金石草木，皆可以不死，有验无验，在有志无志也。虽能久服，而又其药热壅塞而不散，
或上或下，或否或涩，各有其候。如头眩目昏，面赤心悸，肢节痛，前后不仁，多痰短气，
惧火喜寒。又状若中风之类，是为上痞。又如肠满胀，四肢倦，行立艰，食以呕，多冒昧，
减饮食或渴者，是名中痞。又如小便不利，脐下满硬，语言謇滞，腰痛脚重，不能立，是名
下痞。是宜审明情状，慎为用饵耳。
夫病有宜汤、宜丸、宜散，宜下、宜吐、宜汗、宜补，宜灸、宜针，宜按摩、宜导引，
宜蒸熨、宜暖洗，宜悦愉、宜和缓，宜水、宜火等之分。若非良善精博，难为取愈。庸下浅
识，乱投汤丸，汗下补吐，动使交错。轻者令重，重者令死，举世皆然。盖汤可以涤荡脏腑，
开通经络，调品阴阳，祛分邪恶，润泽枯朽，悦养皮肤，养气力，助困竭，莫离于汤也。丸
可以逐风冷，破坚症，消积聚，进饮食，舒营卫，定开窍，缓缓然参合，无出于丸也。散者
能祛风邪暑湿之气，摅寒温湿浊之毒，发散四肢之壅滞，除剪五脏之结状，关肠和胃，行脉
通经，莫过于散也。下则疏豁闭塞；补则益助虚乏；灸则起阴通阳；针则行营行卫。导引则
可以逐客邪于关节；按摩则可以驱浮淫于肌肉。蒸熨避冷；暖洗生阳；悦愉爽神；和缓安气。
若实而不下，使人心腹胀满，烦乱鼓肿。若虚而不补，则使人气血消散，肌肉耗亡，精神脱
失，志意昏迷。可汗而不汗，则使毛孔闭塞，关绝而终；合吐而不吐，则使结胸上喘，水食
不入而死。当灸而不灸，则使人冷气重凝，阴毒内聚，厥气上冲，分队不散，以致消减；当
针而不针，则使人营卫不行，经络不利；邪渐胜真，冒昧而昏。宜导引而不导引，则使人邪
侵关节，固结难通；宜按摩而不按摩，则使人淫随肌肉，久留未消。宜蒸熨而不蒸熨，则使
人冷气潜伏，渐成痹厥；宜暖洗而不暖洗，则使人阳气不行，阴邪相害。不当下而下，则使
人开肠荡胃，洞泄不禁；不当汗而汗，则令人肌肉消绝，津液枯耗；不当吐而吐，则使人心
神烦乱，脏腑奔冲。不当灸而灸，则使人重伤经络，内蓄痰毒，反害于中和，致于不可救；
不当针而针，则使人气血散失，机关细缩。不当导引而导引，则使人真气劳败，邪气妄行；
不当按摩而按摩，则使人肌肉 胀，筋骨舒张。不当蒸熨而蒸熨，则使人阳气偏行，阴气内
聚；不当暖洗而暖洗，则使人湿灼皮肤，热生肌体。不当悦愉而悦愉，则使人神失气消，精
神不快；不当和缓而和缓，则使人气停意折，健忘伤志。大凡治疗，要合其宜，脉状病候，
略陈于后。凡脉不紧数，则勿发其汗；脉不疾数，不可以下；心胸不闭，尺脉微弱，不可以
吐；关节不急，营卫不壅，不可以针；阴气不盛，阳气不衰，勿灸；内无客邪，勿导引；外
无淫气，勿按摩。皮肤勿痹勿蒸熨；肌肉不寒勿暖洗；神不凝迷勿悦愉；气不奔急勿和缓。
顺此者生，逆此者死耳。
金石类、草木类药材，都可以使人长生不死，是否有疗效，取决于使用者是否有坚定的意志。虽然有些药可以长期服用，但如果药性温热导致气机壅塞而不能消散，或者出现气机上逆或下陷，或者气机阻滞不通，或者运行涩滞，各自会有不同的表现。例如出现头晕目眩、面色发红、心悸、肢体关节疼痛、前后二阴感觉麻木不仁、痰多气短、畏火喜寒等症状，以及类似中风的状况，这称为上痞（上部气机痞塞）。又如腹部肠鸣胀满、四肢倦怠、行走站立困难、进食后呕吐、经常感到头昏沉、食欲减退或口渴，这称为中痞（中部气机痞塞）。又如小便不利、脐下部位胀满坚硬、言语謇涩迟钝、腰痛脚重、无法站立，这称为下痞（下部气机痞塞）。因此应当仔细审察病情状况，谨慎地用药服用。
疾病有适宜用汤剂、丸剂、散剂治疗的，有适宜用泻下、催吐、发汗、补益治疗的，有适宜用艾灸、针刺、按摩、导引治疗的，有适宜用熏蒸熨帖、热水洗浴治疗的，还有适宜通过愉悦心情、调和舒缓来治疗的，以及适宜用水治法、火治法等区别。如果不是医术精良广博的良医，很难取得痊愈的效果。庸俗低劣、见识浅薄的人，胡乱投用汤剂丸药，使发汗、泻下、补益、催吐等治法交错误用。轻病因此加重，重病因此致死，世间普遍如此。大概汤剂可以涤荡脏腑，开通经络，调和阴阳，祛除邪气，润泽枯朽的身体，滋养皮肤，补充气力，帮助恢复困顿衰竭的状态，没有比汤剂更合适的了。丸剂可以驱逐风冷，破除坚积症块，消除积聚，增进饮食，舒展营卫之气，安定并开启窍道，缓缓然地综合调理，没有比丸剂更合适的了。散剂能够祛除风邪暑湿之气，疏解寒温湿浊之毒，发散四肢的壅滞，清除五脏的结聚状病邪，调和肠胃，通行血脉经络，没有比散剂更合适的了。泻下法可以疏通闭塞；补益法可以增益虚损；艾灸可以振奋阳气、通达阴气；针刺可以运行营卫之气。导引法可以驱逐客邪于关节之间；按摩法可以驱除浮游淫邪于肌肉之中。熏蒸熨帖可以避御寒冷；热水洗浴可以生发阳气；愉悦心情可以爽利精神；调和舒缓可以安定气机。如果是实证而不用泻下法，会使人心腹胀满，烦躁混乱，身体浮肿。如果是虚证而不使用补益法，会使人气血消散，肌肉消亡，精神脱失，意志昏迷。应当发汗而不发汗，则会使毛孔闭塞，关窍断绝而死亡；应当催吐而不催吐，则会使结胸证发作伴喘促，水食不能进入而死。应当艾灸而不艾灸，则会使人体冷气重凝，阴毒内聚，厥逆之气上冲，分队不散，以致身体消瘦减损；应当针刺而不针刺，则会使营卫之气不行，经络不利，邪气逐渐胜过正气，头昏沉而昏迷。应当导引而不导引，则会使邪气侵犯关节，固结难以通畅；应当按摩而不按摩，则会使淫邪随附于肌肉，久留未消。应当熏蒸熨帖而不熏蒸熨帖，则会使冷气潜伏，渐渐形成痹厥；应当热水洗浴而不热水洗浴，则会使阳气不行，阴邪相互侵害。不应当泻下却泻下，则会使人大开肠道荡涤胃腑，洞泄不禁；不应当发汗却发汗，则会使人体肌肉消绝，津液枯耗；不应当催吐却催吐，则会使人心神烦躁混乱，脏腑奔冲。不应当艾灸却艾灸，则会使人体重伤经络，内蓄痰毒，反而伤害中和之气，导致不可救治；不应当针刺却针刺，则会使人体气血散失，机关细小收缩。不应当导引却导引，则会使人体真气劳损败坏，邪气妄行；不应当按摩却按摩，则会使人体肌肉肿胀，筋骨舒张过度。不应当熏蒸熨帖却熏蒸熨帖，则会使人体阳气偏行，阴气内聚；不应当热水洗浴却热水洗浴，则会使人体湿灼皮肤，热生于肌体。不应当愉悦心情却愉悦心情，则会使人体神气丧失，精神不快；不应当调和舒缓却调和舒缓，则会使人体气停意折，健忘伤志。大凡治疗，关键在于合乎适宜之法，脉象与病候，简要陈述如下：凡是脉象不紧数的，就不要发其汗；脉象不急数的，不可以用泻下法；心胸不闭阻，尺脉微弱，不可以用催吐法；关节不急迫，营卫不壅滞，不可以用针刺；阴气不盛，阳气不衰，不要艾灸；体内无客邪，不要导引；体外无淫气，不要按摩。皮肤没有痹症不要用熏蒸熨帖；肌肉不寒冷不要用热水洗浴；神志没有凝迷不要用悦愉法；气机没有奔急不要用和缓法。顺应这些原则的就能生存，违背这些原则的就会死亡。
Mineral, metallic, and herbal substances can all contribute to longevity or immortality; whether they are effective depends on the practitioner's resolve. Although some medicines can be taken for a long time, if their hot nature causes Qi stagnation and obstruction without dispersion, or results in Qi rebelling upward or sinking downward, or causes Qi blockage or sluggishness, each will present specific manifestations. For instance, dizziness and blurred vision, red face, palpitations, pain in limbs and joints, numbness in the anterior and posterior orifices, excessive phlegm and shortness of breath, aversion to heat and preference for cold, as well as conditions resembling Zhong Feng (Wind Stroke), are collectively termed Shang Pi (Upper Obstruction). Similarly, abdominal fullness and distension, fatigue in the four limbs, difficulty in walking and standing, vomiting after eating, frequent dizziness, reduced appetite, or thirst constitute Zhong Pi (Middle Obstruction). Furthermore, difficult urination, fullness and hardness below the umbilicus, slurred speech, lower back pain, heavy legs, and inability to stand are known as Xia Pi (Lower Obstruction). Therefore, one must carefully examine the condition and administer medication with caution.
Diseases may require treatment with Decoctions (Tang), Pills (Wan), or Powders (San); they may necessitate purgation (Xia), emesis (Tu), sweating (Han), tonification (Bu), moxibustion (Jiu), acupuncture (Zhen), massage (An Mo), Daoyin (Guiding and Leading exercises), steaming and hot compress (Zheng Yun), warm washing (Nuan Xi), psychological joy (Yue Yu), or gentle regulation (He Huan), as well as water-based or fire-based therapies. Without profound and broad medical expertise, it is difficult to achieve recovery. Incompetent practitioners with shallow knowledge indiscriminately prescribe decoctions and pills, mixing up sweating, purging, tonifying, and emetic methods. This causes mild conditions to become severe and severe conditions to become fatal, a common occurrence in the world. Generally, decoctions can cleanse the Zang-Fu organs, open meridians and collaterals, regulate Yin and Yang, expel evil pathogens, moisten withered tissues, nourish the skin, boost Qi and strength, and assist in recovering from exhaustion; nothing is more suitable than decoctions. Pills can drive out wind-cold, break hard accumulations, dissipate masses, promote appetite, soothe Ying and Wei Qi, stabilize and open orifices, and provide gradual comprehensive regulation; nothing is more suitable than pills. Powders can dispel wind, evil, summer-heat, and dampness, relieve toxicity from cold, warmth, dampness, and turbidity, disperse stagnation in the four limbs, eliminate knot-like pathologies in the five Zang organs, harmonize intestines and stomach, and promote blood vessels and meridians; nothing is more suitable than powders. Purgation opens blockages; tonification supplements deficiency; moxibustion raises Yin and unblocks Yang; acupuncture circulates Ying and Wei Qi. Daoyin can expel external pathogens from joints; massage can驱驱 floating pathogens from muscles. Steaming and hot compresses ward off cold; warm washing generates Yang; joy refreshes the spirit; gentle regulation calms Qi. If excess patterns are not treated with purgation, it leads to abdominal distension, irritability, and edema. If deficiency patterns are not treated with tonification, it leads to dissipation of Qi and Blood, wasting of muscles, loss of spirit, and confusion of will. If sweating is indicated but not performed, pores close, orifices sever, leading to death. If emesis is indicated but not performed, Jie Xiong (Chest Binding) occurs with wheezing, preventing food and water intake, leading to death. If moxibustion is indicated but not performed, cold Qi condenses heavily, Yin toxicity gathers internally, Jue Qi (Rebellious Qi) rushes upward, divisions fail to disperse, leading to emaciation. If acupuncture is indicated but not performed, Ying and Wei Qi fail to circulate, meridians become obstructed, pathogens overcome healthy Qi, causing dizziness and coma. If Daoyin is indicated but not performed, pathogens invade joints, becoming fixed and difficult to clear. If massage is indicated but not performed, pathogens linger in muscles without resolving. If steaming and hot compresses are indicated but not performed, cold Qi lingers, gradually forming Bi Jue (Obstruction and Cold Extremities). If warm washing is indicated but not performed, Yang Qi fails to circulate, and Yin pathogens harm the body. If purgation is inappropriately used, it causes severe diarrhea and uncontrollable bowel movements. If sweating is inappropriately used, it consumes muscles and exhausts body fluids. If emesis is inappropriately used, it causes mental agitation and chaotic organ functions. If moxibustion is inappropriately used, it severely damages meridians, retains phlegm and toxins internally, harms the Harmonious Middle, and becomes incurable. If acupuncture is inappropriately used, it scatters Qi and Blood and causes joint contraction. If Daoyin is inappropriately used, it exhausts True Qi and allows pathogens to act recklessly. If massage is inappropriately used, it causes muscle swelling and excessive relaxation of sinews and bones. If steaming and hot compresses are inappropriately used, it causes Yang Qi to move unevenly and Yin Qi to gather internally. If warm washing is inappropriately used, it causes dampness to scorch the skin and heat to generate in the flesh. If joy is inappropriately induced, it causes loss of spirit and unhappiness. If gentle regulation is inappropriately applied, it causes Qi stagnation, mental decline, forgetfulness, and damage to willpower. In general, treatment must adhere to appropriateness. The pulse signs and disease manifestations are briefly outlined below: If the pulse is not tight and rapid, do not induce sweating; if the pulse is not swift and rapid, do not use purgation; if the chest and heart are not blocked and the Chi position pulse is weak and faint, do not use emesis; if joints are not urgent and Ying and Wei Qi are not stagnant, do not use acupuncture; if Yin Qi is not abundant and Yang Qi is not deficient, do not use moxibustion; if there is no external pathogen internally, do not use Daoyin; if there is no invasive Qi externally, do not use massage. Do not use steaming and hot compresses if the skin is not bi-syndrome affected; do not use warm washing if muscles are not cold; do not use joy-inducing methods if the spirit is not confused; do not use gentle regulation if Qi is not rushing urgently. Following these principles leads to life; violating them leads to death.