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The *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) states: "In treating diseases, one must seek the root." This means to investigate the primary cause of the disease. With a primary cause, there arises a corresponding fundamental syndrome. For example, wind injury involves aversion to wind; cold injury involves aversion to cold; heat injury involves aversion to heat; food stagnation involves aversion to food, and so on. When the illness is mild, it does not transmit; when severe, it often transmits. This is called a transformed syndrome. There are five such syndromes, which are discussed item by item below.

(Also known as Mao Han [Encountering Cold]. Commonly referred to as seasonal common cold. Conditions such as encountering wind or feeling cold belong to this category.)
[Etiology] Accidental exposure to cold qi in the four seasons. Or due to seeking coolness and exposing oneself to the wind.
[Symptoms] Skin and muscles tighten, hair follicles rise like gooseflesh. Headache, aversion to wind, nasal congestion with heavy voice, frequent sneezing, clear runny nose. The body does not have fever. Therefore, there is no transmission. The tongue appearance is normal, with a coating that may be white, thin, and moist.
[Pulse] The right pulse is floating (Fu), while the left pulse is wiry (Xian) and slow (Huan). Floating indicates wind; wiry and slow indicate contracting the chill within the wind. This is a minor ailment from occasional cold exposure, attacking only the skin and hair pores without entering the meridians. It is commonly known as Xiao Shanghan (Minor Cold Damage). It occurs in all seasons and is quite prevalent in our region of Shaoxing.
[Treatment] The *Huangdi Neijing* states: "A skilled healer treats at the level of the skin and hair pores." It also says: "Because the pathogen is light and superficial, use dispersing methods." One should employ acrid-dispersing and light-yang methods to vent the skin and hair pores. The principal formula is Congbai Xiangchi Tang (Scallion White and Fermented Soybean Decoction).
Fresh Scallion White (Congbai) - 5 stalks (chopped)
Lightly Fermented Soybeans (Danchi) - 3 qian
Fresh Ginger (Shengjiang) - 1 qian (peeled)
Add one and a half bowls of water to the above herbs, decoct until one bowl remains, strain, and take hot. Cover with blankets and rest. Soon, slight sweating will occur, resolving the condition. Avoid sour, cold, and greasy foods for several days to prevent transmission naturally.
[Commentary by Xiu] This case was pioneered by Master Danxi of the Yuan Dynasty, followed by Wang Kentang of the Ming Dynasty, and now only by Mr. Genchu Yu. It suits both ancient and modern contexts, being concise and not cumbersome. Students should regard it as a standard. The commentary uses classical Chinese yet remains accessible and clear. The formula is derived from the *Waitai Miyao* (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold for Emergencies), fitting current applications best.
[Review by Lian] Sudden cold damage in the four seasons is called Xiao Shanghan. Master Ye stated: One should observe whether the weather is cold or warm, using either acrid-warm or acrid-cool methods, aiming for appropriateness. Following this pattern for diagnosis and prescription is the most concise approach. We can adopt this as a procedural guide for formulating prescriptions and a clinical medical canon, without pursuing novelty or eccentricity.
[Note by Rongzhai] What is called "Xiao Shanghan" here is essentially the common cold syndrome. Since there is no fever, it might seem inappropriate to call it Shanghan (Cold Damage). However, although what lies before us is a "minor illness," it can develop into a "major illness." Therefore, Mr. He Lianchen proposed in *Compilation of Verified Cases by Famous Doctors Nationwide*: "Mao Feng (Encountering Wind) is rhinitis caused by wind. Patients often regard it as a trivial ailment, frequently refusing medication, failing to avoid wind and cold, and neglecting dietary caution; inevitably leading to coughing, excessive phlegm, chest tightness, gastric dullness, or fever, resulting in lung disease." Preventing trouble before it happens and raising vigilance are hints from the author to draw attention to the "common cold," hence naming it "Xiao Shanghan." Furthermore, this condition responds excellently to Cheng Zhongling's Zhisou San (Stop Cough Powder) (Jiegeng, Jingjie, Ziwan, Bubu, Baiqian each 8 qian; Chenpi 4 qian; Gancao 3 qian; ground into fine powder, take 3 qian with boiled water, two to three times daily). According to an experimental report by Wang Pinxian in the 15th issue of *Danfang Huibao* edited by Ye Juquan: "I used this powder taken with ginger and scallion soup before sleep, achieving remarkable results. Moreover, night administration (while covered and sleeping) is more reliable than daytime administration. Recently, those cured by its application are too numerous to mention; some were cured after one dose, and at most after two or three doses, full recovery occurred."
Another Note: The medical record format established here (Etiology, Symptoms, Pulse, Treatment) was indeed a rationalized prescription procedure at that time. However, regarding the pulse section, it mostly cites classic texts to verify pulse qualities, uniform across chapters, resembling traditional commentaries, focusing on conformity rather than practical application. Using such a commentary model to explain pulse qualities—can it truly reflect the current condition? Can it infer past causes? I believe there are some issues. However, this problem is solvable: As long as we understand the internal essence running through the entire pulse, i.e., the driving force dominating the pulse; grasping the principles of the pulse, its image, and its associated diseases, then using pulse theory to deduce pathology, verifying pathology with symptoms, and further judging the condition via pulse signs; our understanding can advance from the perceptual stage to the rational stage. If one judges the condition solely based on pulse signs while ignoring the continuity between pathology and pulse theory, "it becomes water without a source and wood without roots, merely unreliable subjective fabrication" (quoting *On Practice*). For the pulse records in the following sections, we must apply them with clear rationality; otherwise, they cannot be implemented in practical tasks. This is stated here to illustrate the principle for the rest.