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For those with weak Qi and Blood, they lack the capacity to carry and transform toxins, making it difficult for smallpox lesions to manifest; this is fundamentally a fault of deficient Qi and Blood. Why do people fail to understand this principle and instead forcibly feed them toxic substances such as insects, fish, pungent meats, beef lice, and human teeth to stimulate the Middle Jiao Qi? Alas! The principle of "using toxicity to combat toxicity" rarely achieves mutual victory. Moreover, since smallpox arises from contact with seasonal epidemic pathogens, it indeed emerges through these means. However, one fails to realize that toxic drugs damage the body's Yuan Qi (Primary Qi). Once Yuan Qi is depleted, the toxin becomes even more rampant. With Qi lacking the ability to expel toxins and Blood losing its power to transport them, the toxins are left at the mercy of the drugs, forced out into the interstices of the skin (Cou Li). One part of the toxin multiplies into several parts, one sore turns into ten, failing to form distinct pustules, resembling scabies or measles. Shortly thereafter, when Middle Jiao Qi recovers but Qi and Blood are not yet robust, and the drug's effect temporarily wanes, the fierce toxin intensifies its momentum and attacks inwardly. Furthermore, during the initial stage when the goal is to release the exterior, violent cases may use rooster comb blood, rooster head, rooster brain, sheep head, and sheep brain; during the suppuration stage when the goal is tonification and support, tender lamb juice and oil-fried rooster meat may be consumed. Ordinary foods naturally contain the most suitable flavors that both address the condition and nourish Qi and Blood; why rely on such foul substances?

The functions of the Zang-Fu organs thrive on fragrance, which allows Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) Qi to flow freely, whereas foul odors cause stagnation and blockage of Ying and Wei Qi. Smallpox relies entirely on the harmonious and smooth flow of Ying and Wei Qi for successful resolution. If stagnant, heat toxins have no way to dissipate and excrete. Therefore, filth and foul odors should certainly be avoided. However, fragrances like orchid and musk can scatter and deplete Yuan Qi, making them unsuitable. Exceptions include burning jujube smoke, which can repel aberrant Qi, assist Ying and Wei Qi, and stimulate appetite. If infected by filth from sexual activity, menstruation, or childbirth, burning jujube smoke resolves it; to prevent itching, burning birch bark with jujube resolves it; if repelled by wine fumes, burning Kudzu root (Ge Gen) and Yin Chen resolves it; if repelled by the Five Pungents (Wu Xin), burning ginger resolves it; if attacked by corpse odor or plague Qi, burning Rhubarb (Da Huang) and Atractylodes macrocephala (Cang Zhu) resolves it; if repelled by fox odor, dog, or sheep smells, burning maple balls resolves it; in rainy or windy weather, burning Cang Zhu and maple balls provides protection; for smallpox with insufficient Blood leading to difficult pus formation, burning Cang Zhu is contraindicated to avoid excessive dryness hindering pus formation; for various evil airs, generally burning Frankincense (Ru Xiang) for fumigation and spraying Coriander (Hu Sui) wine is used. However, the common practice of fumigating with vinegar is misguided; while vinegar moves Blood, its sour nature is astringent, which is highly inappropriate. In summary, once smallpox erupts, the Zang-Fu organs are empty. Diet should be regulated: neither too hungry nor too full. Clothing should be adjusted: neither too cold nor too hot. Any deviation leads to immediate disaster. Thus, all taboos must be strictly observed.

At the onset of smallpox, it is advisable to eat bamboo shoot tips, sheep head, rooster brain, rooster comb blood, meat cooked in rice, silkworm pupae, and fermented rice wine. During the suppuration stage, goose tail meat, rooster heads, boiled lotus seeds, jujubes, aged cured meat, longan, oil-fried eggs, glutinous rice porridge, meatballs, and tender lamb juice are suitable. At the crusting stage, only cool foods are appropriate, and toxic substances must be avoided.

Throughout the course of smallpox, avoid eggplant, green onion, garlic, leek, Welsh onion, chestnuts, crab, fresh fish, candied fruits, chili peppers, seasonal fruits, clams, fresh pork, heart/kidney blood/marrow, liver/intestines, wine lees, scallops, lychee, tangerine, millet, wheat flour, strong liquor, raw/cold foods, heating/venting foods, and cold-natured foods.

During sleep in the smallpox period, one must not be startled, otherwise pre-suppurative or post-suppurative convulsions may occur, and during the filling stage, pus stagnation may result.

In severe winter, place plenty of charcoal fires in the room to restore vitality; in midsummer, arrange ice water to soothe the Heart. Ensure warmth consistent with the seasons, ideally maintaining the harmonious flow of Qi and Blood as seen in spring.

Taboos include: avoiding brushing hair facing outward; avoiding pathogenic influences of the Six Excesses (Liu Yin); avoiding visits from strangers; avoiding monks, nuns, shamans, or sorcerers entering the room; avoiding scratching towards oneself; avoiding extreme temperatures; avoiding sweeping while facing outward; avoiding extremes of hunger and fullness; avoiding sudden shocks; avoiding chickens, dogs, cattle, and sheep; avoiding lying; avoiding drinking cold liquids or eating ice; avoiding singing and music during meals; avoiding cursing and anger; avoiding pregnant women; avoiding crying towards oneself; avoiding fumes from frying, oil, salt, and fish; avoiding vaginal discharge odors; avoiding menstrual odors; avoiding musk and foul odors; avoiding axillary fox odor; avoiding sewage stench; avoiding fumes from applying wound medicines; avoiding odors from cattle/sheep candles; avoiding sulfur and mosquito coil smoke; avoiding the Five Pungents; avoiding foul odors from sores; avoiding coal dust smoke; avoiding sweat from long travel; avoiding extinguishing candle breath; avoiding burnt hair smoke; avoiding wood, smoke, fish, bone, and hair odors; avoiding green onion, garlic, leek, and Welsh onion odors; avoiding corpse odors; avoiding general fishy/foul odors; avoiding alcohol and meat fumes; using only pure vegetable oil for lamps, never cottonseed or mixed oils; staying away from oil presses, as smelling fragrance causes transformation of the disease.

If all these precautions are followed with care, severe cases may become mild. If taboos are ignored and negligence prevails, mild cases may become severe. Exercise utmost caution.