虚损之症，必有所因。而似损非损之症，其来则骤，盖以外感风寒，不为解散，而误
，或用温补，或用清凉，或用消导，以致外邪郁伏，久留不散，而为寒热往来，及为潮热咳
嗽，其症全似劳损。若用治损之法以治，则滋阴等剂，愈以留邪热蒸，久久非损成损矣。欲
辨此者，但当审其并无积渐之因。或身有疼痛，而微汗则热退，无汗则复热。或见大声咳嗽
，脉虽弦紧而不甚数。或兼和缓等症，则虽病至一两月，而邪有不解，病终不退者。本非劳
损，毋误治也。
寒热往来不止者，宜一二三四五柴胡等饮，酌宜用之，或正柴胡饮亦可。兼咳嗽者，
柴陈煎。若脾肾气虚而兼咳嗽者，金水六君煎，或邪有未解而兼寒热者，仍加柴胡。
有一种血分郁滞，气行而血不行，徒为蒸热，俟蒸气散，微汗而热退者，此宜活血为主。
治肾水亏损，小便淋闭，头目眩运，腰腿酸软，阴虚发热，自汗盗汗，憔悴瘦弱，
精神疲困，失血失音，水泛为痰，病为肿胀，壮水制火之剂也。
熟地黄（八两，蒸捣） 山萸肉（四两） 山药（四两，炒） 泽泻（三两） 白茯苓（三两）
丹皮（三两）
上为细末，和地黄膏加炼蜜，为丸桐子大，每服七八十丸，空心食前白滚汤、或淡盐
汤任下。此方用水煎汤，即名六味地黄汤，下八味丸亦同。
虚损类的疾病，必定有其原因。而那些看似虚损实则并非虚损的疾病，发病往往突然，这是因为外感风寒之邪，未能及时发散解除，反而误用温补、清凉或消导类药物，导致外邪郁结潜伏，长久停留不散，从而出现寒热往来以及潮热咳嗽等症状，这些症状完全像极了劳损（慢性消耗性疾病）。如果此时使用治疗虚损的方法来处理，那么滋阴等药剂反而会助长邪热蒸腾，久而久之，原本不是虚损的病就会真的变成虚损了。想要辨别这类情况，关键在于审查患者并没有逐渐积累的病因。或者身体疼痛，微微出汗后热退，无汗时热又复起；或者出现大声咳嗽，脉象虽然弦紧但跳动次数并不非常快；或者兼有其他和缓的症状，那么即使患病一两个月，邪气仍未解除，病情始终不退的，这本来就不是劳损，不要误治。
对于寒热往来不止的情况，适宜选用一至五柴胡饮等方剂，酌情使用，或者正柴胡饮也可以。兼有咳嗽的，用柴陈煎。如果是脾肾气虚兼有咳嗽的，用金水六君煎；如果邪气未解兼有寒热的，仍然要加入柴胡。
有一种血分郁滞的情况，气能运行而血不能运行，仅仅表现为蒸蒸发热，等到蒸气散开，微微出汗后热退，这种情况应当以活血为主。
本方用于治疗肾水亏损，小便淋沥闭塞，头目眩晕，腰腿酸软无力，阴虚发热，自汗盗汗，形体憔悴瘦弱，精神疲乏困倦，失血失音，水湿泛滥形成痰饮，因病导致肿胀，属于壮水制火（滋补肾阴以制约阳亢）的方剂。
熟地黄（八两，蒸熟捣烂） 山萸肉（四两） 山药（四两，炒制） 泽泻（三两） 白茯苓（三两） 牡丹皮（三两）
以上药物研成细末，混合地黄膏并加入炼蜜，制成梧桐子大小的丸药，每次服用七八十丸，空腹饭前用白开水或淡盐水送服均可。此方若用水煎煮成汤剂，即名为六味地黄汤，下文的八味丸也与此相同。
Diseases of deficiency consumption (Xu Sun) must have a specific cause. However, conditions that resemble deficiency consumption but are not actually such often arise suddenly. This is due to external contraction of wind-cold pathogens that were not properly dispersed and resolved, followed by erroneous treatment using warming tonics, cooling agents, or digestive aids. Consequently, the external pathogens become depressed and latent, lingering for a long time without dispersing. This leads to alternating chills and fever, as well as tidal fever and coughing. These symptoms completely mimic chronic consumption diseases (Lao Sun). If one applies treatments for deficiency consumption in this scenario, yin-nourishing formulas will further retain pathogenic heat and exacerbate steaming sensations. Over time, a condition that was not originally deficiency consumption will truly transform into one. To distinguish this, one should examine whether there is no history of gradual accumulation of causes. For instance, if the body aches and fever subsides with slight sweating but returns when sweating does not occur; or if loud coughing is present, and although the pulse is wiry and tight, it is not particularly rapid; or if other mild symptoms are present, yet even after one or two months of illness, the pathogen remains unresolved and the disease persists—these are originally not chronic consumption diseases, and erroneous treatment should be avoided.
For persistent alternating chills and fever, one of the Chaihu Yin (Bupleurum Decoctions) numbered one through five should be selected and used according to suitability, or Zheng Chaihu Yin (True Bupleurum Decoction) may also be used. If accompanied by coughing, Chai Chen Jian (Bupleurum and Tangerinae Peel Decoction) is indicated. In cases of Spleen and Kidney Qi deficiency accompanied by coughing, Jin Shui Liu Jun Jian (Metal-Water Six Gentlemen Decoction) is appropriate. If the pathogen has not yet resolved and is accompanied by alternating chills and fever, Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix) should still be added.
There is a type of blood-level stagnation where Qi moves but Blood does not, manifesting merely as steaming fever. When the steaming sensation dissipates and slight sweating occurs, the fever subsides. Such cases require treatment primarily focused on invigorating Blood.
This formula treats Kidney Water deficiency, presenting with dribbling urinary obstruction, dizziness and vertigo of the head and eyes, soreness and weakness of the waist and legs, Yin-deficiency fever, spontaneous sweating, night sweats, emaciation and frailty, mental fatigue and lassitude, loss of voice due to bleeding, phlegm generated from water flooding, and swelling caused by disease. It belongs to the category of formulas that strengthen Water to control Fire (Zhuang Shui Zhi Huo).
Prepared Rehmannia Root (Shu Di Huang, eight taels, steamed and mashed) Cornus Fruit (Shan Yu Rou, four taels) Chinese Yam (Shan Yao, four taels, stir-fried) Alisma Rhizome (Ze Xie, three taels) White Poria (Bai Fu Ling, three taels) Moutan Cortex (Dan Pi, three taels)
Grind the above ingredients into a fine powder, mix with Prepared Rehmannia Paste and refined honey, and form pills the size of paulownia seeds. Take seventy to eighty pills per dose, before meals on an empty stomach, washed down with plain boiled water or light salt water as preferred. If this formula is decocted with water into a soup, it is named Liu Wei Di Huang Tang (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Soup); the Ba Wei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill) mentioned below is similar in composition.