Introduction:This is the preface of the book “Reconstruction of the Diagnostic and Treatment System for Early External Pathogenic Diseases” published by Teacher Xiao in 2015, and it is also the second gift from the public account to friends in 2018 — making friends through books, isn’t that delightful!
As the saying goes, “Effective treatment begins with understanding external pathogenic factors,” it is important to recognize that external pathogenic diseases are not trivial matters!
Teacher Xiao states:
For a considerable time after becoming a doctor, I felt fear regarding the treatment of early external pathogenic diseases because I could not clearly distinguish the nature of cold and heat in these conditions.
This prompted me to focus on and contemplate this issue, and I found that I was not alone in my inability to discern the nature of cold and heat in early external pathogenic diseases; rather, it is a challenge faced by the vast majority of doctors, including many renowned practitioners.
Clearly, my doctoral advisor, Professor Shi Zhensheng, also encountered this issue.
Professor Shi has an empirical formula — Jing Fang Yin Qiao Tang (Schizonepeta and Forsythia Decoction), composed of Jing Jie (Schizonepeta), Fang Feng (Siler), Su Ye (Perilla Leaf), Yin Hua (Honeysuckle), Lian Qiao (Forsythia), Dan Zhu Ye (Lophatherum), Fu Ling (Poria), and Chen Pi (Aged Tangerine Peel), used when the nature of cold and heat in early external pathogenic diseases is unclear. Many doctors have mentioned this formula to me.
This indicates that everyone is concerned about this issue, but it remains unresolved, leading to serious misdiagnosis in early external pathogenic diseases.
What perplexes me is why such a serious issue is overlooked by the entire academic community?
I
Now I realize how difficult it is to explore this issue!
Firstly, the problem itself involves the entire theoretical system of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
From the theories in the Huangdi Neijing (Inner Canon of Huangdi) regarding the etiology of external pathogenic diseases, referring to them as “Shang Han” (Cold Damage), to the Nanjing (Classic of Difficulties) generalizing the concept of Shang Han, to the Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage) referring to early warm diseases as “Tai Yang Disease,” and the formation of the warm disease school during the Ming and Qing dynasties, which proposed differentiation of Wei Qi (Defensive Qi), Ying (Nutritional Qi), and Blood, along with the differentiation of the San Jiao (Triple Burner), accompanied by the debate over cold and warmth, further generalizing the concept of warm diseases, leading to the current textbooks’ classifications of Wind-Heat Exterior Syndrome and Cool and Acrid Release the Exterior.
This has formed a fundamentally flawed yet superficially complete system, which cannot be resolved in a short time by addressing it locally.
Secondly, although the vast majority of people encounter the same issues as I do, they do not believe there is a problem with TCM’s theories on external pathogenic diseases. Therefore, if someone questions the existing theories, they instinctively oppose it.
For example, on August 4, 2003, I published an article in the China Traditional Chinese Medicine Newspaper titled “Early Warm Disease is Not an Exterior Syndrome,” and someone told me, “Are you trying to deny the warm disease theory?”
I wanted to discuss this issue with many scholars, but they believed it did not need to be discussed, as you cannot change this theoretical system;
Due to my limited energy and time, I prepared to guide my graduate students to explore this issue, and my friends advised me that the risks were too high, and it would be difficult to pass the defense;
To this day, there are still people who think I am trying to deny the theoretical system of TCM.
However, I have confirmed that the theory of TCM regarding early external pathogenic diseases is incorrect, and I will persist in exploring this issue.
II
As my research deepens, my understanding has become clearer, and my arguments more substantial. I have published several papers and conducted dozens of specialized lectures, which have sparked strong reactions.
Now, more and more people are willing to discuss this issue with me, and many scholars have expressed their support.
Doctoral student Dong Zhengping, under my guidance, completed his doctoral thesis titled “Exploration of the Diagnostic and Treatment Model for Early External Pathogenic Diseases Based on TCM’s ‘Four Evils’ and ‘Eight Qualities’ Factors”;
Master’s student Shi Yue, under my guidance, completed her master’s thesis titled “Questioning the ‘Release the Exterior’ Quality of Cool and Acrid Release the Exterior Formulas”;
Master’s student Li Pei, under my guidance, completed her master’s thesis titled “Exploration of Cool and Acrid Release the Exterior Medicines Based on Teacher Xiao’s Exterior Syndrome Differentiation Approach.”
All three students’ topics revolve around the diagnostic and treatment system for early external pathogenic diseases and question the theoretical system in current textbooks, receiving strong support and enthusiastic encouragement from the attending experts from the proposal to the defense.
III
After more than 30 years of confusion and over 10 years of exploration, I have gained a preliminary understanding of the diagnostic and treatment system for early external pathogenic diseases.
Although it is only preliminary and certainly superficial, I am eager to share it with the world.Because many doctors are still experiencing the confusion I once faced, and countless patients are suffering from the disasters caused by misdiagnosis.
Choosing a title for the book was quite challenging, and in the end, I still did not find a satisfactory choice, so I tentatively named it “Reconstruction of the Diagnostic and Treatment System for Early External Pathogenic Diseases.”
This title may seem presumptuous, and people may question: Do you have the ability to reconstruct the diagnostic and treatment system for early external pathogenic diseases? They have every reason to doubt my capabilities.
From another perspective, the confusion in the diagnostic and treatment theory for early external pathogenic diseases, the serious misdiagnosis, has affected the survival of TCM and hindered its development, which is evident to all.
For such a significant issue, no one has conducted research or proposed solutions to date, which is shocking!
In this regard, who else but me can reconstruct the diagnostic and treatment system for early external pathogenic diseases?
I feel a deep sense of desolation; what is the academic community researching? Is it not as Zhang Zhongjing angrily criticized, “Diligently pursuing only fame and profit”?
IV
I would like to thank my doctoral student Dong Zhengping, and master’s students Shi Yue and Li Pei! Thank you for your trust and the hard work you have put in!
I would also like to thank my new friend Mr. Liu Guantao from the China Traditional Chinese Medicine Publishing House! Thank you to my old friend Ms. Nong Yan from the China Traditional Chinese Medicine Publishing House! Thank you for your understanding and the effort you have put into the publication of this book!
Xiao Xiangru
July 15, 2014, in Beijing
You may also like, click to read the original text:
Xiao Xiangru: The current understanding of “external pathogenic factors” in TCM is fundamentally incorrect!
“One Principle” to Resolve Misdiagnosis of External Pathogenic Diseases | Shang Han
Exterior Syndrome Does Not Equal Early External Pathogenic Disease
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