怔忡之病，心胸筑筑振动，惶惶惕惕，无时得宁者是也。然古无是名，其在《内经》，
则曰∶胃之大络，名曰虚里，出于左乳下，其动应衣，宗气泄也。在越人、仲景，则有动气
在上下左右之辨，云∶诸动气皆不可汗下也。凡此者，即皆怔忡之类。此证惟阴虚劳损之人
乃有之，盖阴虚于下，则宗气无根，而气不归源，所以在上则浮撼于胸臆，在下则振动于脐
旁，虚微者动亦微，虚甚者动亦甚。凡患此者，速宜节欲节劳，切戒酒色；凡治此者，速宜
养气养精，滋培根本。若或误认为痰火而妄施清利，则速其危矣。外，伤寒门论下条附有动
气辨，宜能证之。
惊有二证，有因病而惊者，有因惊而病者。如东方色青，入通于肝，其病发惊骇，及伤
寒阳明证闻木音则惕然而惊之类，此则或因岁火之盛，或因岁木之衰，或因风热之相搏，或
因金木之相制，是当察客邪以兼治其标。若因惊而病者，如惊则气乱，而心无所倚，神无所
归，虑无所定之类，此必于闻见夺气而得之，是宜安养心神，滋培肝胆，当以专扶元气为主
治。此固二者之辨，然总之主气强者不易惊，而易惊者必肝胆之不足者也。故虽有客邪，亦
当知先本后标之义。又如惊则气乱，恐则气下，惊恐虽若同类，而不知恐之伤人，尤甚于惊
。何也？盖惊出于暂，而暂者即可复；恐积于渐，而渐者不可解，甚至心怯而神伤，精却则
阴痿，日消月缩，不亡不已，此非大勇大断者，必不能拔去其病根，徒资药力，不易及也。
予尝治暴惊者，十愈其八九；治恐惧者，十不得其一二。
怔忡这种病，表现为心胸部位悸动不安，惶恐警惕，没有片刻安宁。然而古代并没有这个名称，在《内经》中，则说：胃的大络，名叫虚里，位于左乳下，其搏动可以透衣可见，这是宗气外泄的表现。在扁鹊（越人）和张仲景的著作中，则有对动气位于上、下、左、右的辨别，说道：凡是各种动气出现，都不可使用发汗或攻下的治法。凡此种种，都属于怔忡这一类病症。这种证候只有阴虚劳损的人才会得，大概是因为下部阴虚，导致宗气失去根基，而气不能归根溯源，所以在上面则浮动摇撼于胸臆之间，在下面则振动于脐旁，虚弱轻微的，搏动也轻微；虚弱严重的，搏动也严重。凡是患此病的人，应当迅速节制房事和劳累，严禁饮酒好色；凡是治疗此病的人，应当迅速调养气与精，滋养培补根本。如果错误地认为是痰火而胡乱施用清热利湿的药物，则会加速其危重。另外，《伤寒论》门中论述下条附有动气的辨别，应该能佐证这一点。
惊有两种证候，有因病而导致惊的，有因受惊而导致病的。比如东方色青，内通于肝，其病发作惊骇，以及伤寒阳明证听到木器声音就惊恐的样子，这类情况，有的是因为岁火过盛，有的是因为岁木衰弱，有的是因为风热相互搏结，有的是因为金木相互制约，这时应当考察客邪以兼治其标症。如果是因受惊而致病，比如受惊则气机紊乱，心无所依托，神无所归依，思虑无定准等，这一定是因为听闻或目睹夺走了正气而得的，这时应当安养心神，滋养培补肝胆，当以专门扶持元气为主治原则。这确实是二者的区别，但总之，主气强盛的人不容易受惊，而易受惊的人必然是肝胆不足的人。所以即使有客邪存在，也应当懂得先治本后治标的道理。又如受惊则气乱，恐惧则气下，惊恐虽然看似同类，但不知道恐惧对人的伤害，尤其比惊更严重。为什么呢？因为惊是突然发生的，突然发生的气乱很快就可以恢复；恐惧是逐渐积累的，逐渐积累的伤害难以化解，甚至导致心怯神伤，精气退缩导致阳痿，日渐消瘦，月复一月地缩减，不死亡不止，这不是具有大勇气和大决断的人，一定不能拔除病根，仅仅依靠药力，是不容易奏效的。我曾经治疗突发惊吓的病人，十个能治好八九个；治疗恐惧的病人，十个治不好一两个。
The disease of *Zhengchong* (palpitations with a sense of impending doom) is characterized by a throbbing and trembling sensation in the chest and heart region, accompanied by fearfulness and apprehension, with no time for peace. However, this name did not exist in ancient times. In the *Neijing* (Classic of Internal Canon), it is stated: "The great collateral of the Stomach is named Xuli (Empty Well), emerging from below the left breast; its movement can be seen through the clothing, indicating the leakage of Zongqi (Gathering Qi)." In the works of Yue Ren (Bian Que) and Zhang Zhongjing, there is a distinction regarding the location of moving qi (abdominal pulsations or palpitations) above, below, to the left, or to the right, stating: "All types of moving qi should not be treated with sweating or purging methods." All these cases belong to the category of *Zhengchong*. This condition occurs only in individuals with Yin deficiency and consumptive damage. Generally, because of Yin deficiency in the lower part, Zongqi (Gathering Qi) loses its root, and Qi fails to return to its source. Therefore, above, it floats and shakes within the chest and diaphragm; below, it vibrates beside the umbilicus. When deficiency is slight, the movement is slight; when deficiency is severe, the movement is severe. Those suffering from this should quickly restrain sexual desire and labor, and strictly avoid alcohol and lust. Those treating this should quickly nourish Qi and Essence, and tonify the root. If mistakenly identified as Phlegm-Fire and wrongly treated with clearing and draining methods, it will accelerate the danger. Additionally, the section on "Moving Qi" in the *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage) chapter provides further verification.
There are two types of *Jing* (Fright/Startle): one where fright arises due to illness, and one where illness arises due to fright. For example, the color Green corresponds to the East and communicates internally with the Liver; its disease manifests as fright and terror, such as in Yangming syndrome of cold damage where hearing the sound of wood causes sudden alarm. These cases may be due to excessive Fire in the year, deficient Wood in the year, conflict between Wind-Heat, or restriction between Metal and Wood. In such cases, one should examine the pathogenic factors and treat the branch symptoms concurrently. If the illness arises from fright, such as "fright causes Qi chaos, the Heart has no support, the Spirit has no residence, and thoughts have no stability," this is necessarily caused by the loss of Qi due to shocking sights or sounds. The treatment should focus on calming and nourishing the Heart Spirit, and tonifying the Liver and Gallbladder, primarily by supporting Yuanqi (Original Qi). This distinguishes the two, but generally, those with strong Zhengqi (Upright Qi) are not easily frightened, while those easily frightened must have insufficiency in the Liver and Gallbladder. Therefore, even if external pathogens exist, one must understand the principle of treating the root before the branch. Furthermore, "fright causes Qi chaos, fear causes Qi sinking." Although fright and fear seem similar, fear harms the body more severely than fright. Why? Because fright is sudden, and sudden Qi chaos can recover quickly; fear accumulates gradually, and gradual accumulation is difficult to resolve, potentially leading to a timid Heart and damaged Spirit, retreat of Essence causing impotence, daily wasting and monthly shrinking, continuing until death. Without great courage and decisiveness, the root of the disease cannot be eradicated; relying solely on medicinal power is unlikely to succeed. I have treated patients with sudden fright, curing eight or nine out of ten; but among those treated for fear, fewer than one or two out of ten were cured.