六淫以风为首，人触之为伤风，憎寒、壮热、头痛、身痛、呕吐、口渴、脉浮而数。张元素羌活汤（羌活、
防风、黄芩、白芷、川芎、苍术、细辛、生地、炙草、姜葱枣引），不犯三阳禁忌，俗称治伤风神方。且冬可
以治寒，春可以治温，夏可所治热，秋可以治湿，为诸路之应兵。但夏月伤暑，脉虚身热，在所禁耳。旅店山
居，医难卒办者，皆可自检其方而用之。论未竣，客有笑于旁者曰∶“世当叔季，元气衰薄，虽伤风亦当用补，
岂可概以羌活汤为治外感之总剂乎？”余勃然曰∶君言时当叔季，对洪荒而言，在岐黄撰写《灵》、《素》
二经，已言叔季，何况今日。至所言元气衰薄，谬亦甚矣。欲知今时，当观已往。孔子删书，断自唐虞，唐虞
之前，无论已。儒者侈言夏后殷周之盛。夏都安邑，四百四十一年，历年多者，仅见一二；商都于亳，六
百四十四年，历年多者，仅见一二；周都丰镐，八百七十四
年。视夏商之元气较浓，武王九十三，穆王百有四岁。信史艳称而长寿者，尚不止二君，以及柱下吏、漆园叟
、关令尹、王子晋，接踵而生，三代之元气如是云云。经嬴秦二世，耗散殆尽。西汉都于长安，二百十有三年，
高祖五十三，武帝七十一，余元五十之寿；东汉都于洛阳，一百九十六年，光武六十三，明帝四十八，余无
四十之寿。犹幸以寿名世者，黄石公、赤松子、东方朔、魏伯阳，有数可纪。自汉末历魏晋五代，元气衰薄极
矣。四百余年中，在位一二年居多，享寿一二十过半。迄唐大统归一，元气方转，二百八十九年，君之五十余
岁者，犹数数觏。为之臣者，许旌阳、孙思邈、钟离权、吕岩类，皆以寿称。由后梁五代，以致宋、元、明，
元气又寝衰矣。七百余年中，位无五十年，寿少五十岁，其时若陈抟、张平叔、冷谦、周颠而外，寿不概见。
历代元气，彰彰可考，天运循环，无往不复。逮及我朝，元气大转。以一万八百年为一时计之，尧舜在中天之
初，距今四千余年，今正当中天之中。膺彼苍之眷顾，代见圣人之生；钟维岳之向导，世征仁者之寿。贞元
会合，间气浑涵。涤环宇之妖氛，宏开寿域；跻斯民于浑噩，普乐春台。雨时肠若，海宴河清；五星联珠，两
曜合璧。一时应运生者，相皆耄耋，人率期颐。广洛浦之耆英（《宋史》:文路公彦博，结洛阳社，惟司马温
公光，年未七十，共余俱八十、九十老人，谓之洛社耆英会），屡屡开千叟之宴；集香山之人瑞（潜确《类
书》白乐天年七
十，以刑部尚书致任，自号香山居士。会老年宴集于履道里，合之得九人，皆年高致仕者。人慕之，绘为九老
图），在在建百岁之坊。余家世居邵邑，资水之湄，龙山之麓，同时百岁者五人。水之北,卢老、罗老，一妇
归黄；山之南，一妇归吕，一妇氏唐。而八十、九十者，指不胜屈。一武庠（石辑五），年已八十矣，弓着六
钧，矢穿七札，演剧犹作小旦之音。即吾门一领青衿，相传五代（高祖谛直公，册名周应京；曾祖元恺公，册
名周士隽；祖存仁公，册名周良阶；父诞登，册名周道岸），俱年愈八十，详于乘册。外祖（黄正礼）九十七，
在黉门八十有三。母舅（黄文铎）九十三，为孝廉六十余二。“世上难逢百岁人”，古人语也，想古来百岁
最难觏，以今观之，当易之曰∶“世上随逢百岁人”。“人生七十古来稀”，唐人诗也，想唐时，七十岁者亦
稀有。今观之，当易之曰∶“人生七十世间多”。元气之足，禀赋之浓，三代以来，未有如我朝之盛者。治病
者亦惟率由旧章焉耳，伤风漫云补乎哉！
六淫邪气中以风邪为首，人若感受风邪即为伤风，症状表现为憎恶寒冷、高热、头痛、全身疼痛、呕吐、口渴、脉象浮而数。张元素创制的羌活汤（由羌活、防风、黄芩、白芷、川芎、苍术、细辛、生地、炙甘草组成，以生姜、葱白、大枣为引），不触犯三阳经的治疗禁忌，俗称治疗伤风的特效方。而且冬季可以用来治疗寒邪，春季可以用来治疗温邪，夏季可以用来治疗热邪，秋季可以用来治疗湿邪，是应对各种外感病的通用之兵。但是夏季如果感受暑邪，出现脉虚、身体发热，则属于该方的禁忌范围。对于居住在旅店或深山之中，医生难以迅速到达的情况，都可以自行检查此方并服用。
论述尚未结束，旁边有位客人笑着说：“当今世道处于衰微时期，人体元气衰弱浅薄，即使是伤风也应当使用补益之法，怎么能一概用羌活汤来作为治疗外感病的总方呢？”我勃然大怒说道：“你说时局处于衰微时期，那是相对于洪荒时代而言的。在岐伯与黄帝撰写《灵枢》和《素问》两部经典时，就已经提到过‘叔季’（指末世、衰微之时）的概念，何况是今天呢？至于你所说的元气衰弱浅薄，这种谬误太严重了。想要了解现在的状况，应当观察过去。孔子编纂《尚书》，从唐尧、虞舜时期开始断限，唐虞之前的事情就不必多说了。儒家学者夸耀夏后氏、殷商、周朝盛世时的元气充沛。夏朝都城在安邑，历时四百四十一年，长寿者仅见一两个；商朝都城在亳，历时六百四十四年，长寿者仅见一两个；周朝都城在丰镐，历时八百七十四年。相比夏商，周朝的元气较为浓厚，周武王九十三岁，周穆王一百零四岁。确凿史书中记载的长寿者，还不止这两位君主，以及老子（柱下吏）、庄子（漆园叟）、函谷关令尹喜、王子晋等人，接连出生，三代时期的元气就是这样兴盛。
经过秦朝二世统治，元气耗散殆尽。西汉定都长安，历时二百十三年，汉高祖五十三岁，汉武帝七十一岁，其余大多五十岁左右去世；东汉定都洛阳，历时一百九十六年，汉光武帝六十三岁，汉明帝四十八岁，其余没有超过四十岁的寿命。幸好以长寿闻名于世的人，还有黄石公、赤松子、东方朔、魏伯阳等，有数字可考证。从汉末历经魏晋及五代，元气衰弱到了极点。四百多年中，在位时间大多只有一两年，享寿大多只有一二十岁。直到唐朝统一天下，元气才有所转机，历时二百八十九年，君主五十多岁的还不少。作为臣子的，如许旌阳、孙思邈、钟离权、吕岩等人，都以长寿著称。从后梁五代，一直到宋、元、明，元气又逐渐衰落了。七百多年中，在位没有超过五十年的，寿命少有过五十岁的，那个时代除了陈抟、张平叔、冷谦、周颠等人之外，长寿者很少见到。
历代元气的盛衰，清晰可考，天道运行循环往复，没有一直衰退而不复盛的。到了我们清朝，元气大大好转。如果以一万一八千年为一个大的周期来计算，尧舜处于中天之初，距今四千多年，现在正当中天的中间位置。承受上天的眷顾，代有圣人出生；依靠维岳这样的向导，世间验证仁者的长寿。贞元会合，间气浑涵。洗涤天下的妖氛，宏大开启长寿的境界；使百姓回归淳朴，普遍享受春台般的快乐。雨水适时，肠道通畅，海晏河清；五星连珠，日月合璧。这一时期应运而生的，宰相都是高龄老人，人们普遍达到百岁。像洛浦的耆英（《宋史》记载：文彦博在洛阳结社，只有司马光不到七十岁，其余都是八十、九十岁的老人，称为洛社耆英会），屡次举办千叟宴；聚集香山的人瑞（潜确《类书》记载：白居易七十岁时以刑部尚书身份退休，自号香山居士。晚年聚会于履道里，共九人，都是年老致仕者。人们羡慕他们，画成《九老图》），处处建立百岁牌坊。
我家世代居住在邵邑，资水之滨，龙山脚下，同时期达到百岁的有五个人。水的北面，卢老、罗老，一位妇人改嫁归姓黄；山的南面，一位妇人改嫁归姓吕，一位妇人姓唐。而八十、九十岁的，数不胜数。一位武庠生（石辑五），年纪已经八十岁了，还能拉开六钧重的弓，箭能射穿七层铠甲，演剧时还能发出小旦的声音。就连我家门下一位秀才，相传五代（高祖周谛直，名周应京；曾祖周元恺，名周士隽；祖父周存仁，名周良阶；父亲周诞登，名周道岸），都年龄超过八十岁，详细记录在族谱中。我的外祖父（黄正礼）九十七岁，在学宫时已有八十三岁。我的母舅（黄文铎）九十三岁，做孝廉六十多年。“世上难逢百岁人”，这是古人的话，想古来百岁之人最难遇到，但看今天的情况，应当改为：“世上随逢百岁人”。“人生七十古来稀”，这是唐代诗人的诗句，想唐代时，七十岁的人也稀有。看今天的情况，应当改为：“人生七十世间多”。元气的充足，禀赋的浓厚，三代以来，没有比得上我们清朝兴盛的。治病的人也应该遵循旧有的章程罢了，伤风怎么能随便说要用补法呢！
Among the six excess pathogens (Liu Yin, 六淫), wind pathogen (Feng Xie, 风邪) is primary. When humans contract it, it results in Wind-Cold injury (Shang Feng, 伤风). Symptoms include aversion to cold (Zeng Han, 憎寒), high fever (Zhuang Re, 壮热), headache (Tou Tong, 头痛), body pain (Shen Tong, 身痛), vomiting (Ou Tu, 呕吐), thirst (Kou Ke, 口渴), and a floating and rapid pulse (Mai Fu Er Shu, 脉浮而数). Qiang Huo Tang (Qiang Huo Decoction) created by Zhang Yuansu (Zhang Yuansu, 张元素), composed of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix (Qiang Huo, 羌活), Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fang Feng, 防风), Scutellariae Radix (Huang Qin, 黄芩), Angelicae Dahuricae Radix (Bai Zhi, 白芷), Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuan Xiong, 川芎), Atractylodis Rhizoma (Cang Zhu, 苍术), Asari Radix et Rhizoma (Xi Xin, 细辛), Rehmanniae Radix Preparata (Sheng Di, 生地), and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle (Zhi Gan Cao, 炙草), with Ginger Rhizome (Sheng Jiang, 生姜), Allium fistulosum (Cong Bai, 葱白), and Jujube (Da Zao, 大枣) as guides, does not violate the contraindications of the three Yang meridians (San Yang Jing, 三阳经). It is commonly known as a miraculous formula for treating wind-cold injury. Furthermore, it can treat Cold pathogen (Han Xie, 寒邪) in winter, Warm pathogen (Wen Xie, 温邪) in spring, Heat pathogen (Re Xie, 热邪) in summer, and Dampness pathogen (Shi Xie, 湿邪) in autumn, serving as a universal soldier for various external conditions. However, if one contracts Summerheat (Shu, 暑) in summer, presenting with a deficient pulse and fever, this falls under its contraindications. For those residing in inns or mountains where doctors cannot arrive quickly, they may inspect this formula and use it themselves.
Before the discussion concluded, a guest beside me laughed and said: "In these declining times, human Yuan Qi (Primordial Qi, 元气) is weak and thin. Even for wind-cold injury, tonification should be used. How can Qiang Huo Tang be generally used as the master formula for treating external pathogens?" I became angry and said: "When you speak of declining times, you are referring to the primordial era. When Qi Bo (Qi Bo, 岐伯) and the Yellow Emperor (Huang Di, 黄帝) wrote the *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot, 《灵枢》) and *Su Wen* (Basic Questions, 《素问》), they already mentioned 'Shu Ji' (late/declining period, 叔季). How much more so today? As for your claim that Yuan Qi is weak and thin, this error is severe. To understand the present, one must observe the past. Confucius edited the *Book of Documents* (*Shang Shu*, 《尚书》), starting from the eras of Yao and Shun. Matters before Yao and Shun need not be discussed. Confucian scholars boast about the prosperity and robust Yuan Qi of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties. The Xia capital was at Anyi, lasting 441 years; among them, only one or two lived long lives. The Shang capital was at Bo, lasting 644 years; again, only one or two lived long. The Zhou capital was at Fenghao, lasting 874 years. Compared to Xia and Shang, Zhou's Yuan Qi was thicker. King Wu of Zhou lived to 93, and King Mu of Zhou to 104. In reliable history, those praised for longevity included not only these two rulers but also Laozi (the Keeper of the Archives, Zhuxia Li, 柱下吏), Zhuangzi (the Lacquer Garden Elder, Qiyuan Sou, 漆园叟), Yin Xi (the Gatekeeper of Hangu Pass, Guan Ling Yin, 关令尹), and Prince Jin (Wang Zi Jin, 王子晋), who were born in succession. Thus, the Yuan Qi of the Three Dynasties was indeed flourishing.
After the second generation of the Qin Dynasty, Yuan Qi was exhausted. The Western Han dynasty, with its capital in Chang'an, lasted 213 years. Gaozu lived to 53, Wudi to 71, and others rarely exceeded 50. The Eastern Han dynasty, with its capital in Luoyang, lasted 196 years. Guangwu lived to 63, Mingdi to 48, and others rarely exceeded 40. Fortunately, those famous for longevity included Huang Shigong (Yellow Stone Old Man, 黄石公), Chisongzi (Red Pine Master, 赤松子), Dongfang Shuo (东方朔), and Wei Boyang (魏伯阳), whose ages are recorded. From the late Han through Wei, Jin, and the Five Dynasties, Yuan Qi declined to an extreme. For over 400 years, reigns mostly lasted one or two years, and lifespans were mostly one or two decades. Only when the Tang Dynasty unified the realm did Yuan Qi begin to recover. Lasting 289 years, emperors often lived into their fifties. Ministers such as Xu Jingyang (许旌阳), Sun Simiao (孙思邈), Zhongli Quan (钟离权), and Lü Yan (吕岩) were all renowned for their longevity. From the Later Liang and Five Dynasties through Song, Yuan, and Ming, Yuan Qi declined again. For over 700 years, no reign lasted fifty years, and few lived past fifty. Except for Chen Tuan (陈抟), Zhang Pingshu (张平叔), Leng Qian (冷谦), and Zhou Dian (周颠), longevity was rare. The rise and fall of Yuan Qi across dynasties is clearly verifiable. Heavenly cycles repeat; decline is always followed by recovery.
Upon our current dynasty, Yuan Qi has greatly turned around. If we calculate a cycle as 18,000 years, Yao and Shun were at the beginning of the mid-cycle. Four thousand years have passed since then, and now we are at the exact middle of the mid-cycle. Endowed with Heaven's favor, sages appear in every generation; guided by figures like Wei Yue (维岳), the longevity of benevolent people is witnessed in the world. Virtue and Era converge, rare qi is profound. Cleansing the demonic miasma of the universe, we grandly open the realm of longevity; elevating the people to simplicity, we universally enjoy the joy of Spring Terrace. Rain falls in season, intestines are smooth; seas are calm, rivers are clear; five stars align, sun and moon join. Those born in response to this era, even chancellors are octogenarians, and people generally reach centenarian status. Like the elders of Luopu (Recorded in *History of Song*: Wen Yanbo formed a society in Luoyang; only Sima Guang was under seventy, while the rest were eighty- and ninety-year-olds, called the Luoshe Elders' Society), holding thousand-elder banquets repeatedly; gathering the longevity figures of Xiangshan (Recorded in *Qianque Leishu*: Bai Juyi retired at seventy as Minister of Justice, calling himself the Layman of Xiangshan. He gathered nine elderly retirees at Lidao Lane, admired by many and painted as the *Nine Elders Picture*), establishing archways for centenarians everywhere.
My family has resided in Shaoyi for generations, by the Zishui River, at the foot of Longshan. At the same time, five people reached one hundred. North of the water, Old Lu and Old Luo, one woman remarried to the Huang surname; south of the mountain, one woman remarried to the Lv surname, one to the Tang surname. Those aged eighty or ninety are too numerous to count. One military student (Shi Jiwu) was already eighty, yet could draw a bow of six jun strength, pierce seven layers of armor with arrows, and perform opera roles requiring high-pitched voices. Even a scholar in my lineage, spanning five generations (Great-grandfather Di Zhi, named Zhou Yingjing; Great-great-grandfather Yuan Kai, named Zhou Shijun; Grandfather Cun Ren, named Zhou Liangjie; Father Dan Deng, named Zhou Daoan), all lived past eighty, detailed in genealogical records. My maternal grandfather (Huang Zhengli) was ninety-seven, having been in the academy at eighty-three. My maternal uncle (Huang Wenduo) was ninety-three, serving as a Xiaolian for over sixty years. "It is hard to meet a centenarian in the world," say the ancients. Thinking back, meeting a centenarian was indeed difficult in ancient times. But observing today, we should change it to: "One meets centenarians everywhere in the world." "Seventy years old was rare since ancient times," says Tang poetry. Thinking of the Tang era, seventy-year-olds were indeed rare. Observing today, we should change it to: "Seventy years old is common in the world." The sufficiency of Yuan Qi and the thickness of constitution have never been as prosperous as in our dynasty since the Three Dynasties. Those who treat diseases should simply follow established principles. How can wind-cold injury casually be treated with tonification!