Theoretical Issues in the Early Stage of Exogenous DiseasesXiao Xiangru1. What is the exterior syndrome (biao zheng)?2. Is the exterior syndrome equivalent to the early stage of exogenous diseases?3. What is the mechanism of the formation of “aversion to cold” (e han)?4. Can exogenous heat pathogens lead to “aversion to cold”?5. Can the severity of “aversion to cold” and “fever” distinguish the cold-heat nature of the early stage of exogenous diseases?6. In the “Shang Han Lun” (Treatise on Cold Damage), the sixth clause states: “Taiyang disease, fever and thirst, without aversion to cold, is a warm disease.” Can we change “without aversion to cold” to “slight aversion to cold”?7. Is the concept of “exterior-interior differentiation” in the “Eight Principles” (ba gang bian zheng) standardized? What is its clinical significance?8. In the “Wei Qi Ying Xue Differentiation” (wei qi ying xue bian zheng), is “Wei” the exterior syndrome? Is the treatment method for “Wei Fen Zheng” sweating?9. Is there a contradiction between Ye Tianshi’s statement “sweating can be done in Wei” and “warm pathogens first attack the lungs”? Is the treatment for “warm pathogens first attacking the lungs” sweating?10. What is “wind” (feng)? How to treat exogenous “wind”?11. If “wind is a Yang pathogen”, are the herbs for treating “wind” Yin herbs?12. “Wind is a Yang pathogen, its nature is to open and disperse, good at changing”, how can it obstruct Wei Qi leading to “aversion to cold”? Is the “bi” (obstruction) caused by the combination of wind, cold, and dampness related to “wind”?13. “Wind is the chief of all diseases”, what evidence can prove this? Wouldn’t other pathogenic factors be felt without “wind”?14. Does “wind is the chief of all diseases” mean that “wind” is a general term for all external pathogens, so feeling all external pathogens can be called feeling “wind pathogen”?15. Is there an exogenous “fire”?16. What is the “summer heat” (shu) pathogen? Does Xiangru San (Xiangru Powder) have the effect of dispelling summer heat?17. What is the “dryness” (zao) pathogen? Does Xing Su San (Apricot and Perilla Powder) have the function of moistening dryness?18. Can miscellaneous qi (epidemic qi) guide clinical practice?19. The main herbs of the “spicy-cool exterior-releasing formula” Sang Ju Yin (Mulberry Leaf and Chrysanthemum Decoction) are mulberry leaves and chrysanthemums, which do not have a spicy taste and do not have exterior-releasing effects; how can it be called “spicy-cool exterior-releasing”?20. The main herbs of the “spicy-cool exterior-releasing formula” Yin Qiao San (Honeysuckle and Forsythia Powder) are honeysuckle and forsythia, which are heat-clearing and detoxifying herbs, and also do not have a spicy taste; how can it be called a “spicy-cool exterior-releasing” formula?21. Is Ma Xing Gan Shi Tang (Ephedra, Apricot Kernel, Licorice, and Gypsum Decoction) an exterior-releasing formula? Is the ephedra in the formula an exterior-releasing herb? How is it used in the “Shang Han Lun”?22. Is the indication of Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang (Bupleurum and Kudzu Decoction) for the combined disease of the three Yangs, and is the treatment method for the combined disease of the three Yangs “spicy-cool exterior-releasing”?23. Does Sheng Ma Ge Gen Tang (Cimicifuga and Kudzu Decoction) have the effect of “breaking out rashes”? What is the mechanism of rash occurrence? Who has used Sheng Ma Ge Gen Tang to treat “rashes”?24. In the “Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis” and “Warm Disease Theory”, the mechanism of rash occurrence is recorded as “heat entering the Ying and Blood”, while in the “Chinese Herbal Medicine”, the “spicy-cool exterior-releasing herbs” mint, burdock seed, cicada slough, sheng ma, ge gen, and floating duckweed have the effect of “breaking out rashes”. In the “Formulas” it is recorded that the “spicy-cool exterior-releasing formula” Sheng Ma Ge Gen Tang has the effect of “releasing the muscle and breaking out rashes”. Therefore, according to the “Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis” and “Warm Disease Theory”, “rashes” are Ying and Blood syndromes; while according to the “Chinese Herbal Medicine” and “Formulas”, “rashes” are Wei syndrome. How should this be understood?Author of this article:Xiao Xiangru, Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine; the first doctoral student in nephrology at the Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine; a national key academic leader in nephrology. Awarded the title of “Bethune-style Good Doctor”. Author of “Xiao Xiangru on Treating Kidney Diseases”, “Lectures on Shang Han Lun by Xiao Xiangru”, “Specific Formula Syndromes”, and “Reconstruction of the Differentiation and Treatment System for Early Exogenous Diseases”.
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“Return to Zhang Zhongjing” series live broadcast replay
First live broadcast:“The Leader of Zhang Zhongjing’s Group Formulas” Gui Zhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) Specific Formula SyndromesSecond session:The Current Situation of Traditional Chinese MedicineThird session: The Decline of Traditional Chinese Medicine is Due to Deviating from Zhang Zhongjing’s Correct DirectionFourth session: The Path to the Revival of Traditional Chinese Medicine Must Return to Zhang ZhongjingFifth session: “Specific Formula Syndromes” is the Standardized System of Traditional Chinese MedicineSixth session: The Correlation Degree of Formulas in the “Shang Han Lun” and the Similarities with Western Medical Clinical GuidelinesSeventh session: The Textbooks’ Understanding of the “Holistic Concept” is Incorrect
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