兵为不祥之器取足以弭乱药非授餐之常取足以疗疾善弭乱者知彼知己善疗疾者知病知药
其不知症者无论矣知症而不知药如遣将非人适足致败夫兵不过奇正奇正之变不可胜穷药不过
气味气味之变亦不可胜穷通四时五行之化察五脏六腑之宜辨百草辛酸苦甘咸之味审人身喜怒
悲忧恐之情故以治百病道精而效神也医学蒙昧各据门户执古方不能治今病读医经不如多临症
之说不深求经方药录用意所在徒创异说以博名节论说日繁医学日晦故读古人之书而察其理则
知
明
之
殊
左
明
刘
叟
予
外
所
于
道光庚子年十一月朔安吴包诚
宣剂者涌剂也素问曰高者因而越之木郁则达之伤寒论曰大法春宜吐以病在上也儒门事亲
曰世
也以
通剂者流通之剂也通与泻相类泻惟下行通则兼旁行凡辛香流走之属皆能通儒门事亲曰数
至圊
补剂者补益之剂也素问曰因其衰而彰之形不足者温之以气精不足者补之以味又曰肝用辛
补之
而后
血衰
泻剂者泄泻之谓即下剂也素问曰其下者引而竭之中满者泻之于内其实者散而泻之又曰实
则泻
痛随
轻剂者轻扬发散之谓即汗剂也素问曰因其轻而扬之其有邪者渍形以为汗其在皮者汗而发
之儒
重剂者重镇之剂也体重而性沉者足以镇压乱逆儒门事亲曰久病咳嗽涎潮于上形羸不可峻
攻以
滑剂者滑利之剂也周礼曰以滑养窍郑氏注曰凡诸滑物通利往来似窍儒门事亲曰大便燥结
小
涩剂者收涩之剂也素问曰心苦缓急食酸以收之肺欲收急食咸以收之汤液序例曰涩以固脱
凡散
燥剂者燥烈之谓即去湿之剂也素问曰脾苦湿急食苦以燥之儒门事亲曰积寒久冷若病湿者
宜燥
湿剂者柔润之剂也与滑相类而专于滋养素问曰辛以润之盖辛能走气气能化液故也儒门事
亲曰人有枯涸皴竭之病不独金化为然盖有火以乘之非湿剂不能愈汤液序例曰湿可去枯故凡津
亏血
兵是不祥之物，选取它足以平息战乱；药不是日常饮食，选取它足以治疗疾病。善于平息战乱的人，了解敌人也了解自己；善于治疗疾病的人，了解病情也了解药性。那些连病症都不了解的人，就不用提了；了解了病症却不懂药性，就像派遣将领不当，只会导致失败。军队不过是用奇兵和正兵，奇正的变化无穷无尽；药物不过是气味，气味的变化也是无穷无尽的。贯通四季五行的化生规律，考察五脏六腑的适宜之处，辨别百草酸、辛、苦、甘、咸的味道，审察人身喜、怒、悲、忧、恐的情绪，所以用它们来治疗百病，道理精微而效果神奇。医学蒙昧不明，各据门户之见，拘守古方不能治疗今天的疾病，读医经不如多临症的经验之说。不深入探究经方的药录用意所在，只是凭空创造异说以博取名声节操，论说日益繁杂，医学日益晦暗。所以读古人的书而考察其中的理法，就知道……（原文此处有缺漏或排版错误：“明之殊左明刘叟予外所于”）道光庚子年十一月初一，安吴包诚。
宣剂就是涌剂（催吐剂）。《素问》说：病位高的，顺势使其向上越出；木郁结则通达它。《伤寒论》说：大法春季宜用吐法，因为病在上部。《儒门事亲》说：世……（原文此处有缺漏）
通剂是流通的药剂。通与泻相似，泻只向下行，通则兼有旁行的作用。凡是辛香流走的药物都属于此类。《儒门事亲》说：数……（原文此处有缺漏，提到“至圊”，指去厕所/排便）
补剂是补益的药剂。《素问》说：因其虚弱而彰显其正气；形体不足的，用气来温养；精气不足的，用味来补益。又说：肝用辛……（原文此处有缺漏，提到“补之”、“而后”、“血衰”）
泻剂即泄泻之意，也就是下剂（泻下药）。《素问》说：病位下的，引导使其竭尽；中焦满胀的，从内部泻下；实证者，发散并泻下。又说：实……（原文此处有缺漏，提到“则泻”、“痛随”）
轻剂是轻扬发散的药剂，也就是汗剂（发汗解表药）。《素问》说：因其轻浅而扬散之；有邪气的，浸渍形体使其出汗；邪在皮表的，发汗以发散之。《儒……》（原文此处有缺漏）
重剂是重镇安神、镇压逆乱的药剂。体重而性质沉着的药物，足以镇压乱逆。《儒门事亲》说：久病咳嗽，痰涎上潮，形体消瘦，不可峻猛攻伐……（原文此处有缺漏，提到“以”）
滑剂是滑利窍道的药剂。《周礼》说：用滑来滋养窍道。郑玄注解说：凡各种滑物，通利往来，似通窍道。《儒门事亲》说：大便燥结……（原文此处有缺漏，提到“小”）
涩剂是收涩固脱的药剂。《素问》说：心气涣散急需用酸味来收敛；肺气欲收急需用咸味来收敛。《汤液序例》说：涩可以固脱。凡是散……（原文此处有缺漏）
燥剂是燥烈性质的药剂，也就是去湿的药剂。《素问》说：脾苦湿，急食苦味以燥之。《儒门事亲》说：积寒久冷，若患湿病者……（原文此处有缺漏，提到“宜燥”）
湿剂是柔润滋养的药剂。它与滑剂相似但专于滋养。《素问》说：辛能润之。盖因辛能走气，气能化液。《儒门事亲》说：人有枯涸皴裂枯竭的病，不只是金（肺）化为然，大概是有火来乘袭它，非湿剂不能痊愈。《汤液序例》说：湿可以去枯。所以凡是津液亏损、血液……（原文此处截断）
Soldiers are instruments of ill omen, chosen solely to quell chaos; medicines are not ordinary meals, chosen solely to cure diseases. Those who excel at quelling chaos understand both the enemy and themselves; those who excel at curing diseases understand both the illness and the medicinal properties. It is needless to mention those who do not even know the symptoms; knowing the symptoms but not the medicines is like appointing an incompetent general, which only leads to defeat. The army employs only orthodox (Zheng) and unorthodox (Qi) tactics, whose variations are inexhaustible; medicines possess only Qi (energy/flavor profile) and Wei (taste), whose variations are also inexhaustible. By comprehending the transformations of the Four Seasons and Five Elements, examining the suitability of the Zang and Fu organs, distinguishing the flavors of sour, pungent, bitter, sweet, and salty in hundreds of herbs, and scrutinizing the emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, worry, and fear in the human body, one can treat a hundred diseases with profound principles and miraculous efficacy. Medicine has been obscure and ignorant, with each school adhering to its own sect, clinging to ancient prescriptions unable to treat contemporary diseases. Reading medical classics is inferior to accumulating clinical experience. Without deeply exploring the intent behind classical prescriptions and herb records, merely creating heterodox theories to gain fame and integrity, discussions become increasingly complex while medicine becomes increasingly obscured. Therefore, by reading the books of ancients and examining their principles, one knows... [Text fragment: Ming's difference, Zuo Ming, Liu Sou, Yu Wai, Suo Yu, 1st day of the 11th month, Gengzi year of Daoguang, Bao Cheng of Anwu].
Xuan (Ventilating) agents are Yong (Emetic) agents. *Su Wen* states: "For those high up, induce them to vomit upward; for Wood stagnation, facilitate its flow." *Shang Han Lun* states: "The general principle is that spring favors emesis, as the disease is located above." *Ru Men Shi Qin* states: ... [Text fragment missing]
Tong (Unblocking) agents are circulating agents. Tong is similar to Xie (Purgative); Xie acts only downward, whereas Tong also acts laterally. All pungent and aromatic, flowing substances belong to this category. *Ru Men Shi Qin* states: ... [Text fragment mentions "Zhi Qing" - going to the toilet]
Bu (Tonifying) agents are tonifying and benefiting agents. *Su Wen* states: "Follow the decline to manifest righteousness; if form is deficient, warm it with Qi; if essence is deficient, tonify it with flavor." It further states: "The Liver uses Pungent... [Text fragment mentions 'Bu Zhi', 'Er Hou', 'Xue Shuai']"
Xie (Draining) agents refer to purgation, i.e., Xia (Downward-draining) agents. *Su Wen* states: "For those low down, guide them to exhaust; for fullness in the middle, drain from within; for excess conditions, disperse and drain." It further states: "Excess... [Text fragment mentions 'Ze Xie', 'Tong Sui']"
Qing (Light) agents refer to light and ascending dispersal, i.e., Han (Sudorific) agents. *Su Wen* states: "Follow the lightness to scatter it; for those with pathogens, steep the body to induce sweat; for those on the skin, release via sweating." *Ru... [Text fragment missing]*
Zhong (Heavy) agents are heavy sedatives that suppress rebellion. Substances that are heavy in weight and sinking in nature are sufficient to suppress chaotic rebellion. *Ru Men Shi Qin* states: For chronic cough with phlegm flooding upward and emaciation, harsh attacking methods should not be used... [Text fragment mentions "Yi"]
Hua (Slippery) agents are slippery and unobstructing agents. *Zhou Li* states: "Use slippery substances to nourish orifices." Zheng Xuan's commentary notes: "All slippery substances facilitate passage, resembling open orifices." *Ru Men Shi Qin* states: Dry stool constipation... [Text fragment mentions "Xiao"]
Se (Astringent) agents are astringent and consolidating agents. *Su Wen* states: "The Heart suffers from flaccidity; urgently eat sour to astringe it. The Lung desires consolidation; urgently eat salty to consolidate it." *Tang Ye Xu Li* states: "Astringency secures against collapse." All scattered... [Text fragment missing]
Zao (Drying) agents refer to drying and acrid substances, i.e., dampness-removing agents. *Su Wen* states: "The Spleen suffers from dampness; urgently eat bitter to dry it." *Ru Men Shi Qin* states: Accumulated cold and long-standing chill, if suffering from dampness... [Text fragment mentions "Yi Zao"]
Shi (Moistening) agents are soft and moistening agents. They are similar to Hua agents but specialize in nourishment. *Su Wen* states: "Pungency moistens." This is because pungency moves Qi, and Qi transforms fluids. *Ru Men Shi Qin* states: People suffer from withered, cracked, and depleted conditions, not just due to Metal (Lung) transformation, but generally due to Fire encroaching upon them; only Shi agents can cure this. *Tang Ye Xu Li* states: "Moisture removes dryness." Therefore, whenever there is fluid depletion and blood... [Text cuts off]