阳明病，若能食，名中风；不能食，明中寒。阳明病，若中寒，不能食，小便不利，手足 然汗出，此
欲作固瘕，大便初硬后溏。所以然者，胃中冷，水谷不别故也。阳明病，不能食，攻其热必哕。所以然者，
胃中虚冷故也。以其人本虚，故攻其热必哕。伤寒大吐大下之极虚，复极汗出者，以其人外气拂郁，复与之
水，以发其汗，因得哕。所以然者，胃中寒冷故也。
伤寒呕多，虽有阳明证，不可攻之。阳明病，心下硬满者，不可攻之。攻之利遂不止者死，利止者愈。
按阳明与太阴为表里，阳盛则阳明司权，太阴化燥，而入胃腑。阴盛则太阴当令，阳明化湿，而传脾脏
。人之本气不一，有胃实者，有胃虚者，胃实入腑则燥热，而宜凉泄。胃虚传脏则湿寒，而宜温补。大、
小承气之证，胃之实者；五苓、四逆之证，胃之虚者；实者是为阳明病，虚者名为阳明，而实则太阴也。人
知胃实者之无所复传，不知胃虚者之动入三阴、传变无穷也。则承气三汤，可以生人于胃实，可以杀人于胃
虚，未可混施也。
按阳明虚证，里寒而水盛，以四逆汤主之。里寒而土虚，以吴茱萸汤主之。里有积湿，以五苓散主之。
里有虚热，以栀子豉汤主之，白虎加人参汤主之。里有湿热，以猪苓汤主之。里有燥热，以白虎汤主之。
里有瘀热，以茵陈蒿汤主之。
阳明病，如果患者能进食，称为中风；如果不能进食，说明是中寒。阳明病，如果是中寒证，表现为不能进食、小便不通畅、手足持续出汗，这是将要形成“固瘕”（一种因脾胃虚寒导致的积聚病症），大便开始干硬而后稀溏。之所以这样，是因为胃中寒冷，导致水谷无法分别消化排泄的缘故。阳明病，如果患者不能进食，若误用清热攻下的方法治疗，必然会出现呃逆（打嗝）。之所以这样，是因为胃中虚冷的缘故。因为患者本身体质虚弱，所以攻伐其热邪必然导致呃逆。伤寒病经过剧烈的呕吐和泻下后，导致极度虚弱，又出现大汗出的情况，由于患者体表气机郁滞不畅，此时再给予饮水以发汗，因而导致呃逆。之所以这样，是因为胃中寒冷的缘故。
伤寒病中呕吐频繁者，即使有阳明病的症状，也不可使用攻下法。阳明病，如果心下部（胃脘部）感觉硬满的，也不可使用攻下法。如果误用攻下法导致腹泻不止的会死亡，如果腹泻停止的则痊愈。
按：阳明与太阴互为表里。阳气盛时，阳明经主事，太阴经化燥，病邪传入胃腑。阴气盛时，太阴经当令，阳明经化湿，病邪传至脾脏。人的本源之气各不相同，有的胃气实，有的胃气虚。胃气实则病入腑，表现为燥热，适宜用凉泄法治疗；胃气虚则病传脏，表现为湿寒，适宜用温补法治疗。大承气汤和小承气汤所治疗的证候，属于胃实证；五苓散和四逆汤所治疗的证候，属于胃虚证。实证才称为真正的阳明病，虚证虽然名为阳明病，但实际上是太阴病。人们只知道胃实证不会进一步传变，却不知道胃虚证容易深入三阴经，传变无穷无尽。因此，承气汤类方剂，对于胃实证可以救人，对于胃虚证却可能杀人，不可混淆施用。
按：阳明虚证，表现为里寒且水湿旺盛，以四逆汤为主治方剂。里寒且脾土虚弱，以吴茱萸汤为主治方剂。里有积湿，以五苓散为主治方剂。里有虚热，以栀子豉汤或白虎加人参汤为主治方剂。里有湿热，以猪苓汤为主治方剂。里有燥热，以白虎汤为主治方剂。里有瘀热，以茵陈蒿汤为主治方剂。
Yangming disease, if the patient can eat, is named Wind-Strike (Zhong Feng); if unable to eat, it indicates Cold-Strike (Zhong Han). In Yangming disease, if struck by Cold, with inability to eat, insufficient urination, and continuous sweating on the hands and feet, this is about to develop into Gu Jia (a type of accumulation due to Spleen-Stomach deficiency-cold), with stool initially hard and later loose. The reason for this is cold in the Stomach, causing water and grain to fail to separate during digestion. In Yangming disease, if unable to eat, attacking the heat will inevitably cause hiccups (Yue). The reason is deficiency-cold in the Stomach. Because the person is originally deficient, attacking the heat will inevitably cause hiccups. In Taiyang disease, after extreme vomiting and purging leading to extreme deficiency, followed by profuse sweating, due to external Qi stagnation, giving water to induce sweating results in hiccups. The reason is cold in the Stomach.
In Taiyang disease, if there is frequent vomiting, even if Yangming symptoms are present, one must not use purgatives. In Yangming disease, if there is hardness and fullness in the epigastrium (Xin Xia), one must not use purgatives. If purging leads to unceasing diarrhea, death ensues; if diarrhea stops, recovery occurs.
Note: Yangming and Taiyin are exterior-interior pairs. When Yang is abundant, Yangming governs, Taiyin transforms into dryness, and pathogens enter the Stomach Fu organ. When Yin is abundant, Taiyin takes command, Yangming transforms into dampness, and pathogens transmit to the Spleen Zang organ. Human constitutional Qi varies; some have excess Stomach Qi, others have deficient Stomach Qi. Excess Stomach Qi entering the Fu organ presents as dry-heat, suitable for cool-draining methods. Deficient Stomach Qi transmitting to the Zang organ presents as damp-cold, suitable for warming-tonifying methods. Da Cheng Qi Tang and Xiao Cheng Qi Tang treat Stomach excess patterns; Wu Ling San and Si Ni Tang treat Stomach deficiency patterns. Excess constitutes true Yangming disease; deficiency, though named Yangming, is actually Taiyin disease. People know that Stomach excess does not further transmit, but do not know that Stomach deficiency easily enters the Three Yin meridians with endless variations. Thus, Cheng Qi Decoctions can save lives in Stomach excess but kill in Stomach deficiency; they must not be applied indiscriminately.
Note: For Yangming deficiency patterns with interior cold and abundant water, Si Ni Tang is the primary formula. For interior cold with weak Earth (Spleen), Wu Zhu Yu Tang is the primary formula. For interior accumulated dampness, Wu Ling San is the primary formula. For interior deficient heat, Zhi Zi Chi Tang or Bai Hu Jia Ren Shen Tang are primary formulas. For interior damp-heat, Zhu Ling Tang is the primary formula. For interior dry-heat, Bai Hu Tang is the primary formula. For interior stasis-heat, Yin Chen Hao Tang is the primary formula.