肾劳者，真阴久亏，或房室太过，水竭于下，火炎于上，身热腰疼，咽干口燥，甚则咳嗽吐血
，来苏汤主之。
来苏汤（自制）
天冬（二钱） 麦冬（二钱） 生地（三钱） 熟地（三钱） 南沙参（三钱）
北沙参（三钱） 白芍（一钱） 赤芍（一钱） 沙苑（三钱） 贝母（二钱）
磁石（四钱） 杜仲（三钱） 茜草根（二钱） 牛膝（二钱） 杏仁（三钱） 莲子（十粒去心）
先生此方根据《难经》损其肾者益其精。精，水也，而畏火，火动则精不安其宅，而肾劳起矣
。所以欲补其精，必须先制其火；所谓制其火，非知、柏苦寒泻火之谓，乃壮水以配火也，二地、二
冬、南沙参、北沙参，所以壮水；二芍所以清心肝；杜仲、沙苑、磁石所以补肾固精而纳气；贝母
、杏仁所以宣心肺；茜草、牛膝所以使上行之血下降；而莲子则所以安静上下君相火邪，而交心
肾也。水旺火平，水火既济，而未去之精可安，已去之精可再生也。五劳补方，不用一味助火药，
以劳字上半有二火字在焉。祖怡注。
五脏六腑，化生气血；气血旺盛，营养脏腑。虚劳内伤，不出气血两途。治气血虚者，莫重于
脾肾。水为天一之元，气之根在肾；土为万物之母，血之统在脾。气血旺盛，二脏健康，他脏纵有
不足，气血足供挹注，全体相生，诸病自已。人苟劳心纵欲，初起殊不自知，迨至愈劳愈虚，胃中
水谷所入，一日所生之精血，不足以供一日之用，于是营血渐耗，真气日亏，头眩耳鸣，心烦神倦
口燥咽干，食少短气，腰酸足软，种种俱见，甚
则咳呛失音，吐血盗汗，而生命危矣。孙思邈云补脾不如补肾，许叔微谓补肾不如补脾，盖两先哲
深知两脏为人生之根本，有相资之功能，其说似相反，其旨实相成也。救肾者必本于阴血，血主濡
之，主下降，虚则上升，当敛而降之。救脾者必本于阳气，气主 之，主上升，虚则下陷，当举而
升之。近人治虚劳，不是以四物汤加知母、黄柏，就是以大造丸用龟版、黄柏，一派阴寒腥浊性味
，将置脾胃生长之气于何地，不是在补养气血，而是在败坏气血。因立两法以救其弊。
阴虚火动，皮寒骨蒸，食少痰多，咳嗽短气，倦怠焦烦，新定拯阴理劳汤主之。
人参（一钱） 甘草（五分） 麦冬（二钱） 五味（三分） 当归（二钱）
白芍（一钱） 生地（二钱） 丹皮（二钱） 苡仁（三钱） 橘红（一钱） 莲子（十粒）
阳虚气耗，倦怠懒言，行动喘急，表热自汗，心中烦躁，偏身作痛，新定拯阳理劳汤主之。
人参（一钱） 黄 （二钱） 白术（二钱） 甘草（一钱） 肉桂（七分）
当归（一钱五分） 五味（四分） 陈皮（一钱） 生姜（二片） 红枣（二枚）
此一论二方，乃先生晚年所作，同是补肾补脾，而与五劳脾肾两方不同，为吾家所珍藏，而未
经刊布者。祖怡注。
Shen Lao (Kidney Exhaustion) refers to a condition where the True Yin has been deficient for a long time, or due to excessive sexual activity, leading to exhaustion of Water in the Lower Jiao and flaming of Fire in the Upper Jiao. Symptoms include body heat, lower back pain, dry throat, and dry mouth; in severe cases, coughing and hemoptysis may occur. The primary formula is Laisu Tang (Laisu Decoction), a self-made prescription.
Laisu Tang (Laisu Decoction) [Self-made]
Tian Dong (Asparagi Radix, 2 qian) Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Radix, 2 qian) Sheng Di (Rehmanniae Radix, 3 qian) Shu Di (Prepared Rehmanniae Radix, 3 qian) Nan Sha Shen (Adenophorae Radix, 3 qian)
Bei Sha Shen (Glehniae Radix, 3 qian) Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba, 1 qian) Chi Shao (Paeoniae Radix Rubra, 1 qian) Sha Yuan (Astragali Complanati Semen, 3 qian) Bei Mu (Fritillariae Bulbus, 2 qian)
Ci Shi (Magnetitum, 4 qian) Du Zhong (Eucommiae Cortex, 3 qian) Qian Cao Gen (Rubiae Cordifoliae Radix et Rhizoma, 2 qian) Niu Xi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix, 2 qian) Xing Ren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum, 3 qian) Lian Zi (Nelumbinis Semen, 10 grains, heart removed)
The author formulated this prescription based on the principle from *Nan Jing* (Classic of Difficult Issues): "For those with kidney damage, benefit their Essence." Essence belongs to Water but fears Fire; if Fire moves, Essence cannot remain stable in its residence, leading to Kidney Exhaustion. Therefore, to tonify Essence, one must first control Fire. Controlling Fire does not refer to using bitter-cold herbs like Zhi Mu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma) and Huang Bo (Phellodendri Cortex) to purge fire, but rather strengthening Water to balance Fire. Tian Dong, Mai Dong, Nan Sha Shen, and Bei Sha Shen are used to strengthen Water; Bai Shao and Chi Shao clear Heart and Liver heat; Du Zhong, Sha Yuan, and Ci Shi tonify the Kidney, secure Essence, and grasp Qi; Bei Mu and Xing Ren ventilate Lung and Heart Qi; Qian Cao Gen and Niu Xi guide ascending Blood downward; and Lian Zi calms the Ministerial and Sovereign Fire above and below, facilitating communication between Heart and Kidney. Thus, Water becomes abundant and Fire levels out, achieving Water-Fire Balance (Shui Huo Ji Ji). Unconsumed Essence remains safe, and consumed Essence can regenerate. In tonifying formulas for Wu Lao (Five Excesses), no herb that aids Fire is used, because the character "Lao" contains two "Fire" radicals at the top. Note by Zu Yi.
The Five Zang and Six Fu organs transform and generate Qi and Blood; when Qi and Blood are vigorous, they nourish the organs. Deficiency consumptive diseases (Xu Lao) internal injury do not go beyond the two pathways of Qi and Blood. In treating Qi and Blood deficiency, nothing is more important than regulating Spleen and Kidney. Water is the origin of Tian Yi (Heavenly One); the root of Qi lies in the Kidney. Earth is the mother of all things; the control of Blood lies in the Spleen. If Qi and Blood are vigorous and these two organs are healthy, even if other organs have deficiencies, sufficient Qi and Blood can be supplied and infused, promoting mutual generation among all parts, and various diseases will resolve themselves. If a person overworks their mind and indulges desires, initially they may not realize it. However, as fatigue leads to greater deficiency, the Essence and Blood generated daily from food and drink ingested by the Stomach become insufficient for daily use. Consequently, Ying Blood (Nutritive Blood) gradually depletes, and True Qi declines daily. Symptoms such as dizziness, tinnitus, mental restlessness, fatigue, dry mouth and throat, poor appetite, shortness of breath, soreness and weakness of the lower back and feet appear. In severe cases, coughing, loss of voice, hemoptysis, and night sweats occur, endangering life. Sun Simiao stated that tonifying the Spleen is better than tonifying the Kidney; Xu Shuwei stated that tonifying the Kidney is better than tonifying the Spleen. These two sages deeply understood that these two organs are the foundation of human life and possess mutually supportive functions. Their theories seem opposite but are actually complementary. To treat Kidney deficiency, one must base treatment on Yin and Blood; Blood moistens and tends to descend; in deficiency, it may ascend improperly, so it should be astringed to descend. To treat Spleen deficiency, one must base treatment on Yang Qi; Qi warms and tends to ascend; in deficiency, it may sink improperly, so it should be lifted to ascend. Modern practitioners treating Xu Lao often use Si Wu Tang (Four Substance Decoction) added with Zhi Mu and Huang Bo, or Da Zao Wan (Great Creation Pill) with Gui Ban (Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum) and Huang Bo, creating a mass of cold, fishy, and turbid properties. Where does this leave the growing Qi of the Spleen and Stomach? This is not tonifying Qi and Blood but destroying them. Therefore, two methods were established to correct this flaw.
Yin deficiency with Fire hyperactivity, manifesting as cold skin, bone-steaming fever, poor appetite, profuse phlegm, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, and irritability, is primarily treated with Xin Ding Zheng Yin Li Lao Tang (Newly Formulated Rescue Yin Regulate Labor Decoction).
Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix, 1 qian) Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix, 5 fen) Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Radix, 2 qian) Wu Wei Zi (Schisandrae Fructus, 3 fen) Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix, 2 qian)
Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba, 1 qian) Sheng Di (Rehmanniae Radix, 2 qian) Dan Pi (Moutan Cortex, 2 qian) Yi Yi Ren (Coicis Semen, 3 qian) Ju Hong (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Rubrum, 1 qian) Lian Zi (Nelumbinis Semen, 10 grains)
Yang deficiency with Qi consumption, manifesting as fatigue, reluctance to speak, panting upon exertion, exterior heat with spontaneous sweating, mental restlessness, and generalized body pain, is primarily treated with Xin Ding Zheng Yang Li Lao Tang (Newly Formulated Rescue Yang Regulate Labor Decoction).
Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix, 1 qian) Huang Qi (Astragali Radix, 2 qian) Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, 2 qian) Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix, 1 qian) Rou Gui (Cinnamomi Cortex, 7 fen)
Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix, 1.5 qian) Wu Wei Zi (Schisandrae Fructus, 4 fen) Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, 1 qian) Sheng Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, 2 slices) Hong Zao (Jujubae Fructus, 2 pieces)
This discussion and these two formulas were composed by the author in his later years. Although both tonify the Kidney and Spleen, they differ from the previous two formulas for Wu Lao involving Spleen and Kidney. They are treasured within our family and have not been previously published. Note by Zu Yi.