天有阴阳彰六气。
风寒暑湿燥火。
湿热凉寒总于四。
温热者。天之阳。凉寒者。天之阴。此天之阴阳四时也。
地有阴阳化五行。
金木水火土。
生长收藏五味成。
辛甘为地之阳。酸苦咸为地之阴也。
轻清成象亲乎上。
味薄者。本乎天亲上。
重浊成形本乎地。
味浓者。本乎地亲下。
辛甘发散气为阳。酸苦漏泄阴为味。
轻清重浊之分。气味浓薄之异。
清之清者发腠理。阳中之阳浓之气。
附子气之浓者。乃阳中之阳。故经云发热。
清之浊者实四肢。阳中之阴薄气使。
茯苓淡为在天之阳也。阳当上行。何为利水而泄下。经云。气之薄者。乃阳中之阴。所
以茯苓利水而下行。然而泄下亦不离乎阳之体。故入手太阴。
浊之浊者走五脏。阴中之阴乃浓味。
大黄味之浓者。乃阴中之阴。故经云泄下。
浊之清者归六腑阴中之阳薄味尔。
麻黄苦。为在地之阴也。阴当下行。何为发汗而升上。经云。味之薄者。乃阴中之阳。
所以麻黄发汗而升上。亦不离乎阴之体。故入足太阳。
辛散酸收淡渗泄。咸软苦泄甘缓结。
各有所能。或散或聚。或缓或急。或坚或 。四时五脏病。各随五味之所宜也。
横行直达要消详。五味之能须悉别。
药有横行者。若辛甘之类。直达者。若酸苦之类。
身半上病药取根。身腰以下梢宜用。根升梢降合天真。述类象形堪妙应。炮炙制度剂所
宜。熟降生升毒须制。
药用火炮。汤炮。煨炒者。皆制其毒也。用酒蒸焙蜜炒。皆欲上腾也。酒浸洗。醋浸。
姜制。酥炙。皆欲行经活血。如去皮。去心。取核。去芦节枯朽之类。皆不可违其制也。
药味专精大得能。新陈粗细择须备。
品味薄则用近新者择拣。勿用腐朽之类。
汤散丸方分两铢。
汤者。荡也。去新久病皆能之。散者。散也。去急病用之。丸者。舒缓而治之也。古者
方剂分两。与今不同。如 咀者。锉若麻豆大是也。云一升者。今之大一盏也。云铢者。六铢乃
一分。即二钱半。云三两者。今之一两。二两者。今之六钱半也。
君臣佐使从其制。
主病为君。佐君之谓臣。应臣之谓使。
服药有法及有期。
病在上。不厌烦而少。病在下。则顿而多。病在上。先食而后药。病在下。先药而后食
。病在四肢。宜饥食。而服药在旦。病在骨髓。宜饱食。而服药在夜。
升降浮沉补泻之。
如肝胆之病。以辛味补之。咸泻气。温补凉泻之类也。
重轻气味施当审。勿伐天和岁气时。
必先岁气。勿伐天和。药例见后证例中。
Heaven possesses Yin and Yang, manifesting the Six Qi (Six climatic factors: Wind, Cold, Summer Heat, Dampness, Dryness, Fire).
Wind, Cold, Summer Heat, Dampness, Dryness, and Fire.
Damp-Heat and Cool-Cold are collectively governed by the Four Seasons.
Warmth and Heat belong to Heaven's Yang; Coolness and Cold belong to Heaven's Yin. This is the Yin-Yang of Heaven corresponding to the Four Seasons.
Earth possesses Yin and Yang, transforming into the Five Elements (Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth).
Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth.
Growth, Flourishing, Harvesting, and Storage form the Five Flavors (Sour, Bitter, Sweet, Pungent, Salty).
Pungent and Sweet flavors belong to Earth's Yang; Sour, Bitter, and Salty flavors belong to Earth's Yin.
Light and clear substances form images and tend towards the upper part.
Substances with thin flavors originate from Heaven and tend upwards.
Heavy and turbid substances form shapes and originate from Earth.
Substances with thick flavors originate from Earth and tend downwards.
Pungent and Sweet flavors disperse and move Qi, belonging to Yang; Sour and Bitter flavors leak and drain, belonging to Yin.
This distinguishes light/clear from heavy/turbid, and differences in flavor intensity.
The purest aspect of Clear Qi penetrates the interstitial spaces (Cou Li), which is the characteristic of Yang within Yang with strong aroma/flavor.
Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) has a strong flavor, being Yang within Yang. Thus, the Classics state it generates heat.
The turbid aspect of Clear Qi solidifies the four limbs, which is the effect of Yin within Yang with weak aroma/flavor.
Fuling (Poria) has a bland taste, representing Yang of Heaven. Since Yang should ascend, why does it promote urination and descend? The Classics state: Substances with weak flavors are Yin within Yang. Therefore, Fuling promotes urination and descends. However, its descending action still adheres to the nature of Yang, so it enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian.
The most turbid aspect of Turbid Qi travels to the Zang Organs, which is Yin within Yin with thick flavors.
Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) has a thick flavor, being Yin within Yin. Thus, the Classics state it purges downward.
The clearest aspect of Turbid Qi returns to the Fu Organs, which is Yang within Yin with thin flavors.
Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) is bitter, belonging to Yin of Earth. Since Yin should descend, why does it induce sweating and ascend? The Classics state: Substances with thin flavors are Yang within Yin. Therefore, Mahuang induces sweating and ascends. It also does not depart from the nature of Yin, so it enters the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian.
Pungent disperses, Sour astringes, Bland渗泄 (percolates and drains); Salty softens, Bitter purges, Sweet moderates and resolves knots.
Each has its specific function: some disperse, some gather; some moderate, some accelerate; some firm, some moisten. Diseases of the Four Seasons and Five Zang Organs should be treated according to the suitability of the Five Flavors.
Whether moving horizontally or acting directly requires careful consideration; the capabilities of the Five Flavors must be clearly distinguished.
Medicines that move horizontally include those with Pungent and Sweet flavors; those acting directly include those with Sour and Bitter flavors.
For diseases in the upper half of the body, root parts are used; for diseases below the waist, tip/branch parts are appropriate. Roots ascend and tips descend, aligning with natural principles. Describing categories by form yields miraculous effects. Processing methods and dosages must be suitable. Cooked medicines descend, raw medicines ascend; toxicity must be controlled.
Processing by fire frying, boiling, baking, or stir-frying aims to control toxicity. Steaming with wine, roasting, or honey-frying aims to make the medicinal power ascend. Soaking in wine, washing, soaking in vinegar, ginger-processing, or butter-roasting aim to circulate meridians and invigorate blood. Removing skin, pith, cores, rhizomes, joints, or rotten parts must adhere to processing standards.
Specialized flavors achieve great efficacy; selection of new/old and coarse/fine materials must be thorough.
For substances with thin flavors, use recent/new ones and select carefully; do not use rotten materials.
Decoctions, powders, pills, and formulas have different weights measured in Zhu (grains) and Liang (taels).
Decoction (Tang): Means to sweep away; effective for both acute and chronic diseases. Powder (San): Means to scatter; used for urgent conditions. Pill (Wan): Means to soothe slowly; used for gradual treatment. Ancient dosage units differed from modern ones. "Ju" (chewing/masticating) meant cutting into pieces the size of hemp seeds. "One Sheng" (volume unit) equals one large cup today. "Zhu": Six Zhu equal one Fen, which is 2.5 Qian. "Three Liang" equals one Liang today. "Two Liang" equals 6.5 Qian today.
The roles of Sovereign (Jun), Minister (Chen), Assistant (Zuo), and Envoy (Shi) follow specific regulations.
The herb treating the main disease is the Sovereign; assisting the Sovereign is the Minister; responding to the Minister is the Envoy.
Administration methods and timing are prescribed.
For diseases in the upper body, frequent small doses are preferred; for diseases in the lower body, a single large dose is given. For upper body diseases, eat first then take medicine; for lower body diseases, take medicine first then eat. For limb diseases, take medicine on an empty stomach in the morning; for bone-marrow diseases, take medicine after meals at night.
Ascending, Descending, Floating, Sinking, Tonifying, and Purging applications.
For Liver and Gallbladder diseases, Pungent flavors tonify, and Salty flavors purge; Warmth tonifies and Coolness purges are similar principles.
When applying weight, lightness, and flavor thickness, one must be prudent, not violating Heavenly Harmony or seasonal Qi.
One must first consider the Seasonal Qi and not damage Heavenly Harmony. Examples of herbs are found in subsequent case examples.