典藏书目

Those with a robust constitution do not fear heat in summer nor cold in winter. Those with a weak constitution may suffer from diarrhea due to cold-dampness invasion during cold and rainy weather, or suffer from heatstroke due to latent heat when the weather is hot and muggy. Individuals with excess Yang can tolerate cold but not heat, while those with excess Yin can tolerate heat but not cold; this further illustrates the differences in innate endowment. Therefore, starting from Lixia (Start of Summer), when the Qi transforms into pure Yang, practitioners should avoid using hot medicines and stay away from hot environments. Starting from Lidong (Start of Winter), when the Qi aligns with pure Yin, practitioners should avoid using cold medicines and stay away from cold environments. If the weather is extremely cold, covering and warming should be appropriate, ensuring that toxic vapors are not trapped by the cold and unable to exit. If the weather is extremely hot, it is advisable to remain cool and avoid excessive covering, so as not to allow external heat to combine with toxins, leading to restlessness and even ulceration of smallpox lesions. When encountering sudden changes such as thunderstorms, fierce winds, or heavy rain, one should carefully adjust curtains and covers, burn more substances to repel foul odors, and avoid the abnormal Qi of the moment. The sleeping area must be free from drafts, bright and ventilated, avoiding darkness. Constant supervision is required, with lamps kept lit at night to facilitate feeding and prevent scratching of the smallpox lesions. It is crucial to strictly avoid foul odors; otherwise, unerupted pox may fail to emerge, erupted pox may become ulcerated, and in severe cases, the lesions may turn black, sink inward, rot with a foul odor, cause excruciating pain like knife wounds, and lead to death from suffocation and confusion, which cannot be ignored. Even if feeling hungry or cold, for the nursing mother, this is natural, as the smallpox relies on grain Qi and milk to nourish the interior and avoid wind-cold to protect the exterior. If grain Qi is deficient, wind-cold will invade, causing significant harm. However, one should not overeat or overwarm, nor consume fried, roasted, or pungent five-spice foods, otherwise, heat toxins will harass the chest and diaphragm, inevitably damaging the eyes. When the disease is nearing recovery, as muscles regenerate, bathing is taboo too early, and preventing wind-cold is particularly critical. Do not regard these words as trivial; they are indeed the essentials of health preservation.

The emotions of the Zang-Fu organs flow freely upon encountering fragrant scents but stagnate upon encountering foul odors. Smallpox entirely depends on the smooth flow of Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) Qi to succeed; if stagnant, heat toxins have no way to dissipate. Although filth and foul odors should naturally be avoided, fragrances like orchid and musk can deplete Yuan (Original) Qi. Is their effect direct? What is permitted includes burning jujube smoke: it can repel abnormal Qi, assist Ying and Wei Qi, and stimulate appetite. If infected by menstrual blood, postpartum filth, or other foul odors, jujube smoke can resolve it. To prevent itching, burn birch bark with jujube smoke. If affected by alcohol fumes, burn Puerariae Radix (Gegen, 葛根) and Artemisiae Capillaris Herba (Yinchenhao, 茵陈蒿). If affected by five-spice pungency, burn fresh ginger. If attacked by corpse gas or epidemic pathogenic factors, burn Rhubarb (Dahuang, 大黄) and Atractylodis Rhizoma (Cangzhu, 苍术). For fox odor or dog/sheep smells, burn maple cones. During windy or rainy weather, burn Cangzhu and maple cones to ward off evil. For smallpox with insufficient blood and difficult pus formation, avoid burning Cangzhu, fearing it may dry out the body and hinder pus formation. For various evil airs, generally use Frankincense (Ruxiang, 乳香) smoke fumigation and spray with Coriander Wine (Husuijiu, 胡荽酒). However, vinegar fumigation is unsuitable because although vinegar invigorates blood, its sour taste has an astringent property, which is inappropriate. Once smallpox erupts, the Zang-Fu organs are empty; diet should be moderated, neither starving nor stuffing, clothing adjusted, neither too cold nor too hot. Any deviation leads to immediate disaster, so all taboos must be observed.

At the initial stage of smallpox, it is suitable to eat bamboo shoot tips, sheep heads, chicken brains, chicken comb blood, meat cooked in rice, and mulberry caterpillar wine fermentation. During the pus-forming stage, suitable foods include goose tail meat, rooster heads, boiled lotus seeds with dates, aged cured meat, longan stir-fried with wine, egg white glutinous rice porridge, round meat dumplings, tender lamb juice meat, and large mulberry caterpillars. At the crusting stage, only cool foods are suitable, and toxic foods are taboo.

Throughout the course of smallpox, avoid eating eggplants, green onions, leeks, Welsh onion bulbs, garlic, chestnuts, crabs, fresh fish, honey-soaked chili peppers, seasonal fruits, clam meat, basket pork, all heart/kidney blood/marrow, liver/intestines with wine lees, lychees, oranges, millet, wheat flour, strong liquor, raw/cold items, heating/venting items, and cold-natured items.

During smallpox, do not disturb sleep, otherwise, pre-pox or post-pox convulsions may occur. During the filling stage, stopping pus formation is easy.

In severe winter, place many charcoal fires in the room, which has the power to reverse critical conditions. In midsummer, place many water basins; water pleases the Heart. Ensure the room temperature is warm like spring throughout the four seasons to promote smooth Qi and Blood flow.

Taboo: Combing hair facing the patient.
Taboo: Visits from strangers.
Taboo: Abnormal Qi of the Six Exogenous Pathogens.
Taboo: Facing itching sensations.
Taboo: Chickens, dogs, cattle, sheep.
Taboo: Monks, Daoists, shamans entering the room.
Taboo: Sweeping near the patient.
Taboo: Staying far from oil mills, as scent exposure causes transformation (worsening).
Taboo: Sudden shocks or touches.
Taboo: Vaginal discharge odors.
Taboo: Loud music or singing during meals.
Taboo: Absurd talk.
Taboo: Cursing or shouting in anger.
Taboo: Pregnant women.
Taboo: Facing crying individuals.
Taboo: Temperatures that are too cold or too hot.
Taboo: Hunger or fullness extremes.
Taboo: Fumes from frying, oil, salt, and fishy smells.
Taboo: Drinking cold water or eating cold food.
Taboo: Musk and dry/foul odors.
Taboo: Menstrual odors from women.
Taboo: Filthy sewage odors.
Taboo: Odors from cattle, sheep, and candles.
Taboo: Axillary fox odor.
Taboo: Sulfur and mosquito coil smoke.
Taboo: Five-spice pungent odors.
Taboo: Odors from applying ointments to sores.
Taboo: Fishy/foul odors from various sores.
Taboo: Smoke and ash from burning coal.
Taboo: Sweat from long travel.
Taboo: Blowing out lamp wicks.
Taboo: Accidentally burning hair.
Taboo: Smoke from firewood, fish bones, and animal hairs.
Taboo: Green onion, garlic, leek, and Welsh onion odors.
Taboo: Corpse stench.
Taboo: Various fishy/dry odors.
Taboo: Alcohol and meat/fish odors.

If all previous prohibitions are strictly followed with caution, severe cases can become mild. If taboos are ignored or neglected, mild cases can become severe. Be cautious, be cautious!