叙曰∶脾胃，人身之坤元也。至哉坤元，万物资生，故脾胃为百骸之母。东垣所以擅
名当世者，无他长焉，知脾胃之为要尔。庸师治病，坏人脾胃者多矣。此欲养其子者，先戕
其母也，岂豫养之道哉！今考六方于下，庶几乎调元之补也。
人参 茯苓（去皮） 白术（炒） 砂仁 甘草（炒） 山药 桔梗（炒） 薏苡仁（炒）
扁
豆莲肉
脾胃虚弱，不思饮食者，此方主之。
脾胃者，土也。土为万物之母，诸脏腑百骸受气于脾胃而后能强。若脾胃一亏，则众体
皆无以受气，日见羸弱矣。故治杂证者，宜以脾胃为主。然脾胃喜甘而恶苦，喜香而恶秽，
喜燥而恶湿，喜利而恶滞。是方也，人参、扁豆、甘草，味之甘者也。白术、茯苓、山药、
莲肉、薏苡仁，甘而微燥者也。砂仁辛香而燥，可以开胃醒脾。桔梗甘而微苦，甘则性缓，
故为诸药之舟楫，苦则喜降，则能通天气于地道矣！
陈皮（十两） 丁香（一两） 青皮 诃子肉 甘草（各五钱）
每服末二钱。
小儿脾虚不实，米谷不化，滑肠滞颐者，此方主之。
胃主受纳，脾主消磨，故能纳而不能化者，责之脾虚。滑肠者，肠滑而飧泄也。滞颐者
，颐颔之下多涎滞也，皆土弱不能制水之象。火能生土，故用丁香。甘能补土，故用甘草。
香能快脾，故用陈皮。涩能去滑，故用诃子。用青皮者，谓其快膈平肝，能抑其所不胜尔！
序言说：脾胃，是人身体的“坤元”（象征大地，主承载与生化）。伟大的坤元，万物依靠它生长，所以脾胃是全身百骸的母亲。李东垣之所以在当时闻名于世，没有别的特长，只是深知脾胃的重要性罢了。庸医治病，伤害人脾胃的情况太多了。这就像想要养护子女，却先残害他们的母亲，哪里是预先养护的方法呢！现在考订以下六个方剂，或许接近于调理元气、补益根本的方法了。
人参 茯苓（去皮） 白术（炒制） 砂仁 甘草（炒制） 山药 桔梗（炒制） 薏苡仁（炒制） 扁豆 莲肉
对于脾胃虚弱，不想吃东西的人，此方主治。
脾胃，五行属土。土是万物的母亲，各个脏腑和肢体从脾胃接受气机后才能强壮。如果脾胃亏损，那么全身各部分就无法接受气机，日渐瘦弱无力了。所以治疗杂病，应当以调理脾胃为主。然而脾胃喜欢甘味而厌恶苦味，喜欢香气而厌恶秽浊，喜欢干燥而厌恶潮湿，喜欢通利而厌恶停滞。这个方子中，人参、扁豆、甘草，是味甘的药物。白术、茯苓、山药、莲肉、薏苡仁，是味甘而微燥的药物。砂仁辛香且燥，可以开胃醒脾。桔梗味甘而微苦，甘则药性缓和，所以作为引导诸药上行的舟楫；苦则喜降，能够通天气于地道（指宣肺气以助水道通调）！
每次服用药末二钱。
对于小儿脾虚不健运，米谷不消化，滑肠（大便稀溏失禁），滞颐（口水多流不止）的人，此方主治。
胃主受纳食物，脾主消磨运化，所以能受纳但不能消化的，责任在于脾虚。滑肠，是指肠道滑脱导致完谷不化的泄泻。滞颐，是指下巴颏下有多余的涎液滞留，这都是土（脾）弱不能制约水（湿/涎）的表现。火能生土，所以用丁香。甘味能补土，所以用甘草。香气能使脾快畅，所以用陈皮。涩味能去除滑脱，所以用诃子。使用青皮的原因，是说它能宽胸膈、平肝气，能够抑制它所不胜（即克制肝木以防其乘脾土）的力量！
Preface: The Spleen and Stomach constitute the "Kun Yuan" (Earth Origin, symbolizing the earth that bears and generates) of the human body. Great is the Kun Yuan, upon which all things rely for growth; thus, the Spleen and Stomach are the mother of the hundred bones (the entire physical structure). Li Dongyuan's fame in his time stemmed from no other specialty than his profound understanding of the critical importance of the Spleen and Stomach. Quack physicians often damage patients' Spleen and Stomach when treating diseases. This is akin to wishing to nurture one's children while first destroying their mother; how can this be considered a method of preventive care? Herein, six formulas are examined, hopefully approaching the method of regulating the primal Qi and tonifying the root.
Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix), Fu Ling (Poria), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma, stir-fried), Sha Ren (Amomi Fructus), Gan Cao (Licorice Root, stir-fried), Shan Yao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma), Jie Geng (Platycodonis Radix, stir-fried), Yi Yi Ren (Coicis Semen, stir-fried), Bian Dou (Phaseoli Semen), Lian Rou (Nelumbinis Semen).
This formula is indicated for cases of Spleen and Stomach deficiency characterized by anorexia.
The Spleen and Stomach correspond to the Earth element. Earth is the mother of all things; the various organs and limbs receive Qi from the Spleen and Stomach before they can become strong. If the Spleen and Stomach are deficient, the whole body will lack Qi reception, leading to progressive emaciation and weakness. Therefore, in treating miscellaneous diseases, priority should be given to the Spleen and Stomach. However, the Spleen and Stomach favor sweet flavors and dislike bitter ones; they favor aromatic qualities and dislike turbid ones; they favor dryness and dislike dampness; they favor free flow and dislike stagnation. In this formula, Ren Shen, Bian Dou, and Gan Cao possess sweet flavors. Bai Zhu, Fu Ling, Shan Yao, Lian Rou, and Yi Yi Ren are sweet and slightly drying. Sha Ren is pungent, aromatic, and drying, capable of opening the appetite and awakening the Spleen. Jie Geng is sweet and slightly bitter; its sweetness implies a mild nature, serving as the "vessel and oar" (carrier) to guide the other herbs upward; its bitterness implies a descending nature, thereby connecting the Heavenly Qi with the Earthly Dao (facilitating the descent of Lung Qi to regulate water passages).
Chen Pi (Tangerine Peel, 10 liang), Ding Xiang (Caryophylli Flos, 1 liang), Qing Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride), He Zi Rou (Terminalia Chebulae Fructus), Gan Cao (Licorice Root, 5 qian each).
Take 2 qian of the powdered medicine per dose.
This formula is indicated for pediatric cases of Spleen deficiency with poor transformation, where rice and grains are not digested, accompanied by loose bowels (slippery intestines) and drooling (saliva retention under the chin).
The Stomach governs reception, and the Spleen governs digestion and transportation; therefore, if reception occurs but digestion fails, the fault lies in Spleen deficiency. "Slippery intestines" refers to diarrhea with undigested food due to intestinal laxity. "Saliva retention" refers to excessive saliva accumulation below the jawline; both are manifestations of weak Earth (Spleen) failing to control Water (dampness/saliva). Fire generates Earth, hence Ding Xiang is used. Sweetness tonifies Earth, hence Gan Cao is used. Aromaticity promotes Spleen function, hence Chen Pi is used. Astringency resolves slipperiness, hence He Zi is used. Qing Pi is used because it soothes the chest diaphragm and pacifies the Liver, thereby restraining the element that overacts upon the Spleen (Wood overacting on Earth).