君为主。臣为辅。佐为助。使为用。置方之规也。逆则攻。从则顺。反则异。正则宜。治症之要也。必热必寒。必
散必收者。君之主也。不宜不明。不授不行者。臣之辅也。能受能令。能合能分者。佐之助也。或击或发。或劫或
开者。使之用也。破寒必热。逐热必寒。去燥必润。除湿必泄者。逆则攻也。治惊须平。治损须温。治留须收。治
坚须溃者。从则顺也。热病用寒药。而导寒攻热者必热。阳明病发热。大便硬者。大承气汤。酒制大黄热服
之类也。寒病用热药。而导热去寒者必寒。少阴病下利。服附子干姜不止者。白通汤加人尿猪胆之类也。
塞病用通药。而导通除塞者必塞。胸满烦惊。小便不利者。柴胡加龙骨牡蛎汤之类也。通病用塞药。而导
塞止通者必通。太阳中风下利。心下痞硬者。十枣汤之类也。反则异也。治远以大。治近以小。治主以缓。治
客以急。正则宜也。至真要论曰。辛甘发散为阳。酸苦涌泄为阴。咸味涌泄为阴。淡味渗泄为阳。六者或收
或散。或缓或急。或燥或润。或软或坚。所以利而行之。调其气而使平。故味之薄者。阴中之阳。味薄则通。酸
苦咸平是也。气之浓者。阳中之阳。气浓则发热。辛甘温热是也。气之薄者。阳中之阴。气薄则泄。辛甘淡平
寒凉是也。味之浓者。阴中之阴。味浓则泄。酸苦咸气寒是也。易曰。同声相应。同气相求。水流湿。火就燥。云
从龙。风从虎。圣人作而万物睹。本乎天者亲上。本乎地者亲下。物各从其类也。故置方治病如后。
君主（君药）起主导作用。臣子（臣药）起辅助作用。佐使（佐药）起协助作用。使者（使药）起引导和运用作用。这是制定方剂的规范。逆治法用于攻邪，顺治法用于顺应病势，反治法用于异病同治或特殊情形，正治法用于适宜常规治疗。这是治疗病症的关键。必须用热药或寒药，必须发散或收敛的，是君药的主导作用所在，不可不明晓。不能单独承受药力或执行命令的，是臣药的辅助作用所在。能够受纳药令、能够配合与分消药力的，是佐药的协助作用所在。或者攻击、或者激发、或者劫夺、或者开泄的，是使药的作用所在。破除寒邪必须用热药，驱逐热邪必须用寒药，去除燥结必须滋润，消除湿邪必须渗泄，这属于逆治法中的攻邪。治疗惊悸须平定，治疗虚损须温补，治疗留滞须收敛，治疗坚积须消散，这属于顺治法中的顺应。热病使用寒药，但为了引导寒邪并攻逐热邪而采用热服的方法，如阳明病发热、大便硬结者，使用大承气汤，或用酒制大黄热服之类。寒病使用热药，但为了引导热邪并祛除寒邪而采用冷服的方法，如少阴病下利，服用附子干姜后不止者，使用白通汤加入人尿、猪胆汁之类。闭塞之病使用通利药，但为了引导通利并消除闭塞而采用塞法（此处指因势利导或特定配伍导致的相反效果，原文意指通过通药达到某种“塞”的平衡或针对特定病机），如胸满烦惊、小便不利者，使用柴胡加龙骨牡蛎汤之类。通利之病使用固涩药，但为了引导固涩并停止过度通利而采用通法（同上，指复杂病机下的反向调节），如太阳中风兼下利、心下痞硬者，使用十枣汤之类。反治法即异治法。治疗久病（远）用大方，治疗近病用小方，治疗主病用药性缓和，治疗客病（急症）用药性猛烈，这就是正治法的适宜之处。《素问·至真要大论》说：辛味和甘味能发散，属于阳；酸味和苦味能涌吐和泄下，属于阴；咸味能涌吐和泄下，属于阴；淡味能渗湿和泄下，属于阳。这六种味道有的收敛，有的发散，有的缓和，有的急迫，有的燥湿，有的润燥，有的软坚，有的坚骨。以此来疏通气机，调和气血使之平和。所以气味薄的，是阴中之阳，气味薄则能通利，如酸、苦、咸、平性的药物。气味浓的，是阳中之阳，气味浓则能发热，如辛、甘、温、热性的药物。气味薄的，是阳中之阴，气味薄则能渗泄，如辛、甘、淡、平、寒、凉性的药物。气味浓的，是阴中之阴，气味浓则能泄下，如酸、苦、咸且气寒的药物。《易经》说：同样的声音相互应和，同样的气息相互追求。水往湿处流，火向燥处燃，云跟随龙而生，风伴随虎而起。圣人兴起而万物显现。源于天的亲近向上，源于地的亲近向下。万物各自遵循其类别。因此制定方剂治病的方法如下。
The Sovereign (Jun, 君药) acts as the principal agent. The Minister (Chen, 臣药) acts as the assistant. The Assistant (Zuo, 佐药) acts as the helper. The Envoy (Shi, 使药) acts as the guide and executor. This is the principle for formulating prescriptions. Adverse treatment (Ni Zhi, 逆治) is used to attack pathogens; following treatment (Cong Zhi, 从治) is used to follow the disease trend; contrary treatment (Fan Zhi, 反治) is used for special circumstances; and regular treatment (Zheng Zhi, 正治) is suitable for standard therapy. This is the key to treating symptoms. The necessity of using hot or cold herbs, or dispersing or astringing agents, lies in the principal role of the Sovereign herb, which must not be misunderstood. The inability to independently bear the medicinal force or execute orders characterizes the assisting role of the Minister herb. The ability to accept commands and to combine or separate medicinal effects characterizes the helping role of the Assistant herb. The actions of striking, stimulating, purging, or opening characterize the functional role of the Envoy herb. To break cold, heat must be used; to drive out heat, cold must be used; to remove dryness, moistening is required; to eliminate dampness, draining is necessary. These constitute the attacking aspect of adverse treatment. To treat palpitations/fright, pacification is required; to treat deficiency/damage, warming is required; to treat stagnation/retention, astringency is required; to treat induration/masses, dissipation is required. These constitute the following aspect of following treatment. In heat diseases, cold herbs are used, but to guide cold and attack heat, hot administration may be employed. For example, in Yangming disease with fever and hard stools, Da Cheng Qi Tang (Major Order of the Gallbladder Decoction) is used, such as Rhubarb processed with wine taken while hot. In cold diseases, hot herbs are used, but to guide heat and dispel cold, cold administration may be employed. For example, in Shaoyin disease with diarrhea uncontrolled by Fuzi Ganjiang Tang (Aconite and Ginger Decoction), Baitong Tang (White Tongue Decoction) with human urine and pig gallbladder bile is added. In obstructive diseases, unblocking herbs are used, yet to guide unblocking and remove obstruction, a "blocking" approach (contextually referring to complex regulation) is implied. For chest fullness, vexation, fright, and difficult urination, Chaihu Jia Longgu Muli Tang (Bupleurum plus Dragon Bone and Oyster Shell Decoction) is used. In unblocking diseases, astringent herbs are used, yet to guide astringency and stop excessive unblocking, an "unblocking" approach is implied. For Taiyang wind-strike with diarrhea and epigastric hardness, Shizao Tang (Ten Jujube Decoction) is used. Contrary treatment means different treatment. Treat chronic diseases (far) with large formulas; treat acute/recent diseases (near) with small formulas; treat primary diseases with mild agents; treat secondary/urgent diseases with rapid agents. This is the appropriateness of regular treatment. The *Suwen: Zhi Zhen Yao Da Lun* states: Pungent and sweet flavors that disperse belong to Yang; sour and bitter flavors that induce vomiting and purging belong to Yin; salty flavor that induces vomiting and purging belongs to Yin; bland flavor that渗s and purges belongs to Yang. These six flavors either astringe or disperse, either moderate or accelerate, either dry or moisten, either soften or harden. They are used to facilitate flow and harmonize Qi to achieve balance. Therefore, thin-flavored substances are Yin within Yang; thin flavor leads to unblocking, exemplified by sour, bitter, salty, and neutral tastes. Strong-aroma substances are Yang within Yang; strong aroma generates heat, exemplified by pungent, sweet, warm, and hot tastes. Thin-aroma substances are Yang within Yin; thin aroma leads to draining, exemplified by pungent, sweet, bland, neutral, cold, and cool tastes. Strong-flavor substances are Yin within Yin; strong flavor leads to purging, exemplified by sour, bitter, salty, and cold qi. The *I Ching* says: Like sounds resonate with each other; like energies seek each other. Water flows to wet places; fire moves toward dryness. Clouds follow dragons; wind follows tigers. When the Sage arises, all things become visible. That which originates from Heaven tends upward; that which originates from Earth tends downward. All things follow their own kind. Thus, the principles for formulating prescriptions to treat diseases are as follows.