形不足者,温之以气,气为阳。天之所以食人者也,精不足者,补之以味,味为阴,地
之所以食人者也。人受天地之中以生,阴阳不可偏胜,有偏胜斯有不足。于是有补养之法,
然必适平而止,不可太过,过则复为有余,亦非中道也。常人之情,知补养为益,而不知阴
阳欲其平均。故言补者,必专以金石灸 为务。名曰补之,适以燥之也,是岂知补虚扶羸之
道哉。夫男子、肾虚、水不足也。凡补虚多以燥药,是不知肾恶燥也。女子阴虚,血不足也
。凡补虚多以阳剂,是不知阳胜而阴愈亏也。况补上欲其缓,补下欲其急。五脏之虚羸,其
补必于其母,运气之主客,其补各有其味,非通乎天地阴阳。消息盈虚之道者,未易语此。
邪之伤人有浅深。药之攻邪有轻重。病之始起,当以汤液治其微。病既日久,乃以醪醴
攻其甚。是故病患色见浅者,汤液主治,其见深者,必齐主治,其见大深者,醪醴主治,又
有形数惊恐,经络不通,病生于不仁者,治以醪药,以此见受邪既深,经脉闭滞,非醪药散
发邪气,宣、通血脉,安能必愈,然则汤液者,取其荡涤邪气,醪醴者,取其宣通闭滞。凡
病始作,多以汤液,盖取其荡涤之功,甚于丸散,病久日深,乃以醪醴,其法众多。以夫受
邪坚牢,取差或迟,是故服饵之方,用酒醴者十常六七。大法醪醴之方,冬三月宜用,立春
后宜止,服饵之家,不问有疾,冬三月宜常得酒药两三剂,至立春勿服,故能使百疾不生。
又况酒性酷热,主行药势,所以病患素有血虚气滞,陈寒痼冷。偏枯不遂,拘挛痹厥之类,
悉宜常服,皆取其渐渍之力也。又古法服药,多以酒者,非特宣通血气而已,亦以养阳也。
形体虚弱的人,用具有温煦作用的药物来补益,因为气属于阳。这是天用来滋养人体的部分;精气亏虚的人,用具有滋味的药物来填补,因为味属于阴。这是地用来滋养人体的部分。人禀受天地中和之气而生,阴阳不可偏盛,有偏盛就会有不足。因此有了补养的方法,但必须达到平和为止,不可过度,过度了就会变成有余,这也不符合中庸之道。常人的心理,知道补养有益,却不知道阴阳需要平衡。所以谈论补法的人,一定专门以金石类矿物药和灸法为要务。名义上说是补,实际上却使人体变得燥热,这哪里是懂得补虚扶弱的道理呢?男子肾虚,是水精不足。凡是补虚多用燥性药物,这是不了解肾恶燥的特性。女子阴虚,是血液不足。凡是补虚多用阳热药剂,这是不了解阳气偏胜会导致阴液更加亏损的道理。况且补上部病证宜缓图,补下部病证宜急治。五脏的虚损羸弱,其补法必从母脏入手(虚则补其母);运气的主客变化中,其补法各有对应的五味,不通晓天地阴阳消长盈虚规律的人,很难与之谈论这些深奥的道理。
邪气伤人有的浅,有的深。药物攻邪有的轻,有的重。疾病刚开始发生时,应当用汤剂治疗轻微的病邪。疾病既然日久,就用醪醴(酒剂)攻治严重的病邪。因此,病人面色表现病邪浅的,由汤剂主治;病邪深的,必须由齐(指古代一种强力药物或疗法,此处指代更强烈的治疗手段)主治;病邪极深的,由醪醴主治。又有因形体、数量惊恐导致经络不通,病生于麻木不仁的,用醪药治疗。由此可以看出,受邪既深,经脉闭滞,不用醪药散发邪气、宣通血脉,怎么能保证痊愈呢?那么汤剂的作用,在于荡涤邪气;醪醴的作用,在于宣通闭滞。凡病初起,多用汤剂,大概是取其比丸散更强的荡涤功效;病久日深,才用醪醴,其方法众多。由于受邪坚固牢靠,取效可能稍迟,所以服用饵方时,使用酒醴的占十分之六七。大致的法则是:醪醴类的方剂,冬季三个月适宜使用,立春后适宜停止。服用饵方的人,不论是否有病,在冬季三个月应常备两三剂酒药,到了立春就不要服用了,这样就能使百病不生。更何况酒性酷热,主要作用是推行药势,所以对于素来患有血虚气滞、陈寒痼冷、偏枯不遂、拘挛痹厥等病症的人,都适宜常服,都是取其逐渐渗透的力量。另外,古法服药多借助酒力,不仅仅是为了宣通血气,也是为了养护阳气。
When the physical form is deficient, warm it with Qi; Qi belongs to Yang. This is what Heaven uses to nourish humans. When essence is deficient, tonify it with flavor; flavor belongs to Yin. This is what Earth uses to nourish humans. Humans are born receiving the central energy of Heaven and Earth; Yin and Yang must not be excessively dominant. Excessive dominance leads to deficiency. Thus, methods of tonification and nourishment exist, but they must reach a state of balance and stop; excess leads to surplus, which also deviates from the Mean. The common sentiment is that one knows tonification is beneficial but does not understand that Yin and Yang require equilibrium. Therefore, those discussing tonification focus exclusively on mineral drugs (Jinshi) and moxibustion. What is named "tonification" actually causes dryness; how can this be said to know the way of tonifying deficiency and supporting emaciation? Men often suffer from Kidney deficiency, which is a lack of Water. Generally, tonifying deficiency uses drying herbs, which ignores the fact that the Kidney dislikes dryness. Women often suffer from Yin deficiency, which is a lack of Blood. Generally, tonifying deficiency uses Yang-promoting agents, which ignores the fact that Yang excess leads to further Yin depletion. Moreover, tonifying the upper body should be gradual, while tonifying the lower body should be rapid. For the deficiency and emaciation of the Five Zang organs, tonification must proceed via the generating mother organ (Tonify the Mother when deficient). Regarding the host and guest factors of Yunqi (Five Movements and Six Qi), each tonification corresponds to specific flavors. Those who do not comprehend the principles of Heaven and Earth's Yin-Yang dynamics, and the laws of waxing and waning, will find it difficult to discuss these matters.
The pathogenic factor injuring humans varies in depth. The drug's attack on the pathogen varies in intensity. At the onset of disease, treat the mild stage with Tangye (decoctions). If the disease has persisted for a long time, use Jaoli (fermented wine preparations) to attack the severe stage. Therefore, if the patient's complexion indicates shallow pathogenic involvement, Tangye is the primary treatment; if deep, "Qi" (a potent medicinal preparation or therapy) is required; if extremely deep, Jaoli is the treatment. Additionally, for conditions arising from fright or shock affecting the form, leading to meridian obstruction and numbness (Bu Ren), treat with Jaoyao (wine-based medicine). From this, we see that when pathogens have penetrated deeply and meridians are blocked, without the ability of Jaoyao to disperse pathogens and promote blood circulation, recovery cannot be guaranteed. Thus, Tangye functions to cleanse and wash away pathogens, while Jaoli functions to promote circulation through obstructions. For newly onset diseases, Tangye is mostly used, taking advantage of its cleansing power, which is superior to pills and powders. For chronic, deep-seated diseases, Jaoli is used, employing various methods. Because pathogens are firmly entrenched, recovery may be slow; thus, in prescription usage, wine-based preparations account for six or seven out of ten cases. The general rule is that Jaoli formulas are suitable for the three winter months and should be discontinued after Lichun (Start of Spring). Those using herbal pastes/powders should keep two or three doses of wine medicine during the three winter months regardless of illness, and cease intake after Lichun, thereby preventing myriad diseases. Furthermore, wine has a fierce heat nature and primarily promotes the action of drugs. Therefore, patients with pre-existing Blood deficiency and Qi stagnation, chronic cold and stubborn cold, hemiplegia and paralysis, spasms, bi-syndrome, and convulsions are all suitable for regular consumption, relying on its gradual permeating power. Additionally, ancient methods of administering medicine often used wine, not only to promote Qi and Blood circulation but also to nourish Yang.