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After the measles rash has manifested for three days, it should gradually recede. A moderate pace of recession (neither too fast nor too slow) indicates a state of health. If the rash recedes within one or two days, this is considered "too rapid" (excessive speed). This occurs due to improper care and nursing, or invasion by wind-cold pathogens, or contact with turbid pathogens, causing the toxin to attack inwardly. Mild cases present with irritability, thirst, delirium, and mania; severe cases present with coma, mental confusion, and restlessness. At this point, it is urgent to internally administer Jingfang Jiedu Tang (Jingfang Detoxification Decoction) and externally fumigate clothing and bedding with Huqiu Jiu (Coriander Wine) to allow the rash to emerge outward, thereby ensuring safety. When the rash should recede but fails to do so, it is because deficiency-heat remains stagnant in the muscle layer. The symptoms include tidal fever, irritability, thirst, dry mouth, and dry throat. One must absolutely avoid using purely cold-natured formulas; instead, treat with Chaihu Siwu Tang (Bupleurum Four Substances Decoction) to harmonize and smooth the blood level, eliminating residual heat completely, after which the rash will naturally disappear.

Jingfang Jiedu Tang: Treats internal attack of measles toxin.
Herbs include: Bohe (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba), Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus), Jingjie (Schizonepetae Herba), Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Niu Bang Zi (Arctii Fructus), Da Qing Ye (Isatidis Folium), Xi Jiao (Rhinocerotis Cornu), Ren Zhong Huang (Hominis Excrementum Purificatum).
Preparation: Decoct with Deng Xin Cao (Junci Medullae) and Lu Gen (Phragmitis Rhizoma) water as guides.

Chaihu Siwu Tang: Treats deficiency-heat stagnation where the rash should recede but does not.
Herbs include: Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Chuan Xiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix), Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix), Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix), Dan Zhu Ye (Lophatheri Herba), Di Gu Pi (Lycii Cortex), Zhi Mu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix), Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Tuber).
Preparation: Add Sheng Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) and Hong Zao (Jujubae Fructus) as guides.

Commentary by Lianquan: Jingfang Jiedu Tang treats internal attack of measles toxin; this is indeed a precious prescription worth ten thousand gold. I have used it repeatedly with consistent success. From this, one can infer the unspoken principles. For instance, in winter when wind-cold is severe and the toxin is hidden internally, one may add Ma Huang (Ephedrae Herba) and Xing Ren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum), or even use San'ao Tang (Three Uninhibited Decoction), adding Niu Bang Zi, Chan Tui (Cicadae Periostracum), and Jingjie. If the condition is caused by food stagnation leading to internal retention of toxin, one may add Zhi Qiao (Aurantii Fructus), Bo Zi (Raphani Fructus), and Shen Qu (Massa Medicata Fermentata) to Jingfang Jiedu Tang. If the entire body presents with cyanosis, hot swelling, abdominal distension, panting, dysuria, and umbilical protrusion, this indicates toxin stagnation and blood coagulation, half-hidden in the muscle layer. Urgently administer Liangge San (Cooling the Chest Powder) with added Ma Huang, Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum), Ting Li Zi (Descurainiae Semen), and Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma); there may be hope for rescue. If there is internal phlegm-heat, with fire-toxin extremely hyperactive and hidden, causing restlessness, or abdominal distension, panting, and unconsciousness, use Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction) with added Xuan Shen (Scrophulariae Radix) and Dan Zhu Ye. These two explanations originate from *Yi Tong*. My opinion is that for the latter explanation, if phlegm is involved, add Xing Ren and Dan Xing (Arisaematis Cum Bile); if abdominal distension is present, add Zhi Qiao and Da Huang. However, one must not dispense with Jingjie and Qian Hu (Peucedani Radix); use them with discretion. The text states "when it should disperse but does not," implying deficiency-heat stagnating in the muscle layer, and advises against purely cold-natured agents. This is also a general principle. Saying "do not use purely cold agents" implies there are situations where cold agents are appropriate. Zhang Yulu said: In the northwest, the soil and water are rigid, and people's constitutions are dense; measles takes five to seven days to recede. In the southeast, the wind and qi are soft, and measles resolve within two or three days. Recently, due to changes in geographical fortune, measles last for several days and do not fall into the category of difficult-to-recede cases. This view is correct. Furthermore, difficult-to-recede measles mostly belong to heat syndromes, but there are also cases where exterior and interior pathogens are not cleared, lingering for five to seven days. For wind, use exterior-releasing methods; for food stagnation, use digestion-promoting methods; for excess, use purgative methods; for phlegm, use phlegm-resolving methods; for fire, use cooling methods; for toxin, use detoxifying methods. It is also advisable to concurrently use fresh Sheng Di Huang and Dan Pi (Moutan Cortex) to cool blood and nourish blood to protect the root. Zhang Yulu also said: After measles spots appear for three or four days, if the spots are dry, white, faintly visible in the muscles, and difficult to recede, this is due to deficient Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) unable to express, or due to thin clothing/bedding and seeking coolness, which obstructs the mechanism of expression, causing prolongation. The treatment method should be acrid-dispersing and penetrating; one must not hastily use cold agents to block the pathways of opening and venting.

San'ao Tang: Treats external invasion of wind-cold and internal attack of measles toxin.
Herbs include: Ma Huang (Ephedrae Herba), Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum), Xing Ren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum).

Liangge San (See previous section)