凡气有余便是火，不足者便是气。阴虚火动难治。
发汗 火郁在何经络，当发散。
降散 轻则可降，小便降火急速，益元散、八正散之类。
升发 重则从其气而升之，升阳泻火汤例。
泻 实者下之，解毒、凉膈、调胃皆可用。
缓 火急甚，必缓之。生甘草兼缓兼泻。看虚实，分正、从法。
正治 人壮气实，火盛颠狂者，可用正治。或硝水冰饮之，凉膈、解毒之类。
从治 人虚火盛或狂者，用姜汁汤调辰砂益元散与之。若投以冰凉凉药立死。如左金
丸治肝火黄连(一两)，茱萸(一两)，逆而从之治也。
滋阴壮水 补阴即火自降，炒黄柏、地黄之类。
镇坠 紫雪、珍珠、琥珀、犀角、云母、朱砂、石膏之类。轻者安神丸。
针
各经主治药 肝(气，柴胡，血，黄芩) 心(气，麦门冬；血，黄连) 脾(气，白芍
；血，生地) 肺(气，石膏；血，栀子) 肾(气，知母；血，黄柏) 胆(气，连翘；血，柴
胡) 胃(气，葛；血，大黄) 三焦(气，连翘；血，地骨皮) 膀胱(气，滑石；血，黄柏)
大肠(气，连翘；血，大黄) 小肠(气，赤茯；血，木通) 包络(气，麦门冬；血，牡丹
皮)
热伤气。火极阴虚。注暑，暑风，热极也。 是阳症，暑是阴证。脉沉弱者，切不可用寒凉
补 阴虚元气不足者，清暑益气汤。阳虚，补中益气汤。挟痰加半夏，或生脉散。
宣 挟火兼痰实者，可用吐法。暑风多痰。
清热 天水、白虎皆可用。热闷，辰砂、五苓。脉弦实，黄连、香薷。有痰。消暑丸。
清神 香薷、天水、东垣清暑益气汤加石膏。
清燥 湿热相合，而刑庚金，阳明病在下，东垣清燥汤方、消暑丸至妙，夏月不可无
分利 热甚，自汗而渴，便涩者，五苓分利之，桂苓甘露饮。
温 吐泻，脉沉微甚者，可用附子、大顺散、香薷丸、桂苓丸、水浸丹。伏热伤冷，
缩脾饮，冷香饮子。
泻火 黄连解毒汤、神芎丸。
劫 治伏暑泄泻，身热脉弱，宜来复丹。
Whenever Qi is in excess, it becomes Fire; when Qi is deficient, it is merely Qi deficiency. Yin deficiency leading to hyperactive Fire (deficient fire flaming upward) is difficult to treat.
Diaphoresis: If Fire pathogen is constrained within a specific meridian, dispersing methods should be employed.
Descending and Dispersing: For mild cases, descending methods can be used; promoting urination rapidly reduces Fire, such as with Yiyuan San (Benefit Origin Powder) or Bazheng San (Eight Correctnesses Powder).
Ascending and Erupting: For severe cases, one should follow the Qi mechanism and ascend it, referring to the example of Shengyang Xiehuo Tang (Yang-Raising Fire-Draining Decoction).
Purgation: In excess patterns, purgative methods are indicated; Jiedu Tang (Detoxification Decoction), Liangge San (Cooling the Chest Powder), and Tiaowei Chengqi Tang (Regulating the Stomach and Directing Downward Decoction) may all be used.
Moderating Urgency: When Fire is extremely urgent and severe, it must be moderated. Raw Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao) both moderates and drains Fire. One must assess deficiency and excess, distinguishing between Zhengzhi (Direct Treatment) and Congzhi (Indirect/Compliant Treatment).
Direct Treatment (Zhengzhi): For robust individuals with strong Qi, excessive Fire, and manic delirium, direct treatment is applicable. This may involve drinking nitre water or ice water, or using Liangge San (Cooling the Chest Powder) and Jiedu Tang (Detoxification Decoction).
Indirect Treatment (Congzhi): For individuals with deficiency and excessive Fire or mania, Chen Sha Yiyuan San (Cinnabar Benefit Origin Powder) mixed with Ginger Juice should be administered. Administering cold, cooling herbs would cause immediate death. For example, Zuojin Wan (Left Metal Pill) treats Liver Fire using Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma, 1 liang) and Zhuyu (Evodiae Fructus, 1 liang); this is treating by opposing the nature of the disease (indirect treatment).
Nourishing Yin and Strengthening Water: Nourishing Yin causes Fire to descend naturally, using herbs such as Chao Huangbai (Fried Phellodendri Cortex) and Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata).
Sedating and Descending (Zhenzhui): Substances such as Zixue Dan (Purple Snow Pill), Zhenzhu (Pearl), Hupo (Amber), Xijiao (Rhinoceros Horn - note: use substitutes in modern practice), Yunmu (Muscovite), Zhusha (Cinnabar), and Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum) are used. For mild cases, Anshen Wan (Calming Spirit Pill) is used.
Acupuncture:
Principal Medicines for Each Meridian:
Liver (Qi level: Bupleuri Radix; Blood level: Scutellariae Radix)
Heart (Qi level: Ophiopogonis Radix; Blood level: Coptidis Rhizoma)
Spleen (Qi level: Paeoniae Radix Alba; Blood level: Rehmanniae Radix)
Lung (Qi level: Gypsum Fibrosum; Blood level: Gardeniae Fructus)
Kidney (Qi level: Anemarrhenae Rhizoma; Blood level: Phellodendri Cortex)
Gallbladder (Qi level: Forsythiae Fructus; Blood level: Bupleuri Radix)
Stomach (Qi level: Puerariae Lobatae Radix; Blood level: Rhei Radix et Rhizoma)
Sanjiao/Triple Burner (Qi level: Forsythiae Fructus; Blood level: Lycii Cortex)
Bladder (Qi level: Talcum; Blood level: Phellodendri Cortex)
Large Intestine (Qi level: Forsythiae Fructus; Blood level: Rhei Radix et Rhizoma)
Small Intestine (Qi level: Poria (Red); Blood level: Akebiae Caulis)
Pericardium (Qi level: Ophiopogonis Radix; Blood level: Moutan Cortex)
Heat damages Qi. Extreme Fire leads to Yin deficiency. Zhu Shu (Severe Summerheat), Shu Feng (Summerwind), represent extreme heat. Summerheat is a Yang pattern, whereas summer-dampness injury is a Yin pattern. If the pulse is deep and weak, cold and cooling herbs must absolutely not be used.
Tonification: For Yin deficiency with Yuan Qi insufficiency, Qingshu Yiqi Tang (Clear Summerheat and Boost Qi Decoction) is used. For Yang deficiency, Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction) is used. If accompanied by Phlegm, add Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) or use Shengmai San (Generate the Pulse Powder).
Exfoliation/Vomiting: For cases with Fire accompanied by excess Phlegm, emetic methods may be used. Shu Feng (Summerwind) often involves Phlegm.
Clearing Heat: Tianshui San (Heavenly Water Powder) and Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction) are both applicable. For heat oppression, Chen Sha (Cinnabar) and Wuling San (Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria) are used. For wiry and excess pulses, Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) and Xiangru (Moslae Herba) are used. For Phlegm, Xiaoshu Wan (Summerheat-Relieving Pill) is used.
Clearing the Spirit: Xiangru (Moslae Herba), Tianshui San (Heavenly Water Powder), and Dongyuan Qingshu Yiqi Tang (Dongyuan's Clear Summerheat and Boost Qi Decoction) plus Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum).
Clearing Dryness: When Damp-Heat combine and injure Geng Metal (Lung), causing Yangming disease in the lower jiao, Dongyuan Qingzao Tang (Dongyuan's Clearing Dryness Decoction) and Xiaoshu Wan (Summerheat-Relieving Pill) are excellent. In summer, promoting diuresis to separate clear from turbid is indispensable.
Promoting Diuresis (Fenli): When heat is severe, with spontaneous sweating, thirst, and dysuria, Wuling San (Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria) promotes diuresis, or Guiling Ganlu Yin (Cinnamon Twig, Alisma, and Magnolia Bark Sweet Dew Drink).
Warming: For vomiting and diarrhea with extremely deep and faint pulses, Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata), Dashun San (Great Smoothness Powder), Xiangru Wan (Moslae Pill), Guiling Wan (Cinnamon Twig and Alisma Pill), or Shuijin Dan (Water-Soaked Pill) may be used. For latent heat injuring cold, Suopi Yin (Spleen-Constricting Drink) or Lengxiang Yin (Cold Fragrance Drink) are used.
Draining Fire: Huanglian Jiedu Tang (Coptis Detoxification Decoction), Shenxiong Wan (Divine Celosia Pill).
Snatching/Rescuing: To treat latent summerheat diarrhea with body heat and weak pulse, Laifu Dan (Reviving Return Pill) is appropriate.