汗下补泻，针灸汤醴，各有所宜，知其要者，一言而终，不知其要，流散无穷，善治病
者，随其所宜，适事为故，然后施治，则病不足治，假令邪在皮肤，当汗而发之，其有邪者
，渍形以为汗，中满内实者泻之，形精不足者补之，其高者因而越之，为可吐也，剽悍者按
而收之，为按摩也，藏寒虚夺者，治以灸 ，脉病挛痹者，治以针刺，血实蓄结肿热者，治
以砭石，气滞痿厥寒热者，治以导引，经络不通，病生于不仁者，治以醪醴，血气凝泣，病
生于筋脉者，治以熨药，而况治有先后取标本不同者，法有逆从用多少为制者，药性轻重奇
偶制度，必参其所用，土地风气高下不同，当随其所宜，诚能参合于此，为治疗之法，则万
举万全矣。
病有中风伤寒寒热温疟之类，各有等差，今论方叙病，特以中风为首，以风者百病之长
，善行而数变故也，其余伤寒温疟杂病，各从其重轻缓急而先后之，至于九窍诸科，与妇人
小儿，又宜析而次之。
药品有物异名同者，有物同名异者，称呼既别，性用不一，修合之际，多有疑贰。
今悉改正，如通脱木、木通，二物皆名通草，古方既不分别，故用木通者，不知与通脱
木为异，此物异名同者也，古方用干地黄，不分蒸曝生干，二者治疗性用不同，今以生熟为
别，此物同名异者也，至如药名中，有从神农正经者，有从诸家注解者，盖取世俗称呼行用
多者，庶无所惑。
发汗、攻下、补益、泻实，以及针灸、汤剂、酒醴等疗法，各有其适宜的适应症。懂得治疗关键的人，一语即可概括；不懂治疗关键的人，则思路散乱无穷无尽。善于治病的人，根据病情适宜的情况，以适合病事为原则，然后实施治疗，那么疾病就不足为患。
假如邪气在皮肤，应当通过发汗来驱除它；对于邪气滞留体内的，采用浸泡身体以促使出汗的方法；胸中胀满、体内实邪的，采用泻下的方法；形体与精气不足的，采用补益的方法；病位在高处的，顺势采用涌吐法；病势急猛剽悍的，采用按压收敛的方法（即按摩）；脏腑虚寒、正气亏损的，用艾灸治疗；经脉病变导致拘挛痹痛的，用针刺治疗；血分实邪积聚、结块、红肿热痛的，用砭石治疗；气机阻滞、痿厥、寒热错杂的，用导引术治疗；经络不通、病生于麻木不仁的，用酒醴治疗；气血凝滞涩痛、病生于筋脉的，用热敷药熨治疗。
更何况治疗有先后顺序之分，取治标本不同；法则有逆治从治之别，用药剂量多少有定制；药物性质的轻重、奇偶配伍制度，必须参考其所适用的情况；各地土地风气、地势高低不同，应当随其适宜而调整。如果能将这些因素综合参合，作为治疗的原则，那么万举万全了。
疾病有中风的、伤寒的、寒热的、温疟的之类，各有等级差别。现在论述方剂和叙述疾病，特别将中风放在首位，因为风是百病之长，善于游走且变化多端。其余如伤寒、温疟、杂病等，各自根据其病情的轻重缓急来确定先后顺序。至于九窍各科，以及妇女、小儿的疾病，又应当分析出来单独列次。
药品中有名称不同但实物相同的，也有名称相同但实物不同的。称呼既然有别，药性和功效就不一致，在炮制和配合使用时，常常产生疑惑和犹豫。现在全部予以改正。例如通脱木和木通，两种药材都叫“通草”，古方既不加以区分，所以使用木通时，不知道它与通脱木是不同的，这是“物异名同”的情况。古方中使用干地黄，不分蒸制、曝晒或生干，这两种处理方式在治疗上的性用不同，现在以生地和熟地加以区别，这是“物同名异”的情况。至于药名中，有的取自神农本草经的正统记载，有的取自各家注解，大概是选取世俗称呼中应用较多者，以免使人困惑。
Sweating (inducing perspiration), purging, tonifying, and draining, as well as acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal decoctions, and medicated wines, each have their appropriate indications. Those who understand the key principles can summarize them in a single statement; those who do not are lost in endless complexity. A skilled physician treats according to what is appropriate, adhering to the principle of suitability for the specific condition. By doing so, diseases become manageable.
For instance, if pathogenic factors reside in the skin, sweating should be induced to expel them. For pathogens lingering in the body, soaking the body to induce sweating may be used. For cases of abdominal fullness and internal excess, purging is indicated. For deficiency of form and essence, tonification is applied. For conditions located high in the body, emesis (inducing vomiting) is used by following the upward trend. For fierce and rapid pathogenic factors, pressing and gathering techniques (i.e., massage) are employed. For cold in the zang organs and depletion of qi, moxibustion is used. For meridian diseases presenting with spasms and bi-syndrome, acupuncture is applied. For blood excess with accumulation, nodules, swelling, and heat, bian stones (lithotherapy) are used. For qi stagnation, flaccidity, jue-syndrome, and alternating chills and fever, daoyin (qigong exercises) are prescribed. For blocked meridians resulting in numbness, medicated wine is used. For coagulated and stagnant qi and blood affecting sinews and vessels, hot compresses with medicinal herbs are applied.
Furthermore, treatment must consider the sequence of interventions and the differentiation between root (ben) and branch (biao). Therapeutic methods vary between contrary (ni) and concurrent (cong) approaches, with dosage determined accordingly. The properties of drugs, including their weight, lightness, odd-even combinations, and preparation systems, must be referenced according to their application. Variations in local geography, climate, and altitude necessitate adjustments based on suitability. If these factors are comprehensively integrated into therapeutic practice, success is assured in every case.
Diseases such as wind-stroke, cold damage, febrile diseases, and warm malaria exhibit varying degrees of severity. In discussing formulas and diseases, wind-stroke is placed first because wind is the chief of all diseases, characterized by its migratory nature and frequent changes. Other conditions, such as cold damage, warm malaria, and miscellaneous diseases, are ordered according to their severity and urgency. Conditions affecting the nine orifices, as well as gynecological and pediatric diseases, are categorized separately.
Medicinal materials present issues of homonyms and synonyms. Some materials have different names but are identical, while others share the same name but differ in substance. Such discrepancies lead to confusion regarding their properties and uses during compounding. These have been corrected. For example, Tongluomu (Tetrapanacis Caulis) and Mutong (Akebiae Caulis) were both historically referred to as Tongcao (Tetrapanacis Medulla). Ancient prescriptions did not distinguish between them, leading to errors where Mutong was used unknowingly instead of Tongluomu. This exemplifies "different substances with the same name." Similarly, ancient texts used Gan Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata) without distinguishing between steamed, sun-dried, or raw forms. Since raw and prepared Rehmannia have different therapeutic properties, they are now distinguished as Sheng Dihuang (Raw Rehmannia Root) and Shu Dihuang (Prepared Rehmannia Root). This exemplifies "same name with different substances." Regarding nomenclature, some terms derive from the Shennong Bencao Jing (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), while others come from various commentaries. The most commonly used secular terms are adopted to avoid confusion.