秦子曰∶酸主乎火，软主乎湿。内经云∶疼酸惊骇，皆属于火。又云∶大筋软短，
皆因于湿。详考何经致病，则阳明主多，故治痿独取阳明，以其主润宗筋、束骨而利机关也
。谨按阳明经外感，有风湿，有湿温，则令人遍身酸软。阳明经内伤，有痰饮、有湿火，亦
令人遍身酸软。其病发作如疟疾之有定期，或一日，或间日而发。若发于寅卯时，乃是肝胆
经火。若发于辰巳时，又是太阳经病，二者皆阳明之兼病也。
【风湿酸软之症】头痛额痛，一身尽痛，不能转侧，四肢酸软，骨节烦疼，日晡发热剧
【风湿酸软之因】或流衍之纪，风雨连绵；或冲风冒雨，阴雨袭人。或乘风露卧，阴湿
之邪，传入经络，则遍身酸软之症作矣。
【风湿酸软之脉】左脉浮大，或反沉伏，太阳风湿；右脉浮大，或反沉伏，阳明风湿，
【风湿酸软之治】头痛身痛，不能转侧，症兼阳明者，羌活胜湿汤，倍加防风、干葛。
痛目痛，鼻干不眠，日晡剧者，阳明经症也，干葛汤，加苍术、防风。发汗已，多汗，加秦
艽、木瓜。若时寒时热，少阳见症者，小柴胡汤，加防风、苍术。久不愈者，《圣惠方》用
柴胡以治肝胆之酸软，重用秦艽而得捷效，以酸软无有不兼阳明者也。
羌活胜湿汤 治太阳少阳湿温。
羌活 防风 柴胡 苍术 川芎 茯苓 猪苓 泽泻 黄柏 甘草
干葛汤 治阳明经症。
干葛 升麻 白芍药 甘草
小柴胡汤 见内伤酸软。
圣惠方 治少阳阳明酸软，神效。
柴胡（一两） 秦艽（一两） 甘草（三钱） 原方。
家秘治湿胜，加苍术。有热，加黄柏。有风，加防风。通加木瓜，以引经，奇验。
秦子说：酸感主要与火邪有关，软感主要与湿邪有关。《内经》中说：“疼痛、酸楚、惊骇，都归属于火。”又说：“大筋变得短缩而拘急，都是由于湿邪所致。”详细考察是哪条经络致病，则是阳明经最为多见，所以治疗痿证独取阳明经，因为阳明经主管滋润宗筋，约束骨骼，使关节滑利。
谨按阳明经感受外邪，有风湿和湿温两种情况，会导致全身酸软。阳明经内伤，有痰饮和湿火两种情况，也会导致全身酸软。这种病的发作像疟疾一样有定期，或者一天发作一次，或者隔一天发作一次。如果在寅时、卯时发作，这是肝胆经的火邪。如果在辰时、巳时发作，这又是太阳经的病，这两种情况都属于阳明经的兼夹病证。
【风湿酸软的症状】头痛、额痛，全身疼痛，身体不能转动侧身，四肢酸软，骨节烦扰疼痛，傍晚时分发热加剧。
【风湿酸软的病因】或者是流衍之纪（水运太过之年），风雨连绵不断；或者是顶着风冒着雨，阴雨侵袭人体。或者是乘着风在露天下睡觉，阴湿之邪传入经络，于是遍身酸软的症状就发作了。
【风湿酸软的脉象】左脉浮大，或者反而沉伏，是太阳经风湿；右脉浮大，或者反而沉伏，是阳明经风湿。
【风湿酸软的治疗】头痛身痛，不能转侧，症状兼有阳明经表现的，用羌活胜湿汤，加倍加入防风、干葛。如果眼痛、鼻干、失眠，傍晚时分加重，这是阳明经病症，用干葛汤，加入苍术、防风。发汗后，如果出汗过多，加入秦艽、木瓜。如果出现忽冷忽热，伴有少阳经症状的，用小柴胡汤，加入防风、苍术。久治不愈的，《圣惠方》使用柴胡来治疗肝胆引起的酸软，重用秦艽而获得显著疗效，因为酸软没有不兼夹阳明经病证的。
羌活胜湿汤 治疗太阳、少阳经的湿温。
药材：羌活、防风、柴胡、苍术、川芎、茯苓、猪苓、泽泻、黄柏、甘草。
小柴胡汤 见内伤酸软章节。
Qin Zi said: The sensation of sourness (suan) is primarily associated with Fire, and the sensation of softness/weakness (ruan) is primarily associated with Dampness. The *Neijing* states: "Pain, sourness, and fright all belong to Fire." It also states: "The great tendons become short and contracted due to Dampness." Upon detailed examination of which meridian is affected, the Yangming meridian is most frequently involved. Therefore, in treating Wei syndrome (flaccidity syndrome), one exclusively selects the Yangming meridian, because it governs the moistening of the Zongjin (major tendons), binds the bones, and facilitates the movement of the joints.
According to careful observation, external contraction affecting the Yangming meridian involves Wind-Dampness or Damp-Warmth, leading to generalized body soreness and weakness. Internal injury to the Yangming meridian involves Phlegm-Fluid retention or Damp-Fire, also leading to generalized body soreness and weakness. The onset of this disease occurs at regular intervals, similar to malaria, either daily or every other day. If it occurs during the Yin-Mao hours (5 AM - 7 AM), it indicates Fire from the Liver-Gallbladder meridians. If it occurs during the Chen-Si hours (7 AM - 11 AM), it indicates a Taiyang meridian disorder. Both are considered concurrent disorders involving the Yangming meridian.
[Symptoms of Wind-Damp Soreness and Weakness] Headache and frontal headache, pain throughout the entire body, inability to turn or change position, soreness and weakness in the four limbs, vexing pain in the bone joints, and intensified fever in the late afternoon (You hour).
[Etiology of Wind-Damp Soreness and Weakness] This may occur during years of excessive Water transport (Liuyan Ji), characterized by continuous wind and rain; or when exposed to wind and rain, or invaded by yin-dampness. Sleeping outdoors in the wind and dew allows yin-damp pathogenic factors to transmit into the collaterals and meridians, causing the symptom of generalized body soreness and weakness.
[Pulse of Wind-Damp Soreness and Weakness] A floating and large pulse on the left side, or conversely a deep and hidden pulse, indicates Taiyang Wind-Dampness. A floating and large pulse on the right side, or conversely a deep and hidden pulse, indicates Yangming Wind-Dampness.
[Treatment of Wind-Damp Soreness and Weakness] For headache and body pain with inability to turn, where symptoms involve the Yangming meridian, use Qianghuo Shengshi Tang (Notopterygium Decoction to Overcome Dampness), doubling the dosage of Fangfeng (Saposhnikovia Root) and Gange (Kudzu Root). If there is eye pain, nasal dryness, insomnia, and worsening in the late afternoon, this is a Yangming meridian syndrome; use Gange Tang (Kudzu Decoction), adding Cangzhu (Atractylodes Rhizome) and Fangfeng. After inducing sweating, if excessive perspiration occurs, add Qinjiao (Gentiana Macrophylla Root) and Mugua (Chaenomeles Fruit). If there are alternating chills and fever with Shaoyang meridian signs, use Xiaochaihu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction), adding Fangfeng and Cangzhu. For chronic cases that do not resolve, the *Shenghui Fang* uses Chaihu (Bupleurum Root) to treat liver-gallbladder-related soreness and weakness, heavily utilizing Qinjiao for rapid effect, as soreness and weakness invariably involve the Yangming meridian.
Qianghuo Shengshi Tang treats Taiyang and Shaoyang Damp-Warmth.
Ingredients: Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix), Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Chuanxiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Fuling (Poria), Zhuling (Polyporus), Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma), Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma).
Gange Tang treats Yangming meridian syndromes.
Ingredients: Gange (Puerariae Lobatae Radix), Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma), Baishao Yao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma).
Xiaochaihu Tang is described under Internal Injury Soreness and Weakness.
Shenghui Fang treats Shaoyang and Yangming soreness and weakness with miraculous efficacy.
Original Formula: Chaihu (1 liang), Qinjiao (1 liang), Gancao (3 qian).
My family's secret prescription for excess Dampness adds Cangzhu. For Heat, add Huangbai. For Wind, add Fangfeng. Generally, add Mugua (Chaenomelis Fructus) as a guiding herb, yielding extraordinary results.