圣人之所以全民生也，五谷为养，五果为助，五畜为益，五菜为充，而毒药则以之攻邪
。故
虽甘草、人参，误用致害，皆毒药之类也。古人好服食者，必生奇疾，犹之好战胜者，必有
奇殃。是故兵之设也以除暴，不得已而后兴；药之设也以攻疾，亦不得已而后用，其道同也
。故病之为患也，小则耗精，大能伤命，隐然一敌国也。以草木偏性，攻脏腑之偏胜，必能
知彼知己，多方以制之，而后天丧身殒命之忧。是故传经之邪，而先夺其未至，则所以断敌
之要道也；横暴之疾，而急保其未病，则所以守我之岩疆也；挟宿食而病者，先除其食，则
敌之资粮已焚；合旧疾而发者，必防其并，则敌之内应既绝。辨经络而无泛用之药，此之谓
向导之师。因寒热而有反用之方，此之谓行间之术。一病而分治之，则用寡可以胜众，使前
后不相救，而势自衰。数病而合治之，则并力捣其中坚，使离散无所统，而众悉溃。病方进
，则不治其太甚，固守元气所以老其师；病方衰，则必究其所之，更益精锐，所以捣其穴。
若夫虚邪之体攻河过，本和平之药而以峻药补之，衰敝之日不可穷民力也；实邪之伤攻不可
缓，用峻厉之药而以常药和之，富强之国可以振威武也。然而选材必当，器械必良，克期不
衍，布阵有方，此又不可更仆数也。孙武子十三篇，治病之法尽之矣。
圣人用来保全人民生命的方法，是以五谷作为营养的主食，以五果作为辅助的食物，以五畜作为补益的来源，以五菜作为充实的补充，而毒药则是用来攻伐邪气的。所以即使是甘草、人参这样平和的药物，如果误用也会导致危害，它们也都属于毒药的范畴。古人喜欢服用滋补品的人，一定会生出奇特的疾病，这就像喜欢发动战争的人，必然会遇到奇特的灾祸。因此，军队的设立是为了消除暴乱，是不得已才兴起的；药物的设立是为了攻治病痛，也是不得已才使用的，其中的道理是相同的。所以疾病造成的祸患，轻则消耗精气，重则损伤性命，它就像一个隐形的敌国一样。用草木药物的偏性，去攻伐脏腑的偏胜（失衡），必须能够知己知彼，运用多种方法来制约它，然后才能免除上天降下的丧身殒命的忧患。因此，对于顺着经络传变的邪气，先夺取它尚未到达的地方，这就是切断敌人交通要道的方法；对于猛烈暴戾的疾病，急忙保护尚未受病的部位，这就是坚守我方的边疆要塞；夹杂宿食而生病的，先清除体内的积食，这就等于烧毁了敌人的粮草；旧疾与新病并发时，一定要防止它们相互勾结，这就等于断绝了敌人的内部接应。辨别经络而不泛泛用药，这就叫做向导之师。根据寒热的性质而采用相反相成的方药，这就叫做行间之术（奇正相生之法）。一种疾病分阶段治疗，就能以少胜多，使敌人前后不能互相救援，其势力自然衰败。多种疾病合并治疗，就能集中力量攻击其核心要害，使敌人离散而无统帅，从而全军覆没。病势正在进展时，不要过度治疗，稳固守住元气，以此使敌人疲惫（老其师）；病势开始衰退时，一定要追究病邪的去向，增加精锐药物，以此直捣敌军巢穴。至于虚邪侵袭人体，攻伐不宜过猛，本应用平和的药物，却用峻烈的药物来补益，这是在国家衰败之日不可耗尽民力；实邪受伤，攻伐不可迟缓，使用峻烈药物时要用常药调和，这就像富强之国可以振作威武一样。然而选拔药材必须得当，制药器械必须精良，限期完成不拖延，布阵用药有章法，这些又是不胜枚举的。孙武子的《孙子兵法》十三篇，治病的法则都包含在其中了。
The way sages preserve the lives of the people is by taking the Five Grains (Wugu) as the nourishing staple, the Five Fruits (Wuguo) as assisting foods, the Five Livestock (Wuchu) as beneficial supplements, and the Five Vegetables (Wucai) as filling additions, while toxic drugs (Du Yao) are used to attack pathogenic factors. Therefore, even mild substances like Gancao (Licorice Root) and Renshen (Ginseng), if misused, can cause harm; they all belong to the category of toxic drugs. Those ancients who enjoyed taking tonic foods inevitably developed strange diseases, just as those fond of warfare inevitably encounter strange calamities. Thus, the establishment of armies is to eliminate violence, arising only when no other choice remains; the establishment of medicines is to attack diseases, also used only when necessary. The principle behind them is the same. Therefore, the harm caused by disease, whether minor consuming essence or major damaging life, is like a hidden enemy state. To use the specific properties of herbs to attack the excesses of Zang-Fu organs, one must know both oneself and the enemy, employ various methods to control it, thereby avoiding the risk of premature death decreed by Heaven. Hence, for pathogens transmitting through meridians, seizing the area before they arrive cuts off their key routes; for violent acute diseases, urgently protecting uninfected areas defends one's borders; for illnesses complicated by retained food, eliminating the food first burns the enemy's supplies; for old diseases relapsing with new ones, preventing their combination cuts off the enemy's internal support. Differentiating meridians and avoiding indiscriminate medication is called the "Guide Army." Prescribing formulas contrary to cold or heat patterns is called the "Intercepting Strategy" (Xingjian). Treating one disease in stages allows winning against many with few, preventing mutual rescue between front and rear, causing the enemy's momentum to naturally decline. Treating multiple diseases together concentrates force on the core, causing dispersion without command, leading to total collapse. When the disease is advancing, do not treat too aggressively; preserving Yuan Qi (Primal Qi) exhausts the enemy's strength. When the disease is receding, pursue its course relentlessly, adding potent agents to strike at its stronghold. For deficiency-type pathogens, attack should not be excessive; using harsh drugs for tonification when mild ones suffice is like exhausting the people's strength during a nation's decline. For excess-type injuries, attack must not be delayed; using harsh drugs balanced with common ones is like a wealthy nation displaying its might. However, selecting materials must be appropriate, instruments must be good, deadlines must not be missed, and deployment must have method—these points are too numerous to list. Sun Tzu's thirteen chapters cover all the methods of treating disease.