. If both Yin and Yang are injured but the Spleen and Stomach remain strong, proper regulation can still allow the patient to live with the illness for a long time. If Yin and Yang are not without root, but the Spleen and Stomach fail first, recovery is ultimately impossible. Thus, the classics say: "With Stomach Qi, there is life; without Stomach Qi, there is death." If the Spleen and Stomach are injured by diet or overwork, mild cases can be regulated; chronic injury without recovery will inevitably lead to the failure of both Yin and Yang, due to the lack of the source of generation and transformation. These are the general overview of Internal Injuries. Moreover, purely Deficient or purely Excess conditions suitable for Tonification or Purging are few; most diseases involve mixed Internal Injury and External Contraction, with simultaneous Deficiency and Excess. Conditions change endlessly and are unpredictable. Unless one thoroughly understands the principles of Yin-Yang and the generation/transformation of Qi-Blood, and the differences in depth among Zang-Fu organs and meridians, one cannot distinguish the Deficiency/Excess of the Original Qi and the origin of pathogens, inevitably leading to misdiagnosis and mistreatment. This is why the *Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor* (*Neijing*) must be studied to clarify its principles. The syndromes collected in this section may be incomplete; they should be cross-referenced with sections on Four Diagnostic Methods (Inspection, Auscultation-Olfaction, Inquiry, Palpation), Zang-Fu Organs, and Meridians. Regarding the circulation of the Six Qi, and the changes between Host and Guest Qi, epidemics are often brewed. The classics divide these into five epidemics corresponding to Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, detailed in the Section on Luck (Yun Qi). If one can comprehend these profound principles, despite the variety of pathological changes, they can all be understood through a single principle. Therefore, Pulse Diagnosis and Formula Medicine are the leaders of all medical specialties; whether one can divine and illuminate them depends on the individual.