秦子曰∶消者，消化失常之谓也。其症随饮而随渴，随食而随饥，随溺而随便。渴而数
饮者，为上消。食过即饥者，为中消。时便膏沥者，为下消。今列外感二条，内伤二条。
【燥火三消之症】即风消也。多饮渴不止，唇口干裂，烦躁不宁，此燥火伤于肺，即上
消症也
于小肠、膀胱，即下消之症也。
【燥火三消之因】或赫义羲年，燥气从令，或干旱之岁，燥火行权，或秋令之月，燥
燥火伤人，上则烦渴引饮，中则消谷易饥，下则小便频数，燥万物者，莫燥乎火，而三消之
【燥火三消之脉】寸脉浮数，燥伤于上，关脉洪数，燥伤于中，尺脉沉数，燥伤于下。
燥伤于气，脉见大数；燥伤于血，脉见细数。
【燥火三消之治】清燥为先，烦渴引饮，家秘用知母石膏汤，加干葛。多食易饥，人参
白虎汤。小便频数，淋沥如膏，益元散、导赤各半汤。
知母石膏汤
知母 石膏 葛根 甘草
人参白虎汤 即前方加人参。
益元散
滑石 甘草
共为细末，人参汤下。
导赤各半汤 见后湿热消。
【湿火三消之症】烦渴引饮，咳嗽面肿，此湿热伤肺，即上消症也。面黄身肿，消谷易
饥，此
、膀胱，即下消症也。
【湿火三消之因】酒湿水饮之热，积于其内，时行湿热之气，蒸于其外，内外合受，郁
久成热，湿热转燥，则三消乃作矣。
【湿火三消之脉】多见数大，寸大上消，关大中消，尺大下消，三部皆大，三消之脉也。
【湿火三消之治】宜流湿润燥，清肺饮，治上消也，加味清胃汤，治中消也，导赤各半
汤、益元散，治下消也。
清肺饮 即甘露饮子。
石膏 桔梗 山栀 知母 连翘 川黄连 甘草 麦冬 杏仁
加枇杷叶。
加味清胃汤
川连 升麻 丹皮 山栀 甘草 干葛
导赤各半汤
木通 生地 甘草 川黄连 麦门冬
秦子说：消，是指消化功能失常。其症状表现为饮水后立即口渴，进食后立即饥饿，排尿后随即又有便意。频繁饮水且口渴的是上消；进食后即感饥饿的是中消；时常排出膏脂样浑浊尿液的是下消。现在列出外感引起的两条，内伤引起的两条。
【燥火三消的症状】也就是风消。表现为大量饮水但口渴不止，嘴唇和口腔干燥开裂，烦躁不安，这是燥火损伤了肺，即上消的症状。[原文此处有缺漏，结合下文及中医常识，应指燥火伤于肾与]小肠、膀胱，即下消的症状。
【燥火三消的病因】或者是炎热之年，燥气当令；或者是干旱之年，燥火横行；或者是秋季月份，燥火伤人。在上则导致烦渴多饮，在中则导致消谷善饥，在下则导致小便频数。能使万物干燥的，没有比火更甚的了，而三消症由此产生。
【燥火三消的脉象】寸脉浮数，表示燥邪伤于上焦；关脉洪数，表示燥邪伤于中焦；尺脉沉数，表示燥邪伤于下焦。燥邪伤及气分，脉象表现为大而数；燥邪伤及血分，脉象表现为细而数。
【燥火三消的治疗】以清燥为首要原则。对于烦渴多饮，家传秘方使用知母石膏汤，加干葛（葛根）。对于多食易饥，用人参白虎汤。对于小便频数，淋沥如膏状，用益元散和导赤各半汤各半量合用。
【湿火三消的症状】烦渴多饮，咳嗽面部浮肿，这是湿热损伤了肺，即上消的症状。面色黄、身体浮肿，消谷善饥，这是[原文此处有缺漏，应指湿热伤于脾胃]、膀胱，即下消的症状。
【湿火三消的病因】酒湿和水饮之热积存在体内，时行湿热之气蒸腾在体外，内外受邪，郁结日久化热，湿热转化为燥，于是三消症发作。
【湿火三消的脉象】多见脉数且大。寸脉大为上消，关脉大为中消，尺脉大为下消，三部脉皆大，是三消症的脉象。
【湿火三消的治疗】宜采用流湿润燥法。清肺饮，用于治疗上消；加味清胃汤，用于治疗中消；导赤各半汤、益元散，用于治疗下消。
Qin Zi said: "Xiao" (Consumption) refers to the dysfunction of digestion. Its symptoms manifest as thirst immediately after drinking, hunger immediately after eating, and a sensation of defecation immediately after urination. Frequent drinking accompanied by thirst is termed Upper Xiao (Upper Consumption). Hunger immediately following food intake is termed Middle Xiao (Middle Consumption). Frequent passage of greasy or turbid urine is termed Lower Xiao (Lower Consumption). Herein, two categories caused by external pathogens and two caused by internal injury are listed.
[Symptoms of Dryness-Fire Three Xiao] Also known as Wind Consumption. It presents with excessive drinking yet unrelenting thirst, dry and cracked lips and mouth, and restlessness with irritability. This indicates that Dryness-Fire has injured the Lung, which corresponds to the symptoms of Upper Xiao. [Text missing here, inferred context:] ...Small Intestine and Bladder, which corresponds to the symptoms of Lower Xiao.
[Etiology of Dryness-Fire Three Xiao] It may occur in years of intense heat when Dryness Qi dominates, or in drought years when Dryness-Fire exerts its influence, or during autumn months when Dryness-Fire harms the human body. Above, it causes vexation, thirst, and craving for fluids; in the middle, it causes rapid digestion and easy hunger; below, it causes frequent urination. Among all things that dry out matter, none is drier than Fire, and thus the Three Xiao conditions arise from this.
[Pulse of Dryness-Fire Three Xiao] The Cun (Inch) pulse is floating and rapid, indicating Dryness injuring the Upper Jiao; the Guan (Bar) pulse is surging and rapid, indicating Dryness injuring the Middle Jiao; the Chi (Cubit) pulse is deep and rapid, indicating Dryness injuring the Lower Jiao. If Dryness injures the Qi level, the pulse appears large and rapid; if Dryness injures the Blood level, the pulse appears thin and rapid.
[Treatment of Dryness-Fire Three Xiao] Clearing Dryness is the primary principle. For vexation, thirst, and craving for fluids, the family secret formula uses Zhi Mu Shi Gao Tang (Anemarrhena and Gypsum Decoction) with added Ge Gen (Pueraria Root). For excessive eating and easy hunger, Ren Shen Bai Hu Tang (Ginseng White Tiger Decoction) is used. For frequent urination and dribbling like grease, Yi Yuan San (Benefit Primordial Powder) and Dao Chi Ge Ban Tang (Half-Volume Guide Out the Heat Half-Decoction) are used in equal halves.
Zhi Mu Shi Gao Tang (Anemarrhena and Gypsum Decoction)
Herbs: Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (Zhimu), Gypsum Fibrosum (Shigao), Puerariae Radix (Gegen), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao)
Ren Shen Bai Hu Tang (Ginseng White Tiger Decoction)
Is the aforementioned formula with added Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen).
Yi Yuan San (Benefit Primordial Powder)
Herbs: Talcum (Huashi), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao)
Grind into fine powder, take with Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma decoction.
Dao Chi Ge Ban Tang (Half-Volume Guide Out the Heat Half-Decoction)
See the section on Damp-Heat Xiao later.
[Symptoms of Damp-Fire Three Xiao] Vexation, thirst, craving for fluids, cough, and facial edema indicate that Damp-Heat has injured the Lung, corresponding to Upper Xiao. Yellowish complexion and bodily swelling, along with rapid digestion and easy hunger, indicate [text missing, inferred:] ...and Bladder, corresponding to Lower Xiao.
[Etiology of Damp-Fire Three Xiao] Heat from alcoholic dampness and water retention accumulates internally, while epidemic Damp-Heat Qi steams externally. Internal and external pathogens combine, stagnating for a long time to generate heat. As Damp-Heat transforms into Dryness, the Three Xiao conditions arise.
[Pulse of Damp-Fire Three Xiao] Typically appearing rapid and large. A large Cun pulse indicates Upper Xiao; a large Guan pulse indicates Middle Xiao; a large Chi pulse indicates Lower Xiao. Large pulses in all three positions characterize the pulse of Three Xiao.
[Treatment of Damp-Fire Three Xiao] The method should be to promote flow and moisten dryness. Qing Fei Yin (Lung-Clearing Drink) treats Upper Xiao; Jia Wei Qing Wei Tang (Modified Stomach-Clearing Decoction) treats Middle Xiao; Dao Chi Ge Ban Tang and Yi Yuan San treat Lower Xiao.
Qing Fei Yin (Lung-Clearing Drink)
Is Gan Lu Yin Zi (Sweet Dew Decoction).
Herbs: Gypsum Fibrosum (Shigao), Platycodonis Radix (Jiegeng), Gardeniae Fructus (Shanzhi), Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (Zhimu), Forsythiae Fructus (Lianqiao), Coptidis Rhizoma (Chuanlian), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao), Ophiopogonis Radix (Maidong), Armeniacae Semen Amarum (Xingren)
Add Loquat Leaf (Pipaye).
Jia Wei Qing Wei Tang (Modified Stomach-Clearing Decoction)
Herbs: Coptidis Rhizoma (Chuanlian), Cimicifugae Rhizoma (Shengma), Moutan Cortex (Danpi), Gardeniae Fructus (Shanzhi), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao), Puerariae Radix (Gegen)
Dao Chi Ge Ban Tang (Half-Volume Guide Out the Heat Half-Decoction)
Herbs: Akebiae Caulis (Mutong), Rehmanniae Radix (Shengdi), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao), Coptidis Rhizoma (Chuanlian), Ophiopogonis Radix (Maimendong)