春之温病，夏之热病，秋之疟及痢，冬之寒气及咳嗽，皆四时不正之气也，总
名之曰伤寒。人之劳役辛苦者，触冒此四时风、寒、暑、湿不正之气，遂成此疾。人之伤于寒
也，热郁于内，浅则发，早为春温；若春不发而重感于暑，则夏为热病；若夏不发而重感于湿，则
秋变为疟痢；若秋不发而重感于寒，则冬为伤寒。故伤寒之气最深。然而伤寒及温热，但发
必先发热恶寒，头项痛，腰脊强者，一日在太阳经故也。《内经》中虽言一日太阳者，传受
常也。亦有太阳证，至了不传者，止可汗之，如升麻汤、解肌汤、逼毒散、五积散之类，发散则
愈也。盖病患热甚，更以辛温，则病必转加。今代刘河间先生，自制辛凉之剂，以通圣散、益元散相
合，各五、七钱，水一中碗，入生姜十余片，葱须头二十余根，豆豉一撮，同煎至五、七沸，去
滓，分作二服，先以多半服之，顷以钗股于喉中探引，尽吐前药。因其一涌，腠理开发，汗出周
身，复将余药温热而服之，仍以酸醋辛辣浆粥投之，可以立愈。
解利、伤寒、温、湿热病，
治法有二。天下少事之时，人多静逸，乐而不劳。诸静属阴，虽用温剂解表发汗，亦可获愈。及天下
多故之时，荧惑失常，师旅数兴，饥馑相继，赋役既多，火化大扰，属阳，内火又侵。医者
不达时变，犹用辛温，兹不近于人情也。止可用刘河间辛凉之剂，三日以里之证，十痊八、九
。予用此药四十余年，解利、伤寒、温热、中暑、伏热，莫知其数，非为炫也。将以证后人之
误用药者也。
予尝见世医，用升麻、五积解利、伤寒、温疫等病，往往发狂谵语，衄血泄血，喘满
昏瞀，懊 闷乱，劳复。此数证，非伤寒便有此状，皆由辛温
之剂，解之不愈，而热增剧，以致然也。凡解利、伤寒、时气疫疾，当先推天地寒暑之理，
以人参之。南陲之地多热，宜辛凉之剂解之；朔方之地多寒，宜辛温之剂解之；午未之月多
暑，宜辛凉解之；子丑之月多冻，宜辛温解之；少壮气实之人，宜辛凉解之；老耆气衰之人，宜辛
温解之；病患因冒寒、食冷而得者，宜辛温解之；因役劳、冒暑而得者，宜辛凉解之；病患
禀性怒急者，可辛凉解之；病患禀性和缓者，可辛温解之；病患两手脉浮大者，可辛凉解之；两
手脉迟缓者，可辛温解之。如是之病，不可一概而用。偏热寒凉及与辛温，皆不知变通者。
夫地有南北，时有寒暑，人有衰旺，脉有浮沉，剂有温凉，服有多少，不可差玄。病患禁
忌，不可不知。
昔有人春月病瘟，三日之内，以驴车载百余里，比及下车，昏瞀不知人，
数日而殂；又有人饮酒过伤，内外感邪，头痛身热，状如伤寒，三、四日间，以马驮还家，六
、七十里，到家百骨节皆痛，昏愦而死，此余亲睹。若此之类，不容更述。假如瘟病、伤寒、热
病、中暑、冒风、伤酒，慎勿车载马驮，摇撼顿挫大忌。夫动者，火之化；静者，水之化也。静
为阴，动为阳；阳为热，阴为寒。病已内扰，又复外扰，是为至扰。奈人之神，讵能当之？故
远行得疾者，宜舟泛床抬，无使外扰，故病不致增剧。
又若伤寒、时气、瘟病，尝六、七日
之间不大便，心下坚硬，腹胁紧满，止可大、小承气汤下之。其肠胃积热，慎勿用巴豆、杏仁，性
热大毒之药。虽用一、二丸下之，利五、七行，必反损阴气，涸枯津液，燥热转增，发黄谵语，
狂走斑毒，血泄闷乱。轻者为劳复，重者或至死。间有愈者幸矣，不可以为法。故伤寒新愈之人
，慎勿食猪、鱼、杂果、酽酒、湿面及沐浴房室事。如犯，病必再发。爱其身者，不可不
慎。
又如正二、三月，人气在上，瘟疫大作，必先头痛，或骨节疼，与伤寒、时气、冒暑、风湿及
中酒之人，其状皆相类，慎勿便用巴豆大毒之药治之。元光春，京师翰林应泰李屏山，得瘟疫证，头
痛，身热，口干，小便赤涩。渠素嗜饮，医者便与酒症丸，犯巴豆利十
余行。次日，头痛诸病仍存。医者不识，复以辛温之剂解之，加之卧于暖炕，强食葱、醋汤，图获一汗。岂知种种
客热，叠发并作，目黄斑生，潮热血泄，大喘大满，后虽有承气下之者，已无及矣！至今议者
纷纷，终不知热药之过，往往独归罪于承气汤。用承气汤者，不知其病已危，犹复用药，学
经不明故也，良可罪也。然议者不归罪于酒症丸者，亦可责也。夫瘟证在
表不可下，况巴豆之丸乎！巴豆不已，况复发以辛温之剂乎！必有仲尼，方明冶长之非罪，微生高之非直。终
不肯以数年之功，苦读《内经》，但随众好恶，为之毁誉。若此者，皆妄议者也。不真知其
理，遽加毁誉，君子之所不取。
以予论之，凡伤寒之气有六禁。初病之时，甚似中酒伤食者，禁
大下之，一禁也；当汗之时，宜详时之寒暑，用衾衣之浓薄，禁沐浴之火炕重被、热粥燔针
，二禁也；当汗之时，宜详解脉之迟数，用辛凉之剂，禁妄用热药，三禁也；当下之时，宜
审详证下之药，禁巴豆、银粉丸方，四禁也；远来之病患，禁车载马驮，五禁也；大汗之后
，禁杂食嗜欲，忧思作劳，六禁也。故凡有此者，宜清房凉榻，使不受客热之邪；明窗皓室，
使易见斑出黄生之变。病者喜食凉，则从其凉；喜食温，则从其温。清之而勿扰，休之而勿
劳。可辛温则辛温解之，可辛凉则辛凉解之。所察甚微，无拘彼此。欲水之人，慎勿禁水。
但饮之后，频与按摩其腹，则心下自动。若按摩其中脘，久则必痛。病患获痛，复若有水结
，则不敢按矣。止当禁而不禁者，轻者危，重则死；不当禁而禁者，亦然。今之士大夫，多
为俗论。先锢其心，虽有正论，不得而入矣。昔陆象先尝云∶天下本无事，庸人扰之为烦
耳！余亦曰∶正气本不乱，庸医扰之为剧耳！
春季的温病，夏季的热病，秋季的疟疾和痢疾，冬季的寒气侵袭及咳嗽，都是四时中不正之气所致，统称为伤寒。那些因劳役辛苦的人，触犯冒犯了这四季中风、寒、暑、湿等不正之气，于是形成了这种疾病。人受到寒邪侵袭后，热郁结在体内，若病情浅显则早期发作，表现为春温；如果春天不发作而再次感受暑邪，则在夏天发展为热病；如果夏天不发作而再次感受湿邪，则在秋天转变为疟疾和痢疾；如果秋天不发作而再次感受寒邪，则在冬天成为伤寒。所以伤寒的病气最深重。然而，无论是伤寒还是温热病，发病初期必然出现发热、恶寒、头项疼痛、腰脊强直的症状，这是因为病邪第一天在太阳经（足太阳膀胱经）的缘故。《内经》中虽然提到第一天病在太阳经是传变的常理，但也有太阳经证候表现，直到痊愈也不发生传变的情况，这种情况下只需用发汗法治疗，如使用升麻汤、解肌汤、逼毒散、五积散之类的方剂，发散邪气后即可痊愈。大概因为病人热势很盛，如果再使用辛温药物，病情必定加重。当今刘河间先生，自制了辛凉性质的药剂，将防风通圣散与益元散配合使用，各取五到七钱，加入一中碗水，再放入生姜十余片、葱须头二十余根、豆豉一撮，一同煎煮至五六沸，滤去药渣，分作两次服用。先让病人喝下大半杯，片刻后用钗股刺激咽喉引起呕吐，将刚才服下的药全部吐出。因为一次涌吐，使腠理（皮肤毛孔）开发，全身出汗，然后再将剩余的药加热服用，同时用酸醋和辛辣的浆粥来送服，可以立即痊愈。
对于解利（解除表邪）、伤寒、温病、湿热病的治法，主要有两种。天下太平无事的时候，人们大多安静安逸，快乐而不劳累。各种静属阴，即使使用温性药剂来解表发汗，也可以获得痊愈。等到天下多事之秋，火星运行失常，战争频繁兴起，饥荒接连不断，赋税徭役繁多，火气教化大乱，属阳，内部火邪又受侵扰。医生如果不通达时局变化，仍然使用辛温药物，这就近于不合人情了。此时只可用刘河间的辛凉药剂，对于三日以内的病症，十人能治愈八九个。我使用这些药物四十多年，用于解利、伤寒、温热、中暑、伏热等病，数量不计其数，并非为了炫耀。是为了证明后人误用药物的错误。
我曾经看到世间的医生，使用升麻汤、五积散来解利、治疗伤寒、温疫等疾病，往往导致病人发狂谵语、鼻出血或便血、气喘胸闷、心中烦闷懊恼、神志昏乱、劳复（病愈后因劳累复发）。这几个证候，如果不是伤寒本身就有这些症状，都是因为辛温药剂解表不愈，导致热势加剧，从而引起的。凡是解利、伤寒、时气疫疾，应当先推究天地寒暑的道理，以此来参考判断。南方边陲之地多热，适宜用辛凉药剂解表；北方朔方之地多寒，适宜用辛温药剂解表；午未月份多暑，适宜用辛凉方法解表；子丑月份多冰冻，适宜用辛温方法解表；年轻力壮、正气充足的人，适宜用辛凉方法解表；年老体衰、正气虚弱的人，适宜用辛温方法解表；病人因冒受寒邪、食用冷食而得病的，适宜用辛温方法解表；因过度劳作、冒受暑邪而得病的，适宜用辛凉方法解表；病人禀性急躁易怒的，可用辛凉方法解表；病人禀性和缓平和的，可用辛温方法解表；病人两手脉象浮大的，可用辛凉方法解表；两手脉象迟缓的，可用辛温方法解表。像这样的病症，不可一概而论地使用同一种方法。偏执于寒凉或辛温，都是不知道变通的。
大地有南北之分，时间有寒暑之别，人有衰老旺盛之异，脉象有浮沉之变，药剂有温凉之差，服药有多寡之分，这些都不能混淆差错。病人的禁忌，不可不知晓。
过去有人春季患瘟疫病，三天之内，乘坐驴车奔波百余里，等到下车时，已经神志昏乱不知人事，几天后就死亡了；又有人饮酒过量受伤，内外感受邪气，头痛身热，症状像伤寒，在三四天间，骑马驮运回家六七十里，到家后全身骨节都疼痛，神志昏愦而死，这些都是我亲眼目睹的。像这类情况，不必再多叙述。假如是瘟病、伤寒、热病、中暑、冒风、伤酒，千万不要用车载马驮，摇撼颠簸是大忌。动，属于火的化生；静，属于水的化生。静为阴，动为阳；阳代表热，阴代表寒。病邪已经在体内扰乱，又再加上外部的扰动，这是极度的扰乱。人的精神怎能承受得住？所以远行途中生病的人，适宜乘船坐床抬着，不要让身体受到外部扰动，这样病情才不会加重。
另外，如果是伤寒、时气、瘟病，曾经连续六七天不大便，心下部位坚硬，腹部两胁紧绷胀满，只可用大承气汤或小承气汤攻下。对于肠胃积热，千万不要使用巴豆、杏仁等性热大毒的药物。虽然使用一两丸使其排便，泻下五到七次，必定反而损伤阴气，枯竭津液，燥热更加严重，出现发黄、谵语、狂走、斑毒、便血、闷乱等症状。轻的导致劳复，重的甚至死亡。偶尔有痊愈的也是侥幸，不可以作为常规法则。所以伤寒刚痊愈的人，千万不要吃猪肉、鱼类、杂果、浓酒、湿面以及进行沐浴和房事。如果违反，病情必定复发。爱惜自己身体的人，不能不谨慎。
又如正二月间，人气在上，瘟疫大作，必然先出现头痛，或者骨节疼痛，这与伤寒、时气、冒暑、风湿以及中酒的人，症状都很相似，千万不要轻易使用巴豆等大毒药物治疗。元光年间春天，京师翰林应泰李屏山，得了瘟疫证，头痛，身热，口干，小便赤涩。他平时嗜好饮酒，医生就给他酒症丸，其中含有巴豆，导致腹泻十多次。第二天，头痛等各种病症仍然存在。医生不认识这个情况，又用辛温药剂来解表，加上让他睡在暖炕上，强行让他喝葱醋汤，企图获取一次发汗。哪里知道种种客热之邪，叠加发作，导致眼睛发黄、身上出斑、潮热血泄、大喘大气满，后来虽然有医生用承气汤攻下，也已经来不及了！至今议论纷纷，最终都不知道是热药的过错，往往独自归罪于承气汤。使用承气汤的人，不知道病情已经危急，还继续用药，是因为学习经典不明朗的缘故，确实可罪。然而议论者不归罪于酒症丸，也是可以责备的。瘟证在表不可攻下，何况是巴豆制成的丸药呢！巴豆已经造成伤害，更何况又再用辛温药剂呢！必须有孔子那样的圣人，才能明白冶长并非有罪，微生高并非正直。终究不肯花几年功夫，苦读《内经》，只是跟随众人的好恶，进行诋毁或赞誉。像这样的人，都是妄加议论者。不真正知晓道理，就仓促加以诋毁或赞誉，是君子所不取的。
依我论述，凡是伤寒之气有六条禁忌。初病之时，很像中酒伤食的样子，禁止大剂量攻下，这是一禁；应当发汗之时，应该详细考察当时的寒暑，决定被褥衣服的厚薄，禁止沐浴、火炕、重被、热粥、燔针（烧红的针灸），这是二禁；应当发汗之时，应该详细辨析脉象的迟数，使用辛凉药剂，禁止妄用热药，这是三禁；应当攻下之时，应该审慎详查证候选择下药，禁止使用巴豆、银粉丸方，这是四禁；远道而来的病患，禁止车载马驮，这是五禁；大汗之后，禁止杂食、嗜欲、忧思、作劳，这是六禁。所以凡是有上述情况的，应该保持房间清凉，床铺凉爽，使不受客热之邪的侵袭；明亮的窗户洁白的房间，使容易观察到斑出、发黄等病变。病人喜欢吃的食物，如果是凉的，就顺从其凉；如果是温的，就顺从其温。清静而不打扰，休息而不劳累。可以用辛温的就用辛温解表，可以用辛凉的就用辛凉解表。观察要非常细微，不拘泥于彼此界限。想要喝水的人，千万不要禁止饮水。只要饮过之后，频繁按摩他的腹部，心下自然就会通畅。如果按摩中脘穴，时间久了必定会痛。病人感到疼痛，如果有水结聚，就不敢再按了。只该禁止而没有禁止的，轻则危险，重则死亡；不该禁止而禁止的，也是如此。现在的士大夫，多为世俗言论所束缚。先禁锢了自己的心智，虽然有正确的理论，也无法进入了。过去陆象先曾说：“天下本来没有事，是平庸的人自找烦恼罢了！”我也说：“正气本来不乱，是庸医自找麻烦使之剧烈罢了！”
Spring's warm diseases, summer's heat diseases, autumn's malaria and dysentery, winter's cold qi invasion and coughing, are all caused by the abnormal qi of the four seasons, collectively named as Shanghan (Cold Damage). Those who suffer from labor and hardship, when exposed to the abnormal wind, cold, summer-heat, and dampness of these four seasons, thus develop this illness. When a person is injured by cold pathogen, heat becomes stagnant within; if shallow, it manifests early as Spring Warmth; if not manifesting in spring but re-exposed to summer-heat, it develops into Summer Heat Disease in summer; if not manifesting in summer but re-exposed to dampness, it transforms into Malaria and Dysentery in autumn; if not manifesting in autumn but re-exposed to cold, it becomes Shanghan in winter. Thus, the qi of Shanghan is the deepest. However, whether Shanghan or warm-heat diseases, upon onset, there must be fever, aversion to cold, pain in the head and nape, and stiffness in the waist and spine, because on the first day the pathogen is in the Taiyang Meridian (Foot-Taiyang Bladder Channel). Although *Neijing* states that the first day being in Taiyang is the normal progression of transmission, there are cases where Taiyang syndrome symptoms persist until recovery without transmission. In such cases, only sweating methods should be used, such as Shengma Tang (Cimicifuga Decoction), Jiemi Tang (Muscle-Releasing Decoction), Bidu San (Poel-Pushing Powder), Wuji San (Five Accumulations Powder), etc. Dispersing the pathogen leads to recovery. Generally, if the patient has intense heat, using acrid-warm medicines will surely aggravate the disease. Currently, Mr. Liu Hejian has independently created acrid-cool preparations, combining Fangfeng Tongsheng San (Siler-Guiding Through-All Powder) with Yiyuan San (Benefiting Origin Powder), each taken 5–7 qian, boiled in one medium bowl of water with over ten slices of fresh ginger, over twenty roots of scallion whites, and a pinch of fermented soybeans (Douchi). After boiling for five or seven times, strain the dregs, divide into two doses. First, have the patient drink most of it; after a moment, induce vomiting by stimulating the throat with a hairpin, expelling the previously ingested medicine. Due to this single emesis, the couli (skin pores) open, sweat flows throughout the body, then the remaining medicine is taken warm, accompanied by sour vinegar and spicy porridge, leading to immediate recovery.
For resolving exterior pathogens, treating Shanghan, warmth, and damp-heat diseases, there are two treatment approaches. During times of peace, people are mostly quiet and leisurely, happy and unlabored. Stillness belongs to Yin; even using warm agents to release the exterior and induce sweating can achieve recovery. However, during times of turmoil, when Mars behaves abnormally, wars frequently erupt, famines follow, taxes and corvée are heavy, and fire-related disturbances are rampant (belonging to Yang), internal fire invades further. Doctors who do not understand these changing circumstances and still use acrid-warm medicines are acting contrary to human nature. In such times, only Liu Hejian's acrid-cool agents should be used; for conditions within three days, eight or nine out of ten recover. I have used these medicines for over forty years to treat countless cases of resolving exterior pathogens, Shanghan, warmth, summer-heat stroke, and latent heat, not to boast, but to demonstrate the errors of subsequent generations in misusing medicines.
I have seen worldly physicians use Shengma Tang and Wuji San to resolve exterior pathogens and treat Shanghan and warm epidemics, often resulting in patients going mad, speaking deliriously, suffering from epistaxis or hematochezia, panting and chest fullness, mental restlessness and depression, and relapse due to exertion. These syndromes, unless inherent to Shanghan itself, arise because acrid-warm agents failed to resolve the exterior, causing heat to intensify. For resolving exterior pathogens, Shanghan, and seasonal epidemic diseases, one must first deduce the principles of heaven and earth's cold and heat to guide treatment. In southern border regions where heat prevails, acrid-cool agents are suitable for releasing the exterior; in northern regions where cold prevails, acrid-warm agents are suitable. In months of Wu and Wei (summer), where summer-heat is prevalent, acrid-cool resolution is suitable; in months of Zi and Chou (winter), where freezing occurs, acrid-warm resolution is suitable. For young and strong individuals with robust qi, acrid-cool resolution is suitable; for the elderly with declining qi, acrid-warm resolution is suitable. For patients contracting illness due to cold exposure or eating cold food, acrid-warm resolution is suitable; for those due to labor and summer-heat exposure, acrid-cool resolution is suitable. For patients with irritable temperaments, acrid-cool resolution may be used; for those with gentle temperaments, acrid-warm resolution may be used. For patients with floating and large pulses in both hands, acrid-cool resolution is suitable; for those with slow and delayed pulses, acrid-warm resolution is suitable. Such diseases cannot be treated uniformly. Adhering strictly to cold-cool or acrid-warm methods indicates a lack of flexibility.
The earth has north and south distinctions, time has cold and heat variations, humans have decline and vigor differences, pulses have floating and sinking qualities, prescriptions have warm and cool properties, and dosages vary. These must not be confused. Patient contraindications must be known.
In the past, someone contracted a plague in spring and traveled over a hundred li by donkey cart within three days; upon alighting, they were unconscious and died several days later. Another person drank excessively, suffered internal and external pathogenic invasion, had headache and fever resembling Shanghan; traveling sixty to seventy li by horseback home between the third and fourth day, they arrived with severe joint pain and died in a stupor. I witnessed these personally. Similar cases need not be recounted. Regarding plague, Shanghan, heat diseases, summer-heat stroke, wind-cold, and alcohol injury, vehicle or horse transport causing jarring and shaking is strictly forbidden. Movement belongs to the transformation of Fire; stillness belongs to Water. Stillness is Yin, movement is Yang; Yang represents heat, Yin represents cold. If the pathogen disturbs internally and is further disturbed externally, it causes extreme disturbance. How can the human spirit withstand this? Therefore, sick travelers should use boats or litters to avoid external disturbance, preventing disease aggravation.
Furthermore, in cases of Shanghan, seasonal qi, or plague, if there is no bowel movement for six or seven days, hardness below the heart, and tight fullness in the abdomen and flanks, only Dachengqi Tang (Major Order the Qi Decoction) or Xiaochengqi Tang (Minor Order the Qi Decoction) should be used to purge. For intestinal and gastric accumulated heat, never use Croton Seed (Badou) or Apricot Kernel (Xingren), which are hot and highly toxic. Even if one or two pills cause five to seven bowel movements, yin qi will inevitably be damaged, fluids dried up, dryness and heat increased, leading to jaundice, delirium, running wildly, macules/toxins, bloody stools, and restlessness. Mild cases lead to relapse due to exertion; severe cases may result in death. Rare recoveries are mere luck and should not be set as a standard. Thus, newly recovered Shanghan patients must avoid pork, fish, mixed fruits, strong wine, wet noodles, bathing, and sexual intercourse. Violating this causes recurrence. Those who cherish their bodies must be cautious.
Similarly, in the first and second lunar months, when human qi rises and plagues rage, headaches or joint pains often occur first. These resemble Shanghan, seasonal qi, summer-heat stroke, wind-dampness, and alcohol intoxication. Do not hastily use highly toxic drugs like Badou. In the spring of Yuanguang era, Li Pingshan, an academician in the Capital, contracted plague with headache, fever, dry mouth, and dark scanty urine. As he loved drinking, the physician gave him Jiuzheng Wan (Alcohol Syndrome Pill) containing Badou, causing diarrhea more than ten times. The next day, headache and other symptoms persisted. The physician, failing to recognize the condition, administered acrid-warm exterior-releasing agents, placed him on a heated kang bed, and forced him to drink scallion-vinegar soup to induce sweating. Unbeknownst to them, various exogenous heat pathogens overlapped and erupted, causing yellow eyes, skin macules, tidal blood loss, severe panting and fullness. Later, attempts to use Chengqi Tang to purge were too late! To this day, debates continue, yet few realize the fault lies with hot medicines, often blaming Chengqi Tang alone. Those using Chengqi Tang did not realize the critical state of the disease and continued medication due to unclear understanding of classics; this is indeed blameworthy. However, critics who do not blame Jiuzheng Wan are also culpable. Plague at the exterior should not be purged, let alone with Badou pills! After Badou damage, adding acrid-warm agents is doubly harmful! Only a sage like Confucius could clarify that Ye Chang was innocent and Weisheng Gao was not truly upright. One must not spend years studying *Neijing*, but merely follow public opinion to praise or criticize. Such people are reckless critics. Those who do not truly understand principles but rashly judge are rejected by gentlemen.
According to my discussion, there are six prohibitions for Shanghan qi. 1. At the onset, resembling alcohol or food injury, prohibit drastic purging. 2. When sweating is indicated, consider seasonal cold/heat and bedding thickness; prohibit bathing, heated kang beds, heavy quilts, hot porridge, and burning needle moxibustion. 3. When sweating is indicated, analyze pulse speed/slowness; use acrid-cool agents; prohibit reckless use of hot medicines. 4. When purging is indicated, carefully select purgatives based on syndrome; prohibit Badou and Silver Powder Pills. 5. Prohibit car/horse transport for distant patients. 6. After profuse sweating, prohibit miscellaneous foods, desires, worry, and labor. Therefore, maintain cool rooms and beds to avoid exogenous heat; ensure bright, clean spaces to observe changes like macules or jaundice. Follow the patient's dietary preferences (cool or warm). Keep them clear and undisturbed, resting without labor. Use acrid-warm or acrid-cool as appropriate. Observe minutely, without rigid adherence. If the patient desires water, do not forbid it. After drinking, frequently massage the abdomen to relieve subcardiac stagnation. Massaging Zhongwan (CV12) for too long causes pain. If the patient feels pain and suspects fluid retention, stop pressing. Failing to prohibit when necessary leads to danger or death; prohibiting when unnecessary leads to similar outcomes. Today's scholars are bound by vulgar opinions, closing their minds to correct theories. Lu Xiangxian once said: "The world originally has no trouble; mediocrity creates it." I say: "Zhengqi (Upright Qi) is originally undisturbed; mediocre doctors make it chaotic."