夫卫气者，昼行于阳，夜行于阴。行阳则寤，行阴则寐。阳气虚，阴气盛，则目瞑，故多眠，
乃邪气传于阴而不在阳也。昏昏闭目，阴自阖也。默默不言者，阴主静也。经曰∶太阳病，十日已
去，脉浮细，嗜卧者，外已解也。鼻干不得汗，嗜卧者，风热内攻，不干乎表，故热气伏于里，则
喜睡也。三阳合病，但欲眠睡，目合则汗，谵则有热也。见盗汗，其胃热，亦嗜卧也。风温、狐惑
亦有是证，
又当辩之。
太阳病十日，脉浮细，嗜卧者，外虽已解。设胸满、胁痛、鼻干、不得汗者，小柴胡汤；脉但
浮者，麻黄汤。
少阴病，但欲寐，尺寸俱沉细者，四逆汤。少阴病，欲吐不吐，心烦多寐，尺寸俱沉细者，四
逆汤。少阴病，欲吐不吐，心烦多寐，五六日，自利而渴，小便白者，则止矣。
其湿霍乱死者少，干霍乱死者多。若上不得吐，下不得利，所伤之物不得出泄，壅闭正气，阴
阳悬隔，喘胀而死。《素问》∶食饮有节，起居有常，安得有霍乱也？
霍乱，头痛发热，身疼痛，热多欲饮水，五苓散；寒多不饮水者，理中汤。
吐利汗出，脉微，恶寒，手足厥冷，拘急，四逆汤。腹满而痛，四肢拘急，转筋下利，理中汤
加附子、官桂。加减详见本方。
吐利止，身痛不休，桂枝汤。既吐且利，小便复利而大汗出，下利清谷，内寒外热，脉微欲绝
者，四逆汤。吐利止，但汗出而厥，四肢拘急不解，脉微欲绝者，通脉四逆加猪胆汁。
卫气，在白天运行于体表阳分，在夜晚运行于体内阴分。卫气行于阳分时人便清醒，行于阴分时人便入睡。如果阳气虚弱、阴气偏盛，就会导致眼睛闭合（目瞑），从而出现嗜睡症状，这是因为邪气传入阴分而不在阳分所致。昏昏沉沉地闭着眼睛，是阴气主收敛闭合的表现；沉默不语，是因为阴气主静。医经中说：太阳病（太阳经受邪所致的病证）过了十天，脉象浮而细，患者想睡觉，说明体表的邪气已经解除。如果鼻干无汗且嗜睡，这是风热之邪内攻，病位不在表，所以热气伏留于里，导致喜欢睡觉。三阳合病（太阳、阳明、少阳三经同时受邪），只想睡觉，一闭眼就出汗，说胡话且有发热，这是有热的表现。见到盗汗（夜间睡着时出汗），说明胃中有热，也会表现为嗜睡。风温病、狐惑病也有类似症状，应当加以辨别。
太阳病过了十天，脉象浮细，患者嗜睡，说明表邪虽已解除。但如果出现胸满、胁痛、鼻干、无汗等症状，应用小柴胡汤；如果脉象仅见浮象，应用麻黄汤。
少阴病（少阴经受邪所致的病证），只想睡觉，寸脉和尺脉都沉细的，用四逆汤治疗。少阴病，想吐又吐不出来，心烦且多睡，寸脉和尺脉都沉细的，也用四逆汤。少阴病，想吐又吐不出来，心烦多睡，到了第五六天，出现自发性腹泻且口渴，小便颜色发白的，病情至此为止（或指预后不良/需另作辨证，此处依原文直译）。
湿霍乱（伴有呕吐泄泻的霍乱）致死的情况较少，干霍乱（欲吐不得吐，欲泻不得泻的霍乱）致死的情况较多。如果上不能吐，下不能泻，受伤的食物无法排出，导致正气壅滞闭塞，阴阳之气隔绝不通，最终因气喘腹胀而死。《素问》说：饮食有节制，起居有规律，怎么会有霍乱呢？
霍乱病，出现头痛、发热、身体疼痛，如果热象明显且想喝水，用五苓散；如果寒象明显不想喝水，用理中汤。
如果出现呕吐腹泻、出汗、脉象微弱、怕冷、手脚冰凉、筋脉拘挛紧急，用四逆汤。如果腹部胀满且疼痛，四肢拘挛紧急，转筋且腹泻，用理中汤加附子、官桂。具体加减方法详见本方说明。
呕吐腹泻停止后，身体疼痛仍不缓解，用桂枝汤。如果既呕吐又腹泻，小便反而通畅且大汗出，拉出未消化的食物残渣，表现为内寒外热、脉象微弱几乎摸不到，用四逆汤。如果呕吐腹泻停止，但只出汗且手脚厥冷，四肢拘挛紧急仍未缓解，脉象微弱几乎摸不到，用通脉四逆加猪胆汁汤。
Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) circulates in the Yang aspect (exterior/surface) during the day and in the Yin aspect (interior/viscera) at night. When circulating in Yang, one is awake; when circulating in Yin, one sleeps. If Yang Qi is deficient and Yin Qi is excessive, the eyes close (Mu Ming), resulting in hypersomnia (excessive sleepiness). This occurs because the pathogenic factor has transmitted to the Yin aspect rather than remaining in the Yang aspect. The drowsy state with closed eyes reflects the closing nature of Yin; silence reflects the quiet nature of Yin. The Classics state: In Taiyang disease (disease pattern caused by pathogenic invasion of the Taiyang channel), after ten days, if the pulse is floating and fine, and the patient desires to lie down/sleep, it indicates that the exterior pathogen has been resolved. If there is dryness of the nose, inability to sweat, and hypersomnia, this indicates internal attack by wind-heat; the pathogen is not on the exterior, so heat qi lingers in the interior, leading to a preference for sleep. In San Yang combined disease (simultaneous involvement of Taiyang, Yangming, and Shaoyang channels), where the patient only desires sleep, sweats upon closing the eyes, and speaks deliriously with fever, this indicates the presence of heat. The appearance of nocturnal sweating (Dao Han) indicates stomach heat, which also leads to hypersomnia. Feng Wen (Wind-Warmth disease) and Hu Huo (Fox-Huo disease) may present with similar symptoms and must be differentiated.
In Taiyang disease, after ten days, if the pulse is floating and fine and the patient is hypersomnolent, the exterior has been resolved. However, if chest fullness, hypochondriac pain, dry nose, and inability to sweat are present, Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) should be used. If the pulse is merely floating, Ma Huang Tang (Ephedra Decoction) should be used.
In Shaoyin disease (disease pattern caused by pathogenic invasion of the Shaoyin channel), where the patient only desires sleep and both the Cun (inch) and Chi (cubit) pulses are deep and fine, Si Ni Tang (Frigid Extremities Decoction) should be used. In Shaoyin disease, where the patient feels nausea but cannot vomit, experiences mental restlessness, and hypersomnolence, with both Cun and Chi pulses being deep and fine, Si Ni Tang should also be used. In Shaoyin disease, where the patient feels nausea but cannot vomit, experiences mental restlessness and hypersomnolence, and after five or six days develops spontaneous diarrhea with thirst and white urine, the condition reaches its limit (or implies a specific prognosis/stopping point).
In Shi Huo Luan (Wet Cholera, characterized by vomiting and diarrhea), death is less common; in Gan Huo Luan (Dry Cholera, characterized by obstruction without vomiting or purging), death is more common. If one cannot vomit from above nor defecate from below, the ingested food cannot be expelled, causing stagnation and closure of Zheng Qi (Upright Qi), leading to separation of Yin and Yang, resulting in death due to panting and abdominal distension. The Su Wen states: If eating and drinking are regulated, and daily routines are regular, how can Huo Luan occur?
For Huo Luan presenting with headache, fever, and body pain: if heat signs predominate and there is desire to drink water, use Wu Ling San (Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria); if cold signs predominate and there is no desire to drink water, use Li Zhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction).
If vomiting and diarrhea are accompanied by sweating, faint pulse, aversion to cold, cold limbs, and muscle cramping/tethering, use Si Ni Tang. If abdominal fullness and pain are present, along with tethering of the four limbs, muscle twitching/cramping, and diarrhea, use Li Zhong Tang plus Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root) and Guigui (Cinnamon Bark). For detailed modifications, refer to the formula description.
If vomiting and diarrhea cease but body pain persists, use Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction). If vomiting and diarrhea occur simultaneously, followed by free urination, profuse sweating, diarrhea of undigested food, internal cold with external heat, and a faint pulse nearly imperceptible, use Si Ni Tang. If vomiting and diarrhea cease, but sweating and cold limbs persist, with unresolved tethering of the four limbs and a faint pulse nearly imperceptible, use Tong Mai Si Ni Jia Zhu Dan Jiang (Pulse-Restoring Frigid Extremities Decoction with Pig Gallbladder Bile).