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The various treatises in this compilation first expound the essential principles of the *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon), followed by aphorisms of ancient sages, then the roots of disease contraction, then the manifestations of the primary symptoms, then treatment methods, and finally the general principles of pulse diagnosis. All content is kept simple, direct, and clear; drug names use common vernacular terms, aiming to make it easy for readers to understand.

This compilation is most convenient for officials traveling on duty, travelers, those living in remote rural areas, and situations where nighttime illness is unpredictable or a doctor cannot be summoned in time. To remove disease simply and quickly, only the most essential points among profound and subtle theories are selected.

For each category and disease, this compilation records the causes of contraction in detail, adding words of warning and caution. Gentlemen who respect life, if they know in advance how to regulate and nourish themselves, can avoid disease and extend their lifespan.

Following the main prescriptions for various syndromes are attached existing formulas. These formulas were created by former sages with exquisite reasoning, combined with ancestral family secrets, and used after careful consideration, achieving efficacy without fail. The simple formulas attached at the end are also verified as accurate and more convenient for those without access to medicine.

The method for treating Shanghan (Cold Damage) takes Zhang Zhongjing as the ancestor, and the formulas incorporate those of Jie'an (Li Chan). For obstetrics, smallpox/rash diseases, and surgery, which are even more critical than other syndromes, special attention has been given to detailed and complete coverage.

Among various diseases, only vomiting makes it impossible to take medicine. If one feels like vomiting when taking medicine, prepare ginger decoction to administer together, and use two bags of stir-fried salt to alternately apply heat compresses from the throat down to the chest. Stir-frying more and applying frequently will bring relief.

Medicinal materials must be authentic, fresh, and best produced locally. Only by following proper processing methods can recovery be achieved. If inferior, fake, or worm-eaten drugs are used, or if expensive herbs are discarded for cheap ones, or if processing is careless, or if someone with slight medical knowledge arbitrarily adds or subtracts ingredients, there will be no effect. This is not the fault of the formula.

Treating disease requires distinguishing between Cold, Heat, Deficiency, and Excess; they must not be confused. One must carefully study the formula discussions. If there is doubt, first prepare a small dose and take a little; once the body adapts, gradually increase the dosage. Stop when the disease is cured; do not take too much. Especially for purgative or draining medicines, overdose should be avoided.

After completing this book, I only hope that experts will revise and print it again, to widely aid and save people. This would be my great fortune.

The method to prevent disease places "treating disease before it arises" (Zhi Wei Bing) as the highest principle. If a person can clear the mind and reduce desires, be cautious in daily routine, and moderate diet, disease will naturally not arise, and longevity can be extended.

All hundred diseases of ordinary people fall into three categories of causes. First, External Causes: Wind, Cold, Summerheat, Dampness, Dryness, and Fire, which are the six excesses of Heaven. Second, Internal Causes: Joy, Anger, Worry, Thought, Sorrow, Fear, and Fright, which are the seven emotions of humans. Third, Neither Internal nor External Causes: Improper daily routine, irregular diet, excessive sexual activity, falls and injuries, metal blade wounds, Five Corpse diseases, Gui Zhu (ghostly transmission), evil spirits, Gu poison, mountain miasma, and maladaptation to local conditions, etc.

Taking the six Qi of external causes: Wind is the turbulent energy of heaven and earth. The Classics say: Wind is the leader of a hundred diseases; it moves rapidly and changes unpredictably. Its changes are unfathomable. Mild cases cause wind-cold cough; severe cases cause stroke, wind paralysis, and other syndromes. Thus it is said: Avoid wind as you would avoid arrows. Cold is the severe condensing energy of heaven and earth. The Classics say: Injury by cold in winter leads to Warm disease in spring. In spring, summer, and autumn, the injury is lighter; in winter, it is heavier. Immediate onset is named Shanghan (Cold Damage); latent in muscles and bones, it manifests in spring with the generating Qi as Chunwen (Spring Warmth). Onset the next evening is called Wanfa (Late Onset), along with Rebing (Heat Disease). Summerheat is the fierce energy of heaven and earth. The Classics say: Injury by summerheat in summer leads to Malaria and Dysentery in autumn. In summer, the Yang Qi of heaven floats entirely on the ground, and the Yang Qi of humans floats entirely on the exterior, causing much irritability and thirst, craving ice water and fruits. Not realizing that Yang is outside and Yin is inside, raw and cold foods stagnate and accumulate; damp-heat steams together to form dysentery. Pores sweat, wind-cold attacks, evil and righteous Qi contend, Yin and Yang merge to form malaria. Rushing under summerheat is named Zhongre (Heat Stroke). Staying in water pavilions or shady verandas, being overly cold, is named Shangshu (Summer Cold Injury).

If sleeping on bricks, mud floors, or lacquered stools, contracting wind-cold-damp Qi, when autumn deepens and Qi converges, pores close tightly, evil Qi lingers and is hard to expel, leading to joint wandering pain, forming gout-like syndromes. Dampness is the yin-moistening energy of heaven and earth, causing significant harm. In the southeast, land is low and thin; clothes, shoes, sitting, and lying allow dampness to enter from outside; in the northwest, land is high and dry; liking dairy, cheese, and noodles causes dampness to generate internally. Dryness is the Qi of Yangming Dry Metal. The Classics say: All astringency, withering, drying, stiffness, and wrinkling belong to Dryness. This is caused by wind-heat consuming blood and fluids. On the exterior, it manifests as cracked skin and scales, stiff hands and feet, even tendon retraction and brittle nails; on the interior, it manifests as constipation, Xiaoke (Wasting-Thirst) with excessive drinking. Fire refers to Sovereign Fire, Ministerial Fire, and Fire of the Five Emotions. The Classics say: All heat, irritability, mania, shouting, rebellious Qi, sneezing, vomiting, sores, ulcers, itching, and ear/eye disorders all belong to Fire. How can the solitary Water of the Kidney Meridian withstand it? Moreover, Fire increases daily while Water decreases. Dongyuan (Li Gao) said: Fire is the thief of Yuan Qi (Primal Qi); when one wins, the other loses. If Fire moves up and down, roasting True Yin and drying Jin Ye (Body Fluids), it forms Deficiency-Yin syndromes.

Taking the Seven Emotions of internal causes: The Classics say: Joy injures the Heart. Generally, extreme joy causes Heart Fire to blaze fiercely, mildly causing mouth/tongue ulcers, sores, and rashes; severely causing madness. The Classics say: Anger causes Qi to ascend. It is also said: Great anger causes Fire to rise in the Liver, severely leading to hematemesis. Generally, anger causes Yang Qi to rebel upward, and Liver Wood overacts on Spleen Earth, thus causing hematemesis, undigested food diarrhea, chest/hypochondriac fullness and pain, and anorexia. The Classics say: Worry affects Heart Qi. It is also said: Unresolved worry injures Yi (Intellect). Worry Qi stagnates and generates Phlegm; Phlegm and Qi contend, ascending but not descending, often forming Yige (Dysphagia) syndromes. The Classics say: Thought causes Qi to knot. This refers to focused, deep, and stagnant states. Such as difficult-to-forget grievances, seeking revenge, bitter chanting exhausting the mind, male/female longing, etc., thus forming Zhengchong (Palpitations) syndromes. Qi knotting as disease manifests as dizziness/confusion, abdominal fullness/blockage, throat obstruction, and aversion to food. The Classics say: Sorrow consumes Qi. Generally, sorrow knots the Heart orifices, Lung leaves elevate, Upper Jiao becomes blocked, Ying and Wei Qi do not circulate, Heat stays in the middle, thus Qi is consumed. It is also said: Where Sorrow Qi reaches, it causes Yin retraction, tendon spasms, muscle Bi, and vessel flaccidity. Men suffer frequent urination and hematuria; women suffer metrorrhagia, pregnant women suffer fetal leakage, and blurred vision. The Classics say: Fear causes Qi to descend. Yin Qi cannot ascend, causing fearfulness of willpower; over time, it becomes a syndrome of lost will. The Classics say: Fright causes Qi to become chaotic. Spirit has nowhere to return; the house of Ling (Spirit) becomes empty, gathering Phlegm-Saliva, forming Dianxian (Epilepsy) syndromes.

Taking several matters of neither internal nor external causes: Daily routine relies on Jing and Blood for bodily movement; the Classics warn against Seven Damages and Eight Benefits, Five Labors and Seven Injuries, and Six Extremes. Diet: The Classics say: Double the food intake, and the intestines/stomach are injured. Raw, cold, sticky, greasy, roasted, fried, spicy, and hot foods must not be excessive. It is also said: Meats tonify Yang; grains tonify Yin. Excess Yang leads to blazing Fire and phlegm congestion, scorching fluids; Excess Yin extinguishes Fire and fills Water, promoting Jing and Blood growth. Sexual desire: The precious Jing, Qi, and Shen of the human body are secretly guarded by perfected individuals to refine the Golden Elixir; the greatest result is immortality, the lesser is disease prevention. Those with excessive desire are like moths flying into fire, unaware of their confusion. If one can moderate desires, it lays the foundation for reaching a hundred years. Falls and blade wounds often result from carelessness; one need not stand under dangerous walls. If one knows to guard in advance, keeping Spirit within, how can external evils invade? Thus, those skilled in treating disease before it arises excel beyond good doctors and surpass fine medicines. What difficulty could there be in achieving health, peace, and longevity?