夫心主血而藏神者也，肾主志而藏精者也。以先天生成之体论，则精生气，气生神；以
后天
精、梦泄种种精病者，必本于神治；于怔忡、惊悸种种神病者，必本于气治。盖安神必益其
气，益气必补其精。
虚劳初起，多由于心肾不交，或一念之烦，其火翕然上逆，天精摇摇，精离深邃。浅者
梦而
成阳虚一路，不为阴虚之症也。其单见心肾不交，滑精梦泄，夜热内热等候者，此为劳嗽之
因，而未成其症也。其心肾不交，心火炎而乘金，天突急而作痒，咯不出，咽不下，喉中如
有破絮粘塞之状，此劳嗽已成之症也。
在心肾不交之初，或梦泄滑精，体倦骨痿，健忘怔忡；或心脾少血，肝胆动焰，上冒下
厥。
桂，交心肾于顷刻；归脾丸内以龙眼、木香，甘温辛热之品，直达心脾，主补中而生血，引
经文主明下安之义，以补火为治。故凡火未至于乘金，补火亦是生土之妙用，而何虑乎温热
之不可从治也哉？若夫阴剧阳亢，木火乘时，心火肆炎上之令，相火举燎原之焰，肺失降下
之权，肾鲜长流之用，以致肺有伏逆之火，膈有胶固之痰，皆畏非时之感，胸多壅塞之邪，
气高而喘，咳嗽频仍，天突火燃，喉中作痒，咯咽不能，嗽久失气，气不纳于丹田，真水无
以制火，于是湿挟热而痰滞中焦，火载血而厥逆清 ，伏火射其肺系，则能坐而不能卧，膈
痰滞乎胃络，则能左而不能右。斯时急宜清金保肺，以宣清肃之令；平肝缓火，以安君相之
位；培土调中，以奠生金之母；滋阴补肾，以遏阳光之焰。一以中和为治，补其虚、载其陷
、镇其浮、定其乱、解其争、制其过、润其燥、疏其淹滞、收其耗散，庶有济也。若执补火
之说，用辛热之品，与彼寒凉伤中者，异病而同治，岂不殆哉！
心主司血液运行并藏纳神志，肾主司意志并藏纳精气。从先天形成的体质来看，精气化生元气，元气化生神志；从后天调养的角度来看，对于遗精、梦遗等各种精气亏损的病症，治疗根本在于调神；对于心悸、惊悸等各种神志不安的病症，治疗根本在于益气。因为安神必须补益元气，补益元气必须填补精气。
虚劳病初期，多由于心肾不交，或者因一念之烦，导致相火突然上逆，天精（指肾精）动摇，精气脱离其深邃之所。病情较轻者，表现为梦遗而发展为阳虚一类的证候，而不是阴虚的病症。如果单独出现心肾不交，伴有滑精、梦遗、夜间发热、体内发热等症状，这是导致劳嗽的原因，但尚未形成劳嗽的病症。如果心肾不交，心火亢盛进而克制肺金，导致天突穴部位急促发痒，痰咯不出来，咽不下去，喉咙里像有破棉絮粘连堵塞的感觉，这就是劳嗽已经形成的病症。
在心肾不交的初期，可能出现梦遗滑精、身体疲倦、骨骼痿软、健忘、心悸等症状；或者心血脾血不足，肝胆之火妄动，热气上冲头部、下注四肢厥冷。此时可用桂枝汤在顷刻之间交通心肾；或用归脾丸内的龙眼肉、木香等甘温辛热的药物，直达心脾，主要作用是补益中气而生血。引用经文“君主明则下安”的含义，以补火作为治疗方法。所以凡是火势尚未至于克制肺金时，补火也是生土（健脾）的妙用，何必担心温热药不可采用呢？如果是阴液极度亏虚而阳气亢盛，肝木与心火乘时而起，心火肆意炎上，相火如燎原之势，肺失去肃降的功能，肾缺乏滋润的作用，导致肺中有潜伏逆乱之火，胸膈有胶固难化的痰，都畏惧非时令的外感邪气，胸部多有壅塞之邪，气息高促而喘，咳嗽频繁不断，天突穴处如火燃烧，喉中发痒，咯吐吞咽困难，久咳导致气泄，气不能收纳于丹田，真水无法制约心火，于是湿气挟带热邪使痰停滞在中焦，火载着血液导致厥逆清冷，伏火射入肺系，则患者只能坐卧不能躺卧，膈间痰滞阻碍胃络，则患者能向左转而不能向右转。这时急需清金保肺，以宣发清肃的政令；平抑肝木缓和火势，以安定君火与相火的位置；培补脾胃调理中焦，以奠定生肺金的母源；滋阴补肾，以遏制阳光般的炽焰。一概以中和为治疗原则，补其虚弱、承载其下陷、镇摄其浮越、安定其紊乱、解除其争逆、制约其过亢、润燥、疏通其淹滞、收敛其耗散，这样才可能有疗效。如果固执于补火的说法，使用辛热性质的药物，这与那些用寒凉药损伤中气的情况，看似异病同治，难道不是危险吗！
The Heart governs blood and houses the Shen (Spirit); the Kidney governs Zhi (Will) and stores Jing (Essence). From the perspective of the congenitally formed constitution, Jing generates Qi, and Qi generates Shen; from the perspective of acquired nourishment, for various diseases of Jing such as spermatorrhea and nocturnal emission, treatment must be based on calming the Shen; for various diseases of Shen such as palpitations and fright, treatment must be based on tonifying Qi. For calming the Shen requires benefiting Qi, and benefiting Qi requires tonifying Jing.
In the initial stage of Xu Lao (Deficiency Consumption), it is mostly due to the failure of communication between the Heart and Kidney, or due to a momentary vexation causing Fire to surge upward suddenly, shaking Tian Jing (Kidney Essence), causing Jing to depart from its profound depth. In mild cases, it manifests as nocturnal emission leading to a Yang Deficiency pattern, rather than a Yin Deficiency syndrome. If one presents solely with Heart-Kidney non-communication, accompanied by symptoms such as slippery spermatorrhea, nocturnal emission, night fever, and internal heat, this is the cause of Lao Sou (Consumption Cough), but has not yet developed into the syndrome itself. If Heart-Kidney non-communication occurs, with Heart Fire flaring up to overact upon Metal (Lung), causing urgency and itching at the Tiantu acupoint, with phlegm that cannot be expectorated nor swallowed, and a sensation in the throat like broken cotton wadding sticking and blocking, this is the syndrome of established Lao Sou.
At the initial stage of Heart-Kidney non-communication, there may be nocturnal emission and slippery spermatorrhea, body fatigue, bone萎 (withering/weakness), forgetfulness, and palpitations; or insufficient Blood in the Heart and Spleen, with Liver and Gallbladder Fire flaming wildly, rising to invade the head and descending to cause Jue (cold extremities). Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) can communicate the Heart and Kidney in an instant; within Guipi Wan (Restore the Spleen Pill), ingredients like Longyan Rou (Longan Fruit) and Muxiang (Aucklandia Root), which are sweet, warm, pungent, and hot, reach the Heart and Spleen directly, primarily tonifying the Middle Jiao to generate Blood. Quoting the scriptural meaning "When the Monarch is clear, the subordinates are peaceful," treatment uses tonifying Fire. Therefore, whenever Fire has not yet reached the point of overacting upon Metal, tonifying Fire is also a subtle application of generating Earth (Spleen), so why worry about the inadmissibility of warm-hot treatments? However, if Yin is severely deficient and Yang is hyperactive, Wood and Fire act according to their season, Heart Fire肆意ly issues commands to flare upward, Ministerial Fire raises flames like a prairie fire, the Lung loses its authority to descend and purify, and the Kidney lacks its function of continuous flow. This results in latent rebellious Fire in the Lung, and stubborn phlegm in the Diaphragm. Both fear non-seasonal external pathogens, and the chest is full of obstructive evils. Breath is high and wheezing, coughing is frequent, Tiantu burns like fire, the throat itches, expectoration and swallowing are impossible, prolonged coughing leads to loss of Qi, Qi fails to grasp into the Dantian, True Water fails to control Fire. Thus, dampness carries heat causing phlegm stagnation in the Middle Jiao, Fire carries Blood causing Jue Ni (rebellious counterflow) and coldness. Latent Fire shoots into the Lung system, enabling sitting but preventing lying down; Diaphragmatic phlegm stagnates in the Stomach collaterals, enabling turning left but preventing turning right. At this time, it is urgent to Clear Metal and Protect the Lung to promote the command of purity and descent; calm the Liver and缓 (slow/soothe) Fire to stabilize the positions of the Sovereign and Ministerial Fires; cultivate Earth and regulate the Middle to establish the mother source of generating Metal; nourish Yin and tonify the Kidney to suppress the flame of Solar Yang. All should be treated with Zhong He (Harmonizing Balance), tonifying deficiency, carrying sinking Qi, anchoring floating Yang, stabilizing chaos, resolving contention, restraining excess, moistening dryness, unblocking stagnation, and gathering dissipation, so that there may be benefit. If one clings to the theory of tonifying Fire, using pungent-hot substances, treating it similarly to conditions where cold-cool substances injure the Middle, although different diseases share the same treatment, is this not dangerous!