久虚不复谓之损，损极不复谓之劳。元无所归则热灼，劳力伤阳，酒色伤阴。又云∶阴复及阳，最难克复。
阴虚 肾阳竭，午后发热少饮食。数天无力脉象明，干咳失血盗汗出。阳虚汗出并头
疼。脉细迟弱午前热。阴虚血虚肾精亏，阳虚气虚劳倦得。阴虚四物苓柏丹，二冬柏（仁）味
（五味）龟（版）知（母）甘（草）。清骨散可骨蒸用，枣仁 术自汗堪。咳嗽气急桑贝菀，栝蒌
贝母治有痰。见血胶（阿胶）沙（参）丹（参）菀（紫菀）角（犀角），泄泻山药苓薏添。盗汗浮麦
堪益伍，牡蛎黑豆用之妥。衄血栀芩茅草根，声哑喉干粉（花粉）桔（桔梗）可。阳虚益气与
补中，散火升阳亦得所。外感寒伤阳则虚，阳虚阴盛虚损初。此损自上而及下，一损于肺皮
毛枯。二损于心血脉少（不能荣于脏腑，女则月事不通），三损于胃宜急图（遇于胃则不治
矣）。感热伤阴阴则虚，阴虚阳盛损却殊。此损自下而及上，二损于骨痿徂肾（不能起床）。
一损于肝筋即惫，三损于脾速当扶（饮食不化过于脾，不治之症）。
阴虚
复脉汤六味丸。
阳虚
人参 鹿角霜 归身 西枸杞 茯苓 五味 淡苁蓉 怀药 沙苑子
阴虚阳浮（宜介类潜阳，镇逆填下）
阳虚奇脉兼病
鹿角 沙苑子 杞子 菟丝子 苁蓉 柏子仁 归身
阴阳兼虚
熟地 西 归身 淡苁蓉 青盐 鹿角 茯苓 杞子 五味子 八味丸 复脉汤
上损及胃
麦冬 生地 熟地 人参 女贞 枸杞 扁豆 茯苓 甘草 五味 山药 建中汤
去生姜
下损及中
八味丸加减，异功散 建中汤 鹿角 菟丝子 杞子 家韭子
胃虚呕泻
人参 赤石脂 炒粳米 乌梅 新会皮
阴虚阳浮，兼胃阴虚
生地 人参 扁豆 麦冬 炙草 茯苓
脾肾兼虚
人参 煨益智 广皮 茯苓 沙苑子 五味资生丸加坎气《济生》肾气丸加茯苓 菟丝
劳伤心神
归脾汤 白术 人参 西 归身 茯神 远志 枣仁 木香 龙眼 甘草 生姜 大枣
中虚（当用胃药坐镇中宫）
用四君子汤 人参 白术 茯苓 甘草 春麦门冬汤 麦冬 半夏 甘草 大枣
人参 粳米 夏生脉散 人参 麦冬 五味
小建中汤 桂枝 甘草 白芍 生姜 大枣 饴糖加黄 又十四味建中汤
肾气不纳
人参 菟丝子 茯苓 坎气 五味子 胡桃
气血滞、升降阻
用旋复花汤 旋复花 青葱 新绛 加桃仁 归须 蒌皮
冲任皆虚
紫河车 大熟地 云茯神 淡苁蓉 五味子 川黄柏
劳力伤脾胃
用霞天膏。
劳动伤经脉
归身 苁蓉 沙苑 杞子 茯苓 川芎
何书田曰∶烦劳伤气宜治上治中，甘凉补肺胃之清津，柔剂养心脾之营液。或甘温气味
创建中宫，不使二气日偏，营卫得循行之义。纵欲伤精当治下而兼治八脉，又须知填精补
气之分，益火滋阴之异。或静摄任阴，温理奇阳。
陈参曰∶肾虚气攻于背，肝虚热触于心，宜血肉有情重镇，以理其怯，填补以实其下。
形不足者温之以气，精不足者补之以味。
长久虚弱无法恢复称为“损”，亏损到了极点无法恢复称为“劳”。元气无所依附则产生虚热灼烧，过度劳累损伤阳气，纵欲和饮酒损伤阴液。又说：阴液恢复进而影响阳气，是最难克服和恢复的。
阴虚：肾阳枯竭，午后发热，食欲减退。数日无力，脉象清晰可见，干咳、咯血、盗汗。阳虚则出汗并伴有头痛。脉象细、迟、弱，上午发热。阴虚、血虚、肾精亏耗，阳虚、气虚多由劳倦引起。阴虚可用四物苓柏丹（由四物汤加黄芩、黄柏组成），或二冬柏味龟知甘方（天冬、麦冬、黄柏、五味子、龟板、知母、甘草）。清骨散可用于治疗骨蒸潮热，酸枣仁和白术可用于治疗自汗。咳嗽气急用桑白皮、川贝母、紫菀；有痰用瓜蒌、贝母。见出血症用阿胶、沙参、丹参、紫菀、犀角；泄泻加山药、茯苓、薏苡仁。盗汗可用浮小麦益母草；牡蛎、黑豆使用得当。鼻衄用栀子、黄芩、白茅根；声音嘶哑、咽喉干燥用天花粉、桔梗可缓解。阳虚宜益气与补中，散火升阳也是适宜的方法。外感寒邪伤阳导致虚证，阳虚阴盛是虚损初期。这种损伤从上焦波及下焦，一损在肺则皮毛枯槁；二损在心则血脉减少（不能滋养脏腑，女性则月经不通）；三损在胃则病情危急（遇到胃部受损则难以治愈）。感受热邪伤阴导致阴虚，阴虚阳盛则损伤性质不同。这种损伤从下焦波及上焦，二损在骨则痿软不能起床（累及肾脏）；一损在肝则筋脉疲惫；三损在脾则需迅速扶持（饮食不化，若过于依赖脾胃运化则为不治之症）。
阴虚：复脉汤、六味丸。
阳虚：人参、鹿角霜、当归身、西枸杞、茯苓、五味子、肉苁蓉、怀山药、沙苑子。
阴虚阳浮（宜用介类药材潜阳，镇逆填下）：
阳虚奇经病变兼病：鹿角、沙苑子、枸杞子、菟丝子、肉苁蓉、柏子仁、当归身。
阴阳兼虚：熟地黄、当归身、肉苁蓉、青盐、鹿角、茯苓、枸杞子、五味子、八味丸、复脉汤。
上损波及胃：麦冬、生地黄、熟地黄、人参、女贞子、枸杞子、扁豆、茯苓、甘草、五味子、山药、小建中汤（去生姜）。
下损波及中焦：八味丸加减，异功散，小建中汤，鹿角，菟丝子，枸杞子，韭菜子。
胃虚呕吐腹泻：人参、赤石脂、炒粳米、乌梅、陈皮。
阴虚阳浮，兼胃阴虚：生地黄、人参、扁豆、麦冬、炙甘草、茯苓。
脾肾兼虚：人参、煨益智仁、广陈皮、茯苓、沙苑子、五味子、资生丸加坎气，《济生》肾气丸加茯苓、菟丝子。
劳伤心神：归脾汤，白术，人参，当归身，茯神，远志，酸枣仁，木香，龙眼肉，甘草，生姜，大枣。
中焦虚弱（当用调理胃气的药物坐镇中宫）：用四君子汤，人参，白术，茯苓，甘草；春月可用麦门冬汤，麦冬，半夏，甘草，大枣；或用生脉散，人参，麦冬，五味子；或小建中汤，桂枝，甘草，白芍，生姜，大枣，饴糖加黄芪；又或用十四味建中汤。
肾气不纳：人参，菟丝子，茯苓，坎气，五味子，胡桃。
气血滞涩、升降受阻：用旋覆花汤，旋覆花，青葱，新绛，加桃仁，当归须，瓜蒌皮。
冲任二脉皆虚：紫河车，大熟地黄，云茯神，肉苁蓉，五味子，川黄柏。
劳力损伤脾胃：用霞天膏。
劳动损伤经脉：当归身，肉苁蓉，沙苑子，枸杞子，茯苓，川芎。
何书田说：烦劳伤气应当治上焦和中焦，用甘凉之品补益肺胃的清津，用柔润之剂滋养心脾的营液。或者用甘温气味创建中宫之气，不让阴阳二气日渐偏颇，使营卫得以循行。纵欲伤精应当治下焦并兼顾八脉，还需知道填精与补气的区别，益火与滋阴的不同。或者静养以摄纳阴气，温理以调护奇经之阳。
陈参说：肾虚气逆攻于背部，肝虚热邪触动于心，宜用血肉有情之品重镇，以调理其怯弱，填补以充实下焦。形体不足的，用气来温补；精髓不足的，用味来滋补。
Prolonged deficiency that fails to recover is termed "Sun" (Damage/Decline), while extreme depletion that cannot be restored is termed "Lao" (Exhaustion/Labor). When Yuan Qi (Original Qi) has no root, it generates heat and scorching sensations. Labor overexerts and damages Yang, while sexual indulgence and alcohol damage Yin. It is also said: Restoring Yin to subsequently affect Yang is the most difficult condition to overcome and restore.
Yin Deficiency: Exhaustion of Kidney Yang, afternoon fever, reduced appetite. Weakness for several days, clear pulse presentation, dry cough, hemoptysis, and night sweats. Yang Deficiency presents with sweating and headache. The pulse is fine, slow, and weak, with morning fever. Yin deficiency, Blood deficiency, and Kidney Essence depletion; Yang deficiency and Qi deficiency are often caused by fatigue and overwork. For Yin deficiency, Siwu Lingbai Dan (Four Substances Decoction with Scutellaria and Phellodendron) can be used, or Er Dong Bai Wei Gui Zhi Gan Fang (Tian Dong, Mai Dong, Huang Bai, Wu Wei Zi, Gui Ban, Zhi Mu, Gan Cao). Qing Gu San (Clear Bone Powder) is applicable for bone-steaming fever; Suan Zao Ren (Sour Jujube Seed) and Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome) are suitable for spontaneous sweating. For cough with shortness of breath, use Sang Bai Pi (Mulberry Root Bark), Bei Mu (Fritillaria Bulb), and Zi Wan (Aster Root); for phlegm, use Gua Lou (Trichosanthes Fruit) and Bei Mu. For bleeding, use E Jiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin), Sha Shen (Glehnia Root), Dan Shen (Salvia Miltiorrhiza Root), Zi Wan, and Xi Jiao (Rhinoceros Horn - *note: substitute with water buffalo horn in modern practice*). For diarrhea, add Shan Yao (Dioscorea Rhizome), Fu Ling (Poria), and Yi Yi Ren (Coix Seed). For night sweats, Fu Xiao Mai (Floating Wheat) and Yi Mu Cao (Motherwort) are beneficial; Mu Li (Oyster Shell) and Hei Dou (Black Soybean) are appropriate if used correctly. For epistaxis, use Zhi Zi (Gardenia Fruit), Huang Qin (Scutellaria Root), and Mao Gen Cao (Imperata Rhizome); for hoarseness and dry throat, Fen Hua (Trichosanthes Root) and Jie Geng (Platycodon Root) are effective. For Yang deficiency, benefit Qi and tonify the Middle; dispersing fire and raising Yang is also appropriate. External cold damaging Yang leads to deficiency; Yang deficiency with Yin excess characterizes the initial stage of decline. This type of damage spreads from the Upper Jiao to the Lower Jiao: First damage affects the Lung, causing withered skin and hair; Second damage affects the Heart, leading to insufficient blood vessels (unable to nourish organs, resulting in amenorrhea in women); Third damage affects the Stomach, requiring urgent attention (if the Stomach is involved, it is incurable). Heat pathogens damaging Yin lead to Yin deficiency, where Yin deficiency with Yang excess presents differently. This type of damage spreads from the Lower Jiao to the Upper Jiao: Second damage affects the bones, causing flaccidity and inability to rise from bed (involving the Kidneys); First damage affects the Liver, causing tendon exhaustion; Third damage affects the Spleen, requiring rapid support (if digestion fails due to Spleen weakness, it is an incurable condition).
Yin Deficiency: Fu Mai Tang (Restore the Pulse Decoction), Liu Wei Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia).
Yang Deficiency: Ren Shen (Ginseng Root), Lu Jiao Shuang (Deer Antler Frost), Dang Gui Shen (Angelica Sinensis Root Body), Xi Gou Qi (Goji Berry), Fu Ling (Poria), Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra Berry), Rou Cong Rong (Cistanche Stem), Huai Yao (Chinese Yam), Sha Yuan Zi (Astragalus Complanatus Seed).
Yin Deficiency with Floating Yang (Use shell-type minerals to anchor Yang, suppress rebellion, and fill the lower):
Yang Deficiency with Extraordinary Vessel Involvement: Lu Jiao (Deer Antler), Sha Yuan Zi, Qi Zi (Goji Berry), Tu Si Zi (Dodder Seed), Rou Cong Rong, Bai Zi Ren (Biota Seed), Dang Gui Shen.
Combined Yin and Yang Deficiency: Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmannia Root), Dang Gui Shen, Rou Cong Rong, Qing Yan (Green Salt), Lu Jiao, Fu Ling, Qi Zi, Wu Wei Zi, Ba Wei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill), Fu Mai Tang.
Upper Damage Affecting the Stomach: Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber), Sheng Di Huang (Rehmannia Root), Shu Di Huang, Ren Shen, Nu Zhen Zi (Ligustrum Fruit), Gou Qi Zi, Bian Dou (Lablab Bean), Fu Ling, Gan Cao (Licorice Root), Wu Wei Zi, Shan Yao, Xiao Jian Zhong Tang (Minor Construct the Middle Decoction) minus Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger).
Lower Damage Affecting the Middle: Modified Ba Wei Wan, Yi Gong San (Five-Agent Powder), Xiao Jian Zhong Tang, Lu Jiao, Tu Si Zi, Qi Zi, Jia Jiu Zi (Leek Seed).
Stomach Deficiency with Vomiting and Diarrhea: Ren Shen, Chi Shi Zhi (Red Halloysite), Chao Jing Mi (Fried Rice Grain), Wu Mei (Mume Fruit), Xin Hui Pi (Chenpi/Aged Tangerine Peel).
Yin Deficiency with Floating Yang, Combined with Stomach Yin Deficiency: Sheng Di Huang, Ren Shen, Bian Dou, Mai Dong, Zhi Gan Cao (Honey-fried Licorice), Fu Ling.
Combined Spleen and Kidney Deficiency: Ren Shen, Wei Yi Zhi Ren (Roasted Alpinia Oxyphylla Fruit), Guang Pi (Tangerine Peel), Fu Ling, Sha Yuan Zi, Wu Wei Zi, Zi Sheng Wan (Nourishing Life Pill) plus Kan Qi (Umbilical Cord), Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan (Kidney Qi Pill from Treatise on Birth) plus Fu Ling and Tu Si Zi.
Labor Damaging Heart Spirit: Gui Pi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction), Bai Zhu, Ren Shen, Dang Gui Shen, Fu Shen (Poria with Hostwood), Yuan Zhi (Polygala Root), Suan Zao Ren, Mu Xiang (Aucklandia Root), Long Yan Rou (Longan Aril), Gan Cao, Sheng Jiang, Da Zao (Jujube).
Middle Deficiency (Use Stomach-regulating herbs to stabilize the Center): Use Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction), Ren Shen, Bai Zhu, Fu Ling, Gan Cao; in Spring, use Mai Men Dong Tang (Ophiopogon Decoction), Mai Dong, Ban Xia (Pinellia Tuber), Gan Cao, Da Zao; or Sheng Mai San (Generate the Pulse Powder), Ren Shen, Mai Dong, Wu Wei Zi; or Xiao Jian Zhong Tang, Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig), Gan Cao, Bai Shao (White Peony Root), Sheng Jiang, Da Zao, Yi Tang (Maltose) plus Huang Qi (Astragalus Root); or Shi Si Wei Jian Zhong Tang (Fourteen-Ingredient Construct the Middle Decoction).
Kidney Qi Failing to Grasp: Ren Shen, Tu Si Zi, Fu Ling, Kan Qi, Wu Wei Zi, Hu Tao (Walnut Kernel).
Qi and Blood Stagnation, Obstruction of Ascending and Descending: Use Xuan Fu Hua Tang (Inula Flower Decoction), Xuan Fu Hua (Inula Flower), Qing Cong (Green Onion Stem), Xin Jiang (New Crimson Dye/Safflower), plus Tao Ren (Peach Kernel), Gui Xu (Angelica Sinensis Root Tip), Lou Pi (Trichosanthes Peel).
Deficiency of both Chong and Ren Vessels: Zi He Che (Human Placenta), Da Shu Di Huang, Yun Fu Shen, Rou Cong Rong, Wu Wei Zi, Chuan Huang Bai (Phellodendron Bark).
Labor Damaging Spleen and Stomach: Use Xia Tian Gao (Xia Tian Paste).
Labor Damaging Meridians: Dang Gui Shen, Rou Cong Rong, Sha Yuan, Qi Zi, Fu Ling, Chuan Xiong (Sichuan Lovage Rhizome).
He Shutian stated: Fatigue damaging Qi should be treated in the Upper and Middle Jiao, using sweet-cool herbs to tonify the clear fluids of the Lung and Stomach, and soft/moistening agents to nourish the Ying (Nutrient) fluid of the Heart and Spleen. Alternatively, use sweet-warm herbs to establish the Middle Jiao Qi, preventing the daily deviation of Yin and Yang, allowing Ying and Wei (Defensive) Qi to circulate properly. Sexual indulgence damaging Essence should be treated in the Lower Jiao while addressing the Eight Extraordinary Vessels; one must also distinguish between filling Essence and tonifying Qi, and between warming Fire and nourishing Yin. One may cultivate stillness to gather Yin, or warm and regulate the Yang of the Extraordinary Vessels.
Chen Can stated: Kidney deficiency with Qi attacking the back, and Liver deficiency with Heat touching the Heart, require flesh-and-blood sentient substances (animal-derived tonics) for heavy sedation to treat timidity, and filling to solidify the Lower Jiao. Those with insufficient form should be warmed with Qi; those with insufficient essence should be tonified with Flavor (substance).