健脾进食。为病后调补之良方。
苓术参甘四味同。（人参茯苓白术各二钱。炙甘草一钱。加姜枣煎。名四君子汤。）方名
君子取谦冲。增来陈夏痰涎涤。（前方加陈皮一钱顺气。半夏二钱除痰。名六君子汤。）再
入香砂痞满通。（六君子汤加木香砂仁各八分。以行气消胀。名为香砂六君子汤。）水谷精微
阴以化。（饮食增则津液旺。充血生精。以复其真阴之不足。）阳和布护气斯充。（食入于阴
气长于阳。昼夜循环。周于内外。）若删半夏六君内。钱氏书中有异功。（六君子汤内。去半
夏。名五味异功散。）
陈修园曰。胃气为生人之本。参术苓草。从容和缓。补中宫土气。达于上下四旁。而五
脏六腑。皆以受气。故一切虚证。皆以此方为主。若加陈皮。则有行滞进食之效。再加半夏。
即有除痰宽胀之功。再加木香砂仁。则行气之药。多于补守。凡肿满痰饮结聚等证。无不速
除。此犹人所易知也。而为数方之主。则功在人参。人皆曰人参补气补阳。温药藉之以尽其
力量。而余则曰。人参补阴养液。燥药得之则臻于和平。故理中汤中姜术二味。气胜于味。
以扶阳。参草二味。味胜于气。以和阴。此汤以干姜易茯苓。去其辛而取其淡。亦阴阳兼调
之和剂也。凡医家病家。俱重人参。全未识人参之性。皆不读神农本草经之过也。今录本草
经原文而释之。或数百年之误。于兹而一正也乎。
按神农本草经云。人参气味甘。微寒无毒。主补五脏。安精神。定魂魄。止惊悸。除邪
气。明目开心益智。久服轻身延年。原文只此三十七字。其提纲云。主补五脏。以五脏属阴
也。精神不安。魂魄不定。惊悸不止。目不明。心智不足。皆阴虚为亢阳所扰也。今五脏得
甘寒之助。则有安之定之止之明之开之益之之效矣。曰邪气者。非指外邪而言。乃阴虚而壮
火食气。火气即邪气也。今五脏得寒甘之助。则邪气除矣。余细按经文。无一字言及温补回
阳之性。
仲景于汗吐下阴伤之证用之。以救津液。而一切回阳方中。绝不加此阴柔之品。反缓姜
附之功。故四逆汤通脉四逆汤。为回阳第一方。皆不用人参。而四逆加人参汤。以其利止亡
血而加之也。茯苓四逆汤用之者。以其烦燥在汗下之后也。今人辄云。以人参回阳。此说倡
之宋元以后。而大盛于薛立斋张景岳李士材辈。而李时珍本草纲目。浮泛杂沓。愈乱经旨。
学人必于此等书焚去。方可与言医道。○仲景一百一十三方中。用人参者。只有一十八方。
新加汤。小柴胡汤。柴胡桂枝汤。桂枝人参汤。半夏泻心汤。四逆加人参汤。茯苓四逆汤。
生姜泻心汤。黄连汤。旋复代赭石汤。干姜黄连黄芩人参汤。浓朴生姜半夏人参汤。白虎加
人参汤。竹叶石膏汤。炙甘草汤。皆因汗吐下之后。亡其津液。取其甘寒以救阴也。抑或辛
刚
Treats Spleen and Stomach deficiency (Spleen and Stomach Qi deficiency). Manifestations include chest and abdominal fullness and distension (Pi Man) and excessive phlegm.
Treats edema and fullness caused by Qi deficiency. It also addresses various symptoms arising from the accumulation of fluid retention (Tan Yin) in the Spleen and Stomach due to disharmony between these organs.
It strengthens the Spleen, promotes appetite, and serves as an excellent formula for post-illness recuperation and tonification.
The four herbs: Poria (Fuling), Atractylodes Macrocephala (Baizhu), Ginseng (Renshen), and Licorice (Gancao) are used together. (Each of Renshen, Fuling, and Baizhu is 2 qian; Zhi Gancao is 1 qian. Decocted with Shengjiang and Dazao. Named Si Jun Zi Tang [Four Gentlemen Decoction].) The name "Junzi" (Gentleman) implies modesty and mildness. Adding Chenpi and Banxia helps to clear phlegm and saliva. (To the previous formula, add 1 qian of Chenpi [Citrus Reticulata Peel] to regulate Qi, and 2 qian of Banxia [Pinellia Tuber] to eliminate phlegm. Named Liu Jun Zi Tang [Six Gentlemen Decoction].) Further adding Muxiang and Sharen helps to relieve stagnation and distension. (To Liu Jun Zi Tang, add 8 fen each of Muxiang [Costus Root] and Sharen [Amomum Fruit] to move Qi and reduce bloating. Named Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang [Aucklandia and Amomum Six Gentlemen Decoction].) The essence of food and drink is transformed via Yin mechanisms. (Increased intake leads to abundant fluids, generating blood and essence to restore insufficiency of True Yin.) Yang energy spreads harmoniously, thereby充盈ing Qi. (Food enters the Yin, causing Yang to grow; this cycle continues day and night, circulating internally and externally.) If Banxia is removed from Liu Jun Zi Tang, there is Yi Gong San in Qian's writings. (Removing Banxia from Liu Jun Zi Tang yields Wu Wei Yi Gong San [Five-Ingredient Yi-Gong Powder].)
Chen Xiuyuan stated: Stomach Qi is the root of human life. Renshen, Baizhu, Fuling, and Gancao are gentle and mild, tonifying the Earth Qi of the Middle Jiao and extending it to the upper, lower, and four peripheries, allowing the Five Zang and Six Fu organs to receive Qi. Therefore, all deficiency syndromes take this formula as the primary treatment. If Chenpi is added, it has the effect of moving stagnation and aiding digestion. If Banxia is further added, it has the function of eliminating phlegm and relieving distension. If Muxiang and Sharen are further added, the Qi-moving herbs outweigh the tonifying and retaining ones. For conditions such as edema, fullness, and accumulation of fluid retention, no condition will not be rapidly resolved. This is what people easily understand. However, the main merit of these formulas lies in Renshen. People say that Renshen tonifies Qi and Yang, and warm herbs rely on it to exert their full power. But I say that Renshen tonifies Yin and nourishes fluids; dry herbs achieve harmony when combined with it. Thus, in Li Zhong Tang [Regulate the Middle Decoction], Jiang (Shengjiang/Ganjiang) and Baizhu have stronger aromatic/acrid properties to support Yang; Renshen and Gancao have richer sweet/moist properties to harmonize Yin. This formula (referring to Si Jun Zi Tang) replaces Ganjiang with Fuling, removing the acridity and retaining the blandness, making it a harmonizing formula that balances both Yin and Yang. Physicians and patients alike value Renshen but fail to recognize its true nature, which is entirely due to their failure to read the *Shennong Bencao Jing* [Divine Farmer's Materia Medica]. Now, I record the original text of the *Bencao Jing* and explain it, perhaps correcting centuries of misunderstanding here.
According to the *Shennong Bencao Jing*: Renshen is sweet, slightly cold, non-toxic. It primarily tonifies the Five Zang organs, calms the Spirit (Shen), stabilizes the Hun and Po, stops palpitations and fright, eliminates evil Qi, brightens the eyes, opens the mind, and enhances wisdom. Long-term use lightens the body and prolongs life. The original text contains only these thirty-seven characters. Its summary states: "Primarily tonifies the Five Zang organs," because the Five Zang belong to Yin. Restless spirit, unstable Hun and Po, persistent palpitations, poor vision, and insufficient mental capacity are all caused by Yin deficiency being disturbed by hyperactive Yang. Now, with the assistance of sweet-cold herbs, the Five Zang achieve calming, stabilizing, stopping, brightening, opening, and enhancing effects. The term "evil Qi" does not refer to external pathogens, but rather to the consumption of Qi by vigorous fire due to Yin deficiency; this fire energy is the evil Qi. Now, with the help of sweet-cold herbs, the evil Qi is eliminated. Upon careful examination of the scripture, not a single word mentions warming, tonifying, or restoring Yang properties.
Zhang Zhongjing used Renshen in cases where sweating, vomiting, or purging had injured Yin fluids, to rescue the Jin Ye [Body Fluids]. In all formulas for restoring Yang, he absolutely did not add this Yin-nourishing substance, fearing it would slow down the efficacy of Jiang (Ganjiang/Shengjiang) and Fuzi. Therefore, Si Ni Tang [Reverse the Collapse Decoction] and Tong Mai Si Ni Tang [Pulse-Unblocking Reverse the Collapse Decoction], as the premier formulas for restoring Yang, do not contain Renshen. Si Ni Jia Renshen Tang [Si Ni Decoction Plus Ginseng] includes it only because diarrhea cessation resulted in loss of blood/fluids. Fu Ling Si Ni Tang [Poria Si Ni Decoction] uses it because irritability occurred after sweating and purging. Modern people claim that Renshen restores Yang. This theory originated after the Song and Yuan dynasties and became prevalent among figures like Xue Lizhai, Zhang Jingyue, and Li Shicai. Li Shizhen's *Bencao Gangmu* [Compendium of Materia Medica] is superficial and disorganized, further confusing the classic principles. Students must burn such books before they can discuss medical Dao. ○ Among Zhang Zhongjing's 113 formulas, only 18 use Renshen: Xin Jia Tang [Newly Added Decoction], Xiao Chai Hu Tang [Minor Bupleurum Decoction], Chai Hu Gui Zhi Tang [Bupleurum and Cinnamon Twig Decoction], Gui Zhi Ren Shen Tang [Cinnamon Twig and Ginseng Decoction], Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang [Pinellia Drain the Epigastrium Decoction], Si Ni Jia Renshen Tang, Fu Ling Si Ni Tang, Sheng Jiang Xie Xin Tang, Huang Lian Tang [Coptis Decoction], Xuan Fu Dai Zhe Shi Tang [Inula and Hematite Decoction], Gan Jiang Huang Lian Huang Qin Renshen Tang [Ginger, Coptis, Scutellaria, and Ginseng Decoction], Hou Po Sheng Jiang Ban Xia Renshen Tang [Magnolia Bark, Ginger, Pinellia, and Ginseng Decoction], Bai Hu Jia Renshen Tang [White Tiger Plus Ginseng Decoction], Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang [Bamboo Leaf and Gypsum Decoction], Zhi Gan Cao Tang [Honey-Fried Licorice Decoction]. These are all used because sweating, vomiting, or purging led to loss of Jin Ye, utilizing the sweet-cold nature to rescue Yin. Or perhaps acrid and rigid...