Library

In years when the Yangming dryness governs the heavenly qi, or during the transition between autumn and winter, if there has been no rain for a long time, dryness qi will prevail. Pathogenic factors invade the Lung, lie dormant, and transform into fire. When early spring arrives with sudden rains, external spring cold attacks the body. (Cases occurring after the Summer Solstice are more severe.) The Shaoyang ministerial fire cannot smoothly execute its mechanism of free flow and expansion. Consequently, it carries the Shaoyin sovereign fire, moving upward along the meridians to clash with the latent dryness-fire, suddenly erupting through the clear orifices of the throat. It may manifest as white patches or white spots, known as Baihou (Diphtheria/White Throat). It is contagious. Treatment in adults is relatively easy, while treatment in children is difficult.

Epizootic throat disorders are not beyond the pathology caused by the exogenous Six Excesses (Wind, Cold, Dryness, Dampness, Summerheat, Fire). The Six Excesses refer to the six abnormal climatic conditions mentioned in classics: Wind, Cold, Dryness, Dampness, Summerheat, and Fire. Reviewing ancient medical theories on throat diseases, those discussing Wind-Fire are numerous, and those discussing Cold-Dampness are also quite common. However, there are none that specifically discuss disease caused by Dryness Qi. This is because the *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) lacks the section on "Autumn injury by Dryness," leading later generations to believe that Dryness Qi does not cause disease. It was not until Shen Zinan and Yu Jiayan that each gained unique insights and presented their own formulas and theories. Shen believed that the transformational qi is primarily dampness, so his prescriptions leaned towards bitter, acrid, and slightly warm herbs. Yu believed that the returning qi is primarily fire, so his prescriptions leaned towards acrid-cool and sweet-cold herbs. Fortunately, Wu Jutong provided the statement that "Dryness Qi causes disease; light cases present as Dryness, heavy cases as Cold; the transformational qi is Dampness, and the returning qi is Fire." Thus, the principles of Dryness Qi causing disease became clear. Later practitioners treating Dryness Qi had pathways to follow. (Those wishing to treat Baihou must first read the works of Masters Shen, Yu, and Wu, otherwise they will likely find no starting point). The onset of this condition must occur in years where Dryness Qi prevails. Moreover, its symptoms, meridian transmission, and treatment methods all align perfectly with the concept of Dryness-Fire. Therefore, it is certain that the disease belongs to Dryness Qi. (Detailed observation of subsequent analyses will make this clear). However, it often occurs accompanied by Shaoyang Ministerial Fire and Shaoyin Sovereign Fire, necessitating combined treatment. Zheng Meijian did mention that this condition sometimes arises during the prevalence of Dryness Qi, but his exposition was fragmented and chaotic, failing to truly probe the source of the disease. As for Zhang's vague discussion of Fire-Heat (cases of throat disorders attributed to Fire-Heat are ubiquitous), and Naixiu's assertion that lung burning is due to stomach heat, and stomach heat is actually due to intestinal cold, these views are vague and insubstantial, lacking definite insight, and thus not worth debating. The treatment principles for adults and children are fundamentally the same; why distinguish between ease and difficulty? In reality, for children under five years old, who do not yet understand human affairs, examination, verification, and medication administration cannot be performed according to proper standards everywhere, making treatment comparatively difficult.