沙参、人参、黄 ，皆《神农本经》上品，咸主补养元气。沙参色白，气味甘苦，微寒，主补中，益
肺气。肺气者，胃腑所生之宗气，上出于肺，以司呼吸。人一呼则八万四千毛窍皆阖，一吸则八万四千毛
窍皆开，故肺主皮毛。补中者，宗气生于胃腑也。人参色白微黄，气味甘温，资胃腑之精气者也，故主补
五脏，安精神，定魂魄，止惊悸，除邪气，明目开心益志。盖五脏之精气神志，胃腑之所生也。黄 色
黄，气味甘温，补益脾气者也。脾气者，元真之气也。（元真者，先天之真元，生于地水之中。）三焦通会元真于肌腠，
故
脾主肌肉。黄 主痈疽久败，排脓止痛，大风癞疾，五痔鼠 ，补虚，小儿百病。盖血气留滞于肌肉，则
为痈肿，肌腠之气营运，则肌肉生而脓肿消矣。大风癞疾，乃风邪伤荣，而热出于 肉，其气不清，故使其
鼻柱坏而色败，皮肤疡溃。经云∶肠 为痔。盖脾气孤弱，五液注下，则生痔漏。鼠 者，邪气陷放脉中而为
，留于肉腠，则为马刀侠瘿。盖脾土盛而元气行，则痈 诸病皆解矣。补虚者，补肌肉羸瘦也。主小儿
百病者，小儿五脏柔脆，中土之气未足，若过于饮
食，则脾气伤而不能运化矣。脾弱则胃强矣，胃强则消谷善饥，脾弱则肌肉消瘦，胃热则津液不生，而热
疳、食疳之病生焉。是以黄 、白术、黄连、枳实为小儿之要药。盖清其胃热，脾气营运，则无五疳、
五痨之病矣；腠理固密，则无急、慢惊风之证矣。三者皆补中之品，而各有所主之分。
按本草千种有奇，愚所论者，错综辩证，百不及一。同志高明，引伸触类，一可贯十，十可HT 百。
至参阅前人议论，是则曰是，非则曰非。阐先圣之奥义，以开来学，是予所深望焉！
沙参、人参、黄芪，都是《神农本草经》中的上品药物，都主要用来补养元气。沙参颜色白，气味甘苦，性微寒，主要作用是补益中焦，增益肺气。所谓肺气，是由胃腑所生成的宗气，向上出于肺脏，以主管呼吸功能。人每呼出一口气，八万四千个毛孔都会闭合；每吸入一口气，八万四千个毛孔都会张开，所以肺主司皮毛。所谓“补中”，是指宗气产生于胃腑。人参颜色白而微黄，气味甘温，能够资助胃腑的精气，所以主要作用是补益五脏，安定精神，定魂魄，止住惊悸，祛除邪气，使眼睛明亮，开心窍，益智力。这是因为五脏的精气神志，都是由胃腑所生成的。黄芪颜色黄，气味甘温，是补益脾气的药物。所谓脾气，就是元真之气。（元真，指的是先天之真元，产生于地水之中。）三焦将元真通达汇聚于肌腠之间，所以脾主司肌肉。黄芪主要用于治疗痈疽日久不愈、排脓止痛，以及大风癞疾（麻风病）、五种痔疮、鼠瘘（淋巴结结核），具有补虚功效，也能治疗小儿各种疾病。这是因为血气在肌肉中留滞，就会形成痈肿；如果肌腠间的气机运行通畅，那么肌肉就能生长而脓肿消退。所谓大风癞疾，是风邪损伤营血，热气出于肌肉，导致气机不清，所以使得鼻梁塌陷、面色败坏、皮肤溃疡。医经说：“肠澼（痢疾）发展为痔。”这是因为脾气孤弱，五液下注，就会生痔漏。鼠瘘，是邪气陷入脉中成为瘰疬，停留于肉腠之间，就形成马刀侠瘿（颈部淋巴结核）。因为脾土旺盛则元气运行，那么痈疽等各种病症都能解除。所谓“补虚”，是指补益肌肉的羸瘦。所谓“主治小儿百病”，是因为小儿五脏柔嫩脆弱，中焦脾胃之气尚未充足，如果饮食过度，就会损伤脾气而不能运化。脾弱则胃强，胃强则消谷善饥，脾弱则肌肉消瘦，胃热则津液不生，从而产生热疳、食疳等疾病。因此，黄芪、白术、黄连、枳实是治疗小儿的重要药物。只要清除了胃热，脾气得以运化，就不会有五疳、五劳的疾病了；腠理固密，就不会有急惊风、慢惊风的证候了。这三种药都是补中的佳品，但各有其主治侧重。
按：本草书中记载的药物有一千多种，我所论述的，只是错综复杂的辨证内容中的一小部分，百分之一都不到。志同道合的高明之士，若能引申触类，由一知十，由十知百。至于参阅前人的议论，对的就说对，错的就说错。阐明先圣的深奥义理，以开启后学之门，这是我深深的期望啊！
Shashen (Glehniae Radix), Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), and Huangqi (Astragali Radix) are all classified as superior-grade herbs in the *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica). They all primarily serve to tonify and nourish Yuan Qi (Primordial Qi). Shashen is white in color, with a sweet and bitter taste and a slightly cold nature; it mainly tonifies the Middle Jiao (Middle Burner) and benefits Lung Qi. Lung Qi refers to the Zong Qi (Gathering Qi) generated by the Stomach Fu organ, which ascends to the Lungs to govern respiration. With each exhalation, 84,000 hair pores close; with each inhalation, they open. Thus, the Lungs govern the skin and hair. "Tonifying the Middle" means that Zong Qi is born within the Stomach Fu. Renshen is white with a slight yellow hue, has a sweet and warm flavor, and nourishes the essence and qi of the Stomach Fu. Therefore, it mainly tonifies the Five Viscera, calms the spirit, stabilizes the soul, stops palpitations and fright, eliminates pathogenic factors, brightens the eyes, opens the mind, and enhances willpower. This is because the essence, qi, spirit, and will of the Five Viscera are generated by the Stomach Fu. Huangqi is yellow in color, has a sweet and warm flavor, and tonifies Spleen Qi. Spleen Qi is the Yuanzhen Qi (Primordial True Qi). (Yuanzhen refers to the innate primordial essence, generated from earth and water.) The Sanjiao (Triple Burner) communicates and gathers Yuanzhen Qi in the muscle interstices (Cou Li); thus, the Spleen governs the muscles. Huangqi is mainly used for treating chronic abscesses and ulcers, expelling pus and relieving pain, severe wind-type leprosy (Leprosy), five types of hemorrhoids, and shu lou (scrofula/lymphatic tuberculosis). It tonifies deficiency and treats various diseases in children. This is because when blood and qi stagnate in the muscles, abscesses and swellings form; when the qi circulates freely in the muscle interstices, muscles regenerate and abscesses resolve. Severe wind-type leprosy occurs when wind pathogens damage the Ying (Nutritive) level, and heat emerges from the muscles, causing turbid qi, leading to the collapse of the nasal bridge, deterioration of complexion, and ulceration of the skin. The Classics state: "Chang Pi (Dysentery) develops into hemorrhoids." This arises because weak and isolated Spleen Qi causes the five fluids to flow downward, resulting in hemorrhoids and fistulas. Shu lou refers to pathogens sinking into the vessels forming luoli (scrofula); if they remain in the muscle interstices, they become machdao xia ying (neck lymphatic tuberculosis). When Spleen Earth is abundant and Yuan Qi circulates, various conditions such as abscesses and ulcers are resolved. "Tonifying deficiency" refers to treating emaciation of the muscles. "Treating hundred diseases in children" is because children's Five Viscera are tender and fragile, and their Middle Earth (Spleen/Stomach) qi is insufficient. If diet is excessive, Spleen Qi is damaged and fails to transform and transport. Weak Spleen leads to strong Stomach; strong Stomach leads to rapid digestion and hunger; weak Spleen leads to muscle wasting; Stomach heat prevents the generation of body fluids, giving rise to Re Gan (Heat Malnutrition) and Shi Gan (Food Malnutrition). Therefore, Huangqi, Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), and Zhishi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus) are essential medicines for children. By clearing Stomach heat and allowing Spleen Qi to circulate, diseases of the five Gans and five Laos can be prevented; by consolidating the Cou Li, syndromes of acute and chronic convulsive disorders (Jing Feng) can be avoided. These three herbs are all agents for tonifying the Middle, yet each has its specific indications.
Note: There are over a thousand kinds of herbs recorded in Materia Medica texts. My discussion here covers only a fraction of the complex dialectical analysis, less than one percent. Fellow scholars of high insight, if you can extend and apply these principles, understanding one allows you to comprehend ten, and ten allows you to comprehend a hundred. Regarding the discussions of predecessors, affirm what is correct and reject what is incorrect. Elucidating the profound meanings of the ancient sages to guide future learners is my deepest hope!