大黄 浓朴 枳实
目赤肿，胸胀满，潮热狂言而喘，此方主之。
阳邪在上则目肿胸满，在中则胀，乘心则狂，溢于胃口则喘。胃实则潮热。潮者，犹江海之潮，其来不失时
也。枳、朴去上膈痞满，大黄荡胃中实热，疾消热退，则正气得舒，阳邪自然承服，前症虽逆亦顺，故曰小承气。
有中风邪气作实，二便不通，机要加羌活，更等其分，名三化汤。盖承气能治实邪，加羌活，不忘乎风也。服后
大小便微行，上中下无所阻塞，而复其传化之职，故曰三化。凡久风变热，病实形实者，皆为对症。必曰中风多
气虚上逆，无用承气之理，固矣哉。
前方加芒硝
调胃承气不与枳实者，以其不作燥满，如用恐伤上膈氤氲之元气也。小承气不与芒硝者，以其实而未坚，如
用恐伤下膈汗漫之真阴也。今三部痞、满、燥、实、坚全见，非重大之剂，急下以承制其邪，则真阴尽为亢阳所
劫，症其危矣。然下多亡阴，故仲景曰∶欲行大承气，先与小承气。又曰∶阳明病应发汗，医反下之，此为大逆。
不思补和救逆，
漫谓伤寒失表，处散方与服，脉愈滑数，至不可为乃已。深造之士，既常戒惧，于此尤宜加谨。
诗曰∶调胃承气硝黄草；大黄枳朴承气小；二方相合名大承，不留甘草防中挠。
芫花 大戟 甘遂 大枣
热邪内蓄、而有伏饮，致头痛项强者，此方主之。
病患内热必渴，渴则必引饮，饮多气弱不能施化。因而凝滞，发为头痛项强，或干呕、汗 出。不须攻表，
但宜逐饮，饮尽则安。芫花之辛能散饮，大戟之苦能泄水，甘遂直达水饮所结之处，三物皆峻利，故用大枣以益
土。此戎衣之后，而发钜桥粟之意也。然非壮实人，未可轻与。
大黄、厚朴、枳实。
眼睛红肿，胸部胀满，定时发热，胡言乱语且气喘，此方主治。
阳邪在上部则导致目肿胸满，在中部则胀满，侵犯心脏则发狂，溢入胃口则气喘。胃中实热则导致定时发热。“潮”字，就像江海之潮，按时到来。枳实、厚朴去除上焦的痞塞胀满，大黄荡涤胃中的实热，热疾消退后，正气得以舒展，阳邪自然顺服，前面的病症虽然看似逆乱也能转为顺遂，所以称为小承气汤（Small Chengqi Decoction）。
如果有中风邪气导致实证，大小便不通，在《医宗金鉴·要略》中加入羌活，剂量相等，名为三化汤（Sanhua Decoction）。因为承气类方能治疗实邪，加入羌活，是不忘记风邪的因素。服药后大小便微微通畅，上中下三焦没有阻塞，恢复其传化功能，所以叫三化。凡是久风变为热邪，病势和体质都属实的，都是对症之药。必定有人说中风多因气虚上逆，没有使用承气汤的道理，这确实是正确的。
前方（小承气汤）加入芒硝。
调胃承气汤（Tiaowei Chengqi Decoction）不用枳实，是因为它没有燥结胀满的症状，如果用了恐怕会损伤上焦氤氲的元气。小承气汤不用芒硝，是因为其实邪尚未坚硬，如果用了恐怕会损伤下焦弥漫的真阴。现在三部（上、中、下焦）的痞、满、燥、实、坚全部出现，非重用重剂，急下以制约邪气，那么真阴就会被亢盛的阳热完全劫夺，病情就非常危险了。然而泻下过多会亡失阴液，所以张仲景说：想要使用大承气汤（Da Chengqi Decoction），先给予小承气汤。又说：阳明病应当发汗，医生反而用泻下法，这是大逆。不思考如何补益调和以挽救逆证，随意说是伤寒失去了表解的机会，开发散方的药给病人服用，脉象越发滑数，到了不可救治的地步才停止。深造之士，既然经常保持戒惧之心，对此更应谨慎。
诗曰：调胃承气汤由硝石、大黄、甘草组成；大黄、枳实、厚朴组成小承气汤；两方合并名为大承气汤，不留甘草以防干扰中焦。
芫花、京大戟、甘遂、大枣。
热邪内蓄，且有伏留的水饮，导致头痛项强的，此方主治。
病人内热必然口渴，口渴就会引水饮用，饮水多而气弱不能运化。因而凝滞，引发头痛项强，或者干呕、出汗。不需要攻逐表邪，只宜逐除水饮，水饮尽除则安泰。芫花的辛味能散水饮，京大戟的苦味能泄水湿，甘遂直达水饮凝结之处，这三味药都峻烈有利，所以用大枣来补益脾胃（土）。这是在军队穿衣之后，发放巨桥粮仓粮食的意思。然而不是身体壮实的人，不可以轻易给予。
Rhubarb (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei), Magnolia Bark (Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis), Immature Bitter Orange (Fructus Aurantii Immaturus).
Redness and swelling of the eyes, chest distension and fullness, tidal fever, delirious speech, and panting. This formula is indicated for these symptoms.
When Yang pathogenic factors are in the upper part, they cause eye swelling and chest fullness; in the middle part, they cause distension; invading the Heart, they cause mania; overflowing into the Stomach cavity, they cause panting. Tidal fever results from excess heat in the Stomach. "Tidal" refers to something like the tide of the sea and rivers, arriving on time. Immature Bitter Orange and Magnolia Bark remove stagnation and fullness in the upper Jiao (Triple Burner); Rhubarb sweeps away excess heat in the Stomach. Once the heat疾 subsides, the healthy Qi (Zheng Qi) can relax, and Yang pathogens naturally submit. Although the preceding symptoms appear adverse, they become favorable. Hence, it is called Xiao Chengqi Tang (Small Chengqi Decoction).
If wind-stroke pathogenic factors cause excess conditions with obstruction of both bowel movements and urination, adding Notopterygium Root (Rhizoma Notopterygii) in equal proportions creates Sanhua Tang (Three Transformations Decoction). Since Chengqi formulas treat excess pathogens, adding Notopterygium Root ensures that wind is not forgotten. After administration, if bowel movements and urination flow slightly, removing obstructions in the upper, middle, and lower Jiao restores their transmission and transformation functions, hence the name Sanhua. For cases where long-standing wind transforms into heat, and both the disease and constitution are excess, this is appropriate. It is often argued that wind-stroke involves Qi deficiency with upward rebellion, making the use of Chengqi formulas inappropriate; this argument is indeed valid.
To the previous formula (Xiao Chengqi Tang), add Mirabilite (Natrii Sulfas).
Tiaowei Chengqi Tang (Regulate the Stomach Chengqi Decoction) does not include Immature Bitter Orange because there is no dryness and fullness; using it might damage the ethereal primordial Qi in the upper Jiao. Xiao Chengqi Tang does not include Mirabilite because the excess is not yet hardened; using it might damage the true Yin spreading in the lower Jiao. Now, when stagnation, fullness, dryness, excess, and hardness are all present in the three Jiaos, a heavy and potent dose is required to urgently purge and control the pathogen. Otherwise, the true Yin will be entirely seized by hyperactive Yang, and the condition will be critical. However, excessive purging leads to loss of Yin. Therefore, Zhang Zhongjing stated: To administer Da Chengqi Tang (Great Chengqi Decoction), first give Xiao Chengqi Tang. He also said: In Yangming disease, sweating should be induced; if the physician instead uses purgation, this is a great reversal. One must not fail to consider replenishing and harmonizing to remedy the reversal, nor casually attribute the failure to a lack of surface resolution in cold damage, prescribing dispersing formulas until the pulse becomes slippery and rapid beyond recovery. Scholars who have studied deeply should always remain vigilant and cautious in this regard.
The poem states: Tiaowei Chengqi Tang consists of Mirabilite, Rhubarb, and Licorice Root; Rhubarb, Immature Bitter Orange, and Magnolia Bark form Xiao Chengqi Tang; combining these two formulas creates Da Chengqi Tang, omitting Licorice Root to prevent interference with the Middle Jiao.
Genkwa Flower (Flos Genkwanis), Kansui Root (Radix Euphorbiae Kansui), Kansui Root (Radix Euphorbiae Lathyridis), Jujube Fruit (Fructus Ziziphi Jujubae).
When heat pathogens accumulate internally and latent fluid retention exists, causing headache and neck stiffness, this formula is indicated.
Patients with internal heat must feel thirsty; thirst leads to drinking. If too much water is consumed but Qi is weak and unable to transform it, stagnation occurs, leading to headache and neck stiffness, or dry retching and sweating. There is no need to attack the exterior; one should only expel the fluid retention. Once the fluid retention is eliminated, peace is restored. The pungency of Genkwa Flower can disperse fluid retention; the bitterness of Kansui Root (Radix Euphorbiae Kansui) can drain water; Radix Euphorbiae Lathyridis reaches directly to the site where water retention is knotted. These three substances are harsh and purgative, so Jujube Fruit is used to benefit the Earth element (Spleen/Stomach). This metaphorically resembles providing clothing after war and grain from Juqiao granary afterwards. However, it should not be lightly administered to those who are not robust and strong.