治实火诸法∶凡微热之气，惟凉以和之，宜徙薪饮、四阴煎、二阴煎，或加减一阴煎、
黄芩芍药汤、黄芩清肺饮之类，酌宜用之。大热之气，必寒以除之，宜抽薪饮、白虎汤、太
清饮、黄连解毒汤、玉泉散、三补丸之类主之。火甚而兼胀满闭结实热者，宜凉膈散、八正
散、三黄丸、大金花丸之类主之。凡火盛虚烦干渴，或有热毒难解者，宜用绿豆饮，或悉尼
浆，间药朝夕饮之。退火解毒最速，且无所伤，诚妙法也。
一、郁热之火，宜散而解之。如外邪郁伏为热者，宜正柴胡饮、小柴胡饮，或升阳散火
汤之类主之。若郁热在经而为痈疽、为疮疹者，宜连翘归尾煎，或芍药蒺藜煎，或当归蒺藜
煎之类主之，或于本门求法治之。此皆火郁发之之谓也。
一、虚火之与假热，其气皆虚，本或相类，然阴阳偏胜亦有不同。如阴虚生热者，此水
不足以济火也，治当补阴，其火乃息，宜一阴煎、左归饮、左归丸、六味地黄丸之类主之。
此所谓壮水之主也。如寒极生热，而火不归原，即阴盛隔阳，假热证也。治宜温补血气，其
热自退。宜理阴煎、右归饮、理中汤、大补元煎、六味回阳饮之类主之。此所谓益火之源也
。又曰温能除大热也。凡假热之证，以肾阴大虚，则阳无所附而浮散于外，故反多外热，此
内真寒外假热也。若非峻补真阴，何以复其元气，元气不复，则必由散而尽矣。但外热既甚
，多见口疮舌裂，喉干咽痛，烦渴喜冷等证，而辛热温补之剂，难以入口，故薛立斋治韩州
同之劳热，以加减八味丸料一斤，内肉桂一两，煎五六碗，用水浸冰冷与服，此法最善。余
因效之，尝以崔氏八味丸料，或右归饮，用治阴虚假热，伤寒及劳热烦渴等证，服后顿退而
虚寒悉见，乃进温补，无不愈者。此真神妙法也。
一、实火宜泻，虚火宜补，固其法也。然虚中有实者，治宜以补为主，而不得不兼乎清
，如加减一阴煎、保阴煎、天王补心丹、丹溪补阴丸之类是也。若实中有虚者，治宜以清为
主，而酌兼乎补，如清化饮、徙薪饮、大补阴丸之类是也。凡此虚中之实，实中之虚，本无
限则，故不得谓热者必无虚，虚者必无热。但微虚者宜从微补，微热者宜从微清。若热倍于
虚，而清之不及，渐增无害也。若虚倍于热，而清之太过，则伐及元阳矣。凡治火者，不可
不知此义。
一、泻火诸药∶黄连、栀子泻心肝大肠之火。山栀仁降火从小便出，其性能屈下行。石
膏泻肠胃之火，阳明经有实热者，非此不可。黄芩清脾肺大肠之火。黄柏泻肝肾诸经之火。
知母清肺胃肝肾之火。地骨皮退阴中之火，善除骨蒸夜热。生地、麦冬清肝肺，凉血中之火
。天门冬泻肺与大肠之火。桑白皮、川贝母、土贝母解上焦肺胃之火。柴胡、干葛解肝脾诸
经之郁火。龙胆草泻肝肾膀胱之火。槐花清肝肾大肠之火，能解诸毒。芍药、石斛清脾胃之
火。滑石利小肠膀胱之火。天花粉清痰止渴，解上焦之火。连翘泻诸经之浮火。玄参清上焦
之浮火。山豆根解咽喉之火。胆星开心脾胃脘之痰火。青黛、芦荟、胡黄连泻五脏之疳热郁
火。苦参泻疳蚀之火。木通下行，泻小肠之火。泽泻、车前子利癃闭之火。人中白清肝脾肾
之阴火。童便降阴中血分之浮火。大黄、朴硝泻阳明诸经实热之火。人参、黄 、白术、甘
草除气虚气脱阳分散失之火。熟地黄、当归、枸杞、山茱萸滋心肾不交阴分无根之火。附子
、干姜、肉桂救元阳失位阴盛格阳之火。凡此治火之法，已若尽之，然亦不过言其筌蹄耳，
而神而通之，原不可以笔楮尽也。
Methods for treating excess fire: For mild heat, cooling methods are used to harmonize it. Suitable formulas include Tuxi Yin (Fire-Extinguishing Decoction), Siyin Jian (Four-Yin Decoction), and Er Yin Jian (Two-Yin Decoction), or modified Yiyin Jian (Modified One-Yin Decoction), Huangqin Shaoyao Tang (Scutellaria and Peony Decoction), and Huangqin Qingfei Yin (Scutellaria Lung-Clearing Decoction), selected according to the specific situation. For severe heat, cold-natured methods are required to eliminate it. Primary treatments include Chouxin Yin (Fire-Pit-Emptying Decoction), Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction), Taiqing Yin (Supreme Clarity Decoction), Huanglian Jiedu Tang (Coptis Detoxification Decoction), Yuquan San (Jade Spring Powder), and Sanbu Wan (Three-Tonics Pill). When fire is extreme accompanied by distension, obstruction, excess syndrome, and solid heat, Liangge San (Cool the Diaphragm Powder), Bazheng San (Eight-Utensils Powder), Sanhuang Wan (Three-Yellow Pill), and Dajinhua Wan (Great Golden Flower Pill) are indicated. For excessive fire causing deficiency-related restlessness, dry mouth, and thirst, or intractable heat toxins, Ludou Yin (Mung Bean Decoction) or fresh well-water syrup may be taken morning and evening alternately with medication. This method extinguishes fire and resolves toxicity most rapidly without damaging the body, truly a brilliant approach.
First: Fire arising from stagnation should be dispersed and resolved. If external pathogens are trapped and transform into heat, Zheng Chaihu Yin (Correct Bupleurum Decoction), Xiao Chaihu Yin (Minor Bupleurum Decoction), or Shengyang Sanhuo Tang (Raise Yang and Disperse Fire Decoction) are appropriate. If stagnant heat resides in the meridians causing carbuncles, sores, or rashes, Liaoqiao Guiwei Jian (Forsythia and Angelica Caudex Decoction), Shaoyao Jili Jian (Peony and Tribulus Decoction), or Danggui Jili Jian (Angelica and Tribulus Decoction) are indicated, or treatment should be sought within the relevant theoretical framework. This exemplifies the principle of "dispersing stagnant fire."
Second: Deficiency fire and false heat both stem from deficiency and share similar origins, yet they differ in yin-yang imbalance. In cases of heat generated by yin deficiency, there is insufficient kidney water to control heart fire; treatment should tonify yin to extinguish the fire. Indicated formulas include Yiyin Jian (One-Yin Decoction), Zuogui Yin (Left Restoring Decoction), Zuogui Wan (Left Restoring Pill), and Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill). This corresponds to "strengthening the master of water to control yang." In cases where extreme cold generates heat and fire fails to return to its source (mingmen fire failing to submerge), resulting in yin excess repelling yang (false heat), treatment should warm and tonify blood and qi to resolve the heat spontaneously. Indicated formulas include Liyin Jian (Yin-Regulating Decoction), Yougui Yin (Right Restoring Decoction), Lizhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction), Dabu Yuanjian (Great Tonification of Origin Decoction), and Liuwei Huiyang Yin (Six-Ingredient Restore Yang Decoction). This corresponds to "enlarging the source of fire to dissipate yin shadow," also known as using warmth to eliminate great heat. In false heat syndromes, severe kidney yin deficiency causes yang to lack attachment and float outward, manifesting as external heat while the interior is truly cold. Without vigorous tonification of true yin, yuan qi cannot be restored; if yuan qi is not restored, yang will dissipate completely. However, severe external heat often presents with oral ulcers, cracked tongue, dry throat, sore throat, irritability, and thirst for cold drinks, making pungent-warm tonifying agents difficult to ingest. Therefore, Xue Lizhai treated Han Zhoutong's consumption fever by decocting one jin of Jiawei Bawei Wan (Modified Eight-Ingredient Pill) with one liang of Rougui (Cinnamon Bark), adding five to six bowls of water, chilling it in cold water, and administering it. This method is excellent. I have emulated this, using Cuishi Bawei Wan (Cui's Eight-Ingredient Pill) or Yougui Yin to treat false heat due to yin deficiency, as well as irritability and thirst from typhoid or consumption fevers. After administration, heat subsides instantly, revealing underlying deficiency-cold, at which point warming tonics are given, resulting in complete recovery. This is indeed a miraculous method.
Third: Excess fire is treated by purging, and deficiency fire by tonifying; this is the fixed rule. However, when deficiency contains excess elements, treatment should prioritize tonification while incorporating clearing, such as with Jiawei Yiyin Jian (Modified One-Yin Decoction), Baoyin Jian (Yin-Preserving Decoction), Tianwang Buxin Dan (Emperor of Heaven Heart-Nourishing Pill), or Danxi Buyin Wan (Danxi's Yin-Tonifying Pill). Conversely, when excess contains deficiency elements, treatment should prioritize clearing while酌情 (discretionarily) incorporating tonification, such as with Qinghua Yin (Clearing Transformation Decoction), Tuxi Yin, or Dabu Yin Wan (Great Tonification of Yin Pill). There are no fixed limits for deficiency-with-excess or excess-with-deficiency; thus, one cannot assert that heat implies no deficiency, nor deficiency imply no heat. Mild deficiency requires mild tonification; mild heat requires mild clearing. If heat exceeds deficiency and clearing is insufficient, gradually increasing the dose is harmless. If deficiency exceeds heat and clearing is excessive, it will damage yuan yang. Those treating fire must understand this principle.
Fourth: Herbs for purging fire: Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) and Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus) purge fire from the heart, liver, and large intestine. Zhiren (Gardeniae Semen) directs fire downward via urination due to its descending nature. Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum) purges stomach and intestinal fire; it is indispensable for excess heat in the Yangming channel. Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) clears spleen, lung, and large intestine fire. Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) purges liver, kidney, and meridian fire. Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma) clears lung, stomach, liver, and kidney fire. Digupi (Lycii Cortex) retreats yin-fire and effectively treats bone-steaming tidal fever and night sweats. Shengdi (Rehmanniae Radix) and Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix) clear liver and lung, cooling blood-level fire. Tiandong (Asparagi Radix) purges lung and large intestine fire. Sangbaipi (Mori Cortex) and Chuanbeimu (Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus), Tubeimou (Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus) resolve upper jiao lung and stomach fire. Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) and Gange (Puerariae Radix) resolve liver and spleen meridian stagnant fire. Longdancao (Gentianae Radix) purges liver, kidney, and bladder fire. Huaihua (Sophorae Flos) clears liver, kidney, and large intestine fire, resolving various toxins. Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix) and Shihu (Dendrobii Caulis) clear spleen and stomach fire. Huashi (Talcum) promotes urination to clear small intestine and bladder fire. Tianhuafen (Trichosanthis Radix) clears phlegm, stops thirst, and resolves upper jiao fire. Liaoqiao (Forsythiae Fructus) purges floating fire from all meridians. Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix) clears upper jiao floating fire. Shandougen (Sophorae Tonkinensis Radix) resolves throat fire. Dansing (Arisaematis Cum Bile) opens heart, spleen, and stomach collateral phlegm-fire. Qingdai (Indigo Naturalis), Lvhuo (Aloe), and Huhuanglian (Picrorhizae Rhizoma) purge five zang organs' malnutrition heat and stagnant fire. Kushen (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix) purges malnutrition erosion fire. Mutong (Akebiae Caulis) descends, purging small intestine fire. Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma) and Cheqianzi (Plantaginis Semen) promote urination to resolve strangury-associated fire. Renzhongbai (Urina Pueri Depurata) clears liver, spleen, and kidney yin-fire. Tongbian (Urina Pueri) descends floating fire in the yin blood level. Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) and Puxiao (Natrii Sulfas) purge excess heat fire in Yangming meridians. Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Huangqi (Astragali Radix), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), and Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) remove fire caused by qi deficiency, qi collapse, and scattered yang. Shudihuang (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Gouqi (Lycii Fructus), and Shanzhuyu (Corni Fructus) nourish heart-kidney non-interaction and rootless yin-fire. Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata), Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma), and Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex) rescue displaced yuan yang and yin-excess repelling yang fire. These methods cover the treatment of fire comprehensively, yet they are merely tools; divine application transcends textual description.