虚劳之证，精神气血俱被损伤是也。盖肾藏精，心藏神，肺藏气，肝藏血。肾受伤而精病，精病则遗
泄而不秘。心受伤而神病，神病则惊怯而不安。肺受伤而气病，气病则痞塞而不宣。肝受伤而血病，血病
则凝瘀而不流。然四维之病，总由中气虚败有以致之也。会仲景建中之义，则治劳证得其要领矣。
如虚劳里急悸衄，腹中痛，梦失精，四肢酸疼。手足烦热，咽干
口燥，以小建中汤主之，或以当归建中汤主之。如虚劳里急诸不足，以黄 建中汤主之。如失精家，少腹
弦急，阴头寒，目眩发落，脉极虚芤迟，为清谷，亡血失精，脉得芤动微紧，男子失精，女子梦交，
以桂枝龙骨牡蛎汤主之。如虚劳腰痛，少腹拘急，小便不利者，以八味肾气丸主之。此统治之法也。
如精遗神惊，气郁血脱，及咳嗽不寐等证，再于各专门，求方治之。
小建中汤
（方见咳嗽）
当归建中汤（方见《金匮》）
黄 建中汤
即小建中汤加黄 ，如气短胸满者，加生姜；腹满者，去枣加茯苓；如脾虚不足，
宜补气者，加半夏。
桂枝龙骨牡蛎汤
桂枝（三钱） 白芍（三钱酒炒） 生姜（三钱） 甘草（二钱炙） 龙骨（三钱）
牡蛎（三钱） 大枣（四枚） 水煎大半杯，温服。 如下部有寒，干姜、附子均可加。
八味丸
（方见香港脚）
炙甘草汤（方见伤寒）
虚劳这一病证，是指人的精神、气、血都受到损伤。肾藏精，心藏神，肺藏气，肝藏血。肾脏受伤则精气病变，精气病变就会遗泄而不能固秘。心脏受伤则神志病变，神志病变就会惊恐怯弱而不得安宁。肺部受伤则气机病变，气机病变就会痞塞阻滞而不能宣通。肝脏受伤则血液病变，血液病变就会凝滞瘀阻而不能流畅。然而这四肢（指心、肝、脾、肺四脏或全身）的病变，总归是由中焦脾胃之气虚弱败坏所导致的。领会张仲景建立中气的义理，那么治疗虚劳病证就能抓住要领了。
如果是虚劳病出现腹中拘急疼痛、心悸、鼻衄，腹部疼痛，梦中遗精，四肢酸痛，手足烦热，咽喉干燥，口舌燥渴，用小建中汤主治，或者用当归建中汤主治。如果是虚劳病腹中拘急且各种不足的症状，用黄芪建中汤主治。如果是经常失精的人，出现少腹弦急紧绷，阴头寒冷，头晕目眩，头发脱落，脉象极虚、芤（kōu）、迟，伴有完谷不化（大便中有未消化的食物），亡血失精，脉象呈现芤动微紧，男子失精，女子梦中性交，用桂枝加龙骨牡蛎汤主治。如果是虚劳病腰痛，少腹拘急，小便不利，用八味肾气丸主治。这是统摄治疗的法则。
如果是精液遗泄、神志惊恐、气郁血脱，以及咳嗽失眠等证候，再在各专门章节中寻求方剂进行治疗。
小建中汤
（方剂见“咳嗽”章节）
当归建中汤
（方剂见《金匮要略》）
黄芪建中汤
即小建中汤加入黄芪。如果气短胸满的，加生姜；如果腹满的，去掉大枣，加入茯苓；如果脾虚不足，适宜补气的，加半夏。
桂枝加龙骨牡蛎汤
桂枝（三钱） 白芍（三钱，酒炒） 生姜（三钱） 甘草（二钱，炙） 龙骨（三钱）
牡蛎（三钱） 大枣（四枚） 用水煎至大半杯，温服。如果下部有寒，干姜、附子均可加入。
八味丸
（方剂见“香港脚”章节）
炙甘草汤
（方剂见“伤寒”章节）
The syndrome of Xu Lao (Deficiency and Emaciation) refers to a condition where the spirit, Qi, and Blood are all damaged. The Kidney stores Jing (Essence), the Heart stores Shen (Spirit), the Lungs store Qi, and the Liver stores Blood. When the Kidneys are injured, Jing becomes diseased; when Jing is diseased, it leaks and fails to consolidate. When the Heart is injured, Shen becomes diseased; when Shen is diseased, it becomes fearful and uneasy. When the Lungs are injured, Qi becomes diseased; when Qi is diseased, it becomes obstructed and fails to circulate freely. When the Liver is injured, Blood becomes diseased; when Blood is diseased, it stagnates and fails to flow smoothly. However, these disorders of the four limbs/organs ultimately stem from the deficiency and collapse of Middle Jiao Qi (Spleen and Stomach Qi). Comprehending Zhang Zhongjing’s principle of establishing the Middle Jiao allows one to grasp the key essence in treating Xu Lao syndromes.
For Xu Lao presenting with abdominal tension and pain, palpitations, epistaxis, abdominal pain, nocturnal emission, soreness and pain in the four limbs, vexing heat in the hands and feet, dry throat, and dry mouth, Xiao Jian Zhong Tang (Minor Construct the Middle Decoction) should be used as the primary formula, or Dang Gui Jian Zhong Tang (Angelica Sinensis Construct the Middle Decoction). For Xu Lao presenting with abdominal tension and various deficiencies, Huang Jian Zhong Tang (Astragalus Construct the Middle Decoction) should be used. For individuals prone to seminal emission, presenting with tightness and urgency in the lower abdomen, coldness at the glans penis, dizziness, hair loss, and a pulse that is extremely deficient, cun kou (cun position), and slow, accompanied by undigested food in stool, blood loss, and seminal emission, with a pulse appearing floating and empty, rapid, fine, and slightly tight, where men suffer from seminal emission and women from dream intercourse, Gui Zhi Long Gu Mu Li Tang (Cinnamon Twig, Dragon Bone, and Oyster Shell Decoction) should be used. For Xu Lao presenting with lower back pain, tension and urgency in the lower abdomen, and difficulty in urination, Ba Wei Shen Qi Wan (Eight-Ingredient Kidney-Qi Pill) should be used. This constitutes the general method of treatment.
For syndromes such as seminal emission, frightful spirit, Qi stagnation with Blood depletion, cough, and insomnia, one should seek specific formulas in their respective specialized sections.
Xiao Jian Zhong Tang (Minor Construct the Middle Decoction)
(See formula under "Cough")
Dang Gui Jian Zhong Tang (Angelica Sinensis Construct the Middle Decoction)
(See formula in *Jin Gui Yao Lue*)
Huang Jian Zhong Tang (Astragalus Construct the Middle Decoction)
This is Xiao Jian Zhong Tang plus Huang Qi (Astragali Radix). If there is shortness of breath and chest fullness, add Sheng Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens); if there is abdominal fullness, remove Da Zao (Jujubae Fructus) and add Fu Ling (Poria). If there is Spleen deficiency and insufficiency requiring Qi tonification, add Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma).
Gui Zhi Long Gu Mu Li Tang (Cinnamon Twig, Dragon Bone, and Oyster Shell Decoction)
Gui Zhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus) (3 qian), Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) (3 qian, stir-fried with wine), Sheng Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) (3 qian), Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle) (2 qian, honey-fried), Long Gu (Fossilia Ossis Mastodi) (3 qian), Mu Li (Ostreae Concha) (3 qian), Da Zao (Jujubae Fructus) (4 pieces). Decoct in water until half a cup remains, take warm. If there is cold in the lower part, Gan Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) and Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) may be added.
Ba Wei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill)
(See formula under "Hong Xiang Jiao" / Erysipelas of the legs)
Zhi Gan Cao Tang (Honey-Fried Licorice Decoction)
(See formula under "Shang Han")