论老人宜补肾
天师曰∶老人之气血既衰，不可仍照年少人治法。故食多则饱闷，食少则困馁，食寒则腹痛，食热则
肠燥。此老人
最难调治，而医之用药，不可不知其方也。丸方莫妙用六味丸，加麦冬三两，北五味子一两，与之常
服，则肠无燥结之苦，胃有能食之欢。此方之妙，竟可由六十服至百年，终岁不断常服。盖老人气血之
虚，尽由于肾水之涸。六味丸妙在极补肾水，又能健脾胃之气，去肾中之邪火。而生肾中之真阳，所以
老人最宜也。然而，老人最不肯节饮食，又将何以治之？余今新定一方，可以统治伤食多痰之症。方用
人参五分，茯苓一钱，白芥子一钱，麦冬三钱，薏仁五钱，山药二钱，陈皮三分，麦芽五分，山楂三粒，
神曲三分，萝卜子三分，甘草五分，水煎服。有火者，加元参二钱；有寒者，加肉桂五分∶有痰者，加
半夏五分；有食者，加山楂、麦芽；有湿者，加泽泻一钱∶有暑者，加香薷五分；有燥者，加麦冬五钱、
苏叶五分；不眠者，加枣仁一钱；胁痛者，加白芍三钱；心痛者，加栀子一钱；咳嗽者，加枯梗一钱∶腰
酸者，加熟地五钱，杜仲五钱；足无力者，加牛膝一钱，余可不必再加。老人之方，如此可悟也。
张公曰∶老治之法，最平稳而妥当，不必再立方也。
华君曰∶无。
更有一方，治老人不寐最妙。用六味地黄丸一料，加麦冬四两，炒枣仁五两，黄连三钱，肉桂五钱，
当归三两，白芍五两，甘菊花三两，要家园自种者，白芥子二两，为末，蜜为丸。每日白滚水送下五钱，服
后用饭。此方老人可服至百岁。
陈士铎说：老年人的气血已经衰退，不能仍然按照年轻人的治疗方法来诊治。所以，吃得多了就会感到饱胀胸闷，吃得少了就会感到疲倦饥饿，吃了寒凉食物就会腹痛，吃了温热食物就会肠道干燥。这是老年人最难调理治疗的病症，而医生用药，不可不知道相应的方剂。丸药方面没有比六味丸更巧妙的了，加入麦冬三两、北五味子一两，让老人经常服用，那么肠道就没有干燥结滞的痛苦，胃也有能进食的喜悦。这个方子的妙处，竟然可以让老人从六十岁一直服到一百岁，整年不间断地常服。大概是因为老年人气血的虚弱，完全由于肾水的枯竭。六味丸的精妙之处在于极能补肾水，又能健运脾胃之气，去除肾中的邪火，并生发肾中的真阳，所以最适合老年人。然而，老年人最不肯节制饮食，又将用什么方法来治疗呢？我现在新定一方，可以统管伤食多痰的症状。方用人参五分，茯苓一钱，白芥子一钱，麦冬三钱，薏仁五钱，山药二钱，陈皮三分，麦芽五分，山楂三粒，神曲三分，萝卜子三分，甘草五分，用水煎服。有火气的，加元参二钱；有寒气的，加肉桂五分；有痰的，加半夏五分；有积食的，加山楂、麦芽；有湿气的，加泽泻一钱；有中暑的，加香薷五分；有燥热的，加麦冬五钱、苏叶五分；失眠的，加枣仁一钱；胁痛的，加白芍三钱；心痛的，加栀子一钱；咳嗽的，加桔梗一钱；腰酸的，加熟地五钱、杜仲五钱；脚无力的，加牛膝一钱，其余情况不必再加。老年人的方子，由此可以领悟了。
张公说：老年病的治疗法则，最平稳而妥当，不必再另立方子了。
华君说：无（意见）。
另外还有一方，治疗老年人失眠最为巧妙。用六味地黄丸一料，加入麦冬四两，炒枣仁五两，黄连三钱，肉桂五钱，当归三两，白芍五两，甘菊花三两（最好是自家园子里种的），白芥子二两，研成细末，用蜂蜜做成丸药。每天用白开水送服五钱，服药后再吃饭。这个方子老人可以一直服到百岁。
Chen Shiduo said: The qi and blood of the elderly have already declined, and their treatment cannot follow the same methods as those for the young. Therefore, excessive eating leads to fullness and chest oppression; insufficient eating leads to fatigue and hunger; consuming cold foods causes abdominal pain; and consuming hot foods results in intestinal dryness. These are the most difficult conditions to regulate and treat in the elderly, and physicians must know the appropriate prescriptions when prescribing medication. Among pill formulations, none is more exquisite than Liuwei Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia). By adding 3 liang of Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix) and 1 liang of Bei Wuweizi (Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus), and having the elderly take it regularly, they will be relieved of the suffering of intestinal dryness and constipation, and the stomach will enjoy the pleasure of appetite. The brilliance of this prescription lies in its ability to sustain regular use from age sixty to one hundred, without interruption throughout the year. This is because the deficiency of qi and blood in the elderly stems entirely from the depletion of Kidney Water (Jin-Ye/Kidney Yin). Liuwei Wan is exquisite because it strongly tonifies Kidney Water, strengthens the Qi of the Spleen and Stomach, clears pathogenic fire from the Kidneys, and generates the True Yang within the Kidneys; thus, it is most suitable for the elderly. However, the elderly are least willing to regulate their diet. How then should this be treated? I have now newly formulated a prescription that can comprehensively manage symptoms of food stagnation and excessive phlegm. The formula consists of: Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) 5 fen, Fuling (Poria) 1 qian, Baijiezi (Brassicae Seminium) 1 qian, Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix) 3 qian, Yiren (Coicis Semen) 5 qian, Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma) 2 qian, Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) 3 fen, Maiya (Hordei Fructus Germinatus) 5 fen, Shanzha (Crataegi Fructus) 3 pieces, Shenqu (Massa Medicata Fermentata) 3 fen, Luobozhi (Raphani Semen) 3 fen, Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) 5 fen. Decoct in water and take orally. If there is heat/fire, add Yuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix) 2 qian; if there is cold, add Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex) 5 fen; if there is phlegm, add Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) 5 fen; if there is food stagnation, add Shanzha and Maiya; if there is dampness, add Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma) 1 qian; if there is summerheat, add Xiangru (Elsholtziae Herba) 5 fen; if there is dryness, add Maidong 5 qian and Sueye (Perillae Folium) 5 fen; if there is insomnia, add Zaoren (Ziziphi Spinosomi Semen) 1 qian; if there is hypochondriac pain, add Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) 3 qian; if there is heart pain, add Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus) 1 qian; if there is cough, add Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix) 1 qian; if there is soreness and weakness of the lower back, add Shudi (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata) 5 qian and Duzhong (Eucommiae Cortex) 5 qian; if there is weakness in the feet, add Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix) 1 qian. For other conditions, no further additions are necessary. From this, one can understand the principles of treating the elderly.
Mr. Zhang said: The therapeutic principles for the elderly are the most stable and appropriate; there is no need to establish new prescriptions.
Mr. Hua said: None.
Additionally, there is another prescription that is most effective for treating insomnia in the elderly. Take one batch of Liuhuang Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill), add Maidong 4 liang, Chao Zaoren (Fried Ziziphi Spinosomi Semen) 5 liang, Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) 3 qian, Rougui 5 qian, Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) 3 liang, Baishao 5 liang, Ganjuhua (Chrysanthemi Flos) 3 liang (preferably home-grown), and Baijiezi 2 liang. Grind into fine powder and form pills with honey. Take 5 qian daily with plain boiled water, followed by a meal. The elderly can take this prescription until the age of one hundred.