Wu Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Sickness (bìng) 療 Kangxi stroke count: 17 Page 780, Entry 03 According to the Extensive Rhymes (Guangyun) and Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), it is pronounced liao. According to the Correct Rhymes (Zhengyun), it is pronounced liao. Shuowen Jiezi says: to treat or cure. Yangzi’s Regional Dialects (Fangyan) says: liao means to cure. In the regions of the Jiang and Xiang rivers, medical treatment is called yao, or sometimes liao. Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Office of Heaven, Surgeon: In all cases of treating sores, use the five poisons to attack the affliction. Annotation: To arrest an illness is called liao. In the Song of Plucking Mushrooms by the Four Greybeards (Sihao Caizhi Cao): The lush purple mushrooms can be used to cure hunger. Also, according to Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), it is pronounced shuo. It is the same as a variant form meaning illness.