人身贵乎阴阳和平，而无偏胜则无偏疾。沉寒痼冷之证，乃是真阳耗散，脾胃虚弱，失
于调理，以致胃寒。又啖生冷粘腻难化之物，经年累月，积久而成痼冷，渐伤脾胃，因而渍积
脏腑，以成痼疾。但有寒冷触犯，速然而作，以致手足厥冷，畏冷憎寒，饮食不化，或呕吐涎
沫，或大便洞泄，米谷不消，或小便频数，或肚腹绞痛，或逢寒咳嗽，或 疝大作，皆其证也。
东垣云∶脾胃不足，劳役形体，中焦不能营运，传为寒中，故吐利清谷，宜附子理中汤
之类。以葱白煎羊肉汤服之愈。凡真气衰微，胃气不实，不可食生冷寒凉。若食寒凉，愈至肠
胃虚寒，呕吐涎沫，水谷不化，肠胃常痛，腹冷如冰，皆阳虚阴盛之所为也。张仲景有阴毒，
虽不曰痼冷，即寒冷所伤，手足冷，脐腹痛，呕吐下利，身如被杖，脉微欲绝，此由肾气虚
寒，脾家伤冷，内外皆阴，阳气不守，遂成阴毒。至于唇口手足俱青，寒气冲心，烦躁闷乱，
精神如失，脉沉而伏匿，多不治也。
脉沉而迟者，为脏寒痼冷；微而涩者，为血虚。寸脉微迟者，阳乏，久而不起，必成痼冷；
尺肺沉迟者，肾气虚寒，主腰足清冷如冰。痼冷病，脉绝不至者死。痼冷病，脉微迟，心
中烦躁者死。
寒淫于内，治以甘热，佐以苦辛，以咸泻之，以辛润之，以苦坚之。寒淫所胜，平以辛
热，佐以苦甘，以
咸泻之。反治之法，寒者热之。
人体贵在阴阳平和，没有偏盛偏衰就不会产生偏颇的疾病。沉寒痼冷（指深伏体内、经久难愈的寒证）这类病症，是由于真阳耗散，脾胃虚弱，失去调理，导致胃寒。再加上食用生冷、粘腻且难以消化的食物，经年累月，积久形成痼冷，逐渐损伤脾胃，进而浸渍脏腑，从而形成顽固性疾病。但是如果有寒冷邪气触犯，迅速发作，导致手足厥冷（手脚冰凉），怕冷憎寒，饮食不消化，或者呕吐涎沫，或者大便洞泄（水样腹泻），米谷不消，或者小便频数，或者肚腹绞痛，或者遇寒咳嗽，或者疝气大作，这些都是其症状表现。
李东垣说：脾胃不足，因劳役形体，中焦不能正常运化，传变为寒中（寒邪直中脏腑），所以出现吐利清谷（呕吐下利，完谷不化），适宜用附子理中汤之类的方剂。用葱白煎羊肉汤服用可以痊愈。凡是真气衰微，胃气不实，不可食用生冷寒凉之物。如果食用寒凉之物，会导致肠胃更加虚寒，呕吐涎沫，水谷不化，肠胃经常疼痛，腹部冷如冰，这都是阳虚阴盛所造成的结果。张仲景提到的阴毒（一种严重的寒性重症），虽然不称为痼冷，但也是由寒冷所伤，表现为手足冷，脐腹痛，呕吐下利，身体像被杖击一样疼痛，脉微欲绝，这是由于肾气虚寒，脾家受冷，内外皆阴，阳气不能固守，遂成阴毒。至于唇口手足都发青，寒气冲心，烦躁闷乱，精神恍惚失守，脉象沉而伏匿，大多是不治之症。
脉象沉而迟的，是脏寒痼冷；脉象微而涩的，是血虚。寸脉微迟的，是阳气匮乏，久久不能恢复，必然成为痼冷；尺脉沉迟的，是肾气虚寒，主腰足清冷如冰。痼冷病，脉绝不至的预后不良（死）。痼冷病，脉微迟，心中烦躁的预后不良（死）。
寒邪淫溢于内，治疗用甘热之品，佐以苦辛之品，用咸味泻之，用辛味润之，用苦味坚之。寒邪过胜，用辛热之品平抑，佐以苦甘之品，用咸味泻之。反治法的原则是：寒者热之（寒性病证用温热药治疗）。
The human body values the harmony of Yin and Yang; without excess or deficiency, there will be no biased diseases. The syndrome of deep-seated cold and chronic cold (chronic cold syndrome deeply rooted in the body) arises from the dispersion of True Yang, weakness of the Spleen and Stomach, and lack of regulation, leading to Cold of the Stomach. Furthermore, consuming raw, cold, sticky, and indigestible foods over years accumulates into chronic cold, gradually damaging the Spleen and Stomach, thereby infiltrating the Zang-Fu organs and forming stubborn diseases. However, if attacked by Cold pathogens, sudden onset occurs, resulting in cold limbs (coldness of hands and feet), aversion to cold, undigested food, vomiting of saliva and foam, watery diarrhea with undigested grain, frequent urination, abdominal colic, cough triggered by cold, or severe hernia attacks; these are all its manifestations.
Li Dongyuan stated: When the Spleen and Stomach are insufficient, physical labor damages the middle Jiao, preventing normal transportation and transformation, transmitting as Cold in the Middle (Cold directly attacking the middle Jiao organs), thus causing vomiting and diarrhea with undigested food. It is suitable to use formulas such as Fuzi Lizhong Tang (Aconite Decoction for Regulating the Middle). Taking mutton soup decocted with scallion white can cure it. Whenever True Qi is weak and Stomach Qi is not solid, one must not consume raw, cold, and chilling foods. If cold foods are eaten, it further leads to deficiency-cold in the intestines and stomach, vomiting of saliva and foam, undigested food and water, frequent intestinal and stomach pain, and an abdomen cold as ice; all these are caused by Yang deficiency and Yin excess. Zhang Zhongjing mentioned Yin Du (a severe cold-toxic syndrome); although not called chronic cold, it is also caused by Cold injury, manifesting as cold hands and feet, umbilical and abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea, a body feeling like being beaten with a stick, and a faint pulse nearly imperceptible. This results from Kidney Qi deficiency and cold, Spleen family injured by cold, internal and external Yin dominance, and Yang Qi failing to hold fast, thus forming Yin Du. As for cyanosis of lips, mouth, hands, and feet, Cold Qi rushing to the Heart, restlessness and confusion, loss of spirit, and a sunken and hidden pulse, most cases are incurable.
A pulse that is deep and slow indicates organ cold and chronic cold; a pulse that is faint and choppy indicates Blood deficiency. A Cun (inch) position pulse that is faint and slow indicates Yang insufficiency; if prolonged without recovery, it will inevitably become chronic cold. A Chi (cubit) position pulse that is deep and slow indicates Kidney Qi deficiency and cold, governing coldness of the waist and legs as ice. In chronic cold disease, if the pulse is absent, death ensues. In chronic cold disease, if the pulse is faint and slow accompanied by mental restlessness, death ensues.
When Cold floods internally, treat with Sweet-Hot substances, assist with Bitter-Pungent substances, drain with Salty substances, moisten with Pungent substances, and firm with Bitter substances. When Cold prevails excessively, pacify with Pungent-Hot substances, assist with Bitter-Sweet substances, and drain with Salty substances. The principle of contrary treatment is: Treat Cold with Heat (for cold syndromes, use warming therapies).