There are only two ingredients in the prescription, which is the Black Plum and White Sugar Decoction: 5 black plums and 50 grams (about one tael) of white sugar. Boil these two ingredients in water and let the child drink it until sweating. Once the child sweats, the illness will be cured, and there is no need to take other medicines or continue drinking this decoction. Remember, when sweating occurs, the illness will improve. This is the first prescription.

If the patient is ill at this time and the pulse is rather full and large, that is, when we feel the pulse, the pulse will bounce against our fingers. This situation occurs because the fire of the liver and gallbladder is discharging outward. We should know that spring is the time to nourish the liver, so the liver and gallbladder are prone to discharging their qi outward in spring. If we press the pulse firmly at this time, we will feel that the pulse is sparse and weak, indicating that the fire of the liver and gallbladder is not vigorous. We say that the lack of vigorous fire in the liver and gallbladder is also a problem. When the insufficient fire of the liver and gallbladder all discharges to the body surface, it will cause a fever.

Use black plums to astringe with their sour taste, lower the qi of the liver and gallbladder, restrain the fire of the liver and gallbladder, and greatly replenish the body’s vital energy. Black plums can “astringe without being astringent and can promote the production of body fluids”, especially it is the best choice for treating warm diseases. We use white sugar to replenish the middle qi. Why can white sugar replenish the middle qi? In traditional Chinese medicine, we believe that sweet (sweet taste) enters the spleen. Using white sugar to replenish the middle qi, when combined with black plums, one is sour and the other is sweet, which can promote the production of body fluids. This is the best prescription for treating the deficiency syndrome of warm diseases.