典藏书目

Dryness of the lips indicates Heat in the Yangming (Bright Yang) channel. When seen in epidemic febrile diseases, one must distinguish the color. A deep red color indicates intense Heat, suitable for clearing Heat and purging; a pale white color indicates depletion of Body Fluids (Jin Ye), suitable for moistening and nourishing; a normal color indicates stagnation of Body Fluid circulation with Heat in the channels, suitable for using Ge Gen (Puerariae Radix).

There are three types of dry teeth in epidemic febrile diseases. The mild type is Heat in the Yangming channel, characterized by dryness of the anterior incisors, fever, eye pain, nasal dryness, and inability to lie down; this is a precursor to the eruption of macules/papules and epistaxis, treated primarily with Ge Gen (Puerariae Radix), assisted by Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix), Zhi Mu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), and Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum). The severe type is Dry-Heat in the Stomach Fu organ, characterized by dryness throughout the mouth, and in extreme cases, blackening like coal; treat with San Cheng Qi Tang (Three Purging Decoctions) or San Huang Shi Gao Tang (Three Yellows and Gypsum Decoction). The most severe type is caused by Yin Fire simmering, excessive blood loss, and exhaustion of Kidney Water; it requires vigorous tonification of Yin, using Zhi Mu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), Huang Bo (Phellodendri Cortex), Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix), Yuan Shen (Scrophulariae Radix), Tian Dong (Asparagi Rhizoma), Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Radix), and Dan Pi (Moutan Cortex), each in large doses (approx. 30g), decocted heavily, added with Tong Bian (Child's Urine) and Jin Zhi (Gold Juice/Charcoal-infused liquid), administered day and night. If the medication is too mild or treatment too slow, it will be ineffective.

There are four types of dry nostrils in epidemic febrile diseases. Wind-Heat causes nasal whistling/sounds, treated primarily with Jing Jie (Schizonepetae Herba), Fang Feng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), Ge Gen (Puerariae Radix), and Bo He (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba). Yangming channel Heat causes irritability, treated primarily with Ge Gen (Puerariae Radix) and Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum). Stomach Heat Fu syndrome causes extreme thirst and yellow tongue coating, treated primarily with San Huang Shi Gao Tang (Three Yellows and Gypsum Decoction). Depletion of Body Fluids with Lung dryness is treated primarily with Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix), and Wu Wei Zi (Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus).
Generally, Wind-Heat and Channel Heat account for 50-60%; Fu Heat and Fluid Depletion account for 20-30%. This does not mean that intense Heat results in non-dry nostrils; rather, when symptoms like irritability, thirst, and high fever appear, the dryness of the nostrils goes unnoticed.

Deafness is caused by Shaoyang (Lesser Yang) pathogenic Heat carrying Phlegm turbidity upward to obstruct the orifices. Deafness is common in epidemic febrile diseases because as pathogens transmit from exterior to interior, they inevitably affect the Shaoyang. Since epidemics are Heat-type diseases, Heat rises, carrying Phlegm-saliva and turbid Qi to obstruct the meridians and tunnels, causing deafness. Treatment focuses on the main trend of the epidemic pathogen: if seen during the initial exterior transmission stage, add Jing Jie (Schizonepetae Herba), Fang Feng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), and Chuan Xiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma) to exterior-releasing formulas; if seen during the interior stage, add Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix) and Zhi Mu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma) to interior-clearing formulas. If deafness persists after repeated sweating and purging, do not treat urgently; instead, focus on nourishing Yin and regulating the Stomach. Recovery will only occur gradually after dietary intake returns to normal and bowel/bladder functions become regular.