谚云∶“学医不知经络，开口动手便错。”盖经络不明，无以识病证之根源，究阴阳之传变。如伤寒三阴
三阳，皆有部署，百病十二经脉可定死生。既讲明其经络，然后用药径达其处，方能奏效。昔人望而知病者，
不过熟其经络故也。俗传遇长桑居，授以怀中药，饮以上池之水，能洞见脏腑，此虚言耳。今人不明经络，止
读药性病机，故无能别病所在。漫将药试，偶对稍愈，便尔居功，况亦未必全愈；若一不对，反生他病，此皆
不知经络故也。（近世时医失口，言经络部位乃外科治毒要法，方脉何藉于此。嗟嗟！经络不明，何以知阴阳
之交接，脏腑之递更，疾病情因从何审察。夫经络为识病之要道，尚不肯讲求，焉望其宗主《内经》，研究《
伤寒》，识血气之生始，知荣卫之循行。阴阳根中根外之理不明，神机或出或入之道不识，师徒授受唯一《明
医指掌》、《药性歌括》，以为熟此尽可通行，用药误人全然不辨。或遇明医，枝梧扯拽，更将时事俗情乱其
理谈，常恐露出马脚，唯一周旋承奉。彼明理人焉肯作恶，只得挽回数
言，以盖其误。如此时医，诚为可耻。）
道家以消尽阴翳，炼就纯阳，方得转凡成圣，霞举飞升。故云∶“阳精若壮千年寿，阴气如强必毙伤。”
又云∶“阴气未消终是死，阳精若在必长生。”故为医者，要知保扶阳气为本。人至晚年阳气衰，故手足不暖，
下元虚惫，动作艰难。盖人有一息气在则不死，气者阳所生也，故阳气尽必死。人于无病时，常灸关元、气海、
命关、中脘，更服保元丹、保命延寿丹，虽未得长生，亦可保百余年寿矣。（今人只是爱趋死路，动云∶我有
火病，难服热药。所延之医，悉皆趋承附和，不言上焦有火，即云中、下积热，及至委顿，亦不知变迁。或遇
明眼之医，略启扶阳之论，不觉彼此摇头，左右顾盼，不待书方，而已有不服之意矣。生今之世，思欲展抱负，
施姜附尚且难入，而丹药、灼艾之说，断乎其不可行也。）
谚语说：“学医如果不懂经络，一开口动手就会出错。”因为如果不明白经络，就无法识别病证的根源，也无法探究阴阳的传变规律。例如伤寒病的三阴、三阳经，都有固定的部位分布，通过十二经脉可以判断百病的生死预后。既然讲明了经络，然后用药才能直达病所，这样才能奏效。古人能通过望诊就知道病情，不过是因为他们熟悉经络的缘故罢了。民间传说扁鹊遇到长桑君，得到他传授的怀中药，喝上池之水，就能看透脏腑，这是虚妄之言。现在的人不明白经络，只读药物性能和病机，所以无法辨别疾病所在的具体位置。随意尝试用药，偶尔对症稍微好转，就自居有功，况且也未必能完全治愈；如果不对症，反而引发其他疾病，这都是因为不知道经络的缘故。（近代一些庸医信口开河，说经络部位只是外科治疗疮毒的要法，内科脉诊哪里用得着这个。唉！如果不明白经络，怎么知道阴阳的交接、脏腑的更替，疾病的起因又从何审察。经络是认识疾病的关键途径，尚且不肯讲求，还指望他们宗主《内经》，研究《伤寒论》，了解气血的生成始末，知晓营卫的循行规律吗？阴阳在体内（根中）和体表（根外）的道理不明白，神机出入的规律不认识，师徒传授只靠《明医指掌》、《药性歌括》，以为熟记这些就可以通行天下，用药误人却全然不分辨。如果遇到明理医生，他们便支吾其词、强行辩解，甚至用当时的世俗风气来扰乱理论探讨，常常害怕露出破绽，只是一味地周旋奉承。那些明理的人怎么肯做坏事，只得挽回几句，以掩盖他们的错误。这样的时医，实在可耻。）
道家认为要消除尽体内的阴寒之邪，炼就纯阳之气，才能转凡成圣，飞升成仙。所以说：“阳精如果强壮，可以活千年长寿；阴气如果强盛，必定导致死亡损伤。”又说：“阴气没有消除终究是死路，阳精如果存在必然长生。”所以作为医者，要知道保养扶持阳气是根本。人到晚年阳气衰退，所以手脚不温暖，下元（肾与命门）虚弱疲惫，动作艰难。大概人只要还有一口气在就不会死，气是由阳气产生的，所以阳气耗尽必然死亡。人在无病的时候，经常艾灸关元、气海、命关、中脘穴，再服用保元丹、保命延寿丹，虽然不能得道长生，也可以保证一百多年的寿命了。（现在的人只是喜欢走向死路，动不动就说自己有火病，难以服用热药。所请来的医生，全都迎合附和，不说上焦有火，就说中、下焦积热，等到身体极度衰弱时，也不知道变化原因。如果遇到眼光独到的医生，稍微提出扶阳的理论，大家不知不觉彼此摇头，左右顾盼，还没等开出药方，就已经有了不服用的意思了。生活在当今时代，想要施展抱负，连使用姜、附子都很难被接受，而丹药、灼艾的说法，断然是不可行的了。）
As the proverb says: "If one studies medicine without understanding the meridians, any opening of the mouth or movement of the hand will be erroneous." Because if the meridians are not clear, one cannot identify the root cause of disease patterns nor investigate the transmission and transformation of Yin and Yang. For instance, in Shanghan (Cold Damage), the Three Yin and Three Yang meridians have specific distributions; the Twelve Primary Meridians can determine life and death for myriad diseases. Once the meridians are clarified, medicinal substances can then reach the affected area directly, thereby achieving efficacy. The ancients who could diagnose by observation alone were merely those who were familiar with the meridians. Folk legends claim that Bian Que met Chang Sang Jun, received Chinese herbal medicines from him, drank water from the upper pool, and thus gained the ability to see through the Zang-Fu organs; this is a false statement. Modern practitioners, lacking knowledge of the meridians, only read about drug properties and pathogenesis, and thus cannot distinguish where the disease resides. They casually try medications; if there is a slight improvement due to chance, they claim credit, although it may not be a complete cure. If the medication is incorrect, it may induce other diseases. All these errors stem from ignorance of the meridians. (In recent times, some quacks have spoken recklessly, claiming that meridian locations are only essential methods for surgeons treating toxins, asking what relevance internal medicine pulse diagnosis has with this. Alas! Without understanding the meridians, how can one know the intersection of Yin and Yang, the succession of Zang-Fu organs, or how to examine the causes of diseases? The meridians are the key pathway to recognizing diseases, yet they refuse to study them. How can one expect them to uphold the *Neijing* (Classic of Internal Medicine), research the *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage Pathogens), understand the origin of Qi and Blood, or know the circulation of Ying and Wei? Unaware of the principles of Yin and Yang within and outside the root, and ignorant of the ways Shen Ji (Spirit Mechanism) exits and enters, their master-apprentice transmission relies solely on texts like *Mingyi Zhizhang* (Clear Medical Fingerprints) and *Yaoxing Geba* (Song of Drug Properties). They believe mastering these is sufficient for universal application, prescribing medications that harm people without realizing it. When encountering enlightened physicians, they hedge and struggle, further confusing theoretical discussions with contemporary secular trends, always fearing exposure. They merely engage in evasive flattery. How would enlightened individuals willingly do evil? They are forced to offer a few words to cover up mistakes. Such contemporary physicians are truly shameful.)
The Daoist school believes that only by eliminating all Yin turbidity and refining pure Yang can one transform from mortal to sage, rising like clouds to ascend. Thus it is said: "If Yang Essence is strong, one may live a thousand years; if Yin Qi is strong, death and injury are inevitable." It is also said: "Without the elimination of Yin Qi, death is certain; if Yang Essence remains, eternal life is possible." Therefore, as a physician, one must know that preserving and supporting Yang Qi is the foundation. In old age, Yang Qi declines, resulting in cold hands and feet, deficiency and exhaustion of the Lower Yuan (Kidney and Mingmen), and difficulty in movement. Generally, as long as a person has one breath remaining, they do not die; Qi is generated by Yang, so when Yang Qi is exhausted, death follows. In times of health, one should frequently moxa Guanyuan (CV4), Qihai (CV6), Mingguan (ST25), and Zhongwan (CV12), and take Baoyuan Dan (Preserve Qi Pill) and Baoming Yanshou Dan (Preserve Life and Extend Longevity Pill). Although this may not grant immortality, it can ensure a lifespan of over a hundred years. (Modern people simply love to follow the path to death, often claiming they have Fire diseases and cannot take hot-natured drugs. The physicians they consult all cater to them, either stating there is Fire in the Upper Jiao or heat accumulation in the Middle and Lower Jiao. By the time they become prostrate, they still do not understand the changes. If an insightful physician slightly proposes the theory of supporting Yang, everyone unconsciously shakes their heads, looks left and right, and before the prescription is even written, there is already an intention not to take it. Living in this era, even if one wishes to display their abilities, it is difficult to get acceptance for using Ginger and Aconite, let alone the theories of elixirs and moxibustion burning, which are definitely impracticable.)