Library

One should benefit from tonifying Qi. When True Yang (Zhen Yang, the fundamental yang energy of the body) is sufficient, it can expel toxins outward to form smallpox lesions. If symptoms such as the inability of the smallpox pustules to rise occur, they are all due to insufficiency of Yuan Qi (Primordial Qi). It is appropriate to take herbs such as Codonopsis Radix (Dangshen), Atractylodis Rhizoma (Baizhu), Astragali Radix (Huangqi), and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao) to tonify it.

Two should benefit from nourishing Blood. When True Yin (Zhen Yin, the fundamental yin substance of the body) is abundant, it can follow Qi to the pustules to fill them with pus. Symptoms such as empty shells without pus are all due to insufficiency of Yin and Blood. It is appropriate to add Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata (Shudi), Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui), Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix (Danshen), and Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuanxiong) to the Qi-tonifying formulas to nourish it.

Three should benefit from tonifying Spleen and Kidney. If the Spleen Earth is strong and healthy, Qi and Blood will naturally be sufficient. Symptoms such as decreased appetite and a bland taste in the mouth are all due to weakness of Spleen Earth. One must tonify both Spleen and Kidney; that is, add Fructus Lycii (Gouqi), Fructus Psoraleae (Guzhi/Bopozhi), Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Fuzi), and Cinnamomi Cortex (Rougui) to the previous Qi- and Blood-nourishing herbs, so that the smallpox lesions will naturally avoid complications of collapse and diarrhea. The Classics state: "When there is deficiency, tonify its mother"; this is what is meant.

Four should examine Deficiency and Excess. If a child has a normal appetite for food and drink, and bowel movements and urination are regular, not taking medicine is the safest approach. However, if symptoms such as excessive fluid filling during the pustule-filling stage or failure of the scabs to dry occur, one must examine which part of the Qi level or Blood level is deficient, and adjust and tonify according to the symptoms. One must not recklessly use cooling medicines. Only when there is foul odor from the mouth and nose, pungent urine, constipation, and evidence of Excess Fire (Shi Huo) can clearing and resolving methods be temporarily used.

One must avoid clearing heat and destroying toxins. Any Yin toxin (Yin Du, pathogenic factors originating from the fetus) in the womb must rely on Yang Qi to support and send it out before it can erupt. If Yang Qi is cleared by cold medicines, the Yin toxin returns inward, and the collapse of smallpox lesions is indeed due to this. Therefore, herbs such as Forsythiae Fructum (Lianqiao), Rehmanniae Radix (Shengdi), Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin), and Alismatis Rhizoma (Zexie) must absolutely not be used unless there is Excess Fire.

Two must avoid attacking and depleting Qi and Blood. When Qi and Blood are abundant and flowing smoothly, smallpox is easy to resolve successfully. If harsh purgatives are swallowed, Middle Qi (Zhong Qi, the Qi of the Spleen and Stomach) becomes deficient, and toxins penetrate deeply through the void, causing various symptoms such as diarrhea and lesion collapse. Therefore, herbs such as Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (Dahuang), Natrii Sulfas (Mangxiao), Manis Squama (Shanjia/Shanjiapia), and Crataegi Fructus (Shanzha) are strictly prohibited.

Three must avoid recklessly administering medicine. When children develop smallpox, physicians are summoned seeking benefit. Little do they know that modern physicians often fail to distinguish between Deficiency and Excess, treating everything with "good medicines." Those with mild toxicity nearly die, and those with severe toxicity do not survive; thus, it is better than taking no medicine at all. A guest asked: "For favorable courses of smallpox, one can abstain from medicine, I understand this. For dangerous courses, can one also abstain from medicine?" I replied: "If purely cooling medicines are used to treat dangerous courses, one only sees deaths caused by treatment, never cures achieved." The guest suddenly realized and left.

Four must avoid swallowing small pills prescribed by doctors. The small pills carried by modern smallpox practitioners are always Crotonis Semen (Badou/Croton seed) pills. They believe that since smallpox is fetal toxin, and Croton seed moves downward, it will surely purge it away. Little do they know that this causes Middle Deficiency and sinking, leading to death! A few pills of these are certainly not warming and tonifying Qi and Blood medicines. Even pills such as Baolong Wan (Baolong Pill) and Niuhuang Wan (Calculus Bovis Pill) greatly hinder the course of smallpox disease, so they must absolutely not be taken by mistake. Many relatives and friends have suffered harm from this. Witnessing this with my own eyes and feeling heartbroken, I specifically highlight this warning. As for the Renya San (Human Tooth Powder), Dusheng San (Unique Sage Powder), Chicken Comb Blood, and Mulberry Insects prepared by predecessors to force toxins outward, they quickly lead to collapse and retraction. These are all incorrect principles; have we ever seen even one person cured? They must absolutely not be used.