雀啄连来三五啄，屋漏半日一点落。弹石硬来寻即散，搭指散乱真解索。鱼翔似
有，亦似无，虾游静中跳一跃。寄语医家仔细看，六脉一见休下药。
标本逆从既明，和剂之药须识。表汗用麻黄，无葱白不发；吐痰用瓜蒂，无豉不
涌；去实热用大黄，无枳实不通；温经用附子，无干姜不热；竹沥无姜汁，不能行经
络；蜜导无皂角，不能通秘结；非半夏、姜汁不能止呕吐；非人参、竹叶不能止虚烦∶
非柴胡不能和解表里；非五苓散不能通利小便；非天花粉、干葛，不能消渴解肌；非人
参、麦冬、五味，不能生脉补元；非犀角、地黄，不能止上焦之吐衄；非桃仁承气，不
能破下焦之瘀血；非黄 、桂枝，不能实表间虚汗；非茯苓、白术，不能去湿助脾；非
茵陈不能去疸；非承气不能制狂；非枳桔不能除痞满；非陷胸不能开结胸；非羌活不能
治感冒；非人参败毒，不能治春温；非四逆不能治阴厥；非人参白虎不能化斑；非理中
乌梅不能治蛔厥；非桂枝麻黄不能除冬月之恶寒；非姜附汤不能止阴寒之泄利；非大柴
胡不能去实热之妄言；太阴脾土，性恶寒湿，非干姜、白术不能以燥湿也；少阴肾
水，性恶寒燥，非附子不能以温润也；厥阴肝木，藏血荣筋，非芍药、甘草不能以滋养
也。此皆经常用药之大法，然机变应之无穷。
雀啄脉（脉象如鸟啄食，连连急数而节律不齐）接连出现三五次即停，屋漏脉（脉象如屋漏滴水，良久一滴且无力）半天才落下一点。弹石脉（脉象如指弹石，坚硬沉实）来势硬直，随即消散；搭指脉（脉象散乱无根，如解绳索）按之散乱无序。鱼翔脉（脉象如鱼游水，头定尾摇，似有似无），虾游脉（脉象如虾游水，静中突然一跃）。寄语各位医生仔细诊察，六绝脉一旦出现，切勿用药治疗。
既然标本、逆从的道理已经明了，调和身体的药物必须认识清楚。发汗解表要用麻黄，没有葱白则发散之力不足；涌吐痰涎要用瓜蒂，没有淡豆豉则催吐之力不强；攻逐实热要用大黄，没有枳实则通便效果不佳；温通经脉要用附子，没有干姜则温热之力不够；竹沥如果没有姜汁配合，不能通行经络；蜂蜜导便如果没有皂角配合，不能通治便秘；不是半夏和姜汁就不能止住呕吐；不是人参、竹叶就不能止住虚烦；不是柴胡就不能和解表里；不是五苓散就不能通利小便；不是天花粉、葛根，就不能消除口渴、解除肌表之邪；不是人参、麦冬、五味子，就不能生脉补气；不是犀角、地黄，就不能止住上焦的吐血衄血；不是桃仁承气汤，就不能攻破下焦的瘀血；不是黄芪、桂枝，就不能固表止虚汗；不是茯苓、白术，就不能祛湿健脾；不是茵陈就不能退黄疸；不是承气汤类方剂就不能控制狂躁；不是枳桔汤就不能消除痞满；不是陷胸汤就不能开通结胸；不是羌活就不能治疗感冒；不是人参败毒散就不能治疗春温病；不是四逆汤就不能治疗阴厥；不是人参白虎汤就不能化解斑疹；不是理中丸加乌梅就不能治疗蛔厥；不是桂枝麻黄合方就不能去除冬季的恶寒；不是姜附汤就不能止住阴寒引起的泄泻痢疾；不是大柴胡汤就不能去除实热引起的胡言乱语；太阴脾土，性质厌恶寒湿，不是干姜、白术就不能燥湿；少阴肾水，性质厌恶寒燥，不是附子就不能温润；厥阴肝木，藏血以荣养筋脉，不是芍药、甘草就不能滋养。这些都是常用药物的大法，然而临证机变无穷无尽。
Quezhuo pulse (pulse resembling a bird pecking, rapid and irregular) comes in clusters of three to five beats then stops; Wulou pulse (pulse resembling water dripping from a leaking roof, slow and weak) falls only once every half day. Danshi pulse (pulse hard as a stone struck by a finger) feels rigid upon arrival and dissipates immediately; Dazhi pulse (pulse scattered and rootless, like untying a rope) feels chaotic under the fingers. Yuxiang pulse (pulse resembling a fish swimming, head steady but tail trembling, seemingly present yet absent); Xiayou pulse (pulse resembling a shrimp jumping, suddenly leaping amidst stillness). I advise physicians to examine carefully: when any of the Six Extinction Pulses appears, do not administer medication.
Having clarified the principles of root and branch, reversal and compliance, one must understand the harmonizing medicines. For inducing sweating to release the exterior, Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang, 麻黄) is used; without Scallion White (Congbai, 葱白), the dispersing action is insufficient. For inducing vomiting to expel phlegm, Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Gua Di, 瓜蒂 - note: actually Semen Momordicae/Trichosanthis seed context usually implies Gua Di Dan, here referring to Gua Di) is used; without Fermented Soybean (Chidou, 豉), the purging action is weak. For clearing excess heat, Radix et Rhizoma Rhei (Dahuang, 大黄) is used; without Fructus Aurantii Immaturus (Zhishi, 枳实), bowel unblocking is ineffective. For warming meridians, Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata (Fuzi, 附子) is used; without Zingiberis Rhizoma (Ganjiang, 干姜), the warming effect is inadequate. Bamboo Sap (Zhuli, 竹沥) cannot circulate through meridians without Ginger Juice (Jiangzhi, 姜汁); Honey Suppository (Midao, 蜜导) cannot relieve constipation without Gleditsiae Sinensis Spina (Zaorao, 皂角). Only Pinelliae Rhizoma (Banxia, 半夏) and Ginger Juice can stop vomiting; only Ginseng Radix (Renshen, 人参) and Phyllostachys Nitida Leaf (Zhuyeqian, 竹叶) can stop deficiency vexation; only Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu, 柴胡) can harmonize the exterior and interior; only Wuling San (Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria) can promote urination; only Trichosanthis Radix (Tianhuafen, 天花粉) and Puerariae Lobatae Radix (Gegen, 干葛) can relieve thirst and resolve the muscle layer; only Ginseng Radix, Ophiopogonis Radix (Maidong, 麦冬), and Schisandrae Fructus (Wuweizi, 五味) can generate fluids and tonify the pulse; only Rhinocerotis Cornu (Xijiao, 犀角) and Rehmanniae Radix (Dihuang, 地黄) can stop epistaxis and hematemesis from the Upper Jiao; only Taoren Chengqi Tang (Peach Kernel Decoction for Stagnation) can break up blood stasis in the Lower Jiao; only Astragali Membranacei Radix (Huangqi, 黄芪) and Cinnamomi Ramulus (Guizhi, 桂枝) can secure the exterior and stop spontaneous sweating due to deficiency; only Poria (Fuling, 茯苓) and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu, 白术) can eliminate dampness and assist the Spleen; only Artemisiae Scopariae Herba (Yinchen, 茵陈) can treat jaundice; only Chengqi Tang formulas can control mania; only Zhiji Tang (Aurantium and Tangerine Peel Decoction) can remove stuffiness and fullness; only Xiaoxiong Tang (Chest-Restraining Decoction) can open chest binding; only Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix (Qianghuo, 羌活) can treat common cold; only Renshen Baidu San (Ginseng Detoxification Powder) can treat Spring-Warmth disease; only Sini Tang (Reverse-Four Decoction) can treat Yin-Jue (Cold extremities); only Renshen Baitu Tang (Ginseng and White Tiger Decoction) can transform macules; only Lizhong Wan combined with Mume Fructus (Wumei, 乌梅) can treat ascariasis-induced Jue; only Guizhi Mahuang Tang (Cinnamon Twig and Ephedra Decoction) can dispel winter chills; only Jiangfu Tang (Ginger and Aconite Decoction) can stop diarrhea caused by Yin-cold; only Dachaihu Tang (Major Bupleuri Decoction) can clear excess heat causing delirious speech; The Taiyin Spleen Earth dislikes cold-dampness; only Ganjiang and Baizhu can dry dampness; The Shaoyin Kidney Water dislikes cold-dryness; only Fuzi can warm and moisten; The Jueyin Liver Wood stores blood and nourishes sinews; only Paeoniae Radix Alba (Shaoyao, 芍药) and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao, 甘草) can nourish. These are the major principles of commonly used medicines, yet clinical variations are infinite.