The Old Theory of Cold Damage and the New School of Warm Diseases

Zhang Zhongjing and his masterpiece Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases (Shang Han Za Bing Lun, 《伤寒杂病论》) hold significant importance in the study of medical history during the Qin (221–207 BC) and Han (202 BC–AD 220) Dynasties. From another perspective, “cold damage”, a general term encompassing all diseases caused by the “six exopathogenic factors”, accounts for half of the exogenous diseases in ancient Chinese medicine, making it an extremely important topic. To truly grasp the reasons behind Zhang Zhongjing’s revered status as a “medical sage” and the transformation of Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases from a mere “remedy book” to a medical classic, it is essential to examine its theory on cold damage. This theory was first separated into a specialized text during the Jin Dynasty (AD 266–420), and then further refined and clarified in the Song Dynasty (AD 960–1279). As a result, the “six-meridian pattern identification” became a widely accepted standard. In addition, during the Ming (AD 1368–1644) and the Qing (AD 1636–1912) Dynasties, with the growth of population and the spread of pestilence, a series of questions emerged. What are the similarities and differences between “pestilence” and “warm disease”? Can the treatment methods for cold damage be effectively applied to warm diseases?