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A man, after drinking heavily and consuming countless amounts of water and cold tea, fell ill with bright red blood in his stool. Initially, he was treated with Wuzhuyu Wan (Evodia Pill). The next day, he was given Pingwei San (Powder to Maintain the Stomach) and Wuling San (Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria) in equal halves, administered as three large doses. The bleeding stopped, but the condition transformed into white dysentery. He was then given Shenyin Wan (Miraculous Response Pill) four times, after which the white dysentery ceased, and he returned to a state of peace and health. Someone asked, "Why were no cooling and detoxifying medicines used? Why were warming agents employed?" The physician replied, "If you had used cooling medicines, the disease would have changed drastically and become difficult to treat. Cold-toxin injuring the interior, followed by the use of cold medicines, is not the correct treatment. Moreover, blood coagulated by cold invades the intestines and colon, causing tenesmus and pain; it moves only when warmed. Therefore, warming medicines were used, and the bleeding stopped naturally. The *Classic* states: 'In treating diseases, one must seek the root.' This is what is meant." (From *Yilei Yuanrong*)

Lu Bingwen from our county was the son of a wealthy family. At the age of thirty, in July, he suffered from bloody dysentery, defecating over a hundred times a day and night, accompanied by abdominal pain. Physicians all prescribed Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Ejiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin), and Yingkesu (Papaveris Pericarpium) without effect, and his condition worsened. His family, terrified, invited the elderly physician Liu Zongxu to take his pulse. Liu said, "The spleen and stomach are injured; suffering from the abuse of cold medicines, how can the disease heal?" He prescribed Sijunzi Tang (Decoction of Four Gentlemen) with Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) and Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata). That evening, the illness halved, and within ten days, he recovered. When asked for the reason, Liu said, "The patient consumed too much ice water and melons/fruits in summer, injuring the spleen with cold. Blood failed to circulate through the four limbs and eight vessels, seeping into the intestines and colon and flowing downward. My use of Fuzi and Ganjiang provides tonification with dispersing properties, dispelling the injured cold-toxin, hence the recovery. Wang Ruyan wrote in his miscellaneous notes that Huangqin, Huanglian, and Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) are essential for dysentery. Is this really so?"

Emperor Xiaozong of Song once suffered from dysentery. Many physicians failed to cure him, causing anxiety at the Deshou Palace. Passing by the Qinggong, he happened to see a small medicine shop and sent an envoy to ask if they could treat dysentery. The reply was that it was their specialty, so he was summoned. Upon learning the cause was excessive consumption of crabs, the physician diagnosed it as cold dysentery. He prescribed a formula consisting solely of Oujié (Lotus Rhizome), regardless of quantity, preferring freshly harvested ones. It was finely crushed to extract juice, mixed with hot wine for administration. A golden mortar and pestle were used for crushing. After several doses mixed with wine, he recovered. Deshou was overjoyed and bestowed the golden mortar and pestle upon him, also appointing the physician to an official post. To this day, people still refer to the Yan Fangyu household as having received this rare honor. (From Qiu Yuan's *Baishe*)

Zhang Zhongjing’s methods for treating dysentery include ten purgative methods and five warming methods. The "purgatives" generally involve modifications of Chengqi Tang (Major Order the Qi Decoction); the "warmers" generally involve Jiangfu Tang (Decoction of Ginger and Aconite). Where did the use of Badou (Crotonis Fructus) or Yingkesu come from? Common physicians, seeing patients with spontaneous diarrhea, thirst, irritability, insomnia, and slightly cold hands and feet, all use bitter-cold purgatives. They do not realize this is dryness caused by excess Yin, where the patient desires to sit in a well to cool down. Thus, ancient sages used Wuzhuyu Tang (Evodia Decoction), and in severe cases, Sini Tang (Frigid Extremities Decoction). The *Classic* states: "Yang deficiency with Yin encroachment." Danxi used Wuzhuyu Tang to treat Huoluan (Cholera-like syndrome) with vomiting, diarrhea, and muscle twitching, applying the same principle. Recent physicians, failing to examine whether the dysentery is red or white, or whether the disease is new or chronic, rashly use Yingkesu (Papaveris Pericarpium) and Shiliupi (Punicae Cortex) as secret formulas. Their efficacy is suitable only for chronic dysentery with profuse discharge. If used in early stages, they obstruct stagnation, leading to other complications, resulting in a condition lasting years, known as Tixi Li (Stagnant Dysentery). The lay public only knows that astringents can block, but do not understand that unblocking agents can also block. Future students should value flexibility and not adhere rigidly to a single approach.