Abstract
This study investigated Hua Tuo's Shang-han theory, which precedes the period of Zhang Zhong Jing's Shang-han theory, and considers the relationship between the two approaches. Researchers compared terminology and language of Hua Tuo's Shang-han theory as published in Theory in Qian Jin Yao Fang and Wai Tai Mi Yao, with Zhang Zhong Jing's Shang-han theory. In Hua Tuo's theory, Shang-han involves pathogenic invasion of the body surface, where the pathogen transforms to 6 different stages, Pi (皮), Fu (膚), Ji (肌), Xiong (胸), Fu (腹), Wei (胃). Among these, the stage sof Pi (皮), Fu (膚), Ji (肌) can be considered as exterior syndrome (表證). Those that invade the lower chest can be considered as lower chest disease, and those that violate the abdomen or stomach can be considered as Interior heat excess syndrome (裏熱實證). Stomach heat excess syndrome (胃中實熱證) is the most severe and is similar to septicaemia or bubonic plague. Hua Tuo's treatment used three methods which are 汗 (perspiration), 吐 (emesis), 下 (purgation). In the case of Phlegm syndrome (痰?證), HuoTuo's theory was similar to Zhang Zhong Jing's Shang-han exterior syndrome (傷寒表證) and therefore used Zhuling-powder (猪?散). In the case of deficiency hot flush Syndrome (虛煩證) in Shang-han disease, HuoTuo uses ZhuYe-decoction (竹葉湯), of which the drug contents is the same as Zhang Zhong Jing's ZhuYeShiGao-decoction (竹葉石膏湯), which was used for the same condition.
