气短促不足以息，虚甚（气不能应呼吸）。
平人无寒热，短气不足以息者，实也（中焦有碍或痰火。）
吸而微数，其病在中焦，实也。当下之即愈（中实，吸不得入，还出复入，故微数也。）虚者不
治（实则可下。中虚，吸不尽入而微数者，肝肾欲绝。）在上焦者，其吸促。在下焦者，其吸远。此皆
难治。呼吸动摇振振者不治。（病在上焦，气宜通下。病在下焦，气宜达上。上下交通，病斯愈矣。
今上焦者吸促而不能通下，下焦者吸远而不能达上。上下不交通，病岂易治乎？动摇振振，气不载形也。）
凡诊病，必先问所看何人，或男或女，或老或幼，或童仆，或婢外家。次问得
病之日，受病之原，及饮食胃气如何？便利如何？曾服何药？日间何如？夜间何如或寐或寤，有无胀闷痛处？
问病不答，必耳聋。即当询之，是素聋否？不则病久，或汗下过伤虚聋。
问而懒言答，惟点头者，是中气虚。
昏愦不知人，问是暴厥，抑是久病？
妇女僵厥，多是中气，亦须问其曾大怒否？
妇女当问其月水如何？寡妇气血凝滞，两尺多滑，不可误断为胎。室女同。
心腹胀痛，问其旧病、新病。
问其所欲何味，所嗜何物？或纵酒，或斋素。喜酸者，则知肝虚。喜甘，脾虚。他味准此。
头身臂膊作痛，必问曾病恶疮否？临病必审形志。或形劳志苦，或抑郁伤中，
故贵脱势，眷恋于心。虽不中邪，病从内生，名曰脱营。（谓脱散营气。）
尝富后贫，悲忧内结，名曰失精。（谓精神丧失。）
二者皮焦筋屈，痿痹为挛。以其外耗于卫，内夺于荣。良工诊之，必知病情。
再问饮食起居，暴乐暴苦，始乐后苦。暴怒伤阴，暴喜伤阳，形体毁沮，精华
日脱，邪气内并。（邪乘虚而袭。）
气短促，呼吸微弱不足以维持正常气息，这是极度虚弱的表现（指气无法响应呼吸需求）。
普通人没有寒热症状，但出现短气、呼吸微弱的情况，属于实证（多因中焦有阻碍或痰火内扰）。
吸气轻微而急促，病位在中焦，属于实证。应当使用下法治疗即可痊愈（中焦实邪阻滞，吸气不能深入，故呼吸频率代偿性加快而显得微数）。若是虚证则难以治愈（实证可用下法；若中焦虚弱，吸气不能完全吸入而显得微数，则是肝肾之气即将绝灭的征象）。病在上焦的，表现为吸气短促；病在下焦的，表现为吸气深长遥远。这些情况都难以治愈。呼吸时身体随之剧烈颤动的，属于不治之症（病在上焦，气机宜通降下行；病在下焦，气机宜升发上行。上下气机交通，疾病才能痊愈。如今上焦吸气短促而不能通降，下焦吸气深长而不能升达。上下气机不交通，疾病岂容易治愈？身体动摇震颤，说明正气衰竭，不能承载形体）。
大凡诊察疾病，必须先询问患者是何人，是男是女，是老是幼，是童仆还是婢女或外家亲属。其次询问发病的日子，致病的原因，以及饮食和胃气的状况如何？大小便情况如何？曾经服用过什么药物？白天感觉如何？夜间感觉如何？睡眠还是清醒？是否有胀闷疼痛的部位？
询问病情而不回答，必定是耳聋。此时应当进一步询问：是原本就聋吗？还是因为患病日久，或者汗法、下法过度损伤导致虚性耳聋。
询问时懒于言语回答，只是点头示意，这是中气虚弱。
神志昏乱无知觉，需询问是突然发生的厥证，还是久病所致？
妇女出现僵直厥逆，多是中气受损，也须询问是否曾大怒？
妇女必须询问月经情况如何？寡妇气血凝滞，双侧尺脉多呈滑象，不可误断为怀孕。未婚女子同理。
心腹胀痛，需询问是旧病复发还是新病。
询问患者想要吃什么味道，喜欢吃什么食物？是纵情饮酒，还是吃斋素食？喜欢酸味的，可知肝虚；喜欢甘味的，可知脾虚；其他口味以此类推。
头、身、手臂疼痛，必须询问是否曾患恶疮？临症时必须审察患者的形体与情志。有的形体劳苦、精神抑郁，有的因地位尊贵而失势，心中眷恋不舍。虽然未受外邪侵袭，但病从内生，称为“脱营”（指营气散失）。
曾经富有后来贫穷，悲忧郁结于内，称为“失精”（指精神丧失）。
这两种情况都会导致皮肤枯焦、筋脉拘挛，出现痿痹等症状。这是因为卫气在外耗损，荣血在内被夺。高明的医生诊察时，必定能了解病情的本质。
再次询问饮食起居，是否有突然的快乐或痛苦，先乐后苦的情况？暴怒伤阴，暴喜伤阳，导致形体毁坏沮丧，精华日渐脱失，邪气乘虚内侵。（邪气趁正气虚弱而侵袭体内）
Shortness of breath with rapid, shallow breathing insufficient to maintain normal respiration indicates extreme deficiency (Qi fails to respond to respiratory demands).
In a healthy person without chills or fever, shortness of breath and insufficient respiration indicate excess (obstruction in the Middle Jiao or phlegm-fire disturbance).
Slightly rapid inhalation suggests pathology in the Middle Jiao, indicating excess. Purging therapy should be applied for recovery (Middle Jiao excess obstructs deep inhalation, leading to compensatory rapid breathing). If it is deficiency, it is difficult to treat (Excess can be purged; if Middle Jiao deficiency causes slightly rapid inhalation due to incomplete intake, it signifies impending exhaustion of Liver and Kidney Qi). In Upper Jiao pathology, inhalation is short and hurried; in Lower Jiao pathology, inhalation is deep and distant. These are all difficult to treat. Trembling of the body during respiration indicates an incurable condition (In Upper Jiao disease, Qi should descend; in Lower Jiao disease, Qi should ascend. Mutual communication between Upper and Lower Jiao leads to recovery. Currently, Upper Jiao inhalation is too short to descend, and Lower Jiao inhalation is too distant to ascend. Lack of mutual communication makes recovery unlikely? Trembling indicates Qi failure to support the form).
When diagnosing illness, one must first ask about the patient's identity: male or female, old or young, servant or concubine, or relative. Secondly, ask about the onset date, etiology, dietary habits, and Stomach Qi status. Ask about bowel and bladder functions. Ask about previous medications taken. Ask about daytime symptoms and nighttime symptoms, sleep patterns, and any distension, fullness, or pain.
If the patient does not answer questions, deafness is likely. Further inquiry is needed to determine if it is congenital deafness or acquired due to prolonged illness or excessive sweating/purging causing deficiency deafness.
If the patient is reluctant to speak and only nods, it indicates deficiency of Middle Qi.
If the patient is confused and unconscious, determine if it is sudden Jue syndrome or chronic illness.
For women presenting with rigidity and Jue, it is often related to Middle Qi damage; inquire if there was recent severe anger.
For women, menstrual status must be asked. For widows, Qi and Blood stagnation may cause slippery pulses at both Chi positions; do not misdiagnose as pregnancy. Unmarried women are similar.
For epigastric and abdominal distension and pain, distinguish between old and new conditions.
Ask about taste preferences and food cravings. Whether they indulge in alcohol or follow a vegetarian diet. Preference for sour tastes indicates Liver deficiency; preference for sweet tastes indicates Spleen deficiency; other tastes follow this pattern.
For pain in the head, body, and arms, inquire about history of malignant sores. At the bedside, assess form and spirit. Some suffer physical labor and mental distress, or depression damaging the interior. Those who lose status after being noble harbor lingering attachments. Though not affected by external pathogens, disease arises internally, termed "Tuo Ying" (loss of Ying Qi). Those who were once rich but became poor experience internal knotting of sorrow and worry, termed "Shi Jing" (loss of Jing Spirit). Both conditions lead to scorched skin, contracted sinews, and Wei Bi spasms. This is because Wei Qi is exhausted externally and Ying Blood is depleted internally. Skilled physicians will understand the nature of the disease upon diagnosis.
Further inquire about diet and lifestyle, sudden joy or suffering, or joy followed by suffering. Sudden anger damages Yin; sudden joy damages Yang. The physical form deteriorates, essence depletes daily, and pathogenic factors invade internally (pathogens attack when Qi is deficient).