自雷 着炮制之论，而后世之以药制药者，愈出而愈奇，但因此而失其本性者亦不少。
药之
有利必有弊，势也；病之资利不资弊，情也；用之去弊勿去利，理也。古方能使各遂其性，
如仲景小半夏汤类，凡生姜、半夏并用者，皆一时同入之，非先时专制之，正欲生半夏之得
尽其长，而复借生姜以随救其短。譬诸用人，自有使贪、使诈之权衡，不必胥天下之菲材而
尽桎梏之，使不得动也。各遂之妙如此。若后世专制之法，在临时修合丸散而即服者犹可，
倘
预制备售，则被制者之力已微，甚而至再、至三、至十余制，则取其质而 其性，其能去病
也几何？近见人治痰疟，于肆中求半贝丸服之无效，取生半夏、贝母为末，和姜汁，服之即
效，但微有烦状耳！于此可类推已。或薄古法为疏，盍思之！
凡中病之药，服后半日许，可验其当否者，大法有三∶一则药到病除。如《灵枢》不得
卧，
用半夏秫米，覆杯即卧，及他方所云一剂知二、剂已者是也。一则服药后别生他病，非药之
祟，正是病被药攻，拒之使然。如《伤寒论》太阴病服桂枝汤反烦，风湿相搏服术附汤，其
人
如冒状者是也。一则服药后所病反剧，非药之误，正是以药攻病，托之使然。如《证类本草
》成讷进 丸方表云∶臣弟诉患中风五年，服此丸至二千丸，所患愈加，不得忧虑，服至
四千丸必得复，至五千丸当复丁壮是也。第一验人所易知。其第二验恒易令人疑惑，自非识
病辨脉确有把握，必将改易方法，以致转辗贻误者有之。若第三验则必訾之议之，因而弃之
矣。然数十年目见耳闻，第三验最多，如伤寒初起及疟、痢方盛之时，投以中病之药，往往
增剧。第二验次之，第一验最少。世人狃于第一验之快，而欲以概其余。噫！此事真难言哉
。
自从雷敩撰写了关于炮制的论述之后，后世那些以药物相互制约（制药）的方法，层出不穷且愈发奇特，但因此失去药物本性的情况也不在少数。
药物有利就有弊，这是必然的趋势；疾病需要利用药物的利而避免其弊，这是病情的实际情况；使用药物时去除其弊而保留其利，这是合理的道理。古代方剂能使药物各尽其性，例如张仲景的小半夏汤等方子，凡是生姜和半夏并用的，都是同时放入煎煮，而不是预先单独炮制，正是为了让生半夏充分发挥其长处，同时借助生姜来补救其短处。这就像用人一样，自有任用贪才、用诈术的权衡之道，不必让天下的平庸之才都戴上枷锁束缚起来，使其无法行动。使药物各遂其性的妙处就在于此。如果像后世那种预先炮制的方法，在临时调配丸散并立即服用还可以接受，倘若预先制备好出售，那么经过炮制的药物效力已经减弱，甚至经过两次、三次乃至十余次炮制，就只取其质地而丧失了药性，这样能去除疾病的功效又有多少呢？近来有人治疗痰疟，在药店购买半贝丸服用无效，于是取生半夏和贝母研成粉末，调和姜汁服用，立刻见效，只是略有轻微烦躁的感觉罢了！由此可以类推其他情况。或许有人认为古法粗疏，何不深思一下呢！
凡是中病（药效对症）的药物，服用后大约半天时间，就可以验证其是否得当，主要有三种验证法则：第一种是药到病除。如《灵枢》中提到不得卧（失眠），使用半夏秫米汤，喝完一杯就能入睡，以及其他方剂所说的服一剂见效、服两剂痊愈的情况就是如此。第二种是服药后出现其他病症，这不是药物的祸害，正是疾病被药物攻击，身体抗拒所致。如《伤寒论》中太阴病服用桂枝汤反而感到烦闷，风湿相搏证服用术附汤，患者感觉像头昏目眩一样的情况就是如此。第三种是服药后原有病情反而加重，这不是药物的错误，正是用药物攻伐疾病，托毒外出的结果。如《证类本草》中记载成讷进呈的丸方表奏中说：“臣弟患中风五年，服用此丸达到两千丸，患病更加严重，不要忧虑，服用至四千丸必定恢复，服用至五千丸应当恢复壮实。”这就是第三种情况。第一种验证人们容易知晓。第二种验证常常容易让人产生疑惑，如果不是对辨病和切脉有确切的把握，往往会改变治疗方法，从而导致辗转延误病情。至于第三种验证，则一定会遭到指责和非议，因而被废弃。然而几十年来亲眼所见、亲耳所闻，第三种验证最多，如伤寒初起以及疟疾、痢疾正盛的时候，投用中病的药物，往往会使病情加重。第二种验证次之，第一种验证最少。世人拘泥于第一种验证的快速见效，而想以此概括其余情况。唉！这件事真难说啊。
Since Lei Xiao wrote his treatise on processing (Paozhi, 炮制), the methods of "processing drugs with drugs" (Yi Yao Zhi Yao, 以药制药) in later generations have emerged one after another, becoming increasingly ingenious. However, many cases have lost their original nature due to this practice.
Drugs inevitably have both advantages and disadvantages; this is their inherent tendency. Diseases benefit from the advantages but not the disadvantages; this is the nature of the disease condition. Using drugs to eliminate disadvantages while retaining advantages is the rational principle. Ancient prescriptions allowed each drug to fulfill its nature. For example, in Zhang Zhongjing's Xiao Banxia Tang (Minor Pinellia Decoction), whenever Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger) and Banxia (Pinellia Rhizome) were used together, they were added simultaneously during decoction, rather than being pre-processed separately. This was precisely to allow raw Banxia (Sheng Banxia, 生半夏) to fully exert its strengths, while borrowing Shengjiang to remedy its shortcomings. It is like employing people: there are appropriate measures for using those who are cunning or deceitful; it is unnecessary to shackle all mediocre talents in the world, rendering them immobile. The wonder of allowing things to follow their own nature lies here. If the method of pre-processing used in later generations is applied to pills and powders prepared temporarily and taken immediately, it may still be acceptable. However, if they are prepared in advance for sale, the efficacy of the processed drugs will already be diminished. Even worse, if subjected to two, three, or even more than ten processes, only the physical texture is retained while the medicinal nature is lost. How much efficacy would remain to cure diseases? Recently, I saw someone treating phlegm-malaria (Tan Nue, 痰疟). They bought Banbei Wan (Pinellia and Fritillaria Pill) from a pharmacy without effect. Then, they took raw Banxia (Sheng Banxia, 生半夏) and Beimu (Fritillaria Bulb) ground into powder, mixed with ginger juice, and took it orally, resulting in immediate efficacy, albeit with slight restlessness! From this, other situations can be inferred. Some might consider ancient methods crude; why not ponder this deeply!
For any drug that hits the target (Zhongbing, 中病), its appropriateness can usually be verified about half a day after administration. There are three general principles for verification: First, the disease is cured as soon as the medicine takes effect. For instance, in *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot), for insomnia (Bude Wo, 不得卧), Banxia Shumi Tang (Pinellia and Millet Decoction) allows the patient to sleep within the time it takes to finish a cup. Similarly, other prescriptions mention seeing improvement after one dose and recovery after two doses. Second, new symptoms appear after taking the medicine. This is not a harm caused by the drug, but rather the body resisting the attack of the drug against the disease. For example, in *Shang Han Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage), patients with Taiyin disease experience increased irritability after taking Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction); patients with wind-dampness bi-syndrome experiencing mutual entanglement feel dizzy or disoriented after taking Zhufu Tang (Aconite and Atractylodes Macrocephala Decoction). Third, the existing symptoms worsen after taking the medicine. This is not an error of the drug, but the result of the drug attacking the disease and pushing it outward. For example, in *Zheng Lei Ben Cao* (Compendium of Materia Medica organized by Category), Cheng Ne presented a memorial regarding a pill formula stating: "My brother suffered from stroke for five years. After taking this pill up to two thousand units, his condition worsened. Do not worry. After taking four thousand units, he will surely recover. After taking five thousand units, he will regain robust health." The first type of verification is easily understood by people. The second type often causes confusion. Unless one has firm grasp in differentiating diseases and pulse diagnosis, one might change the treatment method, leading to further delays and errors. The third type is often criticized and abandoned due to suspicion and discussion. However, over decades of personal observation and hearing, the third type is the most common. For example, at the initial stage of Shanghan (Cold Damage) or during the peak of malaria and dysentery, administering a targeted drug often exacerbates the condition initially. The second type is less common, and the first type is the rarest. People are accustomed to the rapid effect of the first type and try to generalize it to others. Alas! This matter is truly difficult to explain.