古时权量甚轻∶古一两，今二钱零；古一升，今
二合，古一剂，今之三服。又古之医者，皆自采鲜药，
如生地、半夏之类，其重比干者数倍，故古方虽重，
其实无过今之一两左右者。惟《千金》、《外台》间
有重剂，此乃治强实大症，亦不轻用也。若宋、元以
来，每总制一剂，方下必注云∶每服或三钱，或五钱。
亦无过一两外者，此煎剂之法也。末药则用一钱匕；
丸药则如桐子大者十丸，加至二三十丸。试将古方细
细考之，有如今日之二三两至七八两之煎剂乎？皆由
医者不明古制，以为权量与今无异，又自疑为太重，
为之说曰∶今人气薄，当略为减轻。不知已重于古方
数倍矣，所以药价日贵而受害愈速也。又有方中熟地
用三四两，余药只用一二钱者，亦从无此轻重悬殊之
法。要知药气入胃，不过借此调和气血，非药入口即
变为气血，所以不在多也。又有病患粒米不入，反用
腻隔酸苦腥臭之药，大碗浓煎灌之，即使中病，尚难
运化，况与相反之药，填塞胃中，即不药死，亦必灌
死，小儿尤甚。又不论人之贫富，人参总为不祧之
品。人情无不贪生，必竭蹶措处，孰知反以此而丧
其身，其贫者送终无具，妻子飘零，是杀其身而并破
其家也。我少时见前辈老医，必审贫富而后用药，尤
见居心长浓，况是时参价犹贱于今日二十倍，尚如此
谨慎，即此等存心，今人已不逮昔人远矣！
古代的度量衡非常轻：古代的一两，相当于现在的二钱多一点；古代的一升，相当于现在的二合；古代的一剂药，相当于现在的三次服用量。另外，古代的医生都亲自采摘新鲜药材，比如生地黄、半夏等，它们的重量比干燥的药材重数倍，所以古方的剂量虽然看起来重，但实际上没有超过现在一两左右的。只有《千金方》和《外台秘要》中偶尔有重剂量的方子，那是用来治疗体质强壮、病情严重的病症，也不会轻易使用。从宋代、元代以来，每剂药的总剂量，处方下面必定注明：“每次服用三钱或五钱”。也没有超过一两以上的，这是煎煮汤剂的方法。如果是散剂（末药），则用一钱匕的量；丸药则是梧桐子大小，每次十丸，增加到二三十丸。试着仔细考察古方，有像今天这样二三两到七八两的煎剂吗？这都是因为医生不明白古代的度量制度，认为权量和现在没有区别，又自己怀疑剂量太重，于是解释说：“现在人的体质薄弱，应当稍微减轻剂量。”却不知道这已经比古方重了几倍了，所以药价日益昂贵而受害更快。又有方中熟地黄用三四两，其他药物只用一二钱的，也从来没有这种轻重悬殊的方法。要知道药气进入胃中，不过是借此来调和气血，并不是药物入口立刻变成气血，所以不在于数量多。又有病人一粒米都吃不下，反而使用滋腻碍胃、酸苦腥臭的药物，用大碗浓煎灌下去，即使对症，也难以运化吸收，何况是与病情相反的药物，填塞在胃中，即使不被药毒死，也会被灌死，小儿尤其严重。又不分病人的贫富，人参总是被视为不可动摇的珍品。人无不贪生怕死，必定竭尽全力筹措钱财购买，谁知道反而因此丧命，贫穷的人连送终的器具都没有，妻子儿女流离失所，这是杀了他并破了他的家。我年轻时见到前辈老医生，一定要审察病人的贫富情况然后用药，尤其看到他们用心良苦，况且那时人参的价格还比现在便宜二十倍，尚且如此谨慎，就凭这种用心，现在的人远远不如古人了！
In ancient times, the units of weight and volume were very light: one tael (liang) in ancient times is equivalent to a little more than two qian in modern times; one sheng in ancient times is equivalent to two ge in modern times; one dose (ji) in ancient times is equivalent to three servings in modern times. Furthermore, physicians in ancient times all harvested fresh herbs themselves, such as Shengdi Huang (Rehmanniae Radix) and Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), whose weight was several times that of dried herbs. Therefore, although ancient prescriptions appeared heavy, their actual dosage rarely exceeded around one tael in modern terms. Only occasionally did "Qianjin Fang" (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold) and "Waitai Miyao" (Secret Essentials of the Outer Cabinet) contain heavy doses; these were used for treating robust patients with severe conditions and were not employed lightly. Since the Song and Yuan dynasties, the total amount per dose in prescriptions was invariably noted below the formula as "each serving is three qian or five qian." None exceeded one tael; this refers to the method of decoction. For powdered medicines (san ji), a quantity of one qian bi was used; for pills, those the size of paulownia seeds were taken ten at a time, increased to twenty or thirty. If one carefully examines ancient formulas, are there any decoctions weighing two or three taels up to seven or eight taels as seen today? This arises because physicians do not understand ancient measurement systems, believing weights and measures are no different from today's, and suspecting the dosages are too heavy. They offer the explanation: "People nowadays have weak constitutions, so dosages should be slightly reduced." Unaware that this actually makes the dosage several times heavier than ancient formulas, they contribute to rising drug prices and faster harm to patients. There are also cases where Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmanniae Radix) is used in amounts of three to four taels, while other herbs are only one or two qian; there has never been such a drastic disparity in heaviness and lightness within a single prescription. It must be understood that when medicinal qi enters the stomach, it serves merely to harmonize Qi and Blood; it does not instantly transform into Qi and Blood upon ingestion, hence quantity is not the primary factor. In cases where patients cannot swallow even a grain of rice, using cloying, obstructing, sour, bitter, fishy, or foul-tasting herbs, brewed thickly in large bowls and force-fed, may prove difficult to digest and transform even if the diagnosis is correct. How much more so if these contradict the pathology, filling the stomach? Even if not killed by toxicity, the patient will be drowned by the fluid, especially children. Regardless of wealth or poverty, Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) is always regarded as an indispensable treasure. Human nature craves life and fears death; people will go to great lengths to procure it, unaware that this often leads to their demise. The poor end up without funeral supplies, leaving wives and children scattered and destitute; this kills them and bankrupts their families. In my youth, I observed senior physicians who would carefully assess a patient's financial status before prescribing. Their conscientiousness was profound. Moreover, at that time, the price of Ginseng was twenty times lower than today, yet they remained so cautious. With such attitudes, contemporary physicians fall far short of their predecessors!