冬属水，主于敛藏。冬，肾气旺，属水，味属咸。水克火，火属心，心主苦。当冬之时
，其饮食之味，宜减咸而增苦，以养心气。肾气盛者，调吹气以平之。顺之，则安；逆之，
则少阴不藏，肾之水独沉。
三冬之月，最宜居处密室，温暖衾服，调其饮食，适其寒温。大寒之日，山药酒、肉酒
，时进一杯，以扶衰弱，以御寒气，不可轻出，触冒寒风。缘老人血气虚怯，真阳气少，若
感寒邪，便成疾患，多为嗽、吐逆、麻痹、昏眩之疾。冬燥煎炉之物，尤宜少食。
冬月，阳气在内，阴气在外，池沼之中，冰坚如石，地裂横璺，寒从下起，人亦如是。
故盛冬月，人多患膈气满急之疾，老人多有上热下冷之患。如冬月阳气在内，虚阳上攻，若
食炙爆燥热之物，故多有壅、噎、痰嗽、眼目之疾。亦不宜澡沐。阳气内蕴之时，若加
汤火所逼，须出大汗。高年阳气发泄，骨肉疏薄，易于伤动，多感外疾，惟早眠晚起，以
避霜威。晨朝宜饮少醇酒，然后进粥。临卧，宜服微凉膈化痰之药一服。
今列冬时汤药如后。
治老人大肠风燥气秘。陈橘丸（霍大使与冯尚药同定此方）。
陈橘皮（去瓤，一两） 槟榔（细锉，半两） 木香（一分） 羌活（去芦头，半两） 防风（去芦头，半
两） 青皮（去瓤，半两） 枳壳（麸炒，去瓤，半两） 不蛀皂角（两挺，去黑皮，酥炙黄） 郁李仁（一
两，去皮尖，炒黄） 牵牛（微炒，杵细，罗，取末，二两）
上为末，郁李仁、牵牛同研拌匀，炼蜜为丸，如桐子大。每服二十丸。食前，用姜汤下
。未利，渐加三十丸，以利为度。
老人有热，壅滞不快，大肠时秘结，诸热毒生疮。搜风顺气牵牛丸。
牵牛（二两，饭甑蒸过） 木通（一两） 青橘（一两，去瓤） 桑白皮（一两） 赤芍药（一两） 木
香（半两）
上为末，炼蜜为丸，如桐子大。每服十五丸至二十丸，丈夫酒下；妇人血气，醋汤下。
解老人热秘方。
大附子一个，烧过存性，研为末。每服一钱，热酒调下。
Winter belongs to Water and governs storage and conservation. During winter, Kidney Qi is prosperous; it corresponds to the element of Water and the flavor of Salty. Water overcomes Fire; Fire corresponds to the Heart, which governs Bitter. Therefore, during winter, dietary flavors should be reduced in Saltiness and increased in Bitterness to nourish Heart Qi. If Kidney Qi is excessive, it can be balanced by regulating breathing and exhalation. Adhering to this principle ensures peace; violating it leads to the failure of the Shaoyin (Kidney and Heart) to conserve properly, causing the Water of the Kidney to sink alone.
Throughout the three months of winter, one should best reside in a sealed room, keep quilts and clothing warm, regulate diet, and adapt to cold and warmth. On days of severe cold, consuming a cup of Yam Wine or Meat Wine from time to time helps support debility and resist cold qi. One should not venture out lightly to expose oneself to cold winds. Since the elderly have deficient and timid Blood-Qi and little True Yang Qi, contracting cold pathogens easily results in diseases, often manifesting as cough, vomiting and reflux, numbness and paralysis, and dizziness. Foods roasted or fried on stoves in winter are particularly unsuitable for frequent consumption.
In winter months, Yang Qi resides within while Yin Qi manifests externally. Ponds and marshes freeze hard as stone, and cracks appear horizontally across the ground; cold rises from below, and the human body follows this pattern. Thus, in deep winter, many people suffer from chest diaphragm fullness and urgency, and the elderly often experience upper heat and lower cold. If Yang Qi is internal and deficient Yang attacks upward, combined with eating roasted, fried, and dry-hot foods, conditions such as stagnation, dysphagia, phlegm-cough, and eye disorders frequently arise. Bathing and washing are also inadvisable. When Yang Qi is internally accumulated, forcing sweat through hot water or fire causes profuse sweating. In advanced age, Yang Qi dissipates easily, bones and flesh are thin and loose, making one susceptible to injury and external diseases. The best approach is to sleep early and rise late to avoid the harsh frost. In the morning, drinking a small amount of strong wine before porridge is beneficial. Before bed, taking a dose of mild cooling diaphragm-clearing and phlegm-resolving medicine is appropriate.
The following decoctions are listed for winter use:
Chen Ju Wan (Tangerine Peel Pill) for treating elderly patients with intestinal wind-dryness leading to Qi constipation. This formula was established jointly by Grand Envoy Huo and Imperial Physician Feng.
Chen Pi (Aged Tangerine Peel, pith removed, 1 liang), Bing Lang (Areca Seed, finely chopped, 0.5 liang), Mu Xiang (Costus Root, 1 fen), Qiang Huo (Notopterygium Rhizome, radix removed, 0.5 liang), Fang Feng (Saposhnikovia Root, radix removed, 0.5 liang), Qing Pi (Green Tangerine Peel, pith removed, 0.5 liang), Zhi Ke (Immature Bitter Orange, bran-fried, pith removed, 0.5 liang), Bu Zhu Suan Jiao (Non-rotting Gleditsia Sinensis Fruit, 2 stalks, black skin removed, fried with butter until yellow), Yu Li Ren (Prunus japonica Seed, 1 liang, skin and tip removed, fried until yellow), Qian Niu (Pharbitis Seed, slightly fried, pounded fine, sifted for powder, 2 liang).
Grind all ingredients into powder. Grind Yu Li Ren and Qian Niu together evenly. Form pills using refined honey, sized like paulownia seeds. Take 20 pills per dose before meals, washed down with Ginger Decoction. If bowel movement does not occur, gradually increase to 30 pills, stopping when unimpeded defecation is achieved.
Sou Feng Shun Qi Qian Niu Wan (Wind-Searching and Qi-Unblocking Pharbitis Pill) for elderly patients with heat, stagnation and discomfort, frequent large intestine constipation, and sores caused by various heat toxins.
Qian Niu (Pharbitis Seed, 2 liang, steamed in a rice steamer), Mu Tong (Akebia Stem, 1 liang), Qing Ju (Green Tangerine, 1 liang, pith removed), Sang Bai Pi (Mulberry Root Bark, 1 liang), Chi Shao Yao (Red Peony Root, 1 liang), Mu Xiang (Costus Root, 0.5 liang).
Grind all ingredients into powder. Form pills using refined honey, sized like paulownia seeds. Take 15 to 20 pills per dose. Men should take them with wine; women with blood-qig disorders should take them with Vinegar Decoction.
Secret Formula for Resolving Heat in the Elderly.
Da Fu Zi (Large Aconite Lateral Root), burned to retain its properties, ground into powder. Take 1 qian per dose, mixed with hot wine.