治腹中切痛。
桂（削） 生姜（切各三分） 甘草（炙半两） 大枣（十二枚擘） 白芍（一两半）
胶饴（二
上以水二升，煮取九合，去滓，内饴更上火微煮，令饴化。温服三合，日三服。尝有人
患心腹病不可忍，累用良医治之皆不效。灸十余处亦不差，士人陈承善医，投一药遂定。问
之，乃小建中汤也。此药偏治腹中虚寒，补血，尤主腹痛，常人见其药性温平，未必信之。
古人补虚只用此体面药，不须附子硫黄。承用此药，治腹痛如神。然腹痛按之便痛，重按却
不甚痛。此止是气痛，重按愈痛而坚者，当自有积也。气痛不可下，下之愈痛，此虚寒证也，
此药尤相当。按《外台》，虚劳腹中痛，梦失精，四肢酸痛，手足烦热，咽干口燥，妇人少
腹痛，宜服《仲景伤寒论》。阳脉涩，阴脉弦，法当腹中急痛，先与此不瘥，小柴胡汤主之。
此二药皆主腹痛，予已于小柴胡汤叙之。若作散，即每服五钱匕，生姜五片，枣三个大者，
饴一栗大。若疾势甚，须作汤剂，散服恐力不胜病。元丰中，丞相王郇公，病小腹痛不止。
宣差太医，攻治备至皆不效。凡药之至热，如附子硫黄五夜 丸之类，用之亦不瘥。驸马张
都尉，令取妇人油头发烧为灰，细研筛过，温酒服二钱，即时痛止，（女用男发）
治疗腹中剧烈疼痛。
桂枝（削皮）三分，生姜（切片）三分，甘草（炙烤）半两，大枣（掰开）十二枚，白芍药一两半，胶饴（麦芽糖）二升。
以上药物用水二升，煎煮至九合，滤去药渣，加入胶饴，再次放在火上微火加热，使胶饴融化。每次温服三合，每日服用三次。
曾经有人患心腹剧痛难以忍受，多次请良医治疗均无效。艾灸十余处也未见好转。擅长医术的士人陈承，投予一味药便使病情安定。询问后得知，那是小建中汤。此药专门治疗腹中虚寒，具有补血功效，尤其主治腹痛。常人见其药性温和平稳，未必相信它。古人补虚只用这种平和的药物，不需要附子、硫黄。陈承使用此药，治疗腹痛如神效一般。然而，如果腹痛按压时疼痛加重，重按反而不太痛的，这仅仅是气滞作痛；如果重按疼痛加剧且腹部坚硬有块状的，应当是有积滞存在。气滞作痛不可用泻下法，泻下会使疼痛加剧，这是虚寒证，此药尤为对症。查阅《外台秘要》，虚劳引起的腹中痛、梦中遗精、四肢酸痛、手足烦热、咽干口燥，以及妇人少腹痛，适宜服用《伤寒论》中的方剂。若阳脉涩、阴脉弦，按照法度应当腹中急痛，先给予此方（小建中汤），若无效，则用小柴胡汤主治。这两种药都主治腹痛，我已在小柴胡汤条下叙述过。若制成散剂，每次服用五钱匕，生姜五片，大枣三个大的，胶饴如栗子大小。如果病势严重，必须做成汤剂，服用散剂恐怕药力不足以战胜疾病。元丰年间，丞相王郇公，患小腹痛不止。皇帝派遣太医，攻治手段完备至极却均无效。凡是药性极热的药物，如附子、硫黄制成的五夜丸之类，使用它们也不见效。驸马张都尉，命令取妇女的油头发放火烧成灰，细细研磨筛过后，用温酒送服二钱，即时疼痛停止。（女性患者用男性头发）
Treats severe pain in the abdomen.
Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig, peeled) 3 fen, Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger, sliced) 3 fen, Gancao (Licorice Root, honey-fried) 0.5 liang, Dazao (Jujube, split) 12 pieces, Baishao (White Peony Root) 1.5 liang, Jiaoyi (Maltose) 2 sheng.
Take the above ingredients with 2 sheng of water, decoct to obtain 9 he, remove the dregs, add Jiaoyi, and heat gently over fire again until the Jiaoyi melts. Take 3 he warm each time, three times a day.
Once, a person suffered from unbearable heart and abdominal pain. Multiple treatments by competent physicians were ineffective. Moxibustion applied to more than ten acupoints also failed to improve the condition. Chen Cheng, a scholar proficient in medicine, administered a single prescription that stabilized the patient. Upon inquiry, it was revealed to be Xiaojianzhong Tang (Minor Construct the Middle Decoction). This formula specifically treats deficiency-cold in the abdomen, nourishes blood, and is particularly indicated for abdominal pain. Ordinary people, seeing its mild and neutral nature, may not believe in its efficacy. Ancients used only such gentle substances for tonifying deficiency, without needing Fuzi (Aconite Lateral Root) or Liuhuang (Sulfur). Chen Cheng used this formula, treating abdominal pain with miraculous effect. However, if abdominal pain worsens upon palpation but does not hurt significantly upon heavy pressure, it is merely Qi stagnation pain; if heavy pressure increases pain and the abdomen feels hard with masses, there are likely accumulations present. Qi stagnation pain should not be treated with purgatives, as purging will exacerbate the pain; this is a deficiency-cold syndrome, for which this formula is highly appropriate. According to Waitai Miyao (Secret Essentials of the Outer Cabinet), for deficiency consumption causing abdominal pain, nocturnal seminal emission, soreness and pain in the four limbs, vexing heat in the hands and feet, dry throat and mouth, and lower abdominal pain in women, one should take formulas from Shanghan Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage). If the Yang pulse is choppy and the Yin pulse is wiry, according to the method, acute abdominal pain should occur; first administer this formula (Xiaojianzhong Tang). If ineffective, treat with Xiaochaihu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction). Both formulas treat abdominal pain; I have already discussed them under the entry for Xiaochaihu Tang. If prepared as a powder, take 5 qianbi per dose, with 5 slices of Shengjiang, 3 large Dazao, and a piece of Jiaoyi the size of a chestnut. If the disease severity is high, a decoction must be prepared; taking powder may not provide sufficient therapeutic force. During the Yuanfeng era, Chancellor Wang Xungong suffered from incessant lower abdominal pain. The Emperor dispatched imperial physicians who employed exhaustive treatment methods, yet all were ineffective. Even extremely hot-natured medicines, such as Wuye Wan (Five-Night Pill) containing Fuzi and Liuhuang, proved ineffective. Zhang Duwei, a Prince Consort, ordered the collection of oily hair from women, burned it to ash, finely ground and sieved it, then administered 2 qian with warm wine, resulting in immediate cessation of pain. (For female patients, use male hair.)