典藏书目

Treats headache, body fatigue, aversion to cold, and fever caused by Shanghan (Cold Damage disease).
Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix), Juhua (Chrysanthemi Flos), Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum), Qianhu (Peucedani Radix), Fuling (Poria), Manjingzi (Viticis Semen), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Baijiangcan (Bombyx Batryticatus), Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma) (each 1 liang).
The above herbs are crushed into coarse powder. For each dose, take 2 qian, add 1 zhan of water, 4 slices of fresh ginger (Shengjiang), and 3 leaves of mint (Bohe). Decoct together until reduced to 6 fen. Strain the dregs and take warm. Take at any time without restriction.

Generally speaking, Shanghan diseases originate from wind, cold, summerheat, dampness, and epidemic pestilence qi. Their manifestations vary. Initially, when the pathogen is in the exterior, symptoms include aversion to cold, fever, headache, and stiffness of the four limbs, with all six pulses being floating and tight. This indicates that pathogenic qi has invaded the body surface. The pulse must be floating and surging; in this case, one should employ sweating methods to release the pathogen. There are also cases where improper diet causes illness. If digestive or purgative drugs are abused, although diarrhea may not necessarily occur, it constitutes reckless attack. Even if sweating is applied subsequently, the pathogen cannot be resolved.

In treating Shanghan, caution is essential at the beginning. The *Classic* states: For Shanghan diseases originating in the Yang channels, even if the condition is severe, death does not ensue; however, Yin Jue (Yin Cold Reversal) is mostly critical. Carefully analyzing the cause, it often stems from contracting cold pathogens and taking acrid-sweet dispersing medicines without success, thereby damaging the True Qi (vital energy) and failing to harmonize Gu Qi (grain qi). Consequently, the pathogen remains unresolved, leading to this ailment. If True Qi is preserved and Gu Qi is harmonized, the pathogen will naturally recede.

If True Qi is damaged and Gu Qi is ruined, pathogenic qi becomes rampant and manifests in various ways. Zhang Zhongjing stated: In spring and summer, sweating is appropriate, but purgation is contraindicated. Both sweating and purgation must be chosen according to what is suitable for the specific condition. Now, if a disease originates in the Yang channel but is treated incorrectly, such an affliction arises. As long as Stomach Qi (digestive function/vitality) remains, death will certainly not occur. These principles are described here to elucidate therapeutic logic.

There are cases where death results from the confused and intermixed use of purgation, sweating, emesis, and tonification.

Diseases may require decoctions (Tang), pills (Wan), or powders (San). They may require purgation, emesis, sweating, moxibustion, acupuncture, tonification, massage, Daoyin (guiding and pulling exercises), steaming, fomentation, bathing, or maintaining mental joy.

Decoctions can cleanse the Zang-Fu organs, open meridians and collaterals, regulate Yin and Yang, dispel evil, moisten dryness, beautify the skin, boost Qi and strength, and assist exhaustion. Nothing is more suitable than decoctions.
Pills can drive out wind and cold, break up hard masses and accumulations, promote appetite, soothe Ying and Wei (nutritive and defensive qi), open orifices, relax sinews and vessels. Nothing is more suitable than pills.
Powders can disperse wind, cold, summerheat, and dampness; relieve cold, heat, turbidity, filth, and toxins; unblock stagnation in the four limbs; eliminate internal knots in the five Zang organs; benefit the intestines and stomach; and circulate pulses and meridians. Nothing is more suitable than powders.
Purgation relieves blockage.
Tonification aids deficiency.
Moxibustion raises Yang and rescues Yin collapse.
Acupuncture promotes Ying circulation and guides Wei distribution.
Daoyin can expel external pathogens and lubricate joints.
Massage can remove edema in muscles.

If sweating is indicated but not performed, pores become closed, leading to suffocation and death.
If purgation is indicated but not performed, abdominal distension occurs, becoming hard and swollen upon palpation, leading to death.
If emesis is indicated but not performed, chest oppression and upper asthma develop, preventing food and water intake, leading to death.
If moxibustion is indicated but not performed, cold qi condenses heavily, Yin toxins gather, Jue Qi rushes upward, causing rupture and dispersion failure, leading to demise.
If acupuncture is indicated but not performed, Ying and Wei fail to circulate, meridians become obstructed, pathogens gradually occupy the True Qi, consciousness becomes clouded, and life ceases.
If Daoyin is indicated but not performed, pathogens infiltrate joints, making them rigid and difficult to move.
If massage is indicated but not performed, pathogenic factors linger in muscles, resisting resolution.
If steaming/fomentation is indicated but not performed, cold qi lingers internally, gradually forming Bi syndrome (obstruction) and Jue.
If bathing is indicated but not performed, Yang Qi fails to circulate, and Yin pathogens harm the body.

If purgation is used when not indicated, it opens the intestines and washes away Stomach Qi, causing uncontrollable profuse diarrhea.
If sweating is used when not indicated, muscles waste away, and fluids and essence are depleted.
If emesis is used when not indicated, the mind and spirit become restless, and Zang-Fu organs churn chaotically.
If moxibustion is used when not indicated, meridians and collaterals are damaged, internal inflammatory toxins accumulate, and the Harmonious Middle (Zhong He) is harmed, leading to untreatable conditions.
If acupuncture is used when not indicated, Qi and Blood scatter, and delicate mechanisms sink into dysfunction.
If Daoyin is used when not indicated, True Qi is exhausted and ruined, and pathogens act recklessly.
If massage is used when not indicated, muscle Qi rushes inward, abdomen swells, and sinews and bones become lax.
If steaming/fomentation is used when not indicated, laboring Qi moves abruptly, and Yin Qi gathers internally.
If bathing is used when not indicated, dampness arises on the skin, and heat generates in the flesh.
If mental joy is forced when not indicated, Spirit and Qi are lost, and mental order is disrupted.
If gentle regulation is applied inappropriately, Qi stagnates, willpower breaks, forgetfulness occurs, and injury results.

Generally, treatment must conform to appropriateness. Pulse patterns and symptoms are briefly outlined below: If the disease does not require sweating, do not induce sweat; if the pulse is not rapid and frequent, do not drain the Heart; if the chest and heart are not oppressed and the Chi pulse is weak and faint, do not induce emesis.
If joints are not urgent and Ying/Wei are not stagnant, do not use acupuncture.
If Yin Qi is not excessive and Yang Qi is not deficient, do not apply moxa; if there is no external pathogen inside, do not use Daoyin; if there is no invasive pathogen outside, do not use massage; if the skin is not bi-obstructed, do not use steaming/fomentation; if muscles are not blocked, do not bathe.
If the Spirit is not confused, do not force joy.
If Qi is not rushing, do not use gentle regulation. Following these principles leads to life; opposing them leads to death.

Hereinafter, I carefully describe syndromes resulting from the confused use of purgation, sweating, emesis, and tonification. Regarding disease categories and corresponding herbs, detailed explanations follow. Those who wish to preserve health...
The Classic states: Treating Shanghan has specific methods, unlike miscellaneous diseases. In ancient times, people had strong constitution and Qi/Blood, allowing sequential application of treatments. Today, people have weak Qi and Blood; the key to their treatment lies in...