Evolution of Warm Disease Theory—December 24, 1999

Evolution of Warm Disease Theory—December 24, 1999

Warm disease originated from Shang Han: According to “Shang Han Lun,” “If one has fever and thirst but no aversion to cold, it is warm disease”; according to “Nan Jing,” “Today’s warm disease is all a type of Shang Han”; and according to “Huang Di Nei Jing,” “If one is injured by cold in winter, one will surely develop warm disease in spring.” Wang Shu He believed that Shang Han is not contagious, while warm disease is contagious, stating, “Before the summer solstice, it is warm disease; after the summer solstice, it is heat illness.” Sun Simiao’s “Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang” argued that the so-called “yin-yang poison” in “Shang Han Lun” actually falls under the category of warm disease. Yang poison presents with red spots resembling brocade patterns, while yin poison shows a pale face and cold limbs, with a weak pulse; the latter is incurable and fatal. Warm disease is classified into wind-warm, spring-warm, damp-warm, epidemic toxin, and epidemic disease. Epidemic toxin is accompanied by widespread sores and ulcers, while epidemic disease is contagious. Wang An Dao said, “It is only because people confuse warm disease with Shang Han... that using warming herbs like this leads to confusion between name and reality, harming people’s lives. Shouldn’t we correct this?” Wang Shi Shan innovated the theory of warm disease, stating, “There are cases where people develop warm disease without being injured by cold in winter. This special spring air can be called spring-warm, just like winter’s Shang Han, autumn’s dampness, and summer’s heatstroke. This is a newly recognized warm disease.” Later, Ye Tian Shi created the differentiation of Wei Qi, Ying, and Blood, and Wu Ju Tong developed the Three Jiao differentiation. In diagnosis, they emphasized observing the tongue, and in prescriptions, they proposed formulas such as Sang Ju Yin, Yin Qiao San, Da Ding Feng Zhu, Qing Ying Tang, Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang, Hua Ban Tang, and other formulas that dispel exterior pathogens with pungent-warming properties, clear heat and detoxify, and replenish fluids and nourish yin, heavily using ingredients like Jin Yin Hua, Lian Qiao, Pu Gong Ying, Bai Jiang Cao, Xuan Shen, and Mai Dong.