气虚、气实，不可不平之也。气实者，非气实乃正气虚而邪气实也。法当用补气之药，而加祛逐之品，则正气
足而邪气消矣。方用∶
人参（一钱） 白术（一钱） 甘草（一钱） 麻黄（一钱） 半夏（一钱） 柴胡（三钱） 白芍（三钱）
水煎服。
推而广之，治气非一条也。气滔∶补中益气汤可用；气衰∶六君子汤可采；气寒∶人参白术附子汤可施；气
虚∶则用四君汤；气郁∶则用归脾汤；气热∶则用生脉散；气喘∶则用独参汤；气动∶则用二陈汤加人参，气塞∶
则用射干汤；气逆∶则用逍遥散。
气虚则羸弱，气实则壮盛。气虚用前方，气实用另一方∶
枳壳（五分） 白术（一钱） 陈皮（五分） 茯苓（三钱） 甘草（一钱） 柴胡（一钱） 白芍（二钱）
栀子（一钱） 山楂（十个）
水煎服。
凡人气喘而上者，人以为气有余也，殊不知气盛当作气虚看，有余认作不足看。若认作肺气之盛，而错用苏
叶、桔梗、百部、山豆根之类，则去生远矣。方用∶
人参（一两） 牛膝（三钱） 熟地（五钱） 山萸（四钱） 枸杞（一钱） 麦冬（五钱） 五味子（一钱）
胡桃肉（三个） 生姜（五片）
水煎服。
此方不治肺，而正所以治肺也。或疑人参乃健脾之药，既宜补肾，则不宜多用人参。不知肾水大虚，一时不
能遽生，非急补其气，则元阳一钱，必且断绝。况人参少用则泛上，多用即下行。妙在用人参两许，使下达病源，
补气以生肾水。方中熟地、山萸之类，同气相求，直入命门，又何患其多哉？若病重之人，尤宜多加，一两尚欠少也。
但喘有初起之喘，有久病之喘。初起之喘多实邪，久病之喘多气虚。实邪喘者必抬肩，气虚喘者微微气急耳。
此方治久病之喘方也。若初病之喘，四磨，四七汤，一剂即止。盖喘不独肺气虚，而肾水〔亦〕竭也。
气虚和气实，必须加以平复调理。所谓气实，并非正气充实，而是正气虚弱而邪气亢盛。治疗方法应当使用补气的药物，并加入祛除邪气的药味，这样正气充足而邪气自然消除。方剂如下：
人参（一钱） 白术（一钱） 甘草（一钱） 麻黄（一钱） 半夏（一钱） 柴胡（三钱） 白芍（三钱）
加水煎煮后服用。
推演推广开来，治疗气病的方法不止一种。气陷下者：可用补中益气汤；气衰微者：可选用六君子汤；气寒者：可施用人参白术附子汤；气虚者：则使用四君子汤；气郁结者：则使用归脾汤；气热者：则使用生脉散；气喘者：则使用独参汤；气机动荡不安者：则使用二陈汤加人参；气壅塞者：则使用射干汤；气上逆者：则使用逍遥散。
气虚表现为身体瘦弱无力，气实则表现为身体壮实旺盛。气虚使用前面的方子，气实使用另一个方子：
枳壳（五分） 白术（一钱） 陈皮（五分） 茯苓（三钱） 甘草（一钱） 柴胡（一钱） 白芍（二钱）
栀子（一钱） 山楂（十个）
加水煎煮后服用。
一般人的气喘症状表现为气向上冲逆，人们误以为这是气有余（实证），却不知道这种情况应当当作气虚来看待，将看似有余的症状认作不足。如果误认为是肺气盛实，而错误地使用苏叶、桔梗、百部、山豆根等宣肺泻实类药物，那么离治愈就太远了。方剂如下：
人参（一两） 牛膝（三钱） 熟地黄（五钱） 山茱萸（四钱） 枸杞子（一钱） 麦冬（五钱） 五味子（一钱）
胡桃肉（三个） 生姜（五片）
加水煎煮后服用。
这个方子虽然不直接治肺，但正是通过补肾来治肺的方法。有人怀疑人参是健脾的药物，既然适宜补肾，就不应该大量使用人参。殊不知肾水极度亏虚时，短时间内不能迅速生成，如果不紧急补气，那么仅存的一点元阳必将断绝。况且人参少量使用会上浮，大量使用则会下行。妙在用人参一两之多，使其下达至病源所在，通过补气来化生肾水。方中的熟地黄、山茱萸等药，与肾气同类相求，直接进入命门，又何必担心用量过多呢？如果是病情严重的人，尤其应该多加人参，一两尚且嫌少。
但是气喘有初起的气喘，也有久病的气喘。初起的气喘多由实邪引起，久病的气喘多因气虚所致。实邪导致的气喘必然伴有抬肩呼吸的表现，气虚导致的气喘只是微微气急而已。此方是治疗久病气喘的方子。如果是初病的气喘，使用四磨汤或四七汤，一剂即可停止。因为气喘不仅仅是肺气虚，肾水也枯竭了。
Deficiency of Qi and Excess of Qi must be balanced. The so-called "Excess of Qi" is not an abundance of Healthy Qi (Zheng Qi), but rather a state where Healthy Qi is deficient while Pathogenic Qi (Xie Qi) is excessive. The treatment method should employ herbs that tonify Qi, combined with agents that dispel pathogens, so that Healthy Qi becomes sufficient and Pathogenic Qi dissipates. The prescription is as follows:
Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, 1 qian) Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, 1 qian) Gan Cao (Licorice Root, 1 qian) Ma Huang (Ephedrae Herba, 1 qian) Ban Xia (Pinelliae Tuber, 1 qian) Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix, 3 qian) Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba, 3 qian)
Decoct in water and take orally.
Extending this principle, the methods for treating Qi disorders are not limited to one approach. For Qi sinking (Qi Tao): Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction) may be used; for Qi decline (Qi Shuai): Liu Jun Zi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction) can be selected; for Cold Qi (Qi Han): Ren Shen Bai Zhu Fu Zi Tang (Ginseng, Atractylodes, and Aconite Decoction) may be applied; for Qi deficiency (Qi Xu): Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) is used; for Qi stagnation (Qi Yu): Gui Pi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction) is employed; for Heat Qi (Qi Re): Sheng Mai San (Generate the Pulse Powder) is used; for Asthma/Wheezing due to Qi (Qi Chuan): Du Shen Tang (Single Ginseng Decoction) is indicated; for Agitated Qi (Qi Dong): Er Chen Tang (Two-Cured Decoction) plus Ren Shen is used; for Qi obstruction/blockage (Qi Sai): She Ye Tang (Belamcanda Decoction) is prescribed; for Rebellious Qi (Qi Ni): Xiao Yao San (Free and Easy Wanderer Powder) is used.
Qi deficiency manifests as emaciation and weakness, whereas Qi excess manifests as robustness and strength. For Qi deficiency, use the aforementioned formula; for Qi excess, use the following alternative formula:
Zhi Ke (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus, 5 fen) Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, 1 qian) Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, 5 fen) Fu Ling (Poria, 3 qian) Gan Cao (Licorice Root, 1 qian) Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix, 1 qian) Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba, 2 qian) Zhi Zi (Gardeniae Fructus, 1 qian) Shan Zha (Crataegi Fructus, 10 pieces)
Decoct in water and take orally.
In ordinary cases, asthma/wheezing presents with Qi rushing upward. People mistakenly believe this indicates an excess of Qi. However, it should actually be viewed as Qi deficiency, interpreting apparent surplus as insufficiency. If misdiagnosed as Lung Qi excess and incorrectly treated with herbs such as Su Ye (Perilla Leaf), Jie Geng (Platycodon Root), Bai Bu (Stemona Root), or Shan Dou Gen (Sophorae Tonkinensis Radix et Caulis), which promote dispersing and clearing heat, the patient would be far from recovery. The prescription is as follows:
Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, 1 liang) Niu Xi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix, 3 qian) Shu Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata, 5 qian) Shan Yu Rou (Corni Fructus, 4 qian) Gou Qi Zi (Lycii Fructus, 1 qian) Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Tuber, 5 qian) Wu Wei Zi (Schisandrae Fructus, 1 qian)
Hu Tao Rou (Walnut Kernel, 3 pieces) Sheng Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, 5 slices)
Decoct in water and take orally.
This formula does not directly treat the Lung, but precisely treats the Lung by addressing its root. Some may doubt that since Ren Shen primarily strengthens the Spleen, it is unsuitable for large doses when tonifying the Kidney. They fail to realize that when Kidney Water is severely deficient, it cannot be generated instantly. Without urgent tonification of Qi, the remaining trace of Primordial Yang will be severed. Moreover, a small dose of Ren Shen tends to float upward, while a large dose descends downward. The brilliance lies in using a substantial amount of Ren Shen (one liang) to guide the action down to the source of the disease, tonifying Qi to generate Kidney Water. Herbs like Shu Di Huang and Shan Yu Rou in the formula share similar properties and enter the Ming Men (Gate of Life) directly; thus, there is no need to worry about excessive dosage. For patients with severe conditions, the dosage should be increased even further, and one liang may still be insufficient.
However, asthma/wheezing can be acute onset or chronic. Acute asthma/wheezing is often caused by Excess pathogens, while chronic asthma/wheezing is mostly due to Qi deficiency. Asthma/wheezing caused by Excess pathogens necessarily involves lifting the shoulders during breathing, whereas asthma/wheezing caused by Qi deficiency merely presents with slight shortness of breath. This formula is intended for chronic asthma/wheezing. For acute asthma/wheezing, Si Mo Tang (Four Grinds Decoction) or Si Qi Tang (Four Seven Decoction) can stop it with just one dose. This is because asthma/wheezing is not solely due to Lung Qi deficiency, but also involves the exhaustion of Kidney Water.