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Chills and fever refer to the simultaneous occurrence of aversion to cold and fever, or alternating episodes of sudden chills and heat. Etiologies include external contraction, internal injury, fire stagnation, consumptive disease (Xu Lao), malaria, sores and ulcers, and scrofula (Luo Li). In cases of external wind-cold contraction, since the pathogenic factor is at the exterior, the treatment principle should be to disperse it. For conditions located half-exterior and half-interior, harmonization is indicated. For fire stagnation, dispersing the trapped fire is required. For chills and fever caused by malaria, initial treatment involves resolution, while prolonged cases require interception of attacks. Chills and fever associated with sores, ulcers, and scrofula are treated according to surgical methods. Only in cases of consumptive disease and internal injury characterized by intermittent chills and heat is the pathology due to either Yang deficiency or Yin insufficiency. When Yang Qi is deficient, Yin tends to follow and invade the Yang aspect, resulting in aversion to cold. When Yin Qi is deficient, Yang inevitably invades the Yin aspect, resulting in fever. This pathological state arises from the mutual damage between Yin and Yang, rather than from exogenous pathogens. Although chills and fever are present, they are merely superficial manifestations (Biao) stemming from Yin deficiency and Yang weakness; treating the root (Ben) will cause the superficial symptoms to subside spontaneously. If one were to treat recklessly, using warming agents to counteract cold would hinder the "Yin Fire" (heat generated from deficiency), and using cold agents to attack heat would further weaken the Spleen and Stomach. Such actions lead to a condition where the deficient becomes more deficient and the excess becomes more excessive; who would bear the responsibility?

Generally, chills and fever arising from internal injuries are fundamentally deficiency patterns, making it difficult to prescribe a fixed formula. Therefore, only herbs relevant to the treatment of chills and fever are listed below for reference by fellow practitioners.

Herbs for Harmonization:
Gancao (Zhi Gancao, Roasted Licorice Root): Mainly treats chills and fever pathogenic factors in the five Zang and six Fu organs. For deficiency-related chills and fever, double the dosage.
Zhimu (Honey-fried Anemarrhenae Rhizoma): Treats renal exhaustion with aversion to cold, vexatious heat, and loose stools; contraindicated in patients with weak Spleen/Stomach.
Danshen (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma): Treats consumptive disease with chills and fever.
Huangqin (Honey-fried Scutellariae Radix): Treats alternating chills and fever, as well as bone-steaming consumptive heat.
Qinjiao (Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix)
Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix)
Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba)
Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma): All mainly treat consumptive disease with chills and fever.
Guijia (Testudinis et Carapacis Squama): Treats chills and heat in the bones and severe body chills/heat; decoction is effective.

Herbs for Tonifying the Middle and Clearing Heat:
Huangqi (Honey-fried Astragali Membranacei Radix): Treats consumptive disease with chills and fever.
Shashen (Glehniae Radix)
Baizhu (Earth-fried Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma): Both treat chills and fever, benefiting Qi and harmonizing the middle.
Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix): Dispels chills and fever, benefits Lung Qi.
Maimendong (Ophiopogonis Tuber, heart removed)
Tianmendong (Asparagi Radix, heart and skin removed)
Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma): Both treat Lung deficiency with chills and fever.
Fuling (Poria): Skin removed.
Suanzaoren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen, lightly fried and crushed)
Shanzhuyu (Corni Fructus): Both treat Heart deficiency with chills and fever.