（素问至真要大论）
帝曰∶气有多少，病有盛衰，治有缓急，方有大小，愿闻其约奈何？（五运六气，各有太过不及，故曰气有多少。
人之疾病，必随气而为盛衰，故治之缓急，方之大小，亦必随其轻重而有要约也。）岐伯曰∶气有高下，病有远近，证有
中外，治有轻重，适其至所为故也。（岁有司天在泉，则气有高下；经有脏腑上下，则病有远近。在里曰中，在表曰外。
缓者治宜轻，急者治宜重也。适其至所为故，言必及于病至之所，而务得其以然之故也。）大要曰∶君一臣二，奇之制也；
君二臣四，偶之制也；君二臣三，奇之制也；君三臣六，偶之制也。（君三之三当作二，误也。大要，古法也。主病之谓
君，君当倍用。佐君之谓臣，臣以助之。奇者阳数，即古所谓单方也。偶者阴数，即古所谓复方也。故君一臣二其数三，
君二臣三其数五，皆奇之制也。君二臣四其数六，君二臣六其数八，皆偶之制也。奇方属阳而轻，偶方属阴而重。）故曰
近者奇之，远者偶之，汗者不以偶，下者不以奇。（近者为上为阳，故用奇方，用其轻而缓也。远者为下为阴，故用偶方，
用其重而急也。汗者不以偶，阴沉不能达表也。下者不以奇，阳升不能降下也。旧本云汗者不以奇，下者不以偶，而王
太仆注云汗药不以偶方，泄下药不以奇制，是注与本文相反矣；然王注得理，而本文似误，今改从之。按∶本节特举奇
偶阴阳以分汗下之概，则气味之阴阳，又岂后于奇偶哉？故下文复言之，此其微意，正不止于品数之奇偶，而实以发明
方制之义耳，学人当因之以深悟。奇音箕。）补上治上制以缓，补下治下制以急，急则气味浓，缓则气味薄，适其至所，
此之谓也。（补上治上制以缓，欲其留布上部也。补下治下制以急，欲其直达下焦也。故欲急者须气味之浓，欲缓者须气
味之薄。若制缓方而气味浓，则峻而去速；用急方而气味薄，则柔而不前。惟缓急浓薄得其宜，则适其病至之所，而治
得其要矣。）病所远，而中道气味之者，食而过之，无越其制度也。（言病所有深远，而药必由于胃，设用之无法，则药
未及病而中道先受其气味矣。故当以食为节，而使其远近皆达，是过之也。如欲其远者，药在食前，则食催药而致远矣。
欲其近者，药在食后，则食隔药而留止矣。由此类推，则服食之疾徐，根稍之升降，以及汤膏丸散各有所宜，故云无越
其制度也。）是故平气之道，近而奇偶，制小其服也。远而奇偶，制大其服也。大则数少，小则数多。多则九之，少则二
之。（平气之道，平其不平之谓也。如在上为近，在下为远，远者近者，各有阴阳表里之分，故远方近方，亦各有奇偶相
兼之法。如方奇而分两隅，方隅而分两奇，皆互用之妙也。故近而奇偶，制小其服，小则数多，而尽于九。盖数多则分
两轻，分两轻则性力薄而仅及近处也。远而奇偶，制大其服，大则数少而止于二，盖少则分两重，分两重则性力专而直
达深远也。是皆奇偶兼用之法。若病近而大其制，则药胜于病，是谓诛伐无过。病远而小其制，则药不及病，亦犹风马
牛不相及耳。上文云近者奇之，远者偶之，言法之常也。此云近而奇偶，远而奇偶，言用之变也。知变知常，则应变可
以无方矣。）奇之不去则偶之，是谓重方。偶之不去，则反佐以取之，所谓寒热温凉，反从其病也。（此示人以圆融通变
也。如始也用奇，奇之而病不去，此其必有未合，乃当变而为偶，奇偶迭用，是曰重方，即后世所谓复方也。若偶之而
又不去，则当求其微甚真假而反佐以取之。反佐者，谓药同于病而顺其性也。如以热治寒而寒拒热，则反佐以寒而入之；
以寒治热而热格寒，则反佐以热而入之。又如寒药热用，借热以行寒，热药寒用，借寒以行热，是皆反佐变通之妙用，
盖欲因其势而利导之耳。王太仆曰∶夫热与寒背、寒与热违。微小之热，为寒所折，微小之冷，为热所消。甚大寒热，
则必能与违性者争雄，能与异气者相格，声不同不相应，气不同不相合，如是则且惮而不敢攻之，攻之则病气与药气抗
衡，而自为寒热以开闭固守矣。是以圣人反其佐以同其气，令声气应合，复令寒热参合，使其始同终异，凌润而败，坚
刚必折，柔脆同消尔。）
（《素问·至真要大论》）
黄帝问道：六气有盛衰之分，疾病有轻重之别，治疗有缓急之异，方剂有大小区别，我想听听其中的要领是什么？（五运六气，各有太过与不及，所以称为气有多少。人的疾病，必然随着气的变化而呈现盛衰，因此治疗的缓急、方剂的大小，也必然随着病情的轻重而有相应的法则。）
岐伯回答说：气位有高下之分，病位有远近之别，证候有表里之异，治疗有轻重之度，关键在于使药力恰好到达病所。（岁运有司天在泉之分，则气位有高下；经络脏腑有上下之别，则病位有远近。在体内深处称为“中”，在体表浅处称为“外”。病情缓和者治疗宜轻，病情急重者治疗宜重。所谓“适其至所为故”，意思是说必须让药力达到病变所在的部位，并且务必探求其所以然的原因。）
《大要》说：君药一味，臣药两味，这是奇方的制法；君药两味，臣药四味，这是偶方的制法；君药两味，臣药三味，这是奇方的制法；君药三味，臣药六味，这是偶方的制法。（这里的“君三”的“三”应当是“二”，原文有误。《大要》是古代的法度。主治疾病的药物称为君药，君药的用量应当加倍。辅助君药的药物称为臣药，臣药用来协助君药。奇数属于阳数，即古代所谓的单方。偶数属于阴数，即古代所谓的复方。所以君一臣二，总数为三；君二臣三，总数为五，都属于奇方的制法。君二臣四，总数为六；君二臣六，总数为八，都属于偶方的制法。奇方属阳而药性轻扬，偶方属阴而药性沉重。）
所以说：病位近的用奇方，病位远的用偶方；发汗法不用偶方，攻下法不用奇方。（病位近在上部属阳，所以用奇方，取其药性轻缓。病位远在下部属阴，所以用偶方，取其药性重急。发汗法不用偶方，是因为偶方属阴，阴气沉潜不能达于肌表。攻下法不用奇方，是因为奇方属阳，阳气升浮不能降泄下行。旧本记载为“汗者不以奇，下者不以偶”，但王冰注解说“发汗药不用偶方，泻下药不用奇方”，这与正文相反；然而王冰的注解符合医理，而正文似乎有误，现在改正以从王注。按：本节特意举出奇偶阴阳来区分发汗和攻下的概况，那么药味的阴阳属性，又岂会在奇偶之后呢？所以下文又进一步阐述，这其中的深意，不仅仅在于药味数量的奇偶，实在是为了阐明方制的意义罢了，学习的人应当由此深入领悟。奇，音同“箕”。）
补益上部、治疗上部的方剂，制法宜缓；补益下部、治疗下部的方剂，制法宜急。急则药气味浓厚，缓则药气味淡薄，使药力恰好到达病所，说的就是这个道理。（补益上部、治疗上部，制法宜缓，是为了让药力停留并布散在上部。补益下部、治疗下部，制法宜急，是为了让药力直达下焦。所以想要药力急达，必须气味浓厚；想要药力缓行，必须气味淡薄。如果制成缓方却气味浓厚，则药性峻猛而去得快；使用急方却气味淡薄，则药性柔弱而不能前行。只有缓急浓薄得当，才能使药力到达病变所在之处，从而抓住治疗的要害。）
病位深远，而药物经过胃脘时会被吸收或阻隔，可以通过进食的时间来控制，不要违背服药的制度。（意思是说，如果病位深远，而药物必经胃腑，假如服用方法不当，那么药力尚未到达病所，而在中途就已经被胃气所吸收或阻隔了。所以应当以饮食作为调节手段，使药力无论远近都能到达，这就是“过之”的含义。比如希望药力到达远处，就在食前服药，食物会推动药力使其到达远处。希望药力停留在近处，就在食后服药，食物会阻隔药力使其留止。由此类推，服药的快慢、药材根梢的升降，以及汤剂、膏剂、丸剂、散剂各有适宜的方法，所以说不要违背这些制度。）
因此，调和气血的原则是：病位近，无论奇方偶方，都减小剂量；病位远，无论奇方偶方，都增大剂量。剂量大则药味少，剂量小则药味多。药味多则增至九味，药味少则减至二味。（平气之道，就是平抑不平之气。比如在上的为近，在下的为远，远者和近者，各有阴阳表里的区别，所以远方和近方，也各有奇方偶方兼用的方法。比如方剂是奇数而分两副，方剂是偶数而分两副，都是互相运用的妙处。所以病位近而用奇偶方，就减小剂量，剂量小则药味多，最多到九味。因为药味多则每味药的份量轻，份量轻则药力薄弱，只能到达近处。病位远而用奇偶方，就增大剂量，剂量大则药味少，最少到二味。因为药味少则每味药的份量重，份量重则药力专一，能直达深远之处。这些都是奇偶兼用的方法。如果病位近却加大剂量，则药力胜过病邪，这叫诛伐无过。如果病位远却减小剂量，则药力达不到病所，就像风马牛不相及一样。上文说“近者奇之，远者偶之”，讲的是常规法则。这里说“近而奇偶，远而奇偶”，讲的是灵活变通。懂得变通和常规，应对变化就可以没有固定的模式了。）
奇方治不好，就用偶方，这叫重方。偶方治不好，就用反佐法来取效，所谓寒热温凉，顺从病性而治。（这是向人们展示圆融通变的道理。比如开始用奇方，奇方治疗后病未去，这说明必有不合之处，应当变为偶方，奇偶交替使用，这就叫重方，即后世所谓的复方。如果用了偶方病仍未去，那么就应当探究病情的微甚真假，采用反佐法来治疗。反佐，是指药物的性质与病邪相同而顺从其特性。比如用热药治寒病，但寒邪抗拒热药，就反佐少量寒药以便进入；用寒药治热病，但热邪格拒寒药，就反佐少量热药以便进入。又如寒药热服，借热势以推行寒药；热药冷服，借寒势以推行热药，这些都是反佐变通的妙用，大概是想顺应病势加以引导。王冰说：热与寒相背，寒与热相违。微小的热，会被大量的寒所折服；微小的冷，会被大量的热所消除。如果是极大的寒热，则必定能与违背其性质的药物争雄，能与异气相格拒，声音不同就不相应，气机不同就不相合，这样就会畏惧而不敢攻伐，一旦攻伐，病气与药气抗衡，自身就会形成寒热闭塞固守的状态。所以圣人反向利用佐药以同其气机，使声气应合，再让寒热参合，使其开始相同最终不同，使坚刚必折，柔脆同消。）
(Su Wen, Chapter 74: Zhizhen Yao Dalun)
The Yellow Emperor asked: Qi (vital energy) has degrees of abundance and deficiency; diseases have excess and decline; treatments have urgency and slackness; prescriptions have large and small sizes. I wish to hear the general principles regarding these matters. (The Five Movements and Six Qi each have excess and deficiency, hence it is said that "Qi has abundance and deficiency." Human diseases inevitably fluctuate in excess or decline according to the Qi, therefore the urgency of treatment and the size of prescriptions must also follow specific rules based on the severity of the condition.)
Biqi replied: Qi has high and low positions; diseases are near or far; symptoms are interior or exterior; treatments vary in intensity. The key lies in ensuring the medicinal force reaches the precise location of the disease. (With Si Tian and Zai Quan governing the year, Qi has high and low levels; with meridians and Zang-Fu organs having upper and lower positions, diseases are near or far. Located deep inside is called "Interior" (Zhong); located on the surface is called "Exterior" (Wai). For mild conditions, treatment should be light; for urgent conditions, treatment should be heavy. "Ensuring it reaches where it is needed" means that one must ensure the medicinal force arrives at the site of the pathology and diligently seek the underlying cause.)
The Da Yao states: One Sovereign herb and two Minister herbs constitute a Odd prescription; Two Sovereign herbs and four Minister herbs constitute an Even prescription; Two Sovereign herbs and three Minister herbs constitute an Odd prescription; Three Sovereign herbs and six Minister herbs constitute an Even prescription. (Note: "Three Sovereign" should likely be "Two Sovereign," indicating a textual error. The Da Yao refers to ancient methods. The herb that primarily treats the disease is the Sovereign (Jun), which should be used in double dosage. Herbs that assist the Sovereign are Ministers (Chen). Odd numbers belong to Yang, referring to ancient single-formula prescriptions. Even numbers belong to Yin, referring to ancient compound prescriptions. Thus, one Sovereign and two Ministers total three; two Sovereigns and three Ministers total five; both are Odd prescriptions. Two Sovereigns and four Ministers total six; two Sovereigns and six Ministers total eight; both are Even prescriptions. Odd prescriptions belong to Yang and are light; Even prescriptions belong to Yin and are heavy.)
Therefore, it is said: For near diseases, use Odd prescriptions; for far diseases, use Even prescriptions. Diaphoretic (sweating) therapies do not use Even prescriptions; purgative therapies do not use Odd prescriptions. (Near diseases are upper and Yang, so Odd prescriptions are used for their light and slow action. Far diseases are lower and Yin, so Even prescriptions are used for their heavy and rapid action. Sweating therapies avoid Even prescriptions because Yin nature is sinking and cannot reach the exterior. Purgative therapies avoid Odd prescriptions because Yang nature is ascending and cannot descend downward. Old editions stated "Sweating does not use Odd, Purging does not use Even," but Wang Bing's commentary noted "Diaphoretics do not use Even formulas, Cathartics do not use Odd systems," which contradicts the text. However, Wang's annotation aligns with medical logic, while the original text seems erroneous; thus, we correct it to follow Wang. Note: This section specifically uses Odd/Even and Yin/Yang to categorize sweating and purging generally. The yin-yang nature of flavors and odors is certainly not secondary to Odd/Even counts. Hence, the following text elaborates further. The subtle intent here goes beyond mere numerical oddity/evenness, aiming to elucidate the meaning of prescription formulation. Students should deeply comprehend this through such insights. 'Odd' is pronounced like 'Ji'.)
Tonifying the upper and treating upper diseases requires slow-acting formulations; tonifying the lower and treating lower diseases requires rapid-acting formulations. Rapid action implies strong flavor and odor; slow action implies weak flavor and odor. Ensuring the medicinal force reaches its target is what this refers to. (To treat the upper, formulations should be slow-acting to allow retention and distribution in the upper body. To treat the lower, formulations should be rapid-acting to reach the Lower Jiao directly. Therefore, rapid action requires strong flavors and odors, while slow action requires weak ones. If a slow-acting formula has strong flavors, it will be harsh and leave quickly; if a rapid-acting formula has weak flavors, it will be gentle and fail to advance. Only when slowness/rapidity and strength/weakness are appropriately balanced can the medicinal force reach the disease site and capture the essence of treatment.)
When the disease site is distant, and the medicine's qi/flavor might be absorbed or blocked by the stomach midway, one can regulate administration via food intake without violating dosage protocols. (This means that if the disease is deep, but the medicine must pass through the stomach, improper administration may cause the medicine to be absorbed or blocked mid-way before reaching the disease. Therefore, food should be used as a regulator to ensure the medicine reaches both near and far sites—this is "passing through." If one wishes the medicine to reach far sites, take it before meals; food will propel the medicine outward. If one wishes the medicine to stay near, take it after meals; food will block the medicine, keeping it localized. By analogy, the speed of ingestion, the rising/falling properties of root vs. tip, and the suitability of decoctions, pastes, pills, and powders all have appropriate methods. Thus, one should not violate these protocols.)
Therefore, the principle of balancing Qi is: For near diseases, whether using Odd or Even prescriptions, reduce the dosage. For far diseases, whether using Odd or Even prescriptions, increase the dosage. Large dosages contain fewer ingredients; small dosages contain more ingredients. More ingredients go up to nine; fewer ingredients go down to two. (Balancing Qi means correcting imbalance. Upper locations are near; lower locations are far. Both near and far have Yin-Yang and Interior-Exterior distinctions, so far and near prescriptions both employ combinations of Odd and Even methods. For example, an Odd prescription divided into two parts, or an Even prescription divided into two Odd parts, represents mutual utility. Thus, for near diseases using Odd/Even, reduce the dose. Small doses mean many ingredients, up to nine. Many ingredients mean lighter individual weights, resulting in weaker potency that only reaches nearby areas. For far diseases using Odd/Even, increase the dose. Large doses mean few ingredients, down to two. Few ingredients mean heavier individual weights, resulting in focused potency that reaches deep distances. These are methods combining Odd and Even. If a near disease is treated with a large dose, the medicine overwhelms the disease, termed "punishing the innocent." If a far disease is treated with a small dose, the medicine fails to reach the disease, like horses and cattle going in opposite directions. The previous text said "Near uses Odd, Far uses Even," describing standard laws. This text says "Near uses Odd/Even, Far uses Odd/Even," describing variable application. Knowing both variation and constancy allows one to respond to changes without fixed patterns.)
If an Odd prescription fails, switch to an Even prescription; this is called a Heavy Prescription (Chong Fang). If an Even prescription fails, use counter-assistance (Fan Zuo) to achieve the cure, employing Cold, Heat, Warm, and Cool properties to follow the nature of the disease. (This demonstrates round, flexible adaptation. Initially, if an Odd prescription is used but the disease persists, there must be a mismatch; one should then switch to an Even prescription. Alternating Odd and Even is called Chong Fang, i.e., Compound Prescriptions in later times. If an Even prescription also fails, one must investigate the subtlety, extremity, true/false nature of the disease and use counter-assistance. Counter-assistance means using drugs that share the nature of the pathogen to comply with its tendency. For example, treating Cold with Heat, but if Cold rejects Heat, add a small amount of Cold drug to facilitate entry. Treating Heat with Cold, but if Heat rejects Cold, add a small amount of Heat drug to facilitate entry. Similarly, taking Cold drugs hot, borrowing heat to move cold; taking Heat drugs cold, borrowing cold to move heat. These are the subtle applications of counter-assistance and variation, aiming to guide the disease's momentum. Wang Bing said: Heat opposes Cold, and Cold opposes Heat. Tiny amounts of Heat are subdued by massive Cold; tiny amounts of Cold are dissolved by massive Heat. However, extreme Cold or Heat will contend with opposing natures and resist different energies. Just as different sounds do not resonate and different energies do not combine, the disease will fear attack and refuse to engage. If attacked, the disease energy and drug energy will balance each other, forming self-generated Cold/Heat closures and defenses. Therefore, the Sage uses counter-assistants to harmonize the energy, making sound and energy correspond, mixing Cold and Heat, so that they start similarly but end differently. They penetrate and rot the hardness, break rigidity, and dissolve fragility.)