From the perspective of the knowledge history,the development of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)knowledge re-lated to esophageal cancer began with early records of"difficulty in swallowing"during the Qin and Han dynasties.Through the accu-mulation of symptom-treatment experience during the Wei and Jin dynasties,it shifted towards theoretical exploration during the Song and Yuan dynasties,clarifying the pathogenesis of stomach cold,phlegm qi,and blood stasis,and so on.By the Ming and Qing dynas-ties,a rudimentary system for the syndrome differentiation of esophageal cancer was gradually formed,and the characteristic of"esopha-geal stricture"in this disease was identified.Finally,in the late Qing dynasty,Western medicine introduced the concept of"cancerous swelling".The current theory of cancer toxin pathogenesis,with cancer toxin pathogenesis at its core,innovatively integrates related knowledge,representing a reconstruction and transformation of traditional knowledge in the context of the new era.The relevant knowl-edge from past dynasties serves as both the premise and foundation for the innovation of the cancer toxin pathogenesis theory,and it also inspires new vitality in clinical practice through this theory,providing insights and methodologies for the innovation of modern TCM theory.

From the perspective of the knowledge history,the development of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)knowledge re-lated to esophageal cancer began with early records of"difficulty in swallowing"during the Qin and Han dynasties.Through the accu-mulation of symptom-treatment experience during the Wei and Jin dynasties,it shifted towards theoretical exploration during the Song and Yuan dynasties,clarifying the pathogenesis of stomach cold,phlegm qi,and blood stasis,and so on.By the Ming and Qing dynas-ties,a rudimentary system for the syndrome differentiation of esophageal cancer was gradually formed,and the characteristic of"esopha-geal stricture"in this disease was identified.Finally,in the late Qing dynasty,Western medicine introduced the concept of"cancerous swelling".The current theory of cancer toxin pathogenesis,with cancer toxin pathogenesis at its core,innovatively integrates related knowledge,representing a reconstruction and transformation of traditional knowledge in the context of the new era.The relevant knowl-edge from past dynasties serves as both the premise and foundation for the innovation of the cancer toxin pathogenesis theory,and it also inspires new vitality in clinical practice through this theory,providing insights and methodologies for the innovation of modern TCM theory.

Guizhi Mahuang Geban Tang derived from ZHANG Zhongjing's Treatise on Cold Damage is included in the Catalogue of Ancient Classic formulas （the second batch） issued by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. By reviewing the ancient literature related to Guizhi Mahuang Geban Tang， this study analyzed the origin， medicinal composition， original plants and processing， dosage， decocting method， compatibility， effects， and indications of this formula. A total of 186 records of Guizhi Mahuang Geban Tang were obtained， involving 108 ancient books of traditional Chinese medicine. There are 6 synonyms of Guizhi Mahuang Geban Tang. This formula consists of Cinnamomi Ramulus， Paeoniae Radix Alba， Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens， Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma， Ephedrae Herba， Jujubae Fructus， and Armeniacae Semen Amarum， the original plants and processing of which are clear. With consideration to the dosage in modern clinical practice， it is recommended that the formula should be composed of 7.67 g Cinnamomi Ramulus， 4.60 g Paeoniae Radix Alba， 4.60 g Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens， 4.60 g Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma， 4.60 g Ephedrae Herba， 4.00 g Jujubae Fructus， and 2.60 g Armeniacae Semen Amarum. The decoction should be prepared by boiling Ephedrae Herba with 1 000 mL water for 15 min before the addition of other medicines， and the mixture was decocted to reach a volume of 360 mL， and 120 mL of the decoction should be taken warm once. Guizhi Mahuang Geban Tang is a combination of Guizhi Tang and Mahuang Tang， with the effects of dispersing wind cold and harmonizing nutrient-defense. The main diseases treated by this formula in the past dynasties have expanded compared with those in Treatise on Cold Damage. The traditional indications of this formula involve the diseases of greater Yang， reverting Yin， Yang brightness， and lesser Yin. In addition to common cold due to wind-cold， this formula can be used to treat headache， bitter mouth， dry throat， full abdomen， panting， heat invading blood chamber in women， skin itching， exanthema variolosum， syncope， and hardly perceivable pulse. In modern clinical practice， Guizhi Mahuang Geban Tang is used for treating pulmonary diseases such as upper respiratory tract infection， skin diseases （e.g.， urticaria， eczema， psoriasis， and neurodermatitis）， kidney failure， and diabetes complicated with pruritus.