Prescriptions for warming the interior refer to those that are mainly made up of drugs of warm nature with the effect of warming the interior, restoring yang, dispelling cold and promoting blood circulation for the treatment of interior-cold syndrome.
   
Since interior-cold syndrome may affect the viscera, meridians or collaterals, and differ in degrees of severity, prescriptions for warming the interior are accordingly subdivided into three kinds. They are prescriptions for warming the middle-energizer to dispel cold, those for recuperating depleted yang to rescue the patient from collapse and those for warming the meridians to dispel cold.
    
Prescriptions for warming the middle-energizer to dispel cold are composed of drugs with the function of warming the middle-energizer and dispersing cold. They are applied in deficiency-cold syndrome of the spleen and stomach. Prescriptions for recuperating depleted yang to rescue the patient from collapse comprise drugs of extreme pungent and heat nature with the functions of warming the interior and dispelling cold, which are applicable to syndrome of excess of yin due to yang deficiency. Prescriptions for warruing the meridians to dispel cold mainly consist of drugs capable of warming the meridians to dispel cold and promote blood circulation, which are applicable to syndrome of cold accumulation in the meridians and collaterals.
 
Prescriptions for warming the interior mostly bear pungent, warm, dry and hot natures, and are apt to impair yin, induce heat and disturb blood flow. Therefore, great cautions must be taken if they are applied to patients with yin-blood deficiency or excessive heat in the interior, or women during menstrual period. It is not advisable to use these prescriptions with over-dose in the dog days.