Library

Releasing the exterior (using diaphoresis to resolve the exterior) and vigorously purging the interior (using drastic catharsis to unblock the bowels): releasing the exterior severely depletes Yang Qi, while purging the interior severely depletes Yin fluids; this will inevitably lead to premature death. For patients postpartum or suffering from chronic illness, drastic sweating or purging is generally contraindicated; however, if the disease condition is critical, one must apply flexible treatment principles.

Ganmao (Common Cold): "Ganmao" does not refer to "Zheng Shanghan" (True Cold Damage) contracted in winter. Nowadays, many people fail to distinguish between Ganmao and Zheng Shanghan, treating them indiscriminately. The biting cold qi of winter is called "Zheng Shanghan"; whereas in spring, summer, and autumn, the climates are warm, cool, and hot respectively, how can there be cold? Occasionally, non-seasonal cold pathogenic factors may affect a person, which is termed "Ganmao". Since it is called Ganmao, the illness is not trivial, and one must not use the acrid-sweet or acrid-warm herbs used for treating winter's Zheng Shanghan. Instead, slightly acrid-cool herbs should be used to resolve it (such as Perilla Fructus [Zisu], Puerariae Radix [Gange], Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix [Qianghuo]). Moreover, during spring and summer, human skin is loose and interstices (Couli) are open, making it easy for pathogens to enter. This can occur after labor and sweating when exposed to slight cold, or upon removing clothes after returning from outside, or due to seeking coolness because of heat, or sudden cold weather, all of which can cause injury. The symptoms include nasal congestion with clear discharge, cough, headache, slight fever, and slight aversion to cold; this constitutes the Ganmao syndrome. How can this be called Shanghan! One might ask: If there is no cold in summer, why is Sini Tang (Four Reversal Decoction) occasionally used for Yin syndromes? The answer is: In summer, the Qi of the Three Yin meridians (Taiyin, Shaoyin, Jueyin) dominates internally. Such a person likely has emptiness in the Kidney Meridian due to sexual activity, or has ingested cold foods, directly injuring the affected meridian. Or, perhaps the feet passed through cold water, directly injuring the collaterals of the affected meridian. This condition arises from self-injury, not because there is cold in summer.