天有阴阳彰六气。
风寒暑湿燥火。
湿热凉寒总于四。
温热者。天之阳。凉寒者。天之阴。此天之阴阳四时也。
地有阴阳化五行。
金木水火土。
生长收藏五味成。
辛甘为地之阳。酸苦咸为地之阴也。
轻清成象亲乎上。
味薄者。本乎天亲上。
重浊成形本乎地。
味浓者。本乎地亲下。
辛甘发散气为阳。酸苦漏泄阴为味。
轻清重浊之分。气味浓薄之异。
清之清者发腠理。阳中之阳浓之气。
附子气之浓者。乃阳中之阳。故经云发热。
清之浊者实四肢。阳中之阴薄气使。
茯苓淡为在天之阳也。阳当上行。何为利水而泄下。经云。气之薄者。乃阳中之阴。所
以茯苓利水而下行。然而泄下亦不离乎阳之体。故入手太阴。
浊之浊者走五脏。阴中之阴乃浓味。
大黄味之浓者。乃阴中之阴。故经云泄下。
浊之清者归六腑阴中之阳薄味尔。
麻黄苦。为在地之阴也。阴当下行。何为发汗而升上。经云。味之薄者。乃阴中之阳。
所以麻黄发汗而升上。亦不离乎阴之体。故入足太阳。
辛散酸收淡渗泄。咸软苦泄甘缓结。
各有所能。或散或聚。或缓或急。或坚或 。四时五脏病。各随五味之所宜也。
横行直达要消详。五味之能须悉别。
药有横行者。若辛甘之类。直达者。若酸苦之类。
身半上病药取根。身腰以下梢宜用。根升梢降合天真。述类象形堪妙应。炮炙制度剂所
宜。熟降生升毒须制。
药用火炮。汤炮。煨炒者。皆制其毒也。用酒蒸焙蜜炒。皆欲上腾也。酒浸洗。醋浸。
姜制。酥炙。皆欲行经活血。如去皮。去心。取核。去芦节枯朽之类。皆不可违其制也。
药味专精大得能。新陈粗细择须备。
品味薄则用近新者择拣。勿用腐朽之类。
汤散丸方分两铢。
汤者。荡也。去新久病皆能之。散者。散也。去急病用之。丸者。舒缓而治之也。古者
方剂分两。与今不同。如 咀者。锉若麻豆大是也。云一升者。今之大一盏也。云铢者。六铢乃
一分。即二钱半。云三两者。今之一两。二两者。今之六钱半也。
君臣佐使从其制。
主病为君。佐君之谓臣。应臣之谓使。
服药有法及有期。
病在上。不厌烦而少。病在下。则顿而多。病在上。先食而后药。病在下。先药而后食
。病在四肢。宜饥食。而服药在旦。病在骨髓。宜饱食。而服药在夜。
升降浮沉补泻之。
如肝胆之病。以辛味补之。咸泻气。温补凉泻之类也。
重轻气味施当审。勿伐天和岁气时。
必先岁气。勿伐天和。药例见后证例中。
天有阴阳，彰显出风、寒、暑、湿、燥、火六气。
风、寒、暑、湿、燥、火这六种气候，其湿热与凉寒总体归属于四季的变化。
温热属于天的阳气，凉寒属于天的阴气，这就是天之阴阳所对应的四季变化。
地有阴阳，化生出金、木、水、火、土五行。
金、木、水、火、土五行，生长收藏的过程形成了酸、苦、甘、辛、咸五味。
辛味和甘味属于地的阳气，酸味、苦味和咸味属于地的阴气。
质地轻清的药物形成象，性质亲近于上（向上）。
药味薄的药物，本性属于天，趋向于上行。
质地重浊的药物形成形，本性属于地，趋向于下行。
药味浓的药物，本性属于地，趋向于下行。
辛味和甘味具有发散作用，主行气，属于阳；酸味和苦味具有漏泄作用，主入味，属于阴。
这是轻清与重浊的区别，以及气味浓淡的差异。
清气中清纯的部分，能发越腠理，这是阳气中属阳且气味浓厚的药物特性。
附子气味浓厚，属于阳中之阳，所以《内经》说它能发热。
清气中浑浊的部分，能充实四肢，这是阳气中属阴且气味薄弱的药物特性。
茯苓味道淡薄，属于在天之阳。阳气应当上行，为什么它能利水而向下排泄呢？《内经》说：气味薄弱的药物，属于阳中之阴，所以茯苓能利水而下行。然而，其向下排泄的作用也不脱离阳的本体，所以它入手太阴肺经。
浊气中浑浊的部分，走向五脏，这是阴气中属阴且气味浓厚的药物特性。
大黄气味浓厚，属于阴中之阴，所以《内经》说它能泻下。
浊气中清纯的部分，归入六腑，这是阴气中属阳且气味薄弱的药物特性。
麻黄味苦，属于在地之阴。阴气应当下行，为什么它能发汗而向上宣散呢？《内经》说：气味薄弱的药物，属于阴中之阳，所以麻黄能发汗而升上。这也并不脱离阴的本体，所以它入足太阳膀胱经。
辛味能发散，酸味能收敛，淡味能渗泄；咸味能软坚，苦味能泄降，甘味能缓急解结。
各种药物各有其功能，有的发散，有的收敛，有的缓和，有的急迫，有的坚阴，有的润燥。四季五脏的疾病，各自随着五味的适宜性来选择治疗。
药物的横行或直达需要仔细分辨，五味的功效必须详细辨别清楚。
药物有横行的，如辛味、甘味类药物；有直达的，如酸味、苦味类药物。
身体上半部的疾病，取用根类药材；身体腰部以下的疾病，宜用梢类药材。根升梢降符合自然天真之理，描述类别以象形的道理可以产生奇妙的疗效。炮制方法和剂量制度也需适宜。熟用则降，生用则升，毒性必须经过炮制消除。
药用火炒、汤煮、煨、炒等方法，都是为了制约其毒性。用酒蒸、焙、蜜炒，都是为了使药力向上腾达。用酒浸洗、醋浸、姜制、酥炙，都是为了通行经络、活血。如去皮、去心、取核、去芦节枯朽部分等，都不可违背其炮制规范。
药味专精才能发挥大效能，新陈粗细的选择必须完备。
品味薄的药物，多用近新者，并加以拣选，不要用腐朽之类的药材。
汤剂、散剂、丸剂、方剂的剂量单位有铢、两之分。
汤剂，意为荡涤，去除新旧疾病都能做到。散剂，意为消散，用于急病。丸剂，意为舒缓，慢慢治疗。古代的方剂分两与现代不同。如“咀”，就是锉成像麻豆大小的颗粒。说“一升”的，相当于现在的一大盏。说“铢”的，六铢是一分，即二钱半。说“三两”的，相当于现在的一两。说“二两”的，相当于现在的六钱半。
君、臣、佐、使的配伍遵循一定的制度。
主治疾病的药物为君药，辅助君药的药物称为臣药，配合臣药的药物称为使药。
服药有方法也有期限。
病在上部，不厌其烦，少量多次服用；病在下部，则一次性顿服，量多。病在上部，先吃饭后吃药；病在下部，先吃药后吃饭。病在四肢，宜在饥饿时进食，并在早晨服药；病在骨髓，宜在饱食后，并在夜晚服药。
升降浮沉补泻的运用。
如肝胆的疾病，用辛味来补，用咸味来泻，温补凉泻等都是类似的道理。
用药轻重、气味厚薄施治时应当审慎，不要破坏天和之气及岁气时令。
必须先考虑岁气（当年的气候变化），不要损伤天和（人体的正气）。药例见后面的证例中。
Heaven possesses Yin and Yang, manifesting the Six Qi (Six climatic factors: Wind, Cold, Summer Heat, Dampness, Dryness, Fire).
Wind, Cold, Summer Heat, Dampness, Dryness, and Fire.
Damp-Heat and Cool-Cold are collectively governed by the Four Seasons.
Warmth and Heat belong to Heaven's Yang; Coolness and Cold belong to Heaven's Yin. This is the Yin-Yang of Heaven corresponding to the Four Seasons.
Earth possesses Yin and Yang, transforming into the Five Elements (Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth).
Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth.
Growth, Flourishing, Harvesting, and Storage form the Five Flavors (Sour, Bitter, Sweet, Pungent, Salty).
Pungent and Sweet flavors belong to Earth's Yang; Sour, Bitter, and Salty flavors belong to Earth's Yin.
Light and clear substances form images and tend towards the upper part.
Substances with thin flavors originate from Heaven and tend upwards.
Heavy and turbid substances form shapes and originate from Earth.
Substances with thick flavors originate from Earth and tend downwards.
Pungent and Sweet flavors disperse and move Qi, belonging to Yang; Sour and Bitter flavors leak and drain, belonging to Yin.
This distinguishes light/clear from heavy/turbid, and differences in flavor intensity.
The purest aspect of Clear Qi penetrates the interstitial spaces (Cou Li), which is the characteristic of Yang within Yang with strong aroma/flavor.
Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) has a strong flavor, being Yang within Yang. Thus, the Classics state it generates heat.
The turbid aspect of Clear Qi solidifies the four limbs, which is the effect of Yin within Yang with weak aroma/flavor.
Fuling (Poria) has a bland taste, representing Yang of Heaven. Since Yang should ascend, why does it promote urination and descend? The Classics state: Substances with weak flavors are Yin within Yang. Therefore, Fuling promotes urination and descends. However, its descending action still adheres to the nature of Yang, so it enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian.
The most turbid aspect of Turbid Qi travels to the Zang Organs, which is Yin within Yin with thick flavors.
Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) has a thick flavor, being Yin within Yin. Thus, the Classics state it purges downward.
The clearest aspect of Turbid Qi returns to the Fu Organs, which is Yang within Yin with thin flavors.
Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) is bitter, belonging to Yin of Earth. Since Yin should descend, why does it induce sweating and ascend? The Classics state: Substances with thin flavors are Yang within Yin. Therefore, Mahuang induces sweating and ascends. It also does not depart from the nature of Yin, so it enters the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian.
Pungent disperses, Sour astringes, Bland渗泄 (percolates and drains); Salty softens, Bitter purges, Sweet moderates and resolves knots.
Each has its specific function: some disperse, some gather; some moderate, some accelerate; some firm, some moisten. Diseases of the Four Seasons and Five Zang Organs should be treated according to the suitability of the Five Flavors.
Whether moving horizontally or acting directly requires careful consideration; the capabilities of the Five Flavors must be clearly distinguished.
Medicines that move horizontally include those with Pungent and Sweet flavors; those acting directly include those with Sour and Bitter flavors.
For diseases in the upper half of the body, root parts are used; for diseases below the waist, tip/branch parts are appropriate. Roots ascend and tips descend, aligning with natural principles. Describing categories by form yields miraculous effects. Processing methods and dosages must be suitable. Cooked medicines descend, raw medicines ascend; toxicity must be controlled.
Processing by fire frying, boiling, baking, or stir-frying aims to control toxicity. Steaming with wine, roasting, or honey-frying aims to make the medicinal power ascend. Soaking in wine, washing, soaking in vinegar, ginger-processing, or butter-roasting aim to circulate meridians and invigorate blood. Removing skin, pith, cores, rhizomes, joints, or rotten parts must adhere to processing standards.
Specialized flavors achieve great efficacy; selection of new/old and coarse/fine materials must be thorough.
For substances with thin flavors, use recent/new ones and select carefully; do not use rotten materials.
Decoctions, powders, pills, and formulas have different weights measured in Zhu (grains) and Liang (taels).
Decoction (Tang): Means to sweep away; effective for both acute and chronic diseases. Powder (San): Means to scatter; used for urgent conditions. Pill (Wan): Means to soothe slowly; used for gradual treatment. Ancient dosage units differed from modern ones. "Ju" (chewing/masticating) meant cutting into pieces the size of hemp seeds. "One Sheng" (volume unit) equals one large cup today. "Zhu": Six Zhu equal one Fen, which is 2.5 Qian. "Three Liang" equals one Liang today. "Two Liang" equals 6.5 Qian today.
The roles of Sovereign (Jun), Minister (Chen), Assistant (Zuo), and Envoy (Shi) follow specific regulations.
The herb treating the main disease is the Sovereign; assisting the Sovereign is the Minister; responding to the Minister is the Envoy.
Administration methods and timing are prescribed.
For diseases in the upper body, frequent small doses are preferred; for diseases in the lower body, a single large dose is given. For upper body diseases, eat first then take medicine; for lower body diseases, take medicine first then eat. For limb diseases, take medicine on an empty stomach in the morning; for bone-marrow diseases, take medicine after meals at night.
Ascending, Descending, Floating, Sinking, Tonifying, and Purging applications.
For Liver and Gallbladder diseases, Pungent flavors tonify, and Salty flavors purge; Warmth tonifies and Coolness purges are similar principles.
When applying weight, lightness, and flavor thickness, one must be prudent, not violating Heavenly Harmony or seasonal Qi.
One must first consider the Seasonal Qi and not damage Heavenly Harmony. Examples of herbs are found in subsequent case examples.