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The works of Li Dongyuan and Zhu Danxi are widely circulated in the world. Physicians today, seeing that they do not use ancient prescriptions, blindly imitate them and arbitrarily create their own formulas to treat diseases. Due to a lack of understanding of drug properties and a lack of methodology in prescribing, they act rashly and indiscriminately administer drugs, which instead leads to numerous complications, making it difficult to identify and treat the conditions. Unless one has diligently studied the *Bencao* (Materia Medica) and deeply investigated the *Neijing* (Inner Canon) in daily life, those who lightly create their own formulas rarely avoid causing harm. (From Wang Ruyan's *Xu Yilun*)

Dermatological eruptions (such as smallpox and measles) were not recorded in medical texts prior to the Han Dynasty. It was not until the time of the Tuoba Wei dynasty that relevant prescriptions and medicines began to appear. From the Tang to the Song dynasties, Dong Ji and Qian Yi emerged prominently, authoring books and establishing theories that supported the classics, contributing greatly. Recently, Zhao Jizong from Cixi published his *Xiao'er Douzhen Quan Shu* (Complete Book of Pediatric Smallpox and Eruptions), which was printed and distributed. When I first read its preface, I privately thought he was the only person capable of succeeding Qian Yi. However, after reading through the entire volume and conducting detailed research, I found it vastly different from the preface. The book contains a total of sixty-two formulas, among which four ingredients—Zicao (Arnebiae Radix seu Cortex, 紫草), Chanshao (Cicadae Periostracum, 蝉壳), Niu Bang Zi (Arctii Fructus, 牛蒡子/大力子), and Lu Feng Fang (Vespa Velutina Nest, 露蜂房)—are frequently used. This occurs in forty-six of the formulas. Why is it so biased and aberrant? If a child has strong Qi and suffers from wind-pathogen heat-toxin, using these drugs may be acceptable. But what if the child has deficient Qi and Blood, with both exterior and interior lacking solidity, spontaneous diarrhea, grayish-white stool, depressed pustule tops, teeth grinding, and chills? How can such drugs be lightly administered?

According to Hu Daqing's *Douzhen Fang Lun*: Although Zicao is considered a sacred medicine for treating skin eruptions, its nature is cold and it promotes bowel movement; thus, it can be used if the stool is constipated. It also states: Chanshao should be avoided after the eighth day of illness; Niu Bang Zi (also known as Shu Niu Zi) is contraindicated for those with deficiency-cold. According to the *Bencao Tujing*: Lu Feng Fang tastes bitter and salty, has a neutral nature, and is toxic. It treats convulsions, gu-poison, intestinal hemorrhoids, swelling/toxins, and wind-related toothache, but does not mention applicability to pediatric dermatological eruptions. Zhao uses it in every formula; this is the first error in medication.

Children have fragile constitutions. Ancient sages typically prescribed small doses, no more than three or two qian. Zhao often prescribes one liang or six to seven qian; this is the second error. Symptoms such as internal deficiency with diarrhea, warmth of the head with cold feet, irritability and thirst, abdominal distension, panting, or chills and teeth grinding indicate both exterior and interior deficiency. Zhao argues that one cannot immediately diagnose interior deficiency, attributing it instead to food stagnation or cold injury. Even if diagnosed as diarrhea caused by food stagnation or cold, he still prescribes Niu Bang Zi and Zicao; this is the third error. Furthermore, for patients with itching, collapsed lesions, internal deficiency with diarrhea, and rapid breathing, he administers cold-natured agents; this is the fourth error.

Zhao claims that chills and teeth grinding result from cold injuring the Spleen and Stomach, yet he refuses to abandon Niu Bang Zi, Zicao, and Kushen. He fails to realize that excessive coldness damages the pure and clear Qi of the Spleen and Stomach. The *Jing* (Canon) states: All five Zang organs receive Qi from the Stomach; the Stomach is the root of the five Zang organs. Once Stomach Qi is deficient, death follows swiftly. Yang Renzhai stated: Heat syndromes should not be abruptly cleared but rather gently resolved. Generally, without heat, dermatological eruptions cannot erupt and rise, similar to how beans grow easily when the weather is warm. Ancients carefully weighed cold and heat, analyzing climatic influences. Holding a biased view will inevitably cause great harm. Do I enjoy arguing? No, it is merely out of my desire to protect the young.