捍卫冲和不息之谓气,扰乱妄动变常之谓火,当其和平之时,外护其表,复行于里,周流一身,循环无
端,出入升降,继而有常,源出中焦,总统于肺气,曷尝病于人也。及其七
情之交攻,五志之间发,乖戾失常,清者遽变之为浊,行者抑遏而反止,表失卫护而不和,内失健悍而少降,
营运渐远,肺失主持,妄动不已,五志厥阳之火起焉;上燔于肺气乃病焉。何者?气本属阳,反胜则为火矣。
河间曰∶五志过极,则为火也。何后世不本此议,而一概类聚香辛燥热之剂。气作寒治,所据何理?且言七气
汤制作∶其用青皮、陈皮、三棱、蓬术、益智、官桂、甘草,遂以为平和可常用,通治七情所伤,混同一意,
未喻其药。以治真气以下诸气,尤有甚焉者,兹不复叙。况所居之情,各各不同。且夫经言九气之变,未尝略
而不详。如怒则气上,喜则气缓,悲则气消,恐则气下,寒则气收,热则气泄,惊则气乱,劳则气耗,思则
气结。其言治法∶高者抑之;下者举之;寒者热之;热者寒之;惊者平之;劳者温之;结者散之;喜者以恐升
之;悲者以喜胜之。九气之治,各有分别,何尝混作寒治论,而类聚香热之药,通言而治诸气,岂理之谓欤。
若香辛燥热之剂,但可劫滞气,冲快于一时;以其气久抑滞,借此暂行开发之意。药中无佐使制服所起之气,
服之,甚则增炽郁火,蒸熏气液而成积,自积滋长而成痰,一饮下膈,气乃氤氲,清虚之象,若雾露之着物,
虽滞易散,内挟痰积,开而复结,服之日久,安有虚实而不动,气动而不散者乎。此皆人所受误之由,习俗已
久,相沿而化,卒莫能救。升发太过,香辛散气,燥热伤气,真气耗散,浊气上腾,犹曰肾虚不能摄气归原,
遂与苏子降气汤四磨汤下,黑铅丹、养气丹、镇坠上升之气;且硫黄黑锡佐以香热,又无补养之性,借此果
能生气而补肾乎。请熟详之∶夫湿痰盛甚者,亦或当之,初服未显增变,由其喜坠、而愈进,形质弱者,何以
收救。不悟肺受火炎,子气亦弱,降令不行,火无以制,相扇而动,本势空虚,命绝如缕,
积而至深,丹毒济火,一旦火气狂散,喘息奔急而死。所以有形丹石瓦药,重坠无形之气,其气将何抵受随而
降之乎。譬以石投水,水固未尝沉也,岂不死欤。丹溪有曰∶上升之气,自肝而出,中挟相火,其热愈甚,自
觉无冷,非真冷也。火热似水,积热之甚,阳亢阴微,故有此证。认假作真,似是之祸可胜言哉。内经虽云百
病皆生于气,以正气受邪之不一也。今七情伤气,郁结不舒,痞闷壅塞,发为诸病。当详所起之因,滞于何经,
有上下部分藏气之不同。随经用药,有寒热温凉之同异。若枳壳利肺气,多服损胸中至高之气;青皮泻肝气,
多服损真气。与夫木香之行中下焦气、香附之快滞气、陈皮之泄气、藿香之馨香上行胃气、紫苏之散表气、浓
朴之泻卫气、槟榔之泻至高之气、沉香之升降其气、脑麝之散真气,若此之类,气实可宜。其中有行散者,有
损泄者,其过剂乎,用之,能却气之标,而不能治气之本。岂可又佐以燥热之药,以火济火,混同谓治诸气,
使之常服多服可乎?气之与火,一理而已,动静之变,反化为二。气作火论,治与病情相得。丹溪发挥论云∶
冷生气者,出于高阳生之谬言也。自非身受寒气,口食寒物,而足论寒者,吾恐十之无一二也。
Qi (Vital Energy) refers to the force that protects the body, maintains a harmonious state, and operates ceaselessly; Huo (Fire) refers to the state of disrupting normal order and acting recklessly out of control. When Qi is in a harmonious state, it guards the exterior surface, circulates within the interior organs, flows throughout the whole body, cycling endlessly without beginning or end, with entry and exit, ascending and descending following regular patterns. Its source originates from the Middle Jiao (Middle Burner), is commanded by Lung Qi (Lung Vital Energy), and how could it cause disease in humans? However, when the Seven Emotions (Joy, Anger, Worry, Thought, Sorrow, Fear, Fright) attack each other, and the Five Zhi (Mental Activities associated with the Zang organs: Joy of Heart, Anger of Liver, Sorrow of Lung, Fear of Kidney, Thought of Spleen) erupt successively, causing Qi mechanism to become perverse and abnormal, clear Qi suddenly transforms into turbid Qi, moving Qi is suppressed and obstructed, reversing its flow to stop; the exterior loses its protective function and becomes disharmonious, while the interior loses its robust strength and lacks descending ability. The circulation and operation gradually deviate from normal, Lung Qi loses its command, reckless movement continues unceasingly, and the Fire of Jue-Yang from the Five Zhi arises; burning upwards to Lung Qi, thus the Lung becomes diseased. Why? Because Qi fundamentally belongs to Yang; if it rebels and overacts, it becomes Fire. He Jian (Liu Wansu) said: Extreme excess of the Five Zhi transforms into Fire. Why do later generations not base their arguments on this, but instead generally gather aromatic, pungent, dry, and hot agents? What logic supports treating Qi as Cold? Furthermore, regarding the preparation of Qi Qi Tang (Seven Qi Decoction): it uses Qing Pi (Green Tangerine Peel), Chen Pi (Aged Tangerine Peel), San Leng (Burreed Rhizome), Peng Ze (Curcuma Zedoaria Rhizome), Yi Zhi Ren (Alpinia Oxyphylla Fruit), Guan Gui (Cinnamon Twig), and Gan Cao (Licorice Root), considering them mild and suitable for common use, universally treating injuries caused by the Seven Emotions, mixing them into one intent. I do not understand the pharmacology here. Using these to treat various Qi disorders below True Qi is even more detrimental, which I will not elaborate further. Moreover, the situations people are in vary greatly. The Classics discuss the changes of the Nine Qi without omission or lack of detail. For example: Anger causes Qi to ascend; Joy causes Qi to slacken; Sorrow causes Qi to dissipate; Fear causes Qi to sink; Cold causes Qi to contract; Heat causes Qi to leak; Fright causes Qi to become chaotic; Labor causes Qi to be consumed; Thought causes Qi to knot. Regarding treatment methods: For Qi ascending high, suppress it; for Qi sinking low, lift it; for Cold conditions, use Heat; for Heat conditions, use Cold; for Fright, calm it; for Labor, warm it; for Knots, scatter them; for Joy (slackening), overcome it with Fear; for Sorrow (dissipation), overcome it with Joy. The treatments for the Nine Qi are distinct. How could they be mixed together as Cold conditions, gathering aromatic and hot drugs, claiming to treat all Qi disorders uniformly? Is this reasonable? If aromatic, pungent, dry, and hot agents are used, they can only temporarily劫 (seize/suppress) stagnant Qi, making it rush freely for a moment; because Qi has been long suppressed and stagnant, borrowing this temporary opening intent. Without auxiliary and guiding herbs (Zuo Shi) in the formula to control the arising Qi, after ingestion, at worst it increases blazing Stagnant Fire, steaming and薰 (fuming) Qi and fluids to form accumulations; from accumulations, Phlegm grows. Once drunk into the Diaphragm, Qi becomes misty and diffuse, resembling fog and dew attaching to objects. Although stagnation is easily scattered, internally accompanied by Phlegm accumulations, after opening it knots again. Long-term use, how can there be no change in deficiency or excess, where Qi moves but does not disperse? These are all reasons for human error in treatment, long-standing customs, passed down and transformed, ultimately unable to save. Excessive rising and dispersing, aromatic and pungent scattering Qi, dry and hot damaging Qi, True Qi is consumed and dispersed, Turbid Qi ascends. Yet they say Kidney Deficiency cannot grasp Qi back to its origin, thus administering Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang (Perilla Seed Descending Qi Decoction), Si Mo Tang (Four-Mortar Decoction) to descend, Hei Qian Dan (Black Lead Pill), Yang Qi Dan (Nourishing Qi Pill), to suppress rising Qi; moreover, Huang Qi (Sulfur) and Hei Xi (Black Tin) assisted by aromatic and hot substances, lacking nourishing properties. Can this truly generate Qi and tonify the Kidney? Please examine carefully: Severe Damp-Phlegm might also apply, initially showing no obvious worsening, due to liking its heavy-sinking nature, leading to further intake. For those with weak constitution, how can rescue be achieved? Not realizing that Lung suffers from Fire flaring, Zi Qi (Child Qi, i.e., Lung Qi derived from Kidney) is also weak, descending function fails, Fire is unchecked, fanning each other to move, the root is empty, life is like a thin thread, accumulation reaches deep levels. Dan Shi (Mineral drugs) aid Fire; once Fire Qi wildly scatters, panting and rushing lead to death. Therefore, solid mineral drugs attempt to heavily sink intangible Qi. How can Qi withstand being descended along with them? It is like throwing a stone into water; although water does not sink, does it not die? Dan Xi (Zhu Zhenheng) said: Rising Qi comes from the Liver, carrying Xiang Huo (Ministerial Fire). The heat is severe, feeling not cold, not true cold. Fire and Heat resemble Water; extreme accumulated Heat leads to Hyperactive Yang and Minute Yin, hence this syndrome. Mistaking false for true, the disaster of似是而非 (appearing correct but actually wrong) is incalculable. Although Nei Jing (Inner Canon) states all diseases arise from Qi, it is because Zheng Qi (Upright Qi) receives pathogens differently. Now, Seven Emotions injure Qi, causing depression and knotting, fullness and obstruction, manifesting as various diseases. One must detail the cause, which meridian is blocked, noting differences in Zang-Fu Qi in upper and lower parts. Medicines should follow meridians, distinguishing similarities and differences in Cold, Heat, Warmth, and Coolness. For instance, Zhi Ke (Bitter Orange) benefits Lung Qi, but excessive use damages the highest Qi in the chest; Qing Pi (Green Tangerine Peel) drains Liver Qi, but excessive use damages True Qi. Similarly, Mu Xiang (Aucklandia Root) moves Qi in Middle and Lower Jiao; Xiang Fu (Cyperus Rhizome) relieves stagnant Qi; Chen Pi (Aged Tangerine Peel) leaks Qi; Huo Xiang (Patchouli) aromatically ascends Stomach Qi; Zi Su (Perilla Leaf) disperses Exterior Qi; Hou Po (Magnolia Bark) drains Wei Qi (Defensive Qi); Bing Lang (Areca Seed) drains the highest Qi; Chen Xiang (Agarwood) regulates ascending and descending Qi; Nao She (Camphor and Musk) scatters True Qi. Such cases are suitable for Qi Excess syndromes. Among them, some scatter, some drain. If overdosed, they remove the branch symptoms of Qi but cannot treat the root of Qi. How can one additionally assist with dry and hot drugs, using Fire to aid Fire, mixing them to claim treatment of all Qi disorders, allowing frequent and long-term use? Qi and Fire share the same principle; changes in motion and stillness transform them into two. Treating Qi as Fire aligns treatment with pathology. Dan Xi Fa Hui Lun (Elucidation by Dan Xi) states: "Cold generating Qi" is a fallacy from Gao Yang Sheng. Unless one physically suffers Cold Qi or orally consumes Cold substances, discussing Cold accounts for less than one or two in ten.