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The Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases is a work on external-contraction febrile diseases. It consists of 10 volumes and was written by Zhang Zhong-jing of the Eastern Han Dynasty in the early 3rd century AD. The original work by Zhang Zhong-jing titled Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases and Miscellaneous Diseases was later compiled and edited by later generations, with the content on external-contraction febrile diseases being collected into Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases, while another part mainly discussing internal miscellaneous diseases was named Synopsis of the Golden Chamber.

The cold-damage diseases discussed in this book refer to what Chinese medicine calls external-contraction febrile diseases, not the cold-damage diseases caused by cold-damage disease bacilli in modern medicine. This book is a famous work in Chinese medicine. The original text was compiled and edited by Wang Shu-he of the Western Jin Dynasty. After being revised by Sun Qi and Lin Dang of the Northern Song Dynasty's Bureau for Revising Medical Books, it became the widely circulated version of the time. The existing earlier versions include the Ming Dynasty Zhao Kai-mei's facsimile of the Song Dynasty edition of Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases (referred to as the "Song edition") and Cheng Wu-ji of the Jin Dynasty's Annotated Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases (referred to as the "Cheng edition").

The main content of the book includes the differentiation of Taiyang disease, Yangming disease, Shaoyang disease, Taiyin disease, Shaoyin disease, and Jueyin disease pulse patterns. Additionally, it covers "normal pulse methods," "pulse differentiation methods," "examples of cold-damage diseases" (most scholars believe these three sections were added by Wang Shu-he), differentiation of convulsive dampness and heatstroke, differentiation of cholera, differentiation of yin-yang transmission, and post-illness fatigue pulse patterns and treatments.

One of the notable achievements of the Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases is the establishment of the six-meridian differentiation system. Using the four examinations and eight principles, it comprehensively explains the differentiation of pulses, examination of symptoms, treatment principles, formulation of prescriptions, and medication rules for various stages of cold-damage diseases in a systematic manner. For each of the six-meridian diseases, it establishes primary treatment methods (e.g., "Taiyang cold-damage disease" treated with Ephedra Decoction; "Taiyang apoplexy" treated with Cinnamon Twig Decoction; Yangming meridian syndrome treated with White Tiger Decoction; Yangming fu-organ syndrome treated with Chengqi Decoction; Shaoyang disease treated with Minor Bupleurum Decoction...). It summarizes the diagnostic and treatment experiences for different stages and types of symptoms, with clear distinctions between primary and secondary aspects, and integrates theory, method, prescription, and medication organically, providing essential guidance for diagnosis and treatment. The six-meridian differentiation in this book and the Synopsis of the Golden Chamber's zang-fu organ differentiation together form a complete exposition of the diagnostic and treatment philosophy later known as "pattern identification and treatment." This philosophy has been regarded by medical practitioners throughout history as an essential method for diagnosing and treating various diseases, fully embodying the characteristics and advantages of traditional Chinese medicine.

Cold-damage disease theory Another outstanding achievement is the significant contribution to Chinese medicine and Chinese medical formulas. This book records 397 methods and 113 formulas (since the limonite pill is named but lacks actual ingredients, it actually contains 112 formulas). The book presents a complete set of principles for formula composition. Later, Cheng Wu-ji analyzed over 20 formulas from the book, illustrating that the formulas embody the principle of combining sovereign, minister, assistant, and guide components. At the same time, under strict formula composition principles, there is also the flexibility of "treating according to the syndrome." The book introduces treatments for cold-damage disease using methods such as sweating, vomiting, and purging, and applies these eight methods specifically within the formulas. It also introduces representative formulas like Cinnamon Twig Decoction, Ephedra Decoction, White Tiger Decoction, Chengqi Decoction, Bupleurum Decoction, Cold-Extremities Decoction, True Warrior Decoction, and Mume Pill, detailing their composition, usage, indications, and applications. The book records many dosage forms, including decoctions, pills, powders, wines, washes, baths, fumigations, ear drops, nasal irrigations, ointments, and anal suppositories, many of which are recorded for the first time. Most of the formulas recorded in the book are reliable in efficacy and clinically practical, having been repeatedly used by physicians for over 1700 years with consistent effectiveness. Due to Zhang Zhong-jing's extensive collection or personal formulation of formulas, which are meticulous in selecting ingredients and emphasize the combination of medicinals, they have clear indications and remarkable efficacy. Later generations have praised them as the "ancestor of all formulas" and honored them as "classical formulas."

Zhang Zhong-jing is the founder of clinical medicine in Chinese medicine, revered by later generations as the "Sage of Medicine." His work, Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases, along with his thoughts on pattern identification and treatment, as well as the six-meridian methodology, holds extensive guiding significance in clinical practice. As Ke Qin pointed out in his Wings to the Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases, "Zhang Zhong-jing's six meridians establish laws for all diseases, not exclusively for the category of cold damage diseases." From the Song Dynasty to the present, over 400 works commenting on or researching the Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases have been published and have had a certain impact. Countries like Japan have also conducted quite in-depth research on Zhang Zhong-jing's theories.