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Zhu Danxi said: When the smallpox or measles rash is just beginning to appear or has not yet appeared, if one observes that others in the vicinity are suffering from the disease, it is advisable to take this medicine in advance. This can make severe cases lighter and numerous cases fewer. Take three cun (approx. 10 cm) of loofah vine near the stem, including the skin and seeds, burn them into ash while preserving their medicinal properties (cun xing), grind into powder, mix with brown sugar, and take dry. Adding cinnabar powder is even better.

Ye Lin noted: The method for preventing sparse smallpox/measles transmitted in recent times uses one old loofah that has been exposed to frost, dried by wind. On New Year's Eve, it is burned into ash on a new tile, spread on the ground to release the fire energy, then ground into powder. It is taken by沖 (chong - rinsing/mixing) with boiling water. Doing so annually for three or four doses is said to ensure children never suffer from measles/rash. This is also a legacy method of Danxi.

Wan Mingzhai said: Spring warmth, summer heat, autumn coolness, and winter cold are the correct qi of the four seasons. If winter should be cold but turns warm instead, yang qi leaks suddenly, and the fire command arrives early. Those who contract this pathogen will inevitably develop sores and boils in the following spring; those who have not yet had smallpox/measles will definitely contract it and manifest symptoms. Although it is said to be due to fetal toxin, none arise without the influence of heavenly epidemic qi. Thus, during a period of contagion, symptoms are similar regardless of age. Upon seeing the onset of smallpox/measles, one should first administer Xiao Du Bao Ying Dan (Disinfect and Protect Infants Pill) and Dai Tian Xuan Hua Wan (Heavenly Substitute Transforming Pill) to preemptively resolve the toxin, allowing the toxin to be thoroughly expelled and preventing excessive severity.

Xiao Du Bao Ying Dan (Disinfect and Protect Infants Pill)
Ingredients: Chan Dou Teng (Vine wrapping beans, specifically fine red threads wrapping yellow or green bean stems, harvested on the 'Sheng Qi' day in August, air-dried, 1 liang 5 qian); Hei Da Dou (Black Soybean, 30 grains); Chi Xiao Dou (Red Adzuki Bean, 70 grains); Xin Sheng Ma (Fresh Cimicifugae Rhizoma, 7 qian 5 fen); Shan Zha Rou (Hawthorn Fruit Flesh, 1 liang); Jing Jie (Schizonepetae Herba, including spikes, 5 qian); Fang Feng (Saposhnikoviae Radix, removed rhizome, 5 qian); Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix, wine-washed, 5 qian); Chi Shao Yao (Paeoniae Radix Rubra, 7 qian 5 fen); Huang Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma, removed branches/stems, 5 qian); Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix, wine-soaked, baked, 1 liang); Chuan Du Huo (Angelicae Pubescentis Radix, 5 qian); Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, raw, 5 qian); Jie Geng (Platycodonis Radix, 5 qian); Chen Sha (Cinnabaris, separately ground, water-suspended, 1 liang); Niu Bang Zi (Arctii Fructus, fried, 1 liang); Lao Si Gua (Old Loofah, aged one year and exposed to frost, two fruits, taking 5 cun including vine and stem, burned to preserve nature).
The above seventeen ingredients are each ground into fine powder, mixed evenly, combined with clean brown sugar, and formed into pills the size of a plum pit. Each dose is one pill, taken with strong decoction of Gan Cao Tang (Licorice Decoction).

Dai Tian Xuan Hua Wan (Heavenly Substitute Transforming Pill)
Ingredients: Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma - Ruler herb for Jia/Yi years associated with Earth); Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix - Ruler herb for Yi/Geng years associated with Metal); Huang Bo (Phellodendri Cortex - Ruler herb for Bing/Xin years associated with Water); Shan Zhi (Gardeniae Fructus - Ruler herb for Ding/Ren years associated with Wood); Huang Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma - Ruler herb for Wu/Gui years associated with Fire); Lian Qiao (Forsythiae Fructus - Assistant); Shan Dou Gen (Sophorae Tonkinensis Radix - Assistant); Niu Bang Zi (Arctii Fructus - Assistant).
First, determine the Ruler herb based on the year's Five Movements (Wu Yun). The next four ingredients serve as Ministers. The Ruler herb dosage is doubled, the Minister herbs are halved, and the Assistant herbs are halved again relative to the Ministers. All are ground into extremely fine powder. Prepared on the Winter Solstice, using snow water to decoct Sheng Ma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma) juice, which is used to make a wheat paste for forming pills. Coated with Chen Sha (Cinnabaris), taken with Zhu Ye Tang (Bamboo Leaf Decoction).

In the spring of Jiawu year during the Jiajing reign, smallpox toxin was prevalent, with nine out of ten dying, constituting a major disaster. At that time, some took San Dou Zi Tang (Three Bean Seed Decoction) and Si Gua Chen San San (Loofah Cinnabar Powder) in advance. All methods recorded in medical books for preemptively resolving smallpox toxin were employed, yet none showed efficacy. I privately pondered that the toxin of smallpox epidemics arises from changes in annual movements and disasters, making it difficult to resolve solely with medicine; however, human effort is not exhausted, nor can it be dismissed as fate. Thus, I reviewed ancient formulas and found Wu Wen Dan (Five Plagues Pill) in *Han Shi Yi Tong* (Medical Insights of Han Family), which focuses on the Five Movements. Joyfully, I said: "This is a divine detoxifying medicine." I prepared it according to the formula and distributed/sold it to people. Those who reported back said its effects were mild and slight, yet people regarded it as miraculous. Hence, I named it Dai Tian Xuan Hua Wan.

Zhang Yin'an said: Although there are many methods for preventing sparse smallpox/measles, none possess principles as subtle as Yuan Tu Wan (Yuan Rabbit Pill) nor verify as promptly as a drumstick striking a drum. Smallpox/measles is a congenital toxin. Heaven generates Water (One), Earth generates Fire (Two). Water and Fire harmonize, Yin and Yang interact; this is fire toxin within water. 'Yuan' refers to the color of water and heaven; 'Can' means to participate, participating in the transformation and nurturing of heaven and earth. Tuscae Semen (Cuscutae Semen), also known as Nu Luo, is called Yu Nu (Jade Maiden) in *Erya*. Since the rabbit is a pure yin object of the moon's soul, it bears the name Jade Maiden. *Baopuzi* states: The root of newly born Tuscae Semen resembles a rabbit's grasp; cutting its blood to mix with elixir materials causes immediate transformation, a miraculous item. Generally, objects sprout only after receiving the qi of cool water and soil. Tuscae Semen possesses pure yin nature, thus its vines grow long when warmed by fire. This is the wonderful application of yin and yang in physical principles. *Neijing* states: Bones are Supreme Yin. Supreme Yin is where Water abounds. The Lung is Taiyin. Shaoyin is the Winter pulse. Therefore, its root is in the Kidney, its branch in the Lung, both accumulating water; this is the connection between Lung and Kidney regarding Heavenly Water. (Lung belongs to Heaven.) Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix) possesses the nature and color of water and heaven, capable of clearing and emitting天花 (smallpox/measles) toxin from within water; Tuscae Semen has the wondrous use of yin and yang, capable of penetrating yang toxin from within Supreme Yin. Therefore, administering this pill to infants within 100 days, or up to three years of age, results in those with heavy toxin becoming sparse, and those with light toxin not manifesting at all. Even with severe heat toxin, there is no danger of adverse conditions. Mr. Lu Ziyoun of my county, childless at fifty, obtained a unique conception formula and gave birth to two sons, both damaged by smallpox. Likely because conception formulas often contain many hot medicines. Later, upon having more children, he administered Xuan Tu Wan. By sixty-five, he had six sons and six daughters, all grown, none damaged by smallpox/measles. Is the efficacy of Xuan Tu shallow?

Lu's Xuan Tu Dan (Xuan Tu Pill)
Ingredients: Tuscae Semen (Cuscutae Semen, 8 liang); Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix, 4 liang).
Do not use iron tools. Grind each into powder separately, mix with brown sugar and take. Initial dose for newborns is 1 qian, gradually increased to 1 liang. Ye Zirong said: Tuscae Semen nourishes congenital Water; Xuanshen clears Kidney Fire. One nourishes, one clears, thus smallpox/measles toxin naturally diminishes. Long-term use in childhood not only reduces smallpox/measles incidence but also prevents consumption (lao zhai).

Ye Zirong said: San Dou Tang (Three Bean Decoction) is a formula from Bian Que. Hei Da Dou (Black Soybean) enters the Kidney to control Minister Fire; Chi Xiao Dou (Red Adzuki Bean) enters the Heart to control Sovereign Fire; Lv Dou (Mung Bean) enters Yangming to control Stomach Fire. The three beans are cooling agents but contain the intent of generation/vitality. They can be taken regularly without being too harsh; their action is slow but truly steady and convenient. They can be taken before the appearance of smallpox/measles and when fever is about to erupt.

San Dou Tang (Three Bean Decoction)
Ingredients: Hei Da Dou (Black Soybean), Chi Xiao Dou (Red Adzuki Bean), Lv Dou (Mung Bean) (each 1 sheng); Sheng Gan Cao (Raw Licorice Root, 3 liang).
First, wash the three beans clean, chop the Gan Cao. Boil together with wax snow water until the beans are soft and rotten. Remove the Gan Cao, sun-dry the beans. Soak them in the juice again and sun-dry again until the juice is fully absorbed and dry. Store in porcelain bottles. Daily, take 1-2 liang, decoct in two zhong of running water until reduced to one zhong. Take warm facing east. Alternatively, replace Gan Cao with Ren Zhong Huang (Human Urine Sediment), add one old loofah exposed to frost, and boil together for even better effect.

Ye Lin noted: Most formulas for preventing sparse smallpox/measles consist largely of bitter-cold substances. Long-term use certainly hinders the Spleen and Stomach, and when eruption is imminent, it may freeze the toxin. San Dou Tang is mild and harmless, yet ultimately not as profound in principle and effective as Xuan Tu Dan. However, during epidemic outbreaks, Dai Tian Xuan Hua Wan can be considered. But avoiding wind and filth, regulating diet, and adapting to temperature changes are the primary principles of prevention, which must not be ignored.