外感说

Disease caused by factor from outside of the body.

夫病而曰外感者，病邪由外而入内也。外者何？风、寒、暑、湿、燥、火六淫之气也。

Whenever we mention that a disease is caused by outside factors, it means the factors come into the body from outside of the body. The factors include the Wind, the Cold, the Hot, the Wetness, the Dryness and the Fire.

人若调养失宜，阴阳偶乖，六邪即得而干之。

If the person fails to maintain his/her healthy in a proper way, the Yin-Yang will lose balance. In such condition, the six disease-causing factors will invade into the body to cause a disease.

六气首重伤寒，因寒居正冬子令，冬至一阳生，一年之气机，俱从子时始起，故仲景先师，首重伤寒，提出六经大纲，病气挨次传递，始太阳而终厥阴，论伤寒，而暑、湿、燥、火、风俱括于内；论六日传经，而一年之节令已寓于中。

Among the six disease-causing factors, the most important factor is the Cold. This is because the Cold is associated with the Winter (the first season of the year), and the Zi Shi (the first time zone of the day. It is between 11 pm and 1 am). Upon the Dongzhi substep of the year (there are 24 of such sub-step in one year), the Yang Qi starts to born. The Qi of the whole year starts from the Winter. And the Qi for the whole day starts from the Zishi. This is why Master Zhang Zhongjing paid much attention first on the Shanghan disease. He apposed the six Jing principles. The disease passes from one meridian to another. It starts from the Taiyang meridian and stops at the Jueyin meridian. Though we mention mostly the Shanghan disease, the rule for the Hot, the Wetness, the Dryness, the Fire and the Wind are all the same manner. Though it introduce the rule for the Shanghan disease passing as a six-day as a circle, it also refers the disease passing rule in a year.

真是仙眼仙心，窥透乾坤之秘；立方立法，实为万世之师。学者欲入精微，即在伤寒六经提纲病情方法上探求，不必他书上追索。

The Master Zhang Zhongjing is really smart to understand the secret of the Universe. He is really our Master for generations, for his setting up the rules, introducing the herbal formula for us later doctors. If doctor wants to learn the Chinese medicine in a much cute and detail manner, he/she only needs to pay attention to study the Shanghan Lun, the six meridian theory. No need for spending time on other books.

须知伤寒论阳明，而燥症之外感已寓其方；论太阴，而湿症之外感可推其药。他如言少阳、少阴、厥阴，而风、火之外感，亦莫不具其法也。世之论外感者，务宜于仲景伤寒书上求之可也。

It should known that, when discussing the Yangming stage of the Shanghan disease, the principle for the treatment of Dryness-caused common cold has been implied; when discussing Taiyin stage, the principle for the treatment of Wetness-caused common cold has been implied too. Similarly, the treatment principles for the Wind-caused, the Fire-caused common cold has been implied in the Shaoyang, Shaoyin, and Jueyin stages. When we discussed the reason and the treatment of common cold, it is needed to search the answer from Master’s book, Shanghan Lun.

病之浅深轻重，固是不同，总不外乎六经。六经各有提纲病情，昭然如日月之经天，丝毫莫混。学者只要刻刻将提纲病情，熟记胸中，再玩后之六经定法贯解，细心领会，便得步步规矩，头头是道之妙，方可以为世之良医也。

A disease of course can be mild or severe, it will anyway fall into the Six-Jing system (stage). Each stage in the Six Stage system has its own diagnosis principle, it is as clear as the sunshine and the moon shine. It should not be confused at all. If readers keep in mind the principles, then study the standard principles for the treatment carefully, he/she should keep in a correct step to understand and master the Chinese medicine and becomes a skilful clinic doctor.