Wu Jutong (吳鞠通)'profile

 

Wu Jutong (吳鞠通), also known by his courtesy name Wu Tang (吳瑭), was a leading scholar in the field of warm disease during China's Qing Dynasty. Born in 1758 in Huaiyin, Jiangsu Province, Wu Jutong faced personal tragedies early in life, including the death of his father to a warm disease when he was just 19. This loss profoundly impacted him, igniting a passion for medical studies driven by a sense of filial duty and a personal sense of inadequacy in saving his father. His determination deepened further when his nephew died from complications related to a throat disease, despite multiple treatments.

Wu Jutong dedicated himself to the rigorous study of medical texts, aiming to master and advance the understanding of warm diseases His work led to significant contributions to the warm disease school of thought, notably through his critical evaluation of earlier works by Wu Youke 吳又可and Ye Tianshi 葉天士. He admired Ye Tianshi for his precise treatment methods and Wu Youke for his broad discussions on epidemics, though he found their approaches either too scattered or not sufficiently focused on warm diseases.

In 1798, Wu Jutong authored the ‘Systemic Differentiation of Warm Diseases’ (溫病條辨), where he innovatively applied the three-jiao differentiation method to diagnose and treat warm diseases. This work synthesized various theories and practices into a coherent framework, highlighting the importance of etiology and treatment differentiation. His contributions, including effective prescriptions like Sang Ju Yin (Mulberry Leaf and Chrysanthemum Beverage), Qing Gong Tang (Palace-Clearing Decoction), and Lian Mei Tang (Coptis and Mume Decoction), remain influential today. Wu Jutong's legacy is marked by his ability to integrate and refine the medical knowledge of his time, establishing a distinct and enduring approach to treating warm diseases.