Library

When a pregnant woman falls ill, securing the fetus is usually the priority, which is referred to as "treating the branch when there is disease" (here implying treating the underlying cause rather than merely protecting the fetus). However, in the case of epidemic plague, this is not so. Why? The mother and the fetus are connected by one Qi; if the mother is sick, the fetus is affected, and if the mother is safe, the fetus is safe. The fetus relies on blood for nourishment. If the mother suffers from heat-type epidemic symptoms, heat is toxic fire. When toxic fire accumulates in the blood, the mother's blood becomes toxic blood. Can toxic blood still nourish the fetus? If one does not urgently clear the toxin from the blood but instead rigidly focuses on securing the fetus, the mother will be endangered first, and how can the fetus be saved? It is known that fetal heat causes movement, while fetal coolness ensures stability. If the mother contracts the most severe toxic fire syndrome, the fetus will naturally become heated. Therefore, one must vigorously employ clearing heat, resolving toxicity, and cooling blood therapies. Once the mother's illness is resolved, there is no need to deliberately secure the fetus, and the fetus will naturally be stable. This logic applies analogously to the post-recovery period or if menstruation occurs during the illness. If one prohibits the use of cold-natured medicines due to postpartum status or menstruation, it will cost lives within just a few days! This exemplifies the principle of "treating the branch in acute situations."

If the rash is loose and floating, spreading over the skin surface, with colors varying from red, purple, crimson, to black, this indicates the external manifestation of toxins. In such cases, treat according to the primary formula; even if the symptoms are malignant, there will be little failure.

If the rash emerges tightly bound with roots, appearing as if drilling out from the flesh, with a cyan-purple color resembling the back of a duckweed, mostly seen on the chest and back, this is the color indicating stomach heat leading to tissue decay. One should immediately strongly clear stomach heat and simultaneously cool the blood, ensuring the rash becomes loose and flexible and the color fades, before recovery can be achieved. Any hesitation or fear will render the condition incurable.

The natural body of blood is red. When blood flows smoothly, it appears red, vibrant, lustrous, and evenly distributed, representing an auspicious state of the rash.

Pale red has both favorable and unfavorable aspects. A pale and moist color is considered superior; however, if it is pale but lacks luster, or is tenderly bright yet dry and stagnant, it indicates extreme blood heat.

Deep red is slightly more severe than pale red and also signifies blood heat. It will turn pale red once blood-cooling measures are applied.

A color bright like rouge indicates extreme blood heat, which is worse than deep red. Large doses of blood-cooling herbs must be used to first transition the color to deep red, and further cooling will then change it to pale red.