文学戈生之母，早秋患赤痢，腹痛日夜数十回，予用川连、黄芩、白芍等药。戈生曰∶
我母
当腹痛甚时，用热水泡布置于大腹，则痛缓，内必有寒。若属火，何以得暖而痛缓乎？予曰
∶若属火，火为阳，阳中有阴，譬如灯火之焰，以物罩之，其色则黑。黑属水，水属阴，腹
痛得
暖而缓者，亦犹火本阳而焰则阴也，是为假寒。乃破其疑，决意服之。两剂痛止而痢亦减，
加升阳药而痊。若无前之一论，非止不能开其疑，自亦为其摇惑矣。故为医者，不可不深究
乎阴阳之理。
远在千万里之外，可以数测；近在一身之内，不可以理推。何以故？天地之远，中国之
外，
按历象，据图籍，可尽知；一身以中，心肝脾肺肾之五脏，膀胱小肠胆大肠三焦之五腑，位
置则可知矣。若其中所以营运，所以溉注以生吾人者，今之医流，虽度量揣摩，终不知也。
昔，列子称∶工人偃师，所造倡者，歌舞合节，千变万化，惟意所适，皆傅会草木胶漆，白
黑丹青之所为，内则肝胆心肺脾肾肠胃，外则筋骨支节皮毛齿发，无不毕具。试废其心，则
口不能言；废其肝，则目不能视；废其肾，则足不能步。若偃师者，非知造化之所为乎？呜
呼！惟如是，然后知吾身中之所以营运，而惜乎
偃师之不再生也！
文学戈生的母亲，在早秋时节患上了赤痢（血色为主的痢疾），腹痛剧烈，每天发作数十次。我使用了川连、黄芩、白芍等药物进行治疗。戈生说：“我母亲在腹痛最严重的时候，用热水袋敷在大腹部，疼痛就会缓解，这说明体内一定有寒邪。如果属于火证，为什么遇到温暖后疼痛会缓解呢？”我说：“如果属于火证，火属阳，但阳中包含阴，就像灯火的火焰，如果用物体罩住它，火焰的颜色就会变黑。黑色属水，水属阴。腹痛遇到温暖而缓解的情况，也如同火的本性是阳，但火焰的表现却是阴，这叫做‘假寒’。”这样打破了他的疑虑，他决定服药。服用两剂药后，疼痛停止，痢疾也减轻了，加上升提阳气的药物后痊愈。如果没有之前的这一番论述，不仅不能消除他的疑虑，我自己也会被他动摇迷惑。所以，作为医生，不可以不深入研究阴阳的道理。
远在千万里之外的地方，可以通过历法推算得知；近在身体内部，却难以通过常理推断。为什么呢？天地虽然遥远，在中国疆域之外，按照历法天象，依据地图典籍，都可以完全知晓；人体以中部为中心，心、肝、脾、肺、肾这五脏，膀胱、小肠、胆、大肠、三焦这五腑的位置是可以知道的。但是其中气血运行的机制，以及滋养灌注以维持我们生命活动的原理，现在的医生们，即使经过度量揣摩，终究还是不知道。从前，列子记载：工匠偃师制造的倡优（傀儡人），歌舞合乎节拍，千变万化，随心所欲，都是用草木胶漆、黑白丹青等材料制作而成，内部有肝胆心肺脾肾肠胃，外部有筋骨关节皮毛牙齿头发，无不具备。如果去掉它的心，它就口不能言；去掉它的肝，它就目不能视；去掉它的肾，它就足不能行。像偃师这样的人，难道不是了解造化（自然创造）所为之事吗？唉！只有这样才能明白我们身体内部之所以能运行运作的道理，可惜偃师不再世了！
The mother of Scholar Ge suffered from bloody dysentery (dysentery characterized by blood) in early autumn, experiencing severe abdominal pain that occurred dozens of times a day. I prescribed herbs including Coptidis Rhizoma (Chuanlian), Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin), and Paeoniae Radix Alba (Baishao). Scholar Ge said, "When my mother's abdominal pain is most severe, applying hot water bags to her abdomen relieves the pain, indicating there must be cold pathogen inside. If it were a Fire syndrome, why would the pain relieve upon warming?" I replied, "If it belongs to Fire, Fire is Yang; however, within Yang there is Yin. It is like the flame of a lamp: if covered by an object, its color turns black. Black corresponds to Water, and Water corresponds to Yin. The fact that abdominal pain relieves with warmth is similar to how fire's nature is Yang, but its manifestation (flame) can appear Yin; this is called 'False Cold'." This dispelled his doubts, and he decided to take the medicine. After two doses, the pain ceased and the dysentery decreased. With the addition of herbs to raise Yang Qi, she recovered. Without this prior explanation, not only would his doubts remain, but I myself might have been swayed by his reasoning. Therefore, a physician must deeply investigate the principles of Yin and Yang.
Things thousands of miles away can be calculated through astronomical methods; things within one's own body cannot be deduced by ordinary logic. Why? Although Heaven and Earth are distant, beyond the borders of China, by following calendrical phenomena and consulting maps and records, everything can be known. Within the human body, centered around the middle, the positions of the Five Zang Organs (Heart, Liver, Spleen, Lung, Kidney) and the Five Fu Organs (Bladder, Small Intestine, Gallbladder, Large Intestine, Sanjiao/Triple Burner) can be determined. However, the mechanisms of their circulation and nourishment that sustain human life, even if modern physicians measure and speculate, ultimately do not know. In the past, Liezi recorded that the craftsman Yanshi created a mechanical entertainer (automaton) whose singing and dancing were rhythmic and varied infinitely according to intent. It was constructed from wood, grass, glue, lacquer, and pigments. Internally, it possessed the Heart, Liver, Lungs, Spleen, Kidneys, and intestines; externally, it had sinews, bones, joints, skin, hair, teeth, and nails, all fully formed. If its heart were removed, it could not speak; if its liver were removed, it could not see; if its kidneys were removed, it could not walk. Did someone like Yanshi not understand the workings of Creation (Nature)? Alas! Only thus can we understand the mechanisms of operation within our bodies. It is a pity that Yanshi has not been reborn!