虚劳发热，皆因内伤七情而成。人之饮食起居，一失其节，皆能成伤，不止房劳一端为
内伤
因醉饱后入房，及忧思劳役，或病饮食失调，暨大喜、大怒、大痛、大泪，严寒酷暑房劳，
不能调摄，邪气入内而成注。注之为言住也，外邪深入，连滞停住而不能去也。注不治则内
变蒸，蒸失治则咳嗽、吐痰、咳血，而病危矣。故夜热、内热、虚热，为虚劳之初病，骨蒸
、内热、潮热，则虚劳之本病也。宜及时调治，毋使滋蔓。治法以清金、养荣、疏邪、润燥
为主，则热自退矣。
诸火可补火，诸热不可补火。又他脏有虚火可补火，肺脏有伏火不可补火。斯言实发前
人未
有倏无。其发也，尽有燎原之势，或面红颊赤，或眩晕厥冒，种种不同，而皆可以温润补肾
之剂，以收其浮越，而引归于性根命蒂之中，补之可也。何谓诸热不可补火？热者，实热也
。谓其先动于气，久而渐着于形，如烧热之物相似。其见于症，有定时，有定处，无升降，
无变迁。其夜间准热日间不热者，为夜热；其里面恒热而皮肤未热者，为内热；其热如在骨
髓间蒸出而彻于皮肤者，为骨蒸劳热。此种种蒸热，有清法，无温理，补之不可也。何谓他
脏有虚火可补火，肺脏有伏火不可补火？盖肺与四脏有别，如肝肾龙雷之火可补而伏，脾胃
寒格之火可补而越，心家虚动之火可补而定，惟肺之一脏属金，金畏火克，火喜铄金，故清
肃之脏最畏火。此言其脏质也。肺居膈上，其气清，其位高，火若上冲则治节失令，而痰滞
气塞，喘嗽交加，故至高之部极畏火。此以部位言之也。然或偶然浮越之火，犹不犯此禁，
独至伏逆之火，出于阴虚阳亢，火乘金位，谓之贼邪。以其火在肺叶之下，故名伏；以其火
只星星，便能使金令捍格，故名逆。凡若此者，症必胶痰固膈，吸短呼长，脉必细而数。细
为血虚，数为火胜。此在少年为劳嗽之根，四十以外，为血虚痰火之兆。宜用清法，无用温
理，其断不可补者也。
虚劳发热，都是由于内伤七情（喜、怒、忧、思、悲、恐、惊）所导致。人的饮食起居，一旦失去节制，都能造成损伤，并不只是房事过度这一种情况属于内伤。
因为醉酒饱食后行房，以及忧愁思虑、劳累役使，或者患病期间饮食失调，加上大喜、大怒、大痛、大哭，在严寒酷暑中行房且不能调养摄生，邪气侵入体内而成为“注”。所谓“注”，意思是停留。外邪深入体内，连滞停住而不能去除。如果“注”不治疗，就会在内发生变蒸（一种热病过程），变蒸如果不治疗，就会出现咳嗽、吐痰、咳血，病情就会危重了。所以夜热、内热、虚热，是虚劳的初期病症；骨蒸、内热、潮热，则是虚劳的根本病症。应当及时调治，不要让病情蔓延滋长。治疗方法以清金（清肺热）、养荣（滋养营血）、疏邪、润燥为主，那么热自然就会消退。
各种火证可以用补火法，各种热证不可以用补火法。另外，其他脏腑有虚火可以用补火法，但肺脏有伏火则不可以用补火法。这句话确实阐发了前人未曾明确指出的道理。这种火发作时，往往有燎原之势，有的面红颊赤，有的眩晕昏冒，种种表现不同，但都可以用温润补肾的药剂，来收敛其浮越之火，并引导它回归到性命之根中，这样进行补益是可以的。为什么说各种热证不可以用补火法？热，指的是实热。说是因为它先动于气分，久而久之逐渐显现于形体，就像烧热的物体一样。它表现在症状上，有固定的时间，有固定的部位，没有升降变化，没有变迁。其中夜间准时发热而白天不热的，称为夜热；里面恒常发热而皮肤尚未发热的，称为内热；热感好像从骨髓间蒸发出来并透达皮肤的，称为骨蒸劳热。这些种种蒸热，只有清热的方法，没有温理的方法，补益是不可以的。为什么说其他脏腑有虚火可以用补火法，而肺脏有伏火不可以用补火法？大概肺与其他四脏不同，如肝肾龙雷之火可以补而潜藏，脾胃寒格之火可以补而发散，心家虚动之火可以补而安定，唯独肺这一脏属金，金畏惧火克，火喜欢熔炼金，所以清肃之脏最畏惧火。这是从脏腑性质来说的。肺位于膈肌之上，其气清轻，其位置高，火若向上冲逆则治节失令，导致痰滞气塞，喘嗽交加，所以至高之位极畏惧火。这是从部位来说的。然而如果是偶然浮越之火，还不触犯这个禁忌，唯独到了伏逆之火，出于阴虚阳亢，火乘金位，称之为贼邪。因为火在肺叶之下，所以名叫伏；因为火势虽小（星星之火），便能使金令受阻，所以名叫逆。凡是这种情况，症状必定是胶固之痰阻滞胸膈，吸气短促呼气延长，脉象必定细而数。细代表血虚，数代表火盛。这在年轻人是劳嗽的病根，四十岁以上，是血虚痰火的征兆。应当使用清热的方法，不要用温理的方法，绝对不可补益。
Deficiency consumption fever is caused by internal injury to the Seven Emotions (joy, anger, worry, thought, grief, fear, and fright). Any loss of moderation in diet and daily life can cause injury; it is not limited only to excessive sexual activity as an internal injury.
For instance, engaging in sexual intercourse after drunkenness or overeating, along with sorrow, excessive thinking, or physical labor, or dietary imbalance during illness, as well as extreme joy, anger, pain, or weeping, and sexual activity in severe cold or heat without proper regulation, allow pathogenic factors to enter the interior and become "Zhu" (Stagnation/Injection). The term "Zhu" implies staying or lodging. When external pathogens penetrate deeply and remain stagnant without being expelled, if left untreated, they undergo "Bian Zheng" (a pathological transformation involving heat), and if Bian Zheng is untreated, it leads to coughing, expectoration, hemoptysis, and critical illness. Therefore, night fever, internal heat, and deficiency heat are the initial manifestations of deficiency consumption, whereas bone-steaming, internal heat, and tidal fever are the fundamental manifestations. Timely treatment is required to prevent the disease from spreading. The therapeutic principle focuses on clearing Metal (clearing Lung heat), nourishing Ying (nourishing nutritive blood), dispersing pathogens, and moistening dryness, so that the heat will naturally subside.
Various types of Fire can be treated with tonifying Fire methods, but various types of Heat cannot. Furthermore, while deficiency Fire in other Zang organs can be treated with tonifying Fire, latent Fire in the Lung cannot. This statement elucidates insights previously unarticulated by predecessors. When this Fire erupts, it may have a prairie-fire intensity, manifesting as red face and cheeks, dizziness, syncope, or other varying symptoms. In such cases, warming and moistening Kidney-tonifying formulas can be used to anchor floating Yang and guide it back to its root in Life and Nature; tonification is permissible here. Why is it said that various Heat patterns should not be treated with tonifying Fire? Heat refers to Excess Heat. It originates in the Qi level and gradually manifests in the形体 (body/form) over time, resembling heated objects. Its symptoms appear at fixed times and locations, without rising/falling dynamics or changes. Night fever refers to fever occurring precisely at night but not during the day. Internal heat refers to constant heat within the body while the skin remains cool. Bone-steaming consumption heat refers to a sensation of heat steaming out from the marrow and penetrating the skin. These various steaming heats require clearing methods, not warming/regulating methods; tonification is contraindicated. Why is it said that deficiency Fire in other organs can be tonified, but latent Fire in the Lung cannot? The Lung differs from the other four Zang organs. For example, the Dragon-Lei Fire of the Liver and Kidneys can be anchored via tonification; the Fire of Stomach-Spleen Cold-Rejection can be dispersed via tonification; the deficient agitated Fire of the Heart can be settled via tonification. However, the Lung belongs to Metal, which fears control by Fire, and Fire delights in smelting Metal; thus, the clear and descending organ most fears Fire. This refers to the organ's nature. Located above the diaphragm, the Lung has clear Qi and a high position; if Fire rushes upward, it disrupts the Lung's governance, leading to phlegm stagnation, Qi obstruction, asthma, and cough. Thus, the highest region greatly fears Fire. This refers to anatomical location. However, occasionally floating Fire does not violate this prohibition. Only when it becomes Latent and Rebellious Fire, arising from Yin Deficiency with Yang Hyperactivity, where Fire invades the Metal position, is it called "Thief Pathogen." Because the Fire resides below the lung lobes, it is named "Latent"; because even a small spark can obstruct the Metal function, it is named "Rebellious." In such cases, symptoms must include stubborn phlegm obstructing the chest/diaphragm, short inhalation and long exhalation, and a fine (thin) and rapid pulse. Fine indicates Blood Deficiency; Rapid indicates Excess Fire. In young people, this is the root of consumptive cough; in those over forty, it is a sign of Blood Deficiency with Phlegm-Fire. Clearing methods should be used, not warming/regulating methods; tonification is absolutely contraindicated.