本经所言补泻寒热，治病之法已该。但经以针言，后世针法失传，以用药代之。本草所论补泻寒热用药
之式，正与经意相合，详注于后，以代治法解。
气实泻之
肺主气。实者，邪气之实也，故用泻，下分四法。
泻子∶水为金之子，泻膀胱之水，则水气下降，肺气乃得通调。
泽泻（入膀胱利小便。）葶苈（大能下气，行膀胱水。）桑皮（下气行水。）地骨皮（降肺中伏火，从小
便出。）
除湿∶肺气起于中焦，胃中湿痰凝聚，其气上注于肺，去胃中湿痰，正以清肺。
半夏（除湿化痰，和胃健脾。）白矾（爆湿追涎，化痰坠浊。）白茯苓（利窍除湿，泻热行水。）薏苡
仁（甘益胃，土胜水，淡渗湿。）木瓜（敛肺和胃，去湿热。）橘皮（理气燥湿，导滞消痰。）
泻火∶肺属金畏火。火有君相之别，君火宜清，相火有从逆两治，气实只宜逆治。
粳米（色白入肺，除烦清热。）石膏（色白入肺，清热降火。）寒水石（泻肺火、胃火，治痰热喘嗽。）
知母（清肺泻火，润肾滋阴。）诃子（敛肺降火，泄气消痰。）
通滞∶邪气有余，壅滞不通，去其滞气，则正气自行。
枳壳（破气行痰。）薄荷（辛能散，冷能清，搜肝气，抑肺盛。）生姜（辛温发表，宣通肺气。）木香
（升降诸气，泄肺疏肝。）浓朴（辛温苦降，下气消痰。）杏仁（泻肺解肌，降气行痰。）皂荚（通窍吐痰，
入肺、大肠。）桔梗（入肺泻热，开提气血，表散寒邪。）苏梗（下气消痰，祛风定喘。）
气虚补之
正气虚，故用补，下分三法。
补母∶土为金母，补脾胃，正以益肺气。
甘草（补脾胃不足。）人参（益土生金，大补元气。）升麻（参 上行，须此引之。）黄
（壮脾胃，补肺气。）山药（入肺归脾，补其不足。）
润燥∶补母是益肺中之气，润燥是补肺中之阴。金为火刑则燥，润燥不外泻火。泻实火则用苦寒，泻虚火
则用甘寒。
蛤蚧（补肺益精，定喘止嗽。）阿胶（清肺滋肾，补阴润燥。）麦冬（清心润肺，强阴益精。）贝母（泻
火散结，润肺清痰。）百合（润肺安心，清热止嗽。）天花粉（降火润燥，生精滑痰。）天冬（清金降火，滋
肾润燥。）
敛肺∶久嗽伤肺，其气散漫，或收而补之，或敛而降之，宜于内伤，外感禁用。
乌梅（敛肺涩肠，清热止渴。）粟壳（敛肺涩肠，固肾止嗽。）五味子（收敛肺气，消嗽定喘。）白芍（
安脾肺，固腠理，收阴气，敛逆气。）五倍子（敛肺降火，生津化痰。）
本热清之
清热不外泻火润燥，前分虚实，此分标本寒热，意各有注，故药味亦多重出。
清金∶清金不外滋阴降火，甘寒苦寒随虚实而用。
黄芩（苦入心，寒胜热，泻上焦中焦实火。）知母（苦寒泻火。）麦冬（甘寒润肺。）栀子（苦寒泻心肺邪
热。）沙参（甘寒补肺，滋五脏之阴。）紫菀（润肺泻火，下气调中。）天冬（甘苦大寒，清金降火。）
本寒温之
金固畏火，而性本寒冷，过用清润，肺气反伤，故曰形寒饮冷则伤肺。
温肺∶土为金母，金恶燥而土恶湿，清肺太过，脾气先伤，则土不能生金，故温肺必先温脾胃，亦补母之
义也。
丁香（辛温纯阴，泄肺温胃。）藿香（快气和中，开胃止呕，入手足太阴。）款冬花（辛温纯阳，温肺理气
）檀香（调脾肺，利胸膈，引胃气上升。）白豆蔻（温暖脾胃，为肺家本药。）益智仁（燥脾胃，补心肾。）砂
仁（和胃醒脾，补肺益肾。）糯米（甘温，补脾肺虚寒。）百部（甘苦微温，润肺杀虫。）
标寒散之
不言标热者，肺主皮毛，邪气初入则寒，犹未变为热也。
解表∶表指皮毛，属太阳，入肌肤则属阳明，入筋骨则属少阳，此解表、解肌、和解，有浅深之不同也。
麻黄（辛温发汗，肺家要药。）葱白（外实中空，肺之药也，发汗解肌，通上下阳气。）紫
苏（发表散寒，祛风定喘。）
《本经》（《神农本草经》）中所述的补法、泻法、寒证治疗与热证治疗，治病的方法已经涵盖其中。但《本经》是以针刺来论述的，后世的针法失传了，便用药物来替代。《本草》（《本草纲目》等药学著作）中所论述的用药进行补泻、寒热调理的方式，正与《本经》的原意相合，详细注释在后面，以此代替对治法的解说。
气实则用泻法
肺主司气。所谓“实”，是指邪气的盛实，所以采用泻法，下面分为四种方法。
泻子：水为金之子（五行中金生水），泻膀胱之水，则水气下降，肺气便能得到通调。
泽泻（进入膀胱，利小便。）葶苈（大能下气，行膀胱之水。）桑白皮（下气行水。）地骨皮（降肺中伏火，从小便排出。）
除湿：肺气起于中焦，胃中湿痰凝聚，其气上注于肺，去除胃中的湿痰，正是为了清肺。
半夏（除湿化痰，和胃健脾。）白矾（燥湿祛涎，化痰坠浊。）白茯苓（利窍除湿，泻热行水。）薏苡仁（甘味益胃，土胜水，淡渗利湿。）木瓜（敛肺和胃，去湿热。）陈皮（理气燥湿，导滞消痰。）
泻火：肺属金，畏火。火有君火与相火的区别，君火宜清，相火有从治与逆治两种治疗方法，气实证只适宜用逆治法。
粳米（色白入肺，除烦清热。）石膏（色白入肺，清热降火。）寒水石（泻肺火、胃火，治痰热喘嗽。）知母（清肺泻火，润肾滋阴。）诃子（敛肺降火，泄气消痰。）
通滞：邪气有余，壅滞不通，去除其滞气，则正气自然运行。
枳壳（破气行痰。）薄荷（辛能散，冷能清，搜肝气，抑肺盛。）生姜（辛温发表，宣通肺气。）木香（升降诸气，泄肺疏肝。）厚朴（辛温苦降，下气消痰。）杏仁（泻肺解肌，降气行痰。）皂荚（通窍吐痰，入肺、大肠经。）桔梗（入肺泻热，开提气血，表散寒邪。）苏梗（下气消痰，祛风定喘。）
补母：土为金之母（五行中土生金），补脾胃，正是为了益肺气。
甘草（补脾胃不足。）人参（益土生金，大补元气。）升麻（参药上行，须借升麻引之。）黄芪（壮脾胃，补肺气。）山药（入肺归脾，补其不足。）
润燥：补母是益肺中之气，润燥是补肺中之阴。金被火刑灼则燥，润燥不外乎泻火。泻实火则用苦寒药，泻虚火则用甘寒药。
蛤蚧（补肺益精，定喘止嗽。）阿胶（清肺滋肾，补阴润燥。）麦冬（清心润肺，强阴益精。）贝母（泻火散结，润肺清痰。）百合（润肺安心，清热止嗽。）天花粉（降火润燥，生精滑痰。）天冬（清金降火，滋润肾燥。）
敛肺：久咳伤肺，其气散漫，或者收敛而补之，或者敛而降之，适宜于内伤病，外感病禁用。
乌梅（敛肺涩肠，清热止渴。）罂粟壳（敛肺涩肠，固肾止嗽。）五味子（收敛肺气，消嗽定喘。）白芍（安脾肺，固腠理，收阴气，敛逆气。）五倍子（敛肺降火，生津化痰。）
本热则清之
清热不外乎泻火润燥，前面区分了虚实，这里区分标本寒热，用意各有侧重，所以药味也有多重出现的。
清金：清金不外乎滋阴降火，甘寒或苦寒随虚实而选用。
黄芩（苦入心，寒胜热，泻上焦中焦实火。）知母（苦寒泻火。）麦冬（甘寒润肺。）栀子（苦寒泻心肺邪热。）沙参（甘寒补肺，滋五脏之阴。）紫菀（润肺泻火，下气调中。）天冬（甘苦大寒，清金降火。）
本寒则温之
金固然畏火，但其性本寒冷，过用清润药，肺气反而受伤，所以说“形寒饮冷则伤肺”。
温肺：土为金之母，金恶燥而土恶湿，清肺太过，脾气先伤，则土不能生金，所以温肺必先温脾胃，这也是补母的意义。
丁香（辛温纯阴，泄肺温胃。）藿香（快气和中，开胃止呕，入手足太阴经。）款冬花（辛温纯阳，温肺理气。）檀香（调脾肺，利胸膈，引胃气上升。）白豆蔻（温暖脾胃，为肺家本药。）益智仁（燥脾胃，补心肾。）砂仁（和胃醒脾，补肺益肾。）糯米（甘温，补脾肺虚寒。）百部（甘苦微温，润肺杀虫。）
标寒则散之
不说标热的，是因为肺主皮毛，邪气初入则表现为寒，尚未变为热。
解表：表指皮毛，属太阳经，入肌肤则属阳明经，入筋骨则属少阳经，这解表、解肌、和解，有浅深之不同。
麻黄（辛温发汗，肺家要药。）葱白（外实中空，肺之药也，发汗解肌，通上下阳气。）紫苏（发表散寒，祛风定喘。）
The *Ben Jing* (Shennong Bencao Jing, Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) has already encompassed the methods of treating diseases through tonification (Bu), purgation (Xie), and treatment for cold and heat syndromes. However, the *Ben Jing* discusses these in terms of acupuncture, but the acupuncture methods of later generations have been lost, so herbal medicine is used to replace them. The principles of using herbs for tonification, purgation, and regulating cold and heat discussed in the *Ben Cao* (Materia Medica) perfectly align with the original intent of the *Ben Jing*. Detailed annotations are provided below to serve as an explanation of therapeutic methods.
When Qi is Excess, Purgation is Applied
The Lung governs Qi. "Excess" refers to the excess of pathogenic factors; therefore, purgation is employed. This is divided into four methods below.
Purging the Son: Water is the son of Metal (in Five Elements theory). Purging the water of the Bladder causes water Qi to descend, allowing the Lung Qi to be regulated and unobstructed.
Ze Xie (Enters the Bladder, promotes urination.) Ting Li (Powerfully directs Qi downward, moves water in the Bladder.) Sang Bai Pi (Directs Qi downward and promotes water metabolism.) Di Gu Pi (Descends latent fire in the Lung, expelling it via urination.)
Eliminating Dampness: Lung Qi originates from the Middle Jiao. When damp-phlegm condenses in the Stomach, its Qi ascends to the Lung. Removing damp-phlegm from the Stomach is precisely to clear the Lung.
Ban Xia (Eliminates dampness and transforms phlegm, harmonizes the Stomach and strengthens the Spleen.) Bai Fan (Dries dampness and expels saliva/phlegm, transforms phlegm and sinks turbidity.) Bai Fu Ling (Opens orifices to eliminate dampness, drains heat and moves water.) Yi Yi Ren (Sweet flavor benefits the Stomach; Earth overcomes Water; light and penetrating to leach out dampness.) Mu Gua (Astringes the Lung and harmonizes the Stomach, eliminates damp-heat.) Chen Pi (Regulates Qi, dries dampness, guides stagnation and eliminates phlegm.)
Draining Fire: The Lung belongs to Metal and fears Fire. Fire is distinguished as Ministerial Fire (Jun Huo) and Ministerial Fire (Xiang Huo). Ministerial Fire should be cleared, while Ministerial Fire has two treatments: following (Cong) and opposing (Ni). For Qi excess patterns, only the opposing method is suitable.
Jing Mi (White color enters the Lung, relieves irritability and clears heat.) Shi Gao (White color enters the Lung, clears heat and descends fire.) Han Shui Shi (Drains Lung and Stomach fire, treats wheezing and cough due to phlegm-heat.) Zhi Mu (Clears the Lung and drains fire, moistens the Kidney and nourishes Yin.) He Zi (Astringes the Lung and descends fire, vents Qi and eliminates phlegm.)
Unblocking Stagnation: When there is an excess of pathogenic factors causing obstruction and lack of free flow, removing the stagnant Qi allows the Healthy Qi to move naturally.
Zhi Ke (Breaks up Qi stagnation and moves phlegm.) Bo He (Acrid disperses, cold clears; searches Liver Qi, suppresses Lung excess.) Sheng Jiang (Acrid-warm releases the exterior, disseminates Lung Qi.) Mu Xiang (Ascends and descends all Qi, vents the Lung and soothes the Liver.) Hou Po (Acrid-warm and bitter-descending, directs Qi downward and eliminates phlegm.) Xing Ren (Drains the Lung, resolves the muscle layer, directs Qi downward and moves phlegm.) Zao Jia (Opens orifices and induces vomiting of phlegm, enters the Lung and Large Intestine meridians.) Jie Geng (Enters the Lung to drain heat, raises Qi and Blood, releases exterior cold pathogens.) Su Geng (Directs Qi downward and eliminates phlegm, dispels wind and calms asthma.)
When Qi is Deficient, Tonification is Applied
Because Healthy Qi is deficient, tonification is employed. This is divided into three methods below.
Tonifying the Mother: Earth is the mother of Metal (in Five Elements theory). Tonifying the Spleen and Stomach is precisely to benefit Lung Qi.
Gan Cao (Tonifies Spleen and Stomach deficiency.) Ren Shen (Benefits Earth to generate Metal, greatly tonifies Yuan Qi.) Sheng Ma (Ren Shen tends to ascend; this herb guides it upward.) Huang Qi (Strengthens the Spleen and Stomach, tonifies Lung Qi.) Shan Yao (Enters the Lung and returns to the Spleen, tonifies deficiencies.)
Moistening Dryness: Tonifying the mother benefits the Qi in the Lung, while moistening dryness nourishes the Yin in the Lung. When Metal is scorched by Fire, it becomes dry. Moistening dryness essentially involves draining fire. To drain Excess Fire, bitter-cold herbs are used; to drain Deficiency Fire, sweet-cold herbs are used.
Ge Jie (Tonifies the Lung and benefits Essence, calms asthma and stops cough.) E Jiao (Clears the Lung and nourishes the Kidney, tonifies Yin and moistens dryness.) Mai Dong (Clears the Heart and moistens the Lung, strengthens Yin and benefits Essence.) Bei Mu (Drains fire and dissipates nodules, moistens the Lung and clears phlegm.) Bai He (Moistens the Lung and calms the Spirit, clears heat and stops cough.) Tian Hua Fen (Descends fire and moistens dryness, generates fluids and lubricates phlegm.) Tian Dong (Clears Metal and descends fire, nourishes the Kidney and moistens dryness.)
Astringing the Lung: Chronic cough injures the Lung, causing its Qi to scatter. One may either astringe and tonify, or astringe and direct downward. This is suitable for internal injury patterns but strictly contraindicated for exterior contraction patterns.
Wu Mei (Astringes the Lung and binds the intestines, clears heat and stops thirst.) Ying Su Ke (Astringes the Lung and binds the intestines, secures the Kidney and stops cough.) Wu Wei Zi (Astringes Lung Qi, reduces cough and calms asthma.) Bai Shao (Calms the Spleen and Lung, secures the Cou Li (pores), gathers Yin Qi, and astringes rebellious Qi.) Wu Bei Zi (Astringes the Lung and descends fire, generates fluids and transforms phlegm.)
When the Root Heat exists, Clearing is Applied
Clearing heat essentially involves draining fire and moistening dryness. Previously, Excess and Deficiency were distinguished; here, Root and Branch, Cold and Heat are distinguished. The intentions differ, so some herbs appear multiple times.
Clearing Metal: Clearing Metal essentially involves nourishing Yin and descending fire, using sweet-cold or bitter-cold herbs according to Excess or Deficiency.
Huang Qin (Bitter enters the Heart, cold overcomes heat; drains Excess Fire in the Upper and Middle Jiao.) Zhi Mu (Bitter-cold drains fire.) Mai Dong (Sweet-cold moistens the Lung.) Zhi Zi (Bitter-cold drains pathogenic heat from the Heart and Lung.) Sha Shen (Sweet-cold tonifies the Lung, nourishes the Yin of the Five Zang organs.) Zi Wan (Moistens the Lung and drains fire, directs Qi downward and regulates the Middle.) Tian Dong (Sweet-bitter and great cold, clears Metal and descends fire.)
When the Root Cold exists, Warming is Applied
Metal certainly fears Fire, but its nature is originally cold. Overuse of clearing and moistening herbs damages Lung Qi; hence it is said that "external cold and cold drinks injure the Lung."
Warming the Lung: Earth is the mother of Metal. Metal dislikes dryness, and Earth dislikes dampness. If the Lung is cleared too excessively, the Spleen Qi is injured first, meaning Earth cannot generate Metal. Therefore, warming the Lung must begin with warming the Spleen and Stomach, which is also the principle of tonifying the mother.
Ding Xiang (Acrid-warm and purely Yin, vents the Lung and warms the Stomach.) Huo Xiang (Promotes Qi movement and harmonizes the Middle, opens the appetite and stops vomiting, enters the Hand and Foot Taiyin meridians.) Kuan Dong Hua (Acrid-warm and purely Yang, warms the Lung and regulates Qi.) Tan Xiang (Regulates the Spleen and Lung, benefits the chest and diaphragm, guides Stomach Qi upward.) Bai Dou Kou (Warms and tonifies the Spleen and Stomach, a fundamental herb for the Lung.) Yi Zhi Ren (Dries the Spleen and Stomach, tonifies the Heart and Kidney.) Sha Ren (Harmonizes the Stomach and awakens the Spleen, tonifies the Lung and benefits the Kidney.) Nuo Mi (Sweet-warm, tonifies Spleen and Lung deficiency-cold.) Bai Bu (Sweet-bitter and slightly warm, moistens the Lung and kills parasites.)
When the Branch Cold exists, Dispersing is Applied
Branch Heat is not mentioned because the Lung governs the skin and hair. When pathogenic factors initially enter, they present as cold, having not yet transformed into heat.
Releasing the Exterior: "Exterior" refers to the skin and hair, belonging to the Taiyang stage. Entering the muscles/skin belongs to the Yangming stage, and entering the sinews/bones belongs to the Shaoyang stage. Thus, releasing the exterior, resolving the muscle layer, and harmonizing have differences in depth.
Ma Huang (Acrid-warm induces sweating, a key herb for the Lung.) Cong Bai (Solid outside and hollow inside, a herb for the Lung; induces sweating and resolves the muscle layer, connects the ascending and descending Yang Qi.) Zi Su (Releases the exterior and scatters cold, dispels wind and calms asthma.)