凡治燥病，先辨凉温。王孟英曰∶以五气而论，则燥为凉邪，阴凝则燥，乃其本气。但秋承夏后，火之余炎未息，
若火既就之，阴竭则燥，是其标气。治分温润凉润二法。费晋卿曰∶燥者干也，对湿言之也。立秋以后，湿气去而燥气
来，初秋尚热，则燥而热，深秋既凉，则燥而凉，以燥为全体，而以热与凉为之用，兼此二义，方见燥字圆相，法当清
润温润。
次辨虚实。叶香岩曰∶秋燥一证，颇似春月风温。温自上受，燥自上伤，均是肺先受病。但春月为病，犹是冬令固
密之余，秋令感伤，恰值夏月发泄之后，其体质之虚实不同。初起治肺为急，当以辛凉甘润之方，气燥自平而愈。若果
有暴凉外束，只宜葱豉汤（葱白、香豉，服时加童便）加杏仁、苏梗、前胡、桔梗之属。延绵日久，病必入血分，须审
体质证候。总之，上燥治气，下燥治血，慎勿用苦燥劫烁胃汁也。
又次辨燥湿，石芾南曰∶病有燥湿；药有润燥。病有风燥、凉燥、暑燥、燥火、燥郁夹湿之分；药有辛润、温润、
清润、咸润、润燥兼施之别。燥邪初伤肺气，气为邪阻，不能布津外通毛窍，故身无汗，寒热疼痛；又不能布津上濡清
窍，下润胃肠，故口干、舌燥、喉痒、干咳、胸闷、气逆、二便不调。治者当辨燥湿二气，孰轻孰重；所兼何邪，如兼
风、兼寒、兼伏暑之类；所化何邪，如化火、未化火之分；所夹何邪，如夹水、夹痰、夹食、夹内伤之类；对病发药，
使之开通。开是由肺外达皮毛，与升散之直向上行者不同；通是由肺下达胃肠，通润通利，皆谓之通，非专指攻下言。
虽然，燥病夹湿，用药最要灵活。专润燥，须防其滞湿；专渗湿，须防其益燥。必先诘其已往，以治其现下；治其现下，
须顾其将来。
凡是治疗燥病，首先要辨别是凉燥还是温燥。王孟英说：从五气（风、寒、暑、湿、燥）的角度来看，燥属于凉邪，阴气凝滞导致干燥，这是燥的本气。但秋季承接夏季之后，夏季残留的火气余热尚未平息，如果火气依附于燥，导致阴液枯竭而干燥，这是燥的标气。治疗方法分为温润法和凉润法两种。费晋卿说：燥就是干枯，是相对于湿而言的。立秋以后，湿气退去而燥气到来，初秋天气尚热，所以表现为燥而热；深秋天气已凉，所以表现为燥而凉。以燥作为整体性质，而以热与凉作为其表现形式，兼有这两层含义，才能完整理解“燥”字的内涵，治法应当采用清润和温润的方法。
其次要辨别虚证和实证。叶香岩说：秋燥这一病症，很像春季的风温病。风温由上受入，燥邪也由上伤及，都是肺脏首先受到病变影响。但是春季发病，还有冬季封藏固密体质的余势；秋季感受外邪，正值夏季腠理开泄发泄之后，患者的体质虚实情况不同。初起时治疗以救肺为急务，应当使用辛凉甘润的方剂，气分燥热自然平复而痊愈。如果确实有暴凉的寒气外束肌表，只适宜用葱豉汤（葱白、淡豆豉，服用时加入童便）加上杏仁、紫苏梗、前胡、桔梗这类药物。如果病情拖延日久，病邪必然深入血分，必须仔细审察患者的体质和证候。总之，上部燥邪治气分，下部燥邪治血分，千万不要使用苦燥的药物劫烁胃中津液。
再次要辨别燥与湿的关系。石芾南说：疾病有燥证和湿证的区别；药物有润燥和祛湿的不同。疾病有风燥、凉燥、暑燥、燥火、燥郁夹湿等分类；药物有辛润、温润、清润、咸润、润燥兼施等不同类别。燥邪初次损伤肺气，气机被邪气阻滞，不能布散津液向外通达皮毛，所以身体无汗，伴有寒热疼痛；又不能布散津液向上濡养头面清窍，向下滋润胃肠，所以出现口干、舌燥、喉痒、干咳、胸闷、气逆、大小便不调等症状。治疗者应当辨别燥气和湿气，哪一方轻、哪一方重；所兼夹的是什么邪气，如兼风、兼寒、兼伏暑之类；所转化为什么邪气，如化为火邪或未化为火邪的区别；所夹杂的是什么邪气，如夹水、夹痰、夹食积、夹内伤之类；针对病情用药，使其气机开通。所谓“开”，是指由肺向外达于皮毛，这与单纯升散向上行的方法不同；所谓“通”，是指由肺向下通达胃肠，通润、通利都称为“通”，并非专指攻下通便而言。虽然如此，燥病夹湿时，用药最为关键的是灵活。专门润燥，须防止其滞留湿气；专门渗湿，须防止其加重干燥。必须先追问病史以治疗当下的病情；治疗当下病情时，必须顾及未来的转归。
In treating dryness diseases, one must first distinguish between cold-dryness and warm-dryness. Wang Mengying stated: From the perspective of the Five Qi (Wind, Cold, Summer-heat, Dampness, Dryness), dryness belongs to cold pathogenic factors; when Yin condenses, it causes dryness, which is its fundamental nature. However, autumn follows summer, and the residual heat of fire has not yet subsided. If fire attaches to it, causing Yin exhaustion and subsequent dryness, this is its secondary manifestation. Treatment methods are divided into two categories: moistening-warming and moistening-cooling. Fei Jinqing stated: "Dryness" refers to dryness and lack of moisture, contrasted with dampness. After the Start of Autumn, dampness recedes while dryness arrives. In early autumn, when heat still prevails, the condition presents as dryness combined with heat; in late autumn, when coolness sets in, it presents as dryness combined with cold. Taking dryness as the whole entity, and heat and cold as its functional manifestations, combining these two meanings allows for a comprehensive understanding of the concept of "dryness." The treatment method should employ clearing-moistening and warming-moistening approaches.
Next, one must distinguish between deficiency and excess syndromes. Ye Tianshi stated: The syndrome of autumn dryness resembles wind-warmth in spring. Wind-warmth enters from above, and dryness injures from above; both initially affect the Lung. However, illnesses contracted in spring still benefit from the consolidation and storage accumulated during winter, whereas injuries contracted in autumn occur precisely after the dispersal and venting of summer. Thus, the constitution's state of deficiency or excess differs. At the onset, urgent treatment focuses on the Lung, employing formulas that are pungent, cool, sweet, and moistening, so that Qi dryness naturally levels out and recovery ensues. If there is indeed an external constraint by sudden cold, only Congchi Tang (Congbai [Allii Fistulosi Bulbus], Jiangshi [Fermented Soybean], taken with Tongbian [Child's Urine]) added with Xingren [Semen Armeniacae Amarum], Sugen [Stems of Perilla Frutescens], Qianhu [Radial Peucedani], and Jiegeng [Radix Platycodonis] should be used. If the disease lingers for a long time, the pathogen will inevitably enter the Blood level, requiring careful assessment of the patient's constitution and symptoms. In summary, upper dryness is treated by regulating Qi, and lower dryness is treated by nourishing Blood. One must strictly avoid using bitter-drying herbs that deplete Stomach fluids.
Furthermore, one must distinguish between dryness and dampness. Shi Funan stated: Diseases have distinctions between dryness and dampness; medicines have differences between moistening and drying/dispelling dampness. Diseases can be classified into wind-dryness, cold-dryness, summer-heat dryness, dryness-fire, and dryness-stagnation with dampness. Medicines vary in being pungent-moistening, warming-moistening, clearing-moistening, salty-moistening, or combining moistening with drying/dispelling dampness. When dryness pathogen initially injures Lung Qi, Qi is obstructed by the pathogen and cannot distribute body fluids outward to the skin and hair pores, resulting in absence of sweating, aversion to cold, fever, and pain; nor can it distribute fluids upward to moisten the clear orifices or downward to lubricate the intestines and stomach, leading to dry mouth, dry tongue, itchy throat, dry cough, chest tightness, rebellious Qi, and irregular bowel movements. The practitioner must distinguish the severity of dryness versus dampness Qi, identify concurrent pathogens (such as Wind, Cold, or latent Summer-heat), determine transformation (whether transformed into Fire or not), and recognize夹杂 pathogens (such as Water retention, Phlegm, Food stagnation, or internal injury). Medications should be prescribed to open and unblock the pathogen. "Opening" refers to releasing from the Lung outward to the skin and muscles, differing from direct ascending and dispersing methods; "unblocking" refers to descending from the Lung to the intestines and stomach. Moistening and promoting free flow are both termed "unblocking," not exclusively referring to purgative methods. Nevertheless, when dryness diseases involve dampness, flexibility in medication is crucial. Exclusively moistening dryness risks retaining dampness; exclusively draining dampness risks exacerbating dryness. One must first inquire about past history to treat the current condition; while treating the present, one must consider future developments.