滑。涩则气着。欲其利也。如便难内闭。必滑剂以利之。本草曰。滑可去着。即冬葵榆皮之属。滑能养窍。
故润利也。
燥。湿淫气胜。肿满脾湿。必燥剂以除之。本草曰。燥可去湿。即桑白皮赤小豆之属。所谓湿甚于上。
以苦燥之。以淡泄之是也。
湿。津耗为枯。五脏痿弱。荣卫涸流。必湿剂以润之。本草曰。湿可去枯。即紫石英之属。故痿弱者用之。
王注曰。心热盛则火独光。火独光则内炎上。肾之脉常下行。今火盛而上炎用事。故肾脉亦随火炎烁而逆上行
也。阴气厥逆。火复内燔。阴上隔阳。下不守位。心气通脉。故生脉痿。肾气主足故膝腕枢纽如折去。而不相
提挈。胫筋纵缓。而不能任用于地也。可下数百行而愈。
故此十剂七方者。乃太古先师。设绳墨而取曲直。何叔世方士。出规矩以为方圆。王注曰。呜呼。人之死
者。但曰命。不谓方士愚昧而杀之邪。是以物各有性。以谓物之性有尽也。制而用之。将使之无尽。物之用有
穷也。变而通之。将使之无穷。夫惟性无尽用无穷。故施于品剂。以佐使斯人。其功用亦不可一而足也。于是
有因其性而为用者。有因其所胜为制者。有气同
则相求者。有气相克则相制者。有气有余而补不足者。有气相感则以意使者。有质同而性异者。有名异而实同
者。故蛇之性上窜而引药。蝉之性脱而退翳。虻饮血而用以治血。鼠善穿而用以治漏。所谓因其性而为用者如
此。弩牙速产。以机发而不括也。杵糠下噎。以杵筑下也。所谓因其用而为使者如此。萍不沉水。可以胜酒。
独活不摇风。可以治风。所谓因其所胜而为之用制也如此。麻。木谷而治风。豆。水谷而治水。所谓气相同则
相求者如此。牛土畜。乳可以止渴疾。豕水畜。心可以镇恍惚。所谓因其气相克则相制也如此。熊肉振羸。
兔肝明视。所谓因其气有余。补不足也如此。鲤之治水。 之利水。所谓因其气相感。则以意使者如此。蜂蜜
成于蜂。蜜温而蜂寒。油本生于麻。麻温而油寒。兹同质而异性也。蘼芜生于芎 。蓬 生于复盆。兹名异而
实同者也。所以如此之类。不可胜举。故天地赋形。不离阴阳。形色自然。皆有法象。毛羽之类。生于阳而属
于阴。鳞介之类。生于阴而属于阳。空青法水色青而主肝。丹砂法火色赤而主心。云母法金色白而主肺。磁石
法水色黑而主肾。黄石脂法土色黄而主脾。故触类而长之。莫不有自然之理也。欲为医者。上知天文。下知地
理。中知人事。三者俱明。然后可以愈人之疾病。不然。则如无目夜游。无足登涉。动致颠殒。而欲愈疾者。
未之有也。故治病者。必明天地之理道。阴阳更胜之先后。人之寿夭生化之期。乃可以知人之形气矣。王注曰。
不明天地之理。又昧阴阳之候。则以寿为夭。以夭为寿。虽尽上圣救生之道。心明经脉药石之妙。犹未免世中
之诬斥也。明乎医者。幸详究焉。
Slippery. Astringent substances cause Qi to adhere. To promote unobstructed flow, if there is difficulty in defecation or internal blockage, slippery agents must be used to facilitate it. The Materia Medica states: "Slippery substances remove adhesion," referring to items such as Dongkui (Abutilon theophrasti) and Yupi (Ulmus pumila). Slippery substances nourish orifices, thus providing moistening and lubricating effects.
Dryness. When dampness pathogen prevails, causing swelling, fullness, and Spleen dampness, drying agents must be used to eliminate it. The Materia Medica states: "Dry substances remove dampness," referring to items such as Sangbaipi (Morus alba bark) and Chixiaodou (Vigna angularis). This refers to the principle that when dampness is severe in the upper body, bitter-drying substances are used to dry it, and bland-draining substances are used to leach it out.
Moisture. When body fluids are consumed leading to withering, and the five Zang organs become weak and flaccid, with Nutritive and Defensive Qi flowing like a dried-up stream, moistening agents must be used to hydrate them. The Materia Medica states: "Moist substances remove withering," referring to items such as Zi Shiyin (Fluorite). Thus, they are used for conditions of weakness and flaccidity.
Wang Bing's Commentary: When Heart heat is excessive, Fire shines alone. When Fire shines alone, it flares inward and upward. The Kidney meridian normally descends. Now, with Fire being excessive and flaming upward, the Kidney meridian also follows the scorching Fire and rebels upward. Yin Qi rebels and counterflows; Fire again burns internally. Yin rises above, obstructing Yang; below, positions are not maintained. Heart Qi connects with the vessels, thus generating Mai Wei (Pulse Flaccidity). Kidney Qi governs the feet, so the knee and ankle joints seem broken and disconnected, unable to support each other. The tendons of the shins become lax and relaxed, unable to bear weight on the ground. It can be cured by inducing diarrhea several hundred times.
Therefore, these Ten Categories of Formulas and Seven Methods were established by ancient masters to set standards for measuring straightness and crookedness. How can later physicians merely use compasses and squares to create circles and angles? Wang Bing's Commentary: Alas! When people die, we simply say it is fate, rather than attributing it to the ignorance of physicians killing them. Therefore, all things have their specific natures. If one considers that the nature of things is limited, by processing and using them, one can make them limitless. If one considers that the utility of things is finite, by transforming and adapting them, one can make them infinite. Only because natures are limitless and utilities infinite, are they applied in formulations to assist and guide humans. Their functions cannot be exhausted by a single approach. Thus, there are those used according to their nature, those controlled according to what overcomes them, those that seek each other due to similar Qi, those that control each other due to conflicting Qi, those that tonify deficiency due to excess Qi, those that are directed by intent due to resonant Qi, those with same substance but different nature, and those with different names but same reality.
Thus, the snake's nature is to climb upward, guiding herbs upward; the cicada's nature is to shed its skin, removing nebulae; the horsefly drinks blood, thus used to treat blood disorders; the rat is good at burrowing, thus used to treat fistulas. This is what is meant by using according to nature. The trigger of a crossbow releases quickly because the mechanism does not hold; pounding chaff drives it down because the pestle beats it downward. This is what is meant by using according to function. Duckweed does not sink in water, thus can overcome alcohol intoxication; Duhuo (Angelica pubescens) does not sway in wind, thus can treat wind disorders. This is what is meant by controlling use based on overcoming properties. Hemp, a wood grain, treats wind; beans, a water grain, treat water disorders. This is what is meant by seeking each other due to similar Qi. Cattle are earth animals; milk can stop thirst diseases; pigs are water animals; hearts can calm confusion. This is what is meant by controlling based on conflicting Qi. Bear meat strengthens the emaciated; rabbit liver improves vision. This is what is meant by tonifying deficiency due to excess Qi. Carp treats water disorders; [missing character] promotes urination. This is what is meant by directing by intent due to resonant Qi. Honey is produced by bees; honey is warm while bees are cold. Oil originates from hemp; hemp is warm while oil is cold. These are same substance but different nature. Miwu (Chrysanthemum indicum) grows near Xiong (Ligusticum wallichii); Peng (Rubus chingii) grows in Fu Pen (Rubus corchorifolius). These are different names but same reality. Such examples are countless.
Therefore, Heaven and Earth bestow forms, inseparable from Yin and Yang. Colors and shapes naturally follow patterns. Creatures with hair and feathers are born from Yang but belong to Yin. Creatures with scales and shells are born from Yin but belong to Yang. Kongqing (Azurite) mimics water, is green, and governs the Liver. Dansha (Cinnabar) mimics fire, is red, and governs the Heart. Yunmu (Muscovite) mimics metal, is white, and governs the Lungs. Cishi (Magnetite) mimics water, is black, and governs the Kidneys. Huangshizhi (Yellow Halloysite) mimics earth, is yellow, and governs the Spleen. Thus, extending by analogy, there is no natural principle not present.
To be a physician, one must understand astronomy above, geography below, and human affairs in between. Only when all three are clear can one cure diseases. Otherwise, it is like wandering at night without eyes, or wading without legs, inevitably falling and perishing. There has never been a case where one could cure diseases without this. Therefore, treating diseases requires understanding the principles of Heaven and Earth, the sequence of Yin and Yang alternation, and the periods of life, death, and transformation of humans. Only then can one know human form and Qi.
Wang Bing's Commentary: Not understanding the principles of Heaven and Earth, and being ignorant of Yin and Yang signs, leads to mistaking longevity for premature death and premature death for longevity. Even if one exhausts the ways of sages to save lives, and clearly understands the wonders of meridians and medicines, one still cannot avoid worldly criticism. Physicians who understand this should investigate carefully.