人参 白术 茯苓 甘草 半夏 陈皮
气虚,痰气不利者,此方主之。
《内经》曰∶壮者气行则愈,怯者着而成病。东南之土卑湿,人人有痰,然而不病者,
气壮足以行其痰也。若中气一虚,则不足以运痰而痰证见矣。是方也,人参、白术、茯苓、
甘草,前之四君子也,所以补气。乃半夏则燥湿以制痰,陈皮则利气以行痰耳。名之曰六君
子者,表半夏之无毒,陈皮之弗悍,可以与参、苓、术、草比德云尔!
人参(去芦) 炙甘草(各一钱) 黄 (一钱五分,炙) 升麻(三分) 白术(炒)
当归
陈皮 柴胡(各五分)
困乏劳倦,伤其中气者,此方主之。
中,脾也,坤也,万物之母。气,阳也,干也,万物之父。过于困乏劳倦,则百骸皆虚
。百骸既虚,必盗父母以自养,而中气大伤矣。不有以补之,则形气不几于绝乎?故用白术、
甘草之平补者以补中;用人参、黄 之峻补者以益气。土欲燥,则当归随以润之。气欲滞,
则陈皮随以利之。而升麻、柴胡者,所以升乎甲胆乙肝之气也。盖甲乙者,东方生物之始。
甲乙之气升,则木、火、土、金、水次第而生生矣。
陈皮 青皮 甘草(炙) 浓朴(姜制) 紫苏 香附(各四两) 大腹皮 丁香皮 槟
榔
木香 草果 莪术(炮) 肉桂 藿香(各一两半) 人参 麦门冬 白术 赤茯苓 枳壳
(炒)
石菖
上件每服五钱。
腹中气滞,痞闷不快,胸膈走痛者,此方主之。
气,阳也,升降出入,法干之行健不息,使气无留滞,斯无痛苦。若人也,以寒、热、
怒、恚、喜、忧、愁七气干之,则痞闷痛楚之疾生尔。今夫寒则气收,收则气不流矣。故用
丁皮、肉桂、草果之属温而行之。热则气亢,亢则气不流矣,故用麦门冬、赤茯苓、木通之
属清而导之。怒则气逆,逆则气不流矣,故用槟榔、枳壳、浓朴、木瓜之属抑而下之。恚则
气积,积则气不流矣,故用青皮、陈皮、腹皮、木香、莪术之属快而利之。喜则气缓,缓则
气不流矣,故用人参、白术、甘草之属补而益之。忧则气沉,沉则气不流矣,故用白芷、紫
苏之属升而浮之。愁则气郁,郁则气不流矣,故用香附、菖蒲、半夏、藿香之属利而开之。
或问∶七气之来,岂能并至?方以二十四味,何示人以弗精专也?余曰∶气证与诸证不同。
诸证者,痰、血、积、食属于有形,故着于一处,偏于一隅,可以单方治也。若夫七情之气,
属于无形,上下左右散聚无常,故集辛香之品而流动之,虽二十四味,不厌其繁,譬之韩侯
之兵,多多益善云尔。
Ginseng Radix (Renshen), Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu), Poria (Fuling), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao), Pinelliae Tuber (Banxia), Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Chenpi).
For Qi deficiency accompanied by unfavorable flow of Phlegm-Qi, this formula is the primary treatment.
The *Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic) states: "Those who are robust recover when Qi flows freely; those who are timid develop disease due to stagnation." In the low-lying and damp lands of the southeast, everyone has Phlegm-Dampness, yet they do not fall ill because their Zheng Qi (Upright Qi) is sufficient to move the Phlegm. However, if the Middle Qi (Qi of the Middle Jiao) becomes deficient, it lacks the capacity to transform Phlegm, leading to the manifestation of Phlegm syndromes. In this formula, Ginseng Radix, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, Poria, and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma constitute the previous "Si Jun Zi Tang" (Four Gentlemen Decoction), used to tonify Qi. Banxia dries Dampness to control Phlegm, while Chenpi promotes Qi movement to disperse Phlegm. It is named "Liu Jun Zi" (Six Gentlemen) to indicate that Banxia is non-toxic and Chenpi is not harsh, allowing them to be ranked alongside Ginseng, Poria, Atractylodes, and Licorice in virtue!
Prepared Ginseng Radix (with rhizome removed), Prepared Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (each 1 qian), Astragali Membranacei Radix (Huangqi, 1.5 qian, honey-fried), Cimicifugae Rhizoma (Shengma, 3 fen), Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (stir-fried), Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui), Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu) (each 5 fen).
For exhaustion and fatigue that injure the Middle Qi, this formula is the primary treatment.
The Middle corresponds to the Spleen, belongs to Earth, symbolizes the Kun trigram, and is the mother of all things. Qi belongs to Yang, corresponds to the Qian trigram, symbolizes Heaven, and is the father of all things. Excessive exhaustion and fatigue cause the entire body framework to become deficient. Once the body framework is deficient, it inevitably draws upon its parents (Congenital and Acquired foundations) for nourishment, thereby severely injuring the Middle Qi. Without supplementation, would not Form and Qi nearly cease? Therefore, we use Baizhu and Gancao, which are mild tonics, to tonify the Middle; we use Renshen and Huangqi, which are potent tonics, to benefit Qi. Since Earth desires dryness, Danggui is added to moisten it. Since Qi tends to stagnate, Chenpi is added to facilitate its flow. Shengma and Chaihu serve to ascend the Qi of Jia Gallbladder and Yi Liver. Jia and Yi represent the East, the beginning of biological generation. When the Qi of Jia and Yi ascends, Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water are generated sequentially in a cycle of continuous creation.
Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Chenpi), Citri Grandis Exocarpium (Qingpi), Prepared Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex (N Houpo, ginger-processed), Perillae Folium (Zisu), Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiangfu) (each 4 liang), Arecae Catechu Pericarpium (Da Fu Pi), Eugeniae Caryophyllati Cortex (Ding Pi), Arecae Semen (Binglang), Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum (Muxiang), Tsaoko Fructus (Caoguo), Curcumae Longae Rhizoma (Ezhu, processed), Cinnamomi Cortex (Rougui), Agastaches Herba (Huoxiang) (each 1.5 liang), Ginseng Radix, Ophiopogonis Tuber (Maidong), Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, Poria with Red Mycelium (Chi Fuling), Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (Zhike, stir-fried), Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma (Shichangpu).
Take five qian of the above ingredients per dose.
For abdominal Qi stagnation, feeling of fullness and discomfort, and wandering pain in the chest and diaphragm, this formula is the primary treatment.
Qi belongs to Yang; its movements of ascending, descending, entering, and exiting follow the unceasing vigor of Heaven. If Qi does not stagnate, there is no pain. However, if humans are affected by Cold, Heat, Anger, Resentment, Joy, Worry, and Sorrow—the Seven Qi—diseases of fullness, stifling, and pain arise. Cold causes Qi to contract; contraction leads to stagnation. Thus, Dingpi, Rougui, and Caoguo are used to warm and promote flow. Heat causes Qi to hyperactive; hyperactivity disrupts normal flow. Thus, Maidong, Chi Fuling, and Mutong are used to clear and guide. Anger causes Qi to rebel upward; rebellion obstructs downward flow. Thus, Binglang, Zhike, N Houpo, and Chaomume are used to suppress and descend. Resentment causes Qi to accumulate; accumulation blocks flow. Thus, Qingpi, Chenpi, Da Fu Pi, Muxiang, and Ezhu are used to rapidly unblock and promote flow. Joy causes Qi to relax; relaxation leads to laxity and lack of flow. Thus, Renshen, Baizhu, and Gancao are used to tonify and benefit. Worry causes Qi to sink; sinking leads to depression and lack of flow. Thus, Baizhi and Zisu are used to lift and disperse. Sorrow causes Qi to depress; depression leads to stagnation and lack of flow. Thus, Xiangfu, Changpu, Banxia, and Huoxiang are used to open and resolve.
One might ask: Do the Seven Qi arrive simultaneously? Why does this formula use twenty-four ingredients, implying a lack of precision? I reply: Qi syndromes differ from other syndromes. Other syndromes, such as Phlegm, Blood stasis, Accumulation, and Food retention, belong to tangible forms; thus, they localize in one area or corner and can be treated with single-formula approaches. However, the Qi of the Seven Emotions is intangible, scattering and gathering unpredictably in all directions. Therefore, pungent and aromatic herbs that promote movement are gathered. Even with twenty-four ingredients, complexity is not excessive. It is like the army of Marquis Han: the more, the better.