治面色痿白, 言语轻微, 四肢无力, 脉来虚弱者. 若
内伤虚热, 或饮食难化作酸, 须加炮姜.
人参 白术 茯苓 甘草各二钱加姜, 枣, 水煎服. 加木香, 藿香,
葛根, 为七味白术散. 加陈皮, 为五味异功散. 加陈皮, 半夏, 为六
君子汤. 加藿香, 砂仁, 为香砂六君子汤.
【集注】张璐曰: 气虚者, 补之以甘, 参, 术, 苓, 草, 甘温益胃,
有健运之功, 具冲和之德, 故为君子. 盖人之一生, 以胃气为本, 胃
气旺则五脏受阴, 胃气伤则百病丛生. 故凡病久虚不愈, 诸药不效者
,惟有益胃, 补肾两途. 故用四君子, 随证加减, 无论寒热补泻, 先
培中土, 使药气四达, 则周身之机运流通, 水谷之精微敷布, 何患其
药之不效哉! 是知四君子为司命之本也.
吴琨曰: 夫面色痿白, 则望之而知其气虚矣. 言语轻微, 则闻之而知
其气虚矣. 四肢无力, 则问之而知其气虚矣. 脉来虚弱, 则切之而知
其气虚矣. 如是则宜补气. 是方也, 四药皆甘温, 甘得中之味, 温得
中之气, 犹之不偏不倚之人, 故名君子. 本方加木香, 藿香, 葛根名
七味白术散, 治小儿脾虚肌热, 泄泻作渴. 以木藿之芳香, 佐四君入
脾,其功更捷; 以葛根甘寒, 直走阳明, 解肌热而除渴也.
【按】本方加陈皮, 名五味异功散, 治气虚而兼气滞者; 再加半夏,
名六君子汤, 治气虚而兼痰饮者; 再加砂仁, 藿香, 名香砂六君子汤
,治气虚而兼呕吐者. 此皆补中有消导之意也.
治疗面色苍白无华，说话声音低微，四肢乏力，脉象虚弱的人。如果是内伤导致的虚热，或者饮食难以消化而反酸，需要加入炮姜。
人参、白术、茯苓、甘草各二钱，加生姜、大枣，用水煎煮后服用。加入木香、藿香、葛根，即为七味白术散（Seven-Ingredient Bupleurum Powder）。加入陈皮，即为五味异功散（Five-Ingredient Yigong Powder）。加入陈皮、半夏，即为六君子汤（Six-Ingredient Gentleman Decoction）。加入藿香、砂仁，即为香砂六君子汤（Xiangsha Six-Ingredient Gentleman Decoction）。
【集注】张璐说：气虚的人，应当用甘味药来补益。人参、白术、茯苓、甘草，性味甘温，能补益胃气，具有健运脾胃的功效，具备冲和的品德，所以称为“君子”。大概人的一生，以胃气为根本，胃气旺盛则五脏得到滋养，胃气受损则百病丛生。所以凡是久病体虚不愈，各种药物无效的情况，只有补益胃气和补肾两条途径。因此使用四君子汤，根据症状进行加减，无论寒证热证、补法泻法，先培补中焦脾胃之气，使药气通达全身，那么周身的气机运行流通，水谷的精微物质得以布散，还担心药效不好吗！由此可知四君子汤是治病救本的根本方剂。
吴琨说：面色苍白无华，通过望诊就能知道是气虚。说话声音低微，通过闻诊就能知道是气虚。四肢乏力，通过问诊就能知道是气虚。脉象虚弱，通过切诊就能知道是气虚。像这样就应该补气。这个方子，四味药都是甘温的，甘味得中和之味，温性得中和之气，就像不偏不倚的正人君子，所以命名为君子。原方加入木香、藿香、葛根名为七味白术散，治疗小儿脾虚引起的肌热、腹泻且口渴。因为木香、藿香的芳香之气，辅助四君子汤进入脾经，功效更加迅速；因为葛根甘寒，直走阳明经，解除肌热并消除口渴。
【按语】原方加入陈皮，名为五味异功散，治疗气虚兼有气滞的情况；再加入半夏，名为六君子汤，治疗气虚兼有痰饮的情况；再加入砂仁、藿香，名为香砂六君子汤，治疗气虚兼有呕吐的情况。这些方剂都包含了在补益之中兼顾消导的意思。
Indicated for patients with a sallow and pale complexion (mian se wei bai), faint voice, weakness in the four limbs, and a weak pulse. If there is deficiency heat due to internal injury, or difficulty in digesting food leading to acid regurgitation, processed ginger (Pao Jiang) should be added.
Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Fu Ling (Poria), Gan Cao (Licorice Root), each 2 qian. Add fresh ginger and jujube, decoct in water and take orally. Adding Mu Xiang (Aucklandiae Radix), Huo Xiang (Agastaches Herba), and Ge Gen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix) constitutes Qi Wei Bai Zhu San (Seven-Ingredient Atractylodes Macrocephala Powder). Adding Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) constitutes Wu Wei Yi Gong San (Five-Ingredient Yigong Powder). Adding Chen Pi and Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) constitutes Liu Jun Zi Tang (Six-Ingredient Gentleman Decoction). Adding Huo Xiang and Sha Ren (Amomi Fructus) constitutes Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang (Xiangsha Six-Ingredient Gentleman Decoction).
[Collected Annotations] Zhang Lu stated: For those with Qi deficiency, supplementation should be done using sweet flavors. Ren Shen, Bai Zhu, Fu Ling, and Gan Cao are sweet and warm; they benefit Stomach Qi and possess the function of strengthening and transporting, embodying the virtue of harmony and mildness, hence named "Jun Zi" (Gentlemen). Generally, a person's life relies on Stomach Qi as its foundation. When Stomach Qi is robust, the Five Zang organs receive nourishment; when Stomach Qi is injured, myriad diseases arise. Therefore, for chronic illnesses resulting in deficiency that do not heal, and where various medicines fail to produce effects, there are only two pathways: benefiting the Stomach and tonifying the Kidney. Thus, Liu Jun Zi Tang is used with modifications according to symptoms. Regardless of cold or heat, tonification or purgation methods, one first cultivates the Middle Earth (Spleen/Stomach), allowing medicinal qi to reach all directions. Then, the mechanism of movement throughout the body flows freely, and the essence and micro-nutrients from food and water are distributed. How could one worry about the ineffectiveness of the medicine! It is known that Liu Jun Zi Tang is the root of preserving life.
Wu Kun stated: A sallow and pale complexion indicates Qi deficiency through observation (Wang). A faint voice indicates Qi deficiency through listening/smelling (Wen). Weakness in the four limbs indicates Qi deficiency through inquiry (Wen). A weak pulse indicates Qi deficiency through palpation (Qie). In such cases, it is appropriate to tonify Qi. This formula consists of four herbs that are all sweet and warm. Sweetness obtains the flavor of the center/middle, and warmth obtains the nature of the center/middle, resembling a person who is neither biased nor extreme, hence named "Jun Zi". The original formula plus Mu Xiang, Huo Xiang, and Ge Gen is named Qi Wei Bai Zhu San, treating pediatric Spleen deficiency with muscular heat, diarrhea, and thirst. The aromatic properties of Mu Xiang and Huo Xiang assist the Four Gentlemen in entering the Spleen, making its efficacy more rapid; Ge Gen is sweet and cold, directly targeting the Yangming channel, resolving muscular heat and eliminating thirst.
[Commentary] The original formula plus Chen Pi is named Wu Wei Yi Gong San, treating Qi deficiency accompanied by Qi stagnation. Adding Ban Xia makes it Liu Jun Zi Tang, treating Qi deficiency accompanied by Phlegm-fluid retention. Adding Sha Ren and Huo Xiang makes it Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang, treating Qi deficiency accompanied by vomiting. All these formulas contain the intention of guiding digestion within tonification.