治因肝气不舒、木郁克土，致脾胃之气不能升降，胸中满闷，常常短气。
于术（三钱） 生黄 （三钱） 陈皮（二钱） 川浓朴（二钱） 桂枝尖（钱半） 柴胡（钱半）
生麦冬（二钱） 生杭芍（四钱） 生姜（二钱）
脾主升清，所以运津液上达。胃主降浊，所以运糟粕下行。白术、黄 ，为补脾胃之正药，同桂枝、柴
胡，能助脾气之升，同陈皮、浓朴，能助胃气之降。清升浊降满闷自去，无事专理肝气，而肝气自理，况桂枝、
柴胡与麦芽，又皆为舒肝之妙品乎。用芍药者，恐肝气上升，胆火亦随之上升，且以解黄 、桂枝之热也。用
生姜者，取其辛散温通，能浑融肝脾之气化于无间也。
从来方书中，麦芽皆是炒熟用之，惟陈修园谓麦芽生用，能升发肝气，可谓特识。盖人之元气，根基于
肾，萌芽于肝，培养于脾，积贮于胸中为大气以斡旋全身。麦茅为谷之萌芽，与肝同气相求，故能入肝经，以
条达肝气，此自然之理，无庸试验而可信其必
然者也。然必生煮汁饮之，则气善升发，而后能遂其条达之用也。
附录∶
直隶青县张××来函∶
族侄妇，年二十余，素性谨言，情志抑郁。因气分不舒，致四肢痉挛颤动，呼吸短促，胸中胀闷，约一昼
夜。先延针科医治，云是鸡爪风，为刺囟门及十指尖，稍愈，旋即复作如故。其脉左部弦细，右部似有似无，
一分钟数至百至。其两肩抬动，气逆作喘。询知其素不健壮，廉于饮食。盖肝属木而主筋，肝郁不舒则筋挛，
肝郁恒侮其所胜，故脾土受伤而食少。遂为开培脾舒肝汤。为有逆气上干，又加生赭石细末五钱。嘱服二剂。
痉挛即愈，气息亦平。遂去赭石，照原方又服数剂，以善其后。
Treats conditions caused by Liver Qi stagnation and constraint, where Wood (Liver) overacts on Earth (Spleen/Stomach), resulting in the failure of Spleen and Stomach Qi to ascend and descend properly. Symptoms include fullness and oppression in the chest, and frequent shortness of breath.
Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma, 3 qian)
Sheng Huang Qi (Astragali Radix, raw, 3 qian)
Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, 2 qian)
Chuan Hou Po (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex, 2 qian)
Gui Zhi Jian (Cinnamomi Ramulus apical part, 1.5 qian)
Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix, 1.5 qian)
Sheng Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Radix, raw, 2 qian)
Sheng Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba, raw, 4 qian)
Sheng Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, 2 qian)
The Spleen governs the ascending of clear Yang, thereby transporting body fluids upward. The Stomach governs the descending of turbid Yin, thereby transporting waste downward. Bai Zhu and Huang Qi are the primary herbs for tonifying the Spleen and Stomach. Combined with Gui Zhi and Chai Hu, they assist the ascending of Spleen Qi; combined with Chen Pi and Hou Po, they assist the descending of Stomach Qi. When clear Qi ascends and turbid Qi descends, the fullness and oppression naturally resolve. There is no need to specifically regulate Liver Qi, yet Liver Qi will regulate itself. Moreover, Gui Zhi, Chai Hu, and Mai Ya are all excellent herbs for soothing the Liver. Shaoyao (Bai Shao) is used because one fears that if Liver Qi rises, Gallbladder Fire may rise with it; additionally, Shaoyao helps to mitigate the heat-drying nature of Huang Qi and Gui Zhi. Sheng Jiang is used for its pungent, dispersing, and warming-unblocking properties, which allow the Qi transformation of the Liver and Spleen to blend seamlessly without obstruction.
In traditional prescription books, Mai Ya (Hordei Fructus Germinatus) is typically used after being stir-fried until cooked. Only Chen Xiuyuan stated that raw Mai Ya can stimulate the ascending of Liver Qi, which demonstrates unique insight. Generally, Yuan Qi (Primal Qi) is rooted in the Kidney, sprouts in the Liver, is cultivated by the Spleen, and accumulates in the chest as Da Qi (Great Qi) to pivot the whole body. Mai Ya is the sprout of grain; sharing the same Qi resonance with the Liver, it enters the Liver Meridian to smooth and unblock Liver Qi. This is a natural principle, credible without needing empirical verification. However, it must be boiled raw and drunk as a decoction so that its Qi ascends effectively, thereby fulfilling its function of smoothing and unblocking.
Appendix:
Letter from Zhang XX of Qing County, Zhili:
My clan-nephew's wife, in her early twenties, has always been cautious in speech and prone to emotional depression. Due to stagnation of Qi, she experienced spasms and tremors of the four limbs, shortness of breath, and chest distension and oppression, lasting approximately one day and night. Initially, an acupuncture specialist was consulted, who diagnosed it as "Chicken Claw Wind" (Ji Zhao Feng). Needles were applied to the fontanelle and the tips of the ten fingers. She improved slightly but soon relapsed to the original state. Her pulse was wiry and thin on the left side, and faint/indistinct on the right side, beating up to 100 times per minute. Her shoulders lifted involuntarily, and she panted due to rebellious Qi. Inquiry revealed she was constitutionally weak and had poor appetite. Since the Liver belongs to Wood and governs the sinews, Liver stagnation leads to sinew spasms. Liver stagnation often overacts upon its controlled element (Earth/Spleen), thus injuring the Spleen and causing reduced food intake. Therefore, Pei Pi Shu Gan Tang (Spleen-Nourishing and Liver-Soothing Decoction) was prescribed. Because there was rebellious Qi attacking upward, 5 qian of finely powdered Sheng Zhe Shi (Oolithum, raw) was added. She was instructed to take two doses.
The spasms ceased immediately, and her breathing normalized. The Zhe Shi was then removed, and she continued taking the original formula for several more doses to consolidate the recovery.