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When prescribing at the initial diagnosis, the dosage should be small. If the therapeutic effect is insufficient, it can be gradually increased; if it is too strong, rescue may be difficult. When encountering Cold Damage (Shanghan), one might think of using Mahuang Tang (Ephedra Decoction), but for now, Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix) and Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix) should be used tentatively. In the Jiangnan region, there are no true cases of Cold Damage, so Mahuang Tang is very inappropriate. In the past, Tao Jie'an formulated Jiwei Qianghuo Tang (Nine-Ingredient Notopterygium Decoction) to replace Mahuang Tang, showing great care. Knowing that humans suffering from cold pathogen develop heat diseases, he specifically added small amounts of Shengdi Huang (Rehmanniae Radix) and Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) in the formula to prevent this, which is indeed a good method. However, I consider that when initially affected by cold pathogen, using Huangqin and Shengdi Huang may be premature. Often, Huangqin and Shengdi Huang are removed, and Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) and Chishao (Paeoniae Radix Rubra) are added. Simultaneously, Erchen Tang (Two-Aged Phlegm Resolving Decoction) is added to harmonize and smooth the Yangming channel, preventing phlegm formation so that pathogens have no place to reside. The cold pathogen is then easily resolved, and heat symptoms are not severe. This is also a humble insight of mine. For patients with Yin deficiency unable to transform sweat, Danggui is used up to 8 qian (approx. 30g); a single sweating resolves the condition. I once treated Li Qingyuan with effective results. Practitioners should understand such applications. As for Wind Injury (Shangfeng), there is no need to immediately use Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction). The wind energy in the South is gentle, unlike the vigorous wind energy in the North. Simply adding Zisu (Perillae Folium), Xingren (Armeniacae Semen), Erchen Tang, and an appropriate amount of Fangfeng can resolve the issue. If there is indeed headache and neck stiffness, indicating involvement of the Taiyang channel, with no sweating, Qianghuo and Fangfeng can be slightly increased. If there is aversion to wind combined with aversion to cold, Guizhi can also be added, but not in large amounts.

Regarding symptoms of seasonal pathogens, these are the six excess energies (Liu Yin) of heaven and earth; they are not entirely cold pathogens, nor entirely heat pathogens. If affected by wind-cold, treat according to the methods mentioned above. If affected by summerheat, it mostly enters through the mouth and nose, invading the Pericardium (Xinbao). Medicines for the Three Yang channels are completely inappropriate. Instead, Qing Shu Yi Qi Tang (Clear Summerheat and Augment Qi Decoction), Liu Yi San (Six-to-One Powder), or Sheng Mai San (Generate Pulse Powder) should be used, referring to the summerheat section in medical texts for reference. Summerheat damages Qi, so warm dispersing methods should not be used recklessly; summerheat damages Yin, so harshly drying drugs should not be used recklessly. If affected by heat pathogen, it is what is called Yang pathogen, different from summerheat which is a Yin pathogen. Therefore, summerheat infection always involves sweating, while heat infection always involves no sweating; summerheat causes mental restlessness and oppression, while heat causes irritability and agitation. Ren Shen Bai Hu Tang (Ginseng White Tiger Decoction) or Tian Sheng Bai Hu Tang (Naturally Generated White Tiger Decoction) can resolve the condition with a single sweat. If treatment is delayed and heat enters the Pericardium, Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang (Rhinoceros Horn and Rehmannia Decoction) becomes essential. Diagnosis must be analyzed clearly; summerheat and heat must not be confused into one category. In late summer, dampness injury may require drying methods or draining methods. However, dampness in late summer often combines with summerheat. Since summerheat damages Qi and Yin, using only drying and draining methods may further damage Yin, making dampness harder to resolve. Previously, people used Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment Qi Decoction) to regulate Spleen and Stomach, so dampness could not trap the Spleen; Liu Wei Di Huang Tang (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) was used to treat lower Jiao damp-heat, resolving it by nourishing Yin. These are all treating the root. If treating the branch first, Wu Ling San (Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria), Si Ling San (Four-Ingredient Powder with Poria), Ping Wei San (Peaceful Stomach Powder), Xiao Li Qing Yin (Minor Clearing Decoction), or Shen Shi Tang (Dampness Draining Decoction) can be used appropriately. In summary, dampness not yet transformed into heat should be dried; dampness gradually transforming into heat requires simultaneous treatment of dampness and heat, hence the ancient formulas Er Miao San (Two Marvels Powder) and San Miao San (Three Marvels Powder); dampness fully transformed into heat requires specific heat treatment. Modern practitioners generally speak of damp-heat without distinguishing these three stages, which is why efficacy is rare. Regarding winter cold injury, spring wind injury, summer summerheat injury, and autumn dampness injury, these are words from the *Neijing* (Inner Canon). Yu Xichang added late summer dampness injury and autumn dryness injury, which has profound logic and supplements the *Neijing*. It is common before the Autumn Equinox that summerheat lingers, and dampness also lingers; after the Autumn Equinox, summerheat and dampness recede, cool winds blow, and dryness-fire invades the body. The Lung cannot tolerate dryness, so cough arises. Yu's Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang (Clear Dryness and Rescue Lung Decoction) is indeed effective. Yet Ke Yunbo considered this superfluous, merely wanting to erase predecessors' contributions and boast of his own superiority! Even his commentaries on Cold Damage, how can they compare to Yu's depth and clarity? We should follow Yu; regarding autumn dryness, there is no need for doubt, thus completing the six excess energies and allowing detailed examination of seasonal diseases.

However, the principle of medication is to start with small dosages and gradually increase after efficacy is achieved. Li Shicai said: "Before using cooling agents, first use clearing methods; before using heating agents, first use warming methods." Later generations are far inferior to predecessors; how can they use medications arbitrarily? Especially for strongly cold or strongly hot drugs, caution is paramount. Cold drugs are like water, hot drugs are like fire. Imagine a scroll of books falling into water; even if retrieved quickly, it will inevitably be damaged; falling into fire, even if rescued urgently, it will inevitably be scorched. How can a patient's Zang-Fu organs withstand being damaged or scorched? When using purgative methods (Xia Fa), extreme caution is required. For the six excess pathogens, if wind-cold causes constipation, abdominal pain with refusal to press, or heat pathogen transmits inward causing delirium and confusion, purgatives can be used. However, unless it is plague (Wenyi), purgatives should not be used early. Can summer-dampness also be treated with purgatives? Dai Beishan's *Pingyi Mingbian* (Clarification of Plague) is superior to Wu Youke's *Wenyi Lun* (Treatise on Pestilential Diseases). However, his book only distinguishes one point regarding "Qi," stating that plague produces corpse-like Qi, not putrefactive Qi. This shows the distinction between seasonal pathogens and plague, yet the rest of his discussion concerns seasonal pathogens. Why call it *Plague Clarification* instead of *Seasonal Pathogen Clarification*? His most misleading statement is that purgative therapy should use at least three doses, sometimes one or twenty times. Human intestines and stomach lack flesh and blood; using purgatives reluctantly inevitably damages Qi and Blood. Purging one or twenty times would surely cause both pathogen and healthy Qi to perish. Who did Dai Beishan treat successfully? There are no medical records, yet he makes such reckless statements. Is his harm not greater than Wu's? Modern physicians, rashly using purgatives, often use this as an excuse. There is a local physician surnamed Li practicing in the city who loves purgatives, repeatedly causing errors, justifying them by claiming purgation was too late or insufficient. I personally witnessed the son of the Li family die from measles due to repeated purgation by him, yet he still clung to Dai's theory for defense. Is this not deeply hateful? My article here can truly be called a clarification. Future generations should study it carefully, avoid these mistakes, and not fail the old man's painstaking effort.