两,人参五钱,白矾三钱,茯神三钱,金银花三两,水煎服,即安不鸣矣,再用二剂即愈。盖甘草消毒,
人参、茯神以安其心,白矾以止其鸣,金银花以解其火热,故易于奏功也。
论气虚、血虚、肾虚、胃虚、脾虚诸用药方
天师曰∶平治者,平常之病,用平常之法也。气虚者,用六君子、四君子汤。血虚者,用四物汤。肾虚
无火者,用八味汤∶肾虚有火者,用六味地黄汤。肺虚者,用生脉散。心虚者,用归脾汤或天王补心
丹。肝虚者,用建中汤。胃虚者,用四君子汤。脾虚者,用补中益气汤。郁症,用逍遥散。伤风,用小柴
胡汤或参苏饮。有热者,用二黄汤。胃热甚者,用竹叶石膏汤。诸如此类,俱可以平常法治之,何必出
奇眩异哉,此平治之宜知也。
论单味治病
天师曰∶奇治者,可以一味而成功,不必更借重二味也,故曰奇治,非奇异之奇也。如吐病用瓜
蒂散,止用瓜蒂一味
足矣,不必再添别药,反牵制其手也。如泻病,止用车前子一两饮之,即止水泻是也,不必更加别
药,以分消之也。又如气脱、吐血等症,止要一味独参汤治之是也。又如腰痛不能俯仰,用白术四两,
酒二碗,水二碗,煎汤饮之,即止疼痛,不必更加他药也。(〔批〕利腰散。)盖瓜蒂专能上涌,若杂
之他药,反不能透矣。譬如人善跳跃,一人牵扯其身,转不自如。车前子性滑而能分水谷,倘兼附之他
药,又如人善入水者,一人牵其足,则反下沉。人参善能补气,接续于无何有之乡,加之别药,则因循
宛转。所以可以专用,而不可以双用也,此奇治之宜知者。
(From the preceding prescription) Licorice Root (Gancao, 2 liang), Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen, 5 qian), Alum (Baifan, 3 qian), Poria with Hostwood (Fushen, 3 qian), and Honeysuckle Flower (Jinyinhua, 3 liang) are decocted in water and taken orally; the symptoms will stabilize and the tinnitus/murmuring will cease immediately. Taking two more doses will lead to a complete cure. This is because Licorice Root eliminates toxicity, Ginseng and Poria calm the Heart Spirit (Shen), Alum stops the murmuring, and Honeysuckle clears heat and fire, thus facilitating rapid efficacy.
On Prescriptions for Qi Deficiency, Blood Deficiency, Kidney Deficiency, Stomach Deficiency, and Spleen Deficiency
The Heavenly Master said: "Pingzhi" (Standard Treatment) refers to using standard methods for ordinary diseases. For Qi deficiency, use Liu Junzi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction) or Sijunzi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction). For Blood deficiency, use Siwu Tang (Four Substance Decoction). For Kidney deficiency without fire (Yang deficiency), use Bawei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill); for Kidney deficiency with fire (Yin deficiency), use Liuwei Dihuang Tang (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia). For Lung deficiency, use Shengmai San (Generate the Pulse Powder). For Heart deficiency, use Guipi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction) or Tianwang Buxin Dan (Emperor of Heaven's Special Pill to Nourish the Heart). For Liver deficiency, use Jianzhong Tang (Establish the Middle Decoction). For Stomach deficiency, use Sijunzi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction). For Spleen deficiency, use Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction). For Depression Syndrome (Yu Zheng), use Xiaoyao San (Free and Easy Wanderer Powder). For Wind-Cold injury (Shang Feng), use Xiao Chaihu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) or Rensu Yin (Ginseng and Perilla Drink). For cases with heat, use Erhuang Tang (Two Huangs Decoction). For severe Stomach heat, use Zhuye Shigao Tang (Bamboo Leaf and Gypsum Decoction). All such conditions can be treated with standard methods; why seek strange and bizarre approaches? This is what one should know about Standard Treatment.
On Treating Diseases with Single Herbs
The Heavenly Master said: "Qizhi" (Extraordinary Treatment) means achieving success with a single herb, without needing to rely on a second one; hence it is called "extraordinary," not in the sense of being bizarre or weird. For example, in treating vomiting with Gaudi San (Melon Sprout Powder), using only Gadi (Momordicae Fructus Spermatium) alone is sufficient; adding other herbs would merely constrain its action. In treating diarrhea, drinking one liang of Cheqianzi (Plantaginis Semen) alone can stop watery diarrhea; there is no need to add other herbs to disperse the dampness. Similarly, for Qi collapse or hematemesis, treating with Dushen Tang (Single Ginseng Decoction) alone is effective. For example, in treating lower back pain that prevents bending or extending, using four liang of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu) with two bowls of wine and two bowls of water, decocted into a soup and drunk, will stop the pain immediately without adding other herbs. (Commentary: Liyao San.) This is because Gadi specifically induces upward vomiting; if mixed with other herbs, it loses its penetrating power. It is like a person skilled in jumping who is pulled by someone else, thereby losing their agility. Cheqianzi has a slippery nature and can separate fluids from food; if combined with other herbs, it is like a skilled swimmer whose feet are held down, causing them to sink instead. Ginseng is excellent at tonifying Qi and reconnecting vitality in the realm of emptiness; if other herbs are added, the effect becomes sluggish and delayed. Therefore, single herbs can be used exclusively but are not suitable for dual combinations. This is what one should understand about Extraordinary Treatment.