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To treat disease, it is necessary to seek its root

治病必求于本 〔治病必求於本〕 zhì bìng bì qiú yú běn

From Plain Questions (素问 sù wèn, yīn yáng yìng xiàng lùn). The first principle of treatment, whereby the cause or essential nature of disease rather than its manifestations are addressed. Treating disease by the root, or radical treatment, applies to most diseases and is divided into two forms: straight treatment and paradoxical treatment. Treating a disease by the tip, or signs treatment, represents an exception to this principle that applies under clearly defined conditions. See principle of treatment.

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