人之有脾胃。犹地之有土也。万物生化于土。而人之五脏六腑。大经小络。以及皮肉筋骨。无不资生于脾胃。
一身之要物也。盖命门真火。乃父之精气。附于两肾之间。未有此身。先有此气。出于天成。不假人为。所以
谓之先天。若夫脾胃之气。饮食五味。变生五气。以奉生身。全藉人为。后天之气也。饮食虽能养人。亦能害人。
欲求长生者。全要饮食节制。为却病之良方。饮食之所以养人者。原取其气。不取其味。因谷味甘淡。故
假五味以引之。然亦不可偏嗜。辛味归肺。肺盛则金来克木。肝血不生。甘味归脾。脾盛则土
来克水。肾精消散。苦味归心。心盛则火来克金。肺气虚耗。酸味归肝。肝盛则木来克土。脾气亏损。咸味归
肾。肾盛则水来克火。心血不足。今人烹炮一物。必备五味。全是不欲偏胜之意。惟肾水多有不足。
故咸物独多。然亦不可偏胜也。（云来按若味过于辛且能伤肺耗气损阴味过于甘且能壅气生痰满中味过于苦且
能伤脾胃而动燥火味过于酸且能挛筋槁骨枯肌伤肺味过于咸且能伤血损肺再评此按发原本所未发）每日饭
食。只宜八分。不可尽量。凡遇外有茶水。家食即当减去一次。
每见恣意饮食之人。非不节制。一至食当其前。不觉食指之欲动。此嗜欲之性。人所不自禁者也。吾
辈终岁用药。补益者少。消导者不计其数。宁非
嗜欲之自戕乎。日进饮食。必须碎咬细啮。徐徐咽下。方不伤脾。食后慢行百步。用手搓磨其腹。庶几饮食可消。
最忌食后就寝。耳无所闻。脾即不磨。肺气又不为之四布。惟有郁结成病而已。至于夜食尤当屏
绝。自平旦以至日中。胃气行阳。二十五度。饮食易消。日中以至合夜。胃气行阴。二十五
度。饮食难消。释教过午不食。其亦卫生之大则欤。更有病后虚人。元气未复。脾气不能胜谷气。
只须白粥调理。扶助元气。肥甘硬物。不但不能消化。且增其病。不可不察也。平日调理丸药。宜用滋阴健脾丸。
盖肾主藏精。其所以生精生血者。全赖饮食生化。而输归于肾。脾胃一强。精血自足。张洁
古云。补肾不如补脾。旨哉言乎。六味地黄丸一方。其性孤阴。但可降火。不能生精。苟非阴虚有火者。必以健脾为主
治也。
脾胃虽能化物。而其所以化物者。实是下焦水火二气。命门火衰。釜底无薪。其何能熟。古方理中汤
八味地黄丸。皆知补火以生土也。至若水亏不能化物者。诸书毫未之及。肾司五液。入脾为涎。肾家阴虚有火。津
液不足。脾土干燥。健运何施。予用归芍门冬。加入楂曲等药。无不应也。然脾胃虽为要物。而先天命门。又为
一身之至宝。节房欲。慎劳苦。戒远行。其亦保养先天之一法欤。
滋阴健脾丸
人参（二两） 麦冬（三两） 五味（一两） 白术（三两） 白茯（二两）
甘草（一两） 山药（三两） 石斛（一两） 陈皮（一两） 山楂（三两）
古方健脾丸。乃纯阳之品。脾虚有寒者宜之。若中宫有火。不能化物者。此
方极妙。
益气健脾汤
人参 白术 白茯 甘草 陈皮 半夏 山楂 神曲 苡仁 泽泻
正气虚。饮食少。当以补药为君。消食为佐。若饮食多者。又以消食为君。补
药为佐也。症非泄泻下痢。宜加当归。气虚甚者。加黄 炮姜。滞重者加浓朴。
养血健脾汤
当归 白芍 麦冬 山楂 神曲 陈皮 泽泻 白茯 苡仁 桔梗
滞重加浓朴。
（添加）戊癸汤
破故纸 人参 茯苓 鸡内金 生姜 菟丝子 白术 甘草 沙苑子 大枣
（添加）消食健脾丸
枳实 白术 山楂 人参 神曲 鸡内金 麦芽 连翘
The human body possesses the Spleen and Stomach, just as the earth possesses soil. All things are generated and transformed in the soil, and so too are the five Zang organs and six Fu organs, the major meridians and minor collaterals, as well as the skin, flesh, sinews, and bones of humans; none of them do not derive nourishment from the Spleen and Stomach.
The Spleen and Stomach are vital organs of the entire body. The True Fire of the Gate of Life (Mingmen, representing Kidney Yang) is the essence of the father, attached between the two kidneys. Before this body was formed, this Qi already existed; it comes from nature, requiring no human effort, hence it is called Pre-heaven Qi. As for the Qi of the Spleen and Stomach, through the five flavors of food and drink, it transforms into five types of Qi to nourish the living body, relying entirely on post-natal human effort, thus belonging to Post-heaven Qi. Although diet can nourish humans, it can also harm them. Those seeking longevity must rely entirely on dietary moderation, which is an excellent prescription for preventing disease. The reason diet nourishes humans lies in utilizing its Qi, rather than merely pursuing taste. Since grains have a sweet and bland flavor, the five flavors are used to guide them. However, one must not develop a partial preference for any single flavor. Pungent flavor enters the Lung; if Lung Qi becomes excessive, Metal overacts on Wood, leading to insufficient Liver Blood. Sweet flavor enters the Spleen; if Spleen Qi becomes excessive, Earth overacts on Water, leading to dissipation of Kidney Essence. Bitter flavor enters the Heart; if Heart Qi becomes excessive, Fire overacts on Metal, leading to deficiency and consumption of Lung Qi. Sour flavor enters the Liver; if Liver Qi becomes excessive, Wood overacts on Earth, leading to impairment of Spleen Qi. Salty flavor enters the Kidney; if Kidney Qi becomes excessive, Water overacts on Fire, leading to insufficiency of Heart Blood. Nowadays, when cooking food, people invariably use all five flavors, intending precisely to prevent any single flavor from becoming excessive. It is simply that Kidney Water is often deficient, so salty foods are particularly abundant. Nevertheless, one should not allow any flavor to become excessive. (Commentary by Yunlai: If the flavor is excessively pungent, it damages the Lungs, consumes Qi, and injures Yin; if excessively sweet, it stagnates Qi, generates phlegm, and causes fullness in the middle jiao; if excessively bitter, it damages the Spleen and Stomach and stirs dryness-fire; if excessively sour, it contracts sinews, withers bones, dries muscles, and injures the Lungs; if excessively salty, it damages blood and harms the Lungs. This commentary elucidates points not previously expounded in the original text.) Daily meals should only be filled to eight-tenths capacity, never to the fullest extent. Whenever there are external teas or social engagements involving food, one meal at home should be omitted.
I often see those who indulge in food without restraint. They are not unaware of moderation, but once delicacies are placed before them, they cannot help but feel their appetite stirred. This is the nature of desire, which humans cannot control. Throughout the year, we prescribe medicines; those for tonification are few, while those for digestion and guiding out stagnation are countless. Is this not self-destruction due to desires? Every day when eating, one must chew finely and swallow slowly to avoid injuring the Spleen. After eating, walking slowly for a hundred steps and rubbing the abdomen with hands will facilitate digestion. It is most taboo to lie down immediately after eating. With ears hearing nothing, the Spleen fails to transform, and Lung Qi fails to distribute throughout the body, resulting only in stagnation and disease formation. Night eating should especially be avoided. From dawn until noon, Stomach Qi moves in the Yang aspect, twenty-five times, making food easy to digest; from noon until nightfall, Stomach Qi moves in the Yin aspect, twenty-five times, making food difficult to digest. Buddhism's rule of not eating after noon is perhaps a major principle of health preservation. Furthermore, for frail individuals recovering from illness whose Yuan Qi has not yet recovered, and whose Spleen Qi cannot overcome the Qi of grain, only white rice gruel should be used for regulation to support Yuan Qi. Rich, sweet, hard foods cannot only fail to digest but also exacerbate the illness; this must not be overlooked. For daily conditioning, pills such as Ziyin Jianpi Wan (Nourishing Yin and Strengthening Spleen Pill) should be used. Because the Kidney stores Essence, the generation of Essence and Blood relies entirely on the transformation of diet, which is then transported and returned to the Kidney. When the Spleen and Stomach are strong, Essence and Blood will naturally be sufficient. Zhang Jiegu stated, "Tonifying the Spleen is better than tonifying the Kidney," words of profound wisdom. Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia), being purely Yin in nature, can only descend fire but cannot generate Essence. Unless one suffers from Yin deficiency with fire, the primary treatment must focus on strengthening the Spleen.
Although the Spleen and Stomach can transform food, the reason they can do so lies actually in the interaction of Water and Fire Qi in the Lower Jiao. If the Fire of the Gate of Life declines, like having no fuel at the bottom of a pot, how can it cook? Ancient formulas such as Lizhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction) and Bawei Dihuang Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia) both understand the principle of tonifying Fire to generate Earth. Regarding cases where Water deficiency prevents food transformation, few books mention this. The Kidney governs the five fluids; entering the Spleen, it becomes saliva. If the Kidney has Yin deficiency with fire, fluid volume is insufficient, causing Spleen Earth to become dry, rendering its healthy transport function ineffective. I use Danggui (Angelica Sinensis), Baishao (White Peony Root), Maidong (Ophiopogon Tuber), added with Shanzha (Hawthorn Fruit) and Shenqu (Medicated Leaven), and there is no case that does not respond. However, although the Spleen and Stomach are vital organs, the Pre-heaven Gate of Life is the supreme treasure of the body. Moderating sexual activity, being cautious about labor and fatigue, and avoiding long journeys are methods for preserving Pre-heaven Qi.
Ziyin Jianpi Wan (Nourishing Yin and Strengthening Spleen Pill)
Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, 2 liang) Maidong (Ophiopogonis Tuber, 3 liang) Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus, 1 liang) Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, 3 liang) Baifu Ling (Poria, 2 liang)
Gancao (Licorice Radix et Rhizoma, 1 liang) Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma, 3 liang) Shihu (Dendrobii Caulis, 1 liang) Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, 1 liang) Shanzha (Crataegi Fructus, 3 liang)
The ancient formula Jianpi Wan (Strengthen Spleen Pill) consists purely of Yang-tonifying substances, suitable for Spleen deficiency with cold. If there is fire in the Middle Jiao preventing food transformation, this formula is extremely effective.
Yiqi Jianpi Tang (Qi-Boosting and Spleen-Strengthening Decoction)
Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) Baifu Ling (Poria) Gancao (Licorice Radix et Rhizoma) Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) Shanzha (Crataegi Fructus) Shenqu (Medicated Leaven) Yiren (Coicis Semen) Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma)
When Zheng Qi (Upright Qi) is deficient and food intake is low, tonifying herbs should be the Sovereign (Jun) herb, and digestive herbs should be the Assistant (Zuo) herb. If food intake is high, digestive herbs should be the Sovereign, and tonifying herbs should be the Assistant. If symptoms are not diarrhea or dysentery, add Danggui (Angelica Sinensis). In cases of severe Qi deficiency, add Huangqi (Astragali Radix) and Paojiang (Prepared Ginger Rhizome). In cases of heavy stagnation, add Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex).
Yangxue Jianpi Tang (Blood-Nourishing and Spleen-Strengthening Decoction)
Danggui (Angelica Sinensis) Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) Maidong (Ophiopogonis Tuber) Shanzha (Crataegi Fructus) Shenqu (Medicated Leaven) Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma) Baifu Ling (Poria) Yiren (Coicis Semen) Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix)
In cases of heavy stagnation, add Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex).
(Added) Wugui Tang
Pogu Zhi (Psoraleae Fructus, i.e., Buguzhi) Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) Fuling (Poria) Ji Neijin (Galli Gigerii Endothelium Corneum) Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) Tusizi (Cuscutae Semen) Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) Gancao (Licorice Radix et Rhizoma) Shayuanzi (Astragali Complanati Semen) Dazao (Jujubae Fructus)
(Added) Xiaoshi Jianpi Wan (Digestive Food and Strengthen Spleen Pill)
Zhishi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus) Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) Shanzha (Crataegi Fructus) Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) Shenqu (Medicated Leaven) Ji Neijin (Galli Gigerii Endothelium Corneum) Maiya (Hordei Fructus Germinatus) Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus)