Syndrome differentiation and treatment
The basic therapeutic principle of chickenpox is clearing away heat and relieving the exterior syndromes with pungent-flavoured and cool-natured drugs. In the case of mild syndrome with pathogenic factors stagnating defensive qi, the therapeutic methods include dispelling wind and clearing away heat in combination with auxiliary methods of removing toxin and excreting dampness; in the case of severe syndrome with intense heat in both qi system and nutrient system, the therapeutic method is clearing away heat to cool nutrient system in combination with the auxilliary method of removing toxin; in the case of large-sized chickenpoxes with full liquid inside due to excessive dampness, the therapeutic methods include clearing away heat, removing toxin and excreting dampness by inducing diuresis; in the case of excessive pathogenic factors sinking in the heart and liver, the therapeutic methods include clearing away heat to cool blood, removing toxin and inducing resuscitation.

1. Pathogenic factors stagnating defensive system     
Main symptoms and signs: Sudden attack, slight or no fever, nasal obstruction, running nose, sneeze, cough, appearance of eruption 1 to 2 day(s) after the attack, sparse and different-sized rashes with ruddy color, lucid liquid inside, inapparent areolae around the base, coexistence of maculopapules, pimples, herpeses and crusts in most cases with more number on the trunk and less on the head, face and limbs, itching skin, whitish and thin fur of the tongue, floating and rapid pulse.
Therapeutic methods: Expelling wind and clearing away heat in combination with removing toxin and eliminating dampness by inducing urination.

2. Preponderance of heat in both qi and nutrient systems 
Main symptoms and signs: High fever, dysphoria, thirst with inclination to drink, red face and lips, orolingual ulcer, dense herpeses with marked areolae around the base, red or deep red colour and turbid liquid content, swollen and painful gingivae, constipation, dark and scanty urine, deep red tongue with yellowish and greasy fur, rapid and forceful pulse.
Therapeutic methods: Clearing away heat to cool blood in combination with removing toxin.

3. Pathogenic factors sinking in the heart and liver  
Main symptoms and signs: High fever without abatement, headache, vomiting, coma, somnolence, or coma, clonic convulsion, deep purple chickenpoxes with thick and turbid liquid content, deep red tongue with yellowish and thick fur, rapid and forceful pulse.
Therapeutic methods: Clearing away heat, removing toxin, relieving convulsion and stopping endogenous wind.

4. Chickenpox due to toxic heat  
Main symptoms and signs: Fever without abatement, ulcerative herpeses with turbid liquid content or with pus flowing out, swollen skin with pain, even ulceration and gangrene in severe cases, deep red tongue with yellowish and thick fur, rapid and forceful pulse.
Therapeutic methods: Clearing away heat, removing toxin and relieving swelling to check pain.