治病活法虽贵于辨受病之证，尤贵于问得病之因。风则走注，寒则拘挛，暑则烦渴，湿
则重滞，此受病之证然尔。或耗于交淫，或触于惊恐，或伤于酒食，或深居简出而受暑，自
非委曲寻问其因，则以意治病岂不谬邪？有人喉间麻痒，医问其平日所嗜，曰∶常吃鸠子。
乃知鸠食半夏苗，以生姜治之而愈。有人昏迷不醒，医问其喜食者何有？曰∶酷好煎炙飞禽。
乃用红丸子、小七香丸末之，而入朱砂膏为小丸，薄荷泡汤灌下，须臾即苏。有人暑月深藏
不出，因客至于窗下，忽尔倦怠力疲，自作补汤，得之反剧。医问其由，连进两服香薷饮作
效。举此为例，其他可推。古云∶医者，意也。苟不究其得病之因，其何以为意会？
治病如弈棋，当先救急。急者何？救其重而略其轻也。假如病患发热经日，服通利之剂，
泄泻不止，呕吐大作，粥药不入，而热犹未已。治法略去发热一节，且以定呕进食为先。惟
人参、生姜，入些炙甘草，煎汤调苏合香丸，咽下养正丹，斟酌丸数与之。进剂以还，呕吐
自定，饮食渐进，泄泻亦自不作。是元气既正，纵有微热，特假热耳。人参、川芎、柴胡、
甘草调理之。
操舟在手，当风波震荡之中，一有转移，则舟覆矣。医权药衡，主持在我，不可偏徇病
家所欲，尤不可张惶，使病患惊。间有病家，粗识皮肤，辨难反复，万勿惑焉。又有瘥后，
触犯再复，隐讳不言，须诘
问其由，庶得对病施药。
治疗疾病的灵活方法，虽然贵在辨别患者所患的病证，但更贵在询问导致疾病的原因。风邪致病表现为疼痛游走不定，寒邪致病表现为肢体拘挛抽搐，暑邪致病表现为心烦口渴，湿邪致病表现为身体沉重滞涩，这是受邪后产生的病证表现。有的是因为房事过度耗损，有的是因为受到惊恐刺激，有的是因为饮食酒食损伤，有的是因为长期深居简出而感受暑邪。如果不是细致地探寻询问病因，就凭主观臆断来治病，难道不是错误的吗？
有人喉咙发麻发痒，医生询问他平时喜欢吃什么，回答说：“经常吃斑鸠肉。”于是知道斑鸠吃了半夏的幼苗，用生姜治疗后痊愈。有人昏迷不醒，医生询问他喜欢吃什么食物，回答说：“特别喜欢吃煎炸烤制的飞禽。”于是使用红丸子、小七香丸研成粉末，加入朱砂膏制成小药丸，用薄荷泡的水送服，片刻之后病人苏醒。有人在盛夏时节深藏不出，因为客人来到窗下，忽然感到倦怠乏力，自己服用补益汤药，病情反而加重。医生询问原因，连续服用两剂香薷饮见效。列举这些例子，其他情况可以类推。古人说：医者，靠的是意会（对病机的领悟）。如果不探究得病的根本原因，又怎么能做到意会贯通呢？
治疗疾病就像下棋，应当先救治危急的情况。什么是危急？就是救治严重的症状而忽略轻微的症状。假如病人发热多日，服用了通利泻下的药物，导致腹泻不止，呕吐剧烈，连粥药都吃不进去，而发热仍未停止。治疗方法应暂时抛开发热这一节，先把止呕和恢复进食作为首要任务。只用参、生姜，加入少许炙甘草，煎汤调服苏合香丸，咽下养正丹，根据情况决定丸数给予服用。服药后，呕吐自然停止，饮食逐渐进用，腹泻也不再发生。此时元气已经恢复正气，即使还有微热，也只是假热罢了。用人参、川芎、柴胡、甘草进行调理。
划船掌握在手中，当处于风波震荡之中时，一旦操作转移失误，船就会倾覆。医生的权衡用药，主导权在我手中，不可偏袒顺从病人的家属，尤其不可惊慌失措，使病人受到惊吓。间或有病人家属，稍微懂点皮毛知识，反复辩难质疑，千万不要被他们迷惑。又有病愈之后，因触犯禁忌再次复发，却隐瞒不说，必须追问清楚原因，这样才能对症下药。
The flexible methods of treating diseases, while valuing the differentiation of the syndrome contracted by the patient, especially value inquiring into the cause of the disease. Wind pathogen causes wandering pain; cold pathogen causes limb spasm and convulsion; summerheat pathogen causes vexation and thirst; dampness pathogen causes heaviness and stagnation. These are the manifestations of the syndrome after contracting the pathogen. Some are depleted due to excessive sexual intercourse (Jiaoyin), some are triggered by fright and terror, some are injured by alcohol and food, and some contract summerheat due to staying indoors for a long time. If one does not meticulously inquire into the cause, but treats based on subjective speculation, is this not erroneous?
There was a case where a person felt numbness and itching in the throat. The physician asked what they usually liked to eat, and the reply was: "I often eat turtledove meat." It was then known that the turtledove had eaten the seedlings of Pinelliae Rhizoma (Banxia), and the patient was cured with Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens (Shengjiang). There was another case of a person in a coma who would not wake up. The physician asked what foods they preferred, and the reply was: "I have a strong preference for fried and roasted fowl." Consequently, Hongwan Wan (Red Pill) and Xiaoqixiang Wan (Little Seven Fragrance Pill) were powdered, mixed with Cinnabar Paste (Zhusha Gao) to form small pills, and administered via infusion of Menthae Haplocalycis (Bohe) decoction. Within a moment, the patient regained consciousness.
During the hot summer months, someone stayed hidden indoors and did not go out. Because a guest arrived at the window, they suddenly felt fatigued and weak. They self-administered a tonic soup, but their condition worsened. The physician inquired into the cause and prescribed Xiangru Yin (Elsholtzia Decoction) twice consecutively, which proved effective. Taking these as examples, other situations can be deduced. The ancients said: "The physician relies on intuitive understanding (Yi)." If one does not investigate the cause of the disease, how can one achieve such intuitive understanding?
Treating disease is like playing chess; one must first address the emergency. What is an emergency? It means addressing the severe symptoms while neglecting the mild ones. For instance, if a patient has been feverish for several days, takes purgative or draining agents, resulting in incessant diarrhea, severe vomiting, inability to take even gruel or medicine, yet the fever persists. The treatment method should temporarily set aside the fever, prioritizing the cessation of vomiting and the restoration of food intake. Use only Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen), Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens (Shengjiang), and a small amount of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle (Zhi Gancao), decocted to adjust Suhexiang Wan (Suhexiang Pill). Swallow Yangzheng Dan (Nourish Righteousness Pill), adjusting the number of pills according to the situation. After administering the medication, vomiting naturally ceases, food intake gradually resumes, and diarrhea stops. At this point, the Yuanqi (Original Qi) has recovered its righteousness; even if there is slight heat, it is merely false heat. Regulate with Renshen, Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuanxiong), Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu), and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao).
Rowing a boat is in one's hands; during the turmoil of wind and waves, any shift in control can lead to capsizing. The physician's weighing of drugs and decisions rests with me. One must not bias towards or comply with the desires of the patient's family, nor must one act in panic, causing fear to the patient. Occasionally, family members may have superficial knowledge and repeatedly question and challenge; do not be confused by them. Furthermore, after recovery, if relapse occurs due to violating taboos, but the patient conceals it, one must interrogate to find out the cause, so as to prescribe medicine appropriately for the disease.