古人用药立方，先陈列病症，然后云某方主之。若其症少用出入，则有加减之法，附于
后方
。可知方中之药，必与所现之症纤悉皆合，无一味虚设，乃用此方毫无通融也。又有一病而
云某方亦主之者，其方或稍有异同，或竟不同，可知一病并不止一方所能治。今乃病名稍似
，而其中之现症全然不同，乃立以此方施治，则其药皆不对症矣。并有病名虽一，病形相反
，亦用此方，则其中尽属相反之药矣。总之，欲用古方，必先审病者所患之症，悉与古方前
所陈列之症皆合。更检方中所用之药，无一不与所现之症相合，然后施用，否则必须加减。
无可加减，则另择一方，断不可道听途说，闻某方可以治某病，不论其因之异同，症之出入
，而冒昧施治。虽所用悉本于古方，而害益大矣。
《内经》治病之法，针灸为本，而佐之以砭石、熨浴、导引、按摩、酒醴等法。病各有
宜，
缺一不可。盖服药之功，入肠胃而气四达，未尝不能行于脏腑经络。若邪在筋骨肌肉之中，
则病属有形，药之气味，不能奏功也。故必用针灸等法，即从病之所在，调其血气，逐其风
寒，为实而可据也。况即以服药论，止用汤剂，亦不能尽病。盖汤者，荡也，其行速，其质
轻，其力易过而不留，惟病在荣卫肠胃者，其效更速。其余诸病，有宜丸、宜散、宜膏者，
必医者预备，以待一时急用，视其病之所在，而委曲施治，则病无遁形。故天下无难治之症
，而所投辄有神效。扁鹊、仓公所谓禁方者是也。若今之医者，只以一煎方为治，惟病后调
理则用滋补丸散，尽废圣人之良法。即使用药不误，而与病不相入，则终难取效。故扁鹊云
∶人之所患，患病多；医之所患，患道少。近日病变愈多，而医家之道愈少，此痼疾之所以
日多也。
In ancient times, when formulating prescriptions, physicians first listed the symptoms and then stated, "This formula governs [the condition]." If the symptoms were minor or required adjustments, there were methods of addition and subtraction, which were appended to subsequent formulas. It can be known that the herbs within a formula must correspond precisely to the manifested symptoms, with no herb being superfluous; thus, using this formula allows for no flexibility. Furthermore, in cases where one disease is treated by stating "this formula also governs," the formulas may be slightly different or entirely distinct, indicating that one disease is not limited to being treated by a single formula. Nowadays, some physicians see a slight similarity in disease names but completely different manifested symptoms, yet they prescribe this formula for treatment; consequently, the herbs are all mismatched to the symptoms. Moreover, even if the disease name is the same, if the pathological presentation is opposite, using this formula would result in herbs that are entirely contradictory in nature. In summary, to use an ancient formula, one must first examine whether the patient's symptoms fully match those listed prior to the ancient formula. One must also verify that every herb used in the formula corresponds to the manifested symptoms before applying it; otherwise, additions and subtractions are necessary. If no adjustments can be made, another formula should be selected. One must never rely on hearsay, hearing that a certain formula treats a certain disease, and recklessly apply it without considering differences in etiology or variations in symptoms. Even if the herbs used are derived from ancient formulas, the harm caused will be greater.
The methods for treating diseases in the *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) take acupuncture and moxibustion as the foundation, supplemented by methods such as bian stone therapy, hot compresses and baths, daoyin (guiding and pulling), massage, and medicinal wine. Each disease has its appropriate treatments, and none can be omitted. Generally, the efficacy of taking medicine enters the stomach and intestines, and its qi spreads throughout the body, capable of circulating through the zang-fu organs and meridians. However, if the pathogenic factor resides within the sinews, bones, muscles, and flesh, the disease is considered "有形" (having form/materiality), and the aroma and flavor of the medicine cannot achieve therapeutic effects. Therefore, methods such as acupuncture and moxibustion must be used to directly regulate the blood and qi at the site of the disease and expel wind and cold, which is a solid and reliable approach. Furthermore, regarding medication alone, using only decoctions cannot cure all diseases. The term "decoction" (Tang) implies sweeping or cleansing; it acts rapidly, has a light quality, and its force passes through easily without lingering. Its effect is faster only when the disease is located in the Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) levels or the stomach and intestines. For other diseases, some are suitable for pills, some for powders, and some for pastes. Physicians must prepare these in advance for emergency use, treating the disease meticulously according to its location, so that no disease can hide. Thus, there are no incurable diseases in the world, and administered remedies often yield miraculous results. This refers to the secret formulas mentioned by Bian Que and Cang Gong. Modern physicians, however, treat only with a single decoction, using only tonifying pills and powders for post-illness recovery, completely abandoning the excellent methods of the sages. Even if the medication is not erroneous, if it does not align with the disease, it will ultimately fail to produce results. Therefore, Bian Que said: "What people worry about is having many diseases; what doctors worry about is having few methods." Recently, as pathological changes have become more complex, the methods available to physicians have diminished, which is why chronic and stubborn diseases increase daily.