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From after the Beginning of Spring (Lichun) to before Pure Brightness (Qingming), Jieji Tang (Unfolding Muscle Decoction) is appropriate for treatment; from after Pure Brightness to before Grain in Ear (Mangzhong), Shaoyao Tang (Peony Decoction) is appropriate; from after Grain in Ear to before Start of Autumn (Liqiu), Zhi Mu Tang (Anemarrhena Decoction) is appropriate.

Jieji Tang (Unfolding Muscle Decoction)
Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum, 2 liang); Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba, de-segmented, 7 qian half); Gancao (Licorice Root, honey-fried); Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma, each 0.5 liang). Process: Coarsely crush the herbs. For each dose, use 5 qian of the mixture, add one zhan of water and Banxia (Vicia Seed, half he), decoct until reduced to 8/10 volume, strain.
Take hot. If wind aversion persists after three to five doses, add Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba, 0.5 liang) and Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum, 1 liang).

Shaoyao Tang (Peony Decoction)
Gancao (Licorice Root, honey-fried, 0.5 liang); Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix Alba, 1 liang); Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum, 3 liang); Jingjiesui (Schizonepetae Spica, 1 liang). Process: Coarsely crush the herbs. For each dose, use 5 qian of the mixture, add one zhan of water and one piece of fresh ginger (Shengjiang, Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens), decoct until reduced to 7/10 volume, strain. Take hot. If wind aversion persists after three to five doses, add one piece of fresh ginger to each dose for decoction.

Zhi Mu Tang (Anemarrhena Decoction)
Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma, 1 liang); Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum, 2 liang); Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba); Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma, each 1 liang); Zhigancao (Licorice Root, honey-fried, 0.5 liang). Process: Coarsely crush the herbs. For each dose, use 5 qian of the mixture, add one zhan of water and one piece of fresh ginger (Shengjiang, Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens), decoct together until reduced to 7/10 volume, strain. Take warm. If wind aversion persists after three to five doses, add Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) and Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma, each 0.5 liang).

The preceding three paragraphs advocate treating Wind-Strike (Zhong Feng) and Cold Damage (Shang Han) with the same method because when a patient first contracts the disease, both pulse and symptoms manifest clearly; administering exterior-releasing agents at this stage would inevitably fail to cure. Therefore, these formulas are established for unified treatment. Zhang Zhongjing stated: In diseases of Cold Damage, a slow pulse indicates Wind-Strike, while a tight pulse indicates Cold Damage. Why distinguish these two categories now? Initially, winter cold-toxic qi invades the body, causing latent yang qi to sink into the bone marrow. When it erupts in spring or summer, external cold may draw out internal pathogens, or external wind may do so. Once the internal pathogens emerge and cause illness, the mechanism is identical. The ancients established these two categories to prevent later generations from suspecting different treatments for tight versus slow pulses. If Wind-Strike and Cold Damage have different pulses, why did Zhang Zhongjing not prescribe distinct methods? This reflects later generations' failure to investigate Zhang Zhongjing's original intent. Within one to five or six days of onset, if exterior pulses and exterior symptoms persist, medication can be administered based on these signs. Whenever exterior-releasing or diaphoretic agents are used, three doses per day are permissible; for severe cases, up to five doses may be taken. Medication should not be consumed all at once. If symptoms remain unresolved, repeat the previous prescription the next day. If symptoms persist despite previous treatment, administer hot rice porridge, optionally adding Congbai (Allii Fistulosi Bulbus). If sweating occurs, avoid thick clothing or heavy covers to prevent excessive sweating leading to Yang Collapse (Wang Yang Zheng, a critical syndrome of yang depletion).

Li Dongyuan (Haizang) stated: In Han Shi’s *Weizhi*, the chapter on "Diaphoresis" mentions harmonizing according to season: Cold Damage presents with a pulse that is small at the head and large at the tail; Wind-Strike presents with a pulse that is large at the head and small at the tail. Li Sixun’s *Baoming Xinshu* also distinguishes Cun and Chi pulses, consistent with Zhang Zhongjing, unlike earlier authors who generally stated that both Cun and Chi pulses are floating and tight, or floating and slow. Tight indicates Cold Damage without sweat; slow indicates Wind-Strike with spontaneous sweat. There are cases of Wind-Strike with sweat and Cold Damage without sweat where pulses differ, as previously detailed by earlier scholars. Only Han and Li described "small head, large tail" as Cold Damage and "small tail, large head" as Wind-Strike. Since some patients present with pulse/symptoms not evident at the Cun/Chi positions, Han and Li formulated the method of harmonizing according to time. To avoid suspicion of deviating from ancient sages, they added modification rules to the base formulas, staying within the scope of earlier intentions, which was highly appropriate. These two masters lived during the peak of the Song Dynasty, thus cautioning against the light use of Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) and Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus), preferring milder agents like Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum), Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma), Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix), and Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix). While suitable for their time, this is not an eternal principle. As times change, methods adapt. In the "Diaphoresis" chapter, if one follows the decoction and responds to symptoms, there are fixed rules; even wise men must not transgress them.

Furthermore, a small Cun pulse is treated similarly to injuries from drinking cold liquids or exposure to fog/dew, focusing on the Middle Jiao. However, Han and Li warn that a small Cun pulse in Cold Damage should not be conflated with cold drink/fog injury, lest they be confused as one entity. Injury from cold drinks/fog results in a Cun pulse that is completely absent upon lifting and pressing, due to yin qi stagnating in the stomach preventing yang qi from ascending. In Cold Damage, a small Cun pulse is seen only extending from the Guan position down to the Bladder channel origin. Although the Cun pulse is small, it is merely faint upon lifting but palpable upon pressing, unlike the complete absence seen in cold drink injuries. If the Cun pulse is indeed completely absent upon lifting and pressing, exterior release is contraindicated; only warming the middle is appropriate. This must not be overlooked.