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The *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot), *Su Wen* (Basic Questions), and *Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) all frequently mention "Shu Luo" (Rat Scrofula). Commentators have interpreted this as resulting from consuming food remnants left by rats. The *Zhu Bing Yuan Hou Lun* (Source Book of All Diseases) lists "Shu Luo" among the nine types of scrofula, citing the symptom of "red vessels penetrating the pupil" found beneath it in the *Ling Shu · Han Re* chapter. However, since the *Zhu Bing Yuan Hou Lun* categorizes "Shu Luo" as one of the nine types of scrofula, it cannot be used to generalize all cases of scrofula; this is evident.

In these three texts, regarding "Shu Luo," the character "Shu" (Rat) should be understood as "Cuan" (to burrow or penetrate). Rats are naturally adept at burrowing, hence the character for "Cuan" contains the radical for "Rat," and "Shu" serves as a phonetic loan for "Cuan." In the *Classic of Poetry* (*Shi Jing*), specifically in the poem "Xiao Ming," it states, "In the first month, heavy frost falls, my heart is sorrowful"; and in "Xiao Wan," it says, "The little rat thinks and weeps blood." In both instances, the character "Shu" carries the meaning of "Cuan." This likely refers to people suffering from chaos, seeking escape through various means but ultimately failing; thus, after mentioning "Shu," the characters "You" (sorrow) and "Si" (worry/thought) are appended. The term "Luo" being called "Shu" also takes on the meaning of "Cuan" penetrating through meridians. "Cuan" is commonly written as "Chuan." "Luo" and "Chuan" share the same initial consonant (double sound), so modern surgical texts refer to it as "Chuan." The disease name is essentially a reversal of "Cuan Luo" (i.e., "Chuan Luo"). Reading "Shu" with its original pronunciation results in a phonetic shift with "Zhu" (flow/accumulate), and "Luo" shares the same sound as "Liu" (flow). Therefore, some modern surgical texts call it "Liu Zhu" (Flowing Abscess). "Liu Zhu" is simply the reversed form of "Shu Luo." Whenever two characters are combined to form a compound meaning, they can often be read forwards or backwards, such as "Ding Dong" and "Dong Ding," or "Li Lu" and "Lu Li." Thus, "Shu Luo" is undoubtedly equivalent to "Chuan Luo" and "Liu Zhu." Furthermore, this disease is called "Luo Li" (Scrofula) when it first begins, named according to its external manifestation; once abscesses have formed, it is called "Shu Luo," named according to its internal nature. Classics distinguish between "Han Re Luo Li" (Cold-Heat Scrofula) and "Han Re Shu Luo" based on this. From this, we know that "red vessels penetrating the pupil" is a diagnostic sign for established "Chuan Luo," not for initial "Luo Li." Why? The classic states that if red vessels are numerous, the time to death is distant; if few, it is near. Clearly, the presence of red vessels is not an ominous sign. Generally, individuals with Blood Deficiency will have pale inner eyelids. Since Blood governs the vessels, observing the number of visible vessels verifies the severity of Blood Deficiency. Initial "Luo Li" would not reach this stage; only when abscesses have formed into chains and pus has been draining for a long time is this diagnostic method applicable! The *Yu Pian* states: "Luo means disease; Li means sore."

Regarding epistaxis (nosebleed) in the *Jin Gui Yao Lue*, it states: Epistaxis occurring from spring to summer belongs to Tai Yang (Greater Yang); epistaxis occurring from autumn to winter belongs to Yang Ming (Bright Yang); notably, it does not mention Shao Yang (Lesser Yang). Some argue based on the *Ling Shu · Jing Mai* chapter that the Shao Yang meridian does not reach the nose, which seems plausible but is actually incorrect. What Zhang Zhongjing meant by Tai Yang and Yang Ming was not strictly the Tai Yang and Yang Ming meridians themselves, but rather their respective domains. Tai Yang governs the exterior of the Three Yang stages, while Yang Ming represents the interior of the Stomach Fu organ. Epistaxis can arise from injury to the Yang aspect of the Yang Collaterals, caused by external contraction of Wind-Heat. During spring and summer, Yang Qi opens outward, so pathogens must attach to the exterior; hence, epistaxis from spring to summer is attributed to Tai Yang. Epistaxis can also arise from injury to the Yin aspect of the Yang Collaterals, caused by internal damage from dietary heat compounded by drying Wind. During autumn and winter, Yang Qi closes inward, so pathogens must attach to the interior; hence, epistaxis from autumn to winter is attributed to Yang Ming. This text corroborates the preceding chapters discussing the Three Yin and Three Yang stages. Although it appears to originate from the *Ling Shu*, it primarily forms an independent argument that coincidentally aligns with it.