2. Syndrome Differentiation for Warm Diseases

2. Syndrome Differentiation for Warm Diseases

(1) Defensive Qi, Nutritive Qi, and Blood Differentiation

Defensive Qi stage: Headache, fever with chills (more heat than cold), thirst and dry throat, cough, floating and rapid pulse—use Sangju Yin or Yinqiao San.

Qi stage: High fever, intense thirst, profuse sweating, abdominal distention and pain, severe constipation, full and bounding pulse, dry and yellow tongue—use Baihu Decoction or Chengqi Decoction.

Nutritive Qi stage: Intermittent fever and thirst, restlessness and delirium, red tongue with little coating, fine and rapid pulse—use Qingying Tang with added ingredients.

Blood stage: Intermittent fever and thirst, confusion and delirium, convulsions and palpitations, rash and bleeding—use Huaban Tang or Angong Niuhuang Wan.

(2) Three Jiao Differentiation

Upper Jiao syndrome: ① Hand Taiyin Lung syndrome (external heat). ② Hand Jueyin Pericardium syndrome (confusion, delirium, slurred speech, cold extremities).

Middle Jiao syndrome: ① Foot Yangming Stomach heat syndrome. ② Foot Taiyin Spleen dampness syndrome.

Lower Jiao syndrome: ① Foot Shaoyin Kidney deficiency syndrome (yin deficiency, yang deficiency). ② Foot Jueyin Liver wind syndrome (alternating chills and fever, tremors in hands and feet, twitching).

III. A Preliminary Exploration of the "Six-Stage Differentiation" for Febrile Diseases

The Six Meridians differentiation for cold damage and the defensive qi, nutritive qi, and blood and Three Jiao differentiation for warm diseases approach the characteristics of febrile diseases from different angles, each capturing certain aspects of the illness. In terms of syndrome differentiation and treatment for febrile diseases, each has its strengths and weaknesses. The author attempts to adopt the "three yang" portion of the Six Meridians, absorb the "nutritive qi and blood" portion of the defensive qi, nutritive qi, and blood differentiation, and incorporate some perspectives from the Three Jiao differentiation. Inspired by the insights of past medical scholars on febrile diseases, the author proposes a "six-stage differentiation" method for exogenous febrile diseases, aiming to spark further discussion. The schematic diagram of the "six-stage differentiation" for febrile diseases is provided here for colleagues' criticism and correction.