【气虚短气之症】气怯神离，言语轻微，气不接续，不比实症短气，呼吸倚肩，不得仰
卧，咳满喘逆为异。此气虚短气之症也。
【气虚短气之因】或大病之后，或劳力之人，或本元素弱，劳伤中气，则气虚短气之症
【气虚短气之脉】若见细数，阴血有亏；或见微弱，阳气有亏；或见浮大，真阳外越；
【气虚短气之治】暴脱暴泻者，独参汤。中气不足者，补中益气汤；有痰，六君子汤、
独参汤 治真元将脱，气弱神离。
人参
补中益气汤 治气虚不能接续。
人参 白术 黄 当归 炙甘草 陈皮 升麻 柴胡
六君子汤 见前湿痰。
参橘煎
人参 橘红
哮喘短气呃逆，各有分别。哮症经年发作，难治者，然亦不死；喘与短气、呃逆，实症
易治，然有死者。治此四症，必以四条互相参发，以其病症虽别，而经络病因同在肺胃二经耳。
夫短气，分立虚实二条，实邪短气易治，尚可祛邪；虚人气短难治，气将绝，又不受补耳。
今家秘发《金匮》各条，详其治法，至气虚短气，虽立加减代赭汤方，然不治者多。
秦子曰∶呃逆者，胃气不和，上冲作声，听声命名，故曰呃也，《灵枢篇》谓哕。以草
刺鼻作嚏，嚏已无息，而疾迎引之，立已；大惊之亦已，按∶此治哕之法，即今外治呃逆之道也。
是《内经》之哕，即今之呃也。诸家谓干呕为咳逆，或因呕而伤胃气以致呃，因咳而吊动胃
气以致呃方可，若以干呕即是呃逆，咳逆即是呃逆，大谬矣。有外感，有内伤。
【气虚导致短气的症状】气息怯弱、精神涣散，说话声音低微，气息不能接续。这与实证导致的短气不同，实证短气表现为呼吸时耸肩、无法仰卧，并伴有咳嗽、胸满、气喘和逆气。这是气虚导致短气的症状。
【气虚导致短气的原因】或者在大病之后，或者是从事体力劳动的人，或者原本体质虚弱，因劳累损伤了中焦之气，从而导致气虚短气的症状。
【气虚导致短气的脉象】如果脉象细数，说明阴血亏损；如果脉象微弱，说明阳气亏损；如果脉象浮大，说明真阳外越。
【气虚导致短气的治疗】对于突然脱失、暴泻的患者，使用独参汤。对于中气不足的患者，使用补中益气汤；如果有痰，使用六君子汤或独参汤治疗真元即将脱失、气弱神离的情况。
人参
补中益气汤 治疗气虚导致的气息不能接续。
人参、白术、黄（黄芪）、当归、炙甘草、陈皮、升麻、柴胡
六君子汤 见前文湿痰章节。
参橘煎
人参、橘红
哮喘、短气、呃逆，各有区别。哮症每年发作，难治，但也不会致死；喘证与短气、呃逆，实证容易治疗，但也有致死的。治疗这四种病症，必须依据四条原则互相参照发挥，因为虽然病症不同，但其经络病因都同在肺经和胃经。
至于短气，分为虚证和实证两条。实邪导致的短气容易治疗，还可以祛除邪气；虚人导致的短气难治，因为气将绝，且身体已不受补益药物。
现在家传秘法阐发《金匮要略》的各条内容，详细论述其治疗方法。至于气虚短气，虽然设立了加减代赭汤方，但不治愈的很多。
秦子说：呃逆，是胃气不和，向上冲逆发出声音，根据声音命名，所以叫“呃”，《灵枢篇》称为“哕”。用草刺鼻子引起打喷嚏，喷嚏打完气息暂止，此时迅速引导气息下行，立刻痊愈；大惊吓也能使其停止。按：这就是治疗“哕”的方法，也就是现在外治呃逆的途径。因此，《内经》中的“哕”，就是现在的“呃”。各家学说认为干呕就是咳逆，或者因为呕吐损伤胃气导致呃逆，因为咳嗽牵动胃气导致呃逆，这样说是可以的；但如果认为干呕就是呃逆，咳逆就是呃逆，那就大错特错了。呃逆有外感和内伤两种原因。
[Symptoms of Shortness of Breath due to Qi Deficiency] The breath is timid and the spirit is scattered; speech is faint, and the breath cannot be sustained. This differs from shortness of breath due to excess syndromes, which presents with shoulder shrugging during respiration, inability to lie supine, cough, chest fullness, wheezing, and rebellious qi. These are the symptoms of shortness of breath due to Qi deficiency.
[Etiology of Shortness of Breath due to Qi Deficiency] It may occur after a severe illness, in individuals engaged in physical labor, or in those with congenital weakness. Labor damages the Middle Jiao Qi, resulting in shortness of breath due to Qi deficiency.
[Pulse Signs of Shortness of Breath due to Qi Deficiency] If the pulse is fine and rapid (Xi Shu), it indicates Yin Blood deficiency; if the pulse is weak and minute (Wei Ruo), it indicates Yang Qi deficiency; if the pulse is floating and large (Fu Da), it indicates the outward dispersion of True Yang.
[Treatment of Shortness of Breath due to Qi Deficiency] For cases of sudden collapse and violent diarrhea, use Dushen Tang (Single Ginseng Decoction). For insufficiency of Middle Jiao Qi, use Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction); if phlegm is present, use Liujunzi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction) or Dushen Tang to treat impending collapse of True Yuan and weak Qi with scattered spirit.
Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix)
Buzhong Yiqi Tang treats shortness of breath where Qi fails to connect continuously.
Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Huang Qi (Astragali Radix), Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Zhi Gan Cao (Prepared Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Sheng Ma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma), Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix).
Liujunzi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction) see previous section on Damp-Phlegm.
Shanju Jian (Ginseng and Tangerina Peel Infusion)
Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix), Ju Hong (Exocarpium Citri Reticulatae Rubrum).
Wheezing (Xiao), shortness of breath (Duanqi), and hiccup (Eni) each have distinct characteristics. Wheezing recurs annually; although difficult to cure, it is not fatal. Asthma (Chuan), shortness of breath, and hiccup due to excess syndromes are easy to treat, yet can still be fatal. To treat these four conditions, one must refer to four principles mutually, for although the diseases differ, their meridian pathologies reside in the Lung and Stomach meridians.
Regarding shortness of breath, it is divided into deficiency and excess categories. Shortness of breath due to excess pathogens is easy to treat as pathogens can be expelled; shortness of breath in deficient individuals is difficult to treat because the Qi is nearly exhausted and the body cannot tolerate tonification.
Now, the family secret method elucidates the articles of *Jinkui Yaolue* (*Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet*), detailing treatment methods. Regarding shortness of breath due to Qi deficiency, although Jiajian Daizhe Tang (Modified Oyster Shell Decoction) was established, many cases remain uncured.
Qin Zi stated: Hiccup (Eni) occurs when Stomach Qi is disharmonious and rebels upward, producing sound; named after the sound, hence "E". In the *Ling Shu* chapter, it is called "Yue" (Hiccup). Pricking the nose with grass to induce sneezing stops the breath momentarily; quickly guiding the Qi downward immediately cures it; being greatly startled also stops it. Note: This is the method for treating "Yue", which corresponds to the modern external treatment for hiccup. Thus, "Yue" in the *Nei Jing* is equivalent to modern "E". Various schools claim that dry retching (Gan Ou) is Ke Ni (Rebellious Qi/Cough), or that vomiting damaging Stomach Qi causes hiccup, or cough pulling Stomach Qi causes hiccup; this is acceptable. However, equating dry retching directly with hiccup, or Ke Ni directly with hiccup, is a major error. Hiccup has both external contraction and internal injury etiologies.