绣按是书编次。悉从药性气味类载。如补火则以补火之药一类。滋水则以滋水之药一类。
散
寒则以散寒之药一类。泻热则以泻热之药一类。以便披阅。但人药性不明。或以仓卒之会。
药次有难稽查。仍照古式分以草木金石鸟兽。另立篇目附于卷末。并于各药之下注立先后号
次。以便照号检对。
人身一小天地耳。天地不外阴阳五行以为健顺。人身不外水火气血以为长养。盖人禀赋
无偏
。则水以附火。火以生水。水火既足。则气血得资。而无亏缺不平之憾矣。惟其禀有不同。
赋有各异。则或水衰而致血有所亏。火衰而致气有所歉。故必假以培补。俾偏者不偏。而气
血水火。自尔安养而无病矣。第其病有浅深。症有轻重。则于补剂之中。又当分其气味以求
。庶于临症免惑。如补之有宜于先天真火者。其药必燥必裂。是为补火之味。补有宜于先天
真水者。其药必滋必润。是为滋水之味。补有宜于水火之中而不敢用偏胜之味者。其药必温
必润。是为温肾之味。补有宜于气血之中而不敢用一偏之药者。其药必甘必温。是为温中之
味。补有宜于气血之中而不敢用过补之药者。其药必平必淡。是为平补之味。合是诸补以分
。则于补剂之义。已得其概。又何必过为分别云。又按万物惟温则生。故补以温为正也。万
物以土为母。甘属土。故补又以甘为贵也。土亏则物无所载。故补脾气之缺陷。无有过于白
术。补肝气之虚损。无有过于鸡肉。补肺气之痿弱。无有过于参耆。补心血之缺欠。无有过
于当归。是皆得味之甘。而不失其补味之正也。其次补脾之味。则有如牛肉大枣饴糖蜂蜜龙
眼荔枝鲫鱼。皆属甘温。气虽较与白术稍纯。然蜂蜜饴糖则兼补肺而润燥。龙眼则兼补心以
安神。荔枝则兼补营以益血。惟有牛肉则能补脾以固中。大枣则能补脾以助胃。鲫鱼则能补
土以制水也。且绣尝即补脾以思。其土之卑监而不平者。不得不藉白术以为培补。若使土干
而燥。能无滋而润乎？是有宜于山药人乳黄精猪肉之属是也。土湿而凝。能无燥而爽乎？是
有宜于白蔻砂仁之属是也。土润而滑。能无涩而固乎？是有宜于莲子芡实肉蔻之属是也。土
郁而结。能无疏而醒乎。是有宜于木香甘松藿香菖蒲胡荽大蒜之属是也。土浸而倾。能无渗
而利乎。是有宜于茯苓扁豆山药鲫鱼之属是也。土郁而蒸。能无清而利乎？是有宜于薏苡仁
木瓜白藓皮蚯蚓紫贝皂白二矾商陆郁李之属是也。土寒而冻。能无温而散乎？是有宜于干姜
附
子之属是也。土敦而阜。能无通而泄乎。是有宜于硝黄枳实之属是也。土崩而解。能无升而
举乎？是有宜于参耆甘草之属是也。凡此皆属补脾之味。然终不若甘温补脾之为正耳。
黄宫绣按：本书的编排次序，完全依据药物的性味进行分类记载。例如，补火则归入补火的药物一类；滋水则归入滋水的药物一类；散寒则归入散寒的药物一类；泻热则归入泻热的药物一类。这样便于查阅。但是，如果人们对药性不了解，或者在仓促之间，难以快速查找药物次序，因此仍按照古法分为草、木、金、石、鸟、兽类，另立篇目附于卷末。并在每种药物下标注先后序号，以便对照检查。
人体就像一个小天地。天地不外乎依靠阴阳五行来维持其健顺运行。人体不外乎依靠水火气血来滋养生长。大概人的禀赋如果没有偏颇，那么水就能依附于火，火就能滋生水。水火既已充足，那么气血就能得到资助，而没有亏损或不平的遗憾了。只是因为禀赋不同，赋予各异，所以有的因水衰而导致血有所亏，有的因火衰而导致气有所歉。因此必须借助药物进行培补，使偏颇者不再偏颇，而气血水火自然安养而无疾病了。只是病情有浅深之分，症状有轻重之别，那么在补剂之中，又应当分辨其气味以求精准，从而在临证时避免困惑。如补益适宜于先天真火的，其药性必定燥烈，这是补火的药味。补益适宜于先天真水的，其药性必定滋润柔润，这是滋水的药味。补益适宜于水火之中而不敢使用偏胜之味的，其药性必定温和滋润，这是温肾的药味。补益适宜于气血之中而不敢使用单一偏颇之药的，其药性必定甘缓温和，这是温中的药味。补益适宜于气血之中而不敢使用过于峻补之药的，其药性必定平和清淡，这是平补的药味。综合这些补法加以区分，对于补剂的义理，已经得其概要，又何必过分分别呢？另外，万物只有温暖才能生长，所以补益以温为正途。万物以土为母，甘味属土，所以补益又以甘味为珍贵。土气亏损则万物无所承载，所以补脾气之缺陷，没有比白术更好的了。补肝气之虚损，没有比鸡肉更好的了。补肺气之痿弱，没有比人参、黄芪更好的了。补心血之缺欠，没有比当归更好的了。这些都是得味甘味，而不失其补益正道的药物。其次，补脾的药味，则有牛肉、大枣、饴糖、蜂蜜、龙眼、荔枝、鲫鱼等，都属于甘温。虽然其气性较白术稍杂，然而蜂蜜、饴糖则兼能补肺而润燥；龙眼则兼能补心以安神；荔枝则兼能补营以益血。唯有牛肉能补脾以固中焦；大枣能补脾以助胃；鲫鱼能补土以制水。况且黄宫绣我曾经通过补脾来思考，那土气卑监（湿滞）而不平的，不得不借助白术来培补。如果使土干燥而燥，能不滋润而润吗？这里有适宜于山药、人乳、黄精、猪肉之类的药物。土湿而凝滞，能不燥而清爽吗？这里有适宜于白蔻、砂仁之类的药物。土润而滑泄，能不涩而固摄吗？这里有适宜于莲子、芡实、肉蔻之类的药物。土郁结而阻滞，能不疏而醒脾吗？这里有适宜于木香、甘松、藿香、菖蒲、胡荽、大蒜之类的药物。土浸渍而倾陷，能不渗而利湿吗？这里有适宜于茯苓、扁豆、山药、鲫鱼之类的药物。土郁蒸而湿热，能不清而利湿吗？这里有适宜于薏苡仁、木瓜、白鲜皮、蚯蚓、紫贝、皂角、白矾、商陆、郁李之类的药物。土寒冷而冰冻，能不温而发散吗？这里有适宜于干姜、附子之类的药物。土敦厚而壅盛，能不通而泄降吗？这里有适宜于芒硝、大黄、枳实之类的药物。土崩解而下陷，能不升而举陷吗？这里有适宜于人参、黄芪、甘草之类的药物。凡此种种都属于补脾的药味，然而终究不如甘温补脾最为正道。
Huang Gongxiu notes: The arrangement of this book follows the classification of drug properties and flavors. For instance, drugs that tonify fire are grouped together; those that nourish water are grouped together; those that disperse cold are grouped together; and those that purge heat are grouped together, for ease of reference. However, if one is unfamiliar with drug properties, or in a hurried situation where it is difficult to check the sequence of drugs, the ancient method of categorizing them into herbs (Cao), trees (Mu), metals and stones (Jin Shi), birds (Niao), and beasts (Shou) is retained, with separate chapters appended at the end of the volume. Sequential numbers are noted under each drug to facilitate cross-referencing.
The human body is a microcosm of heaven and earth. Heaven and earth rely on Yin and Yang and the Five Elements (Wu Xing) for their vigorous and compliant operations. The human body relies on Water and Fire, as well as Qi and Blood, for nourishment and growth. Generally, if one's innate constitution is unbalanced, Water attaches to Fire, and Fire generates Water. When Water and Fire are sufficient, Qi and Blood are supported, leaving no room for deficiency or imbalance. However, due to differences in innate endowment, some may suffer from blood deficiency due to Water decline, or Qi deficiency due to Fire decline. Therefore, medicinal tonification is necessary to correct these imbalances, allowing Qi, Blood, Water, and Fire to nurture themselves without disease. Since diseases vary in depth and symptoms in severity, within tonifying formulas, one must distinguish the properties and flavors to ensure precision and avoid confusion in clinical practice. For example, tonics suitable for the primordial True Fire (Xian Tian Zhen Huo) must be drying and acrid, representing the flavor of tonifying Fire. Tonics suitable for primordial True Water (Xian Tian Zhen Shui) must be moistening and lubricating, representing the flavor of nourishing Water. Tonics suitable for balancing Water and Fire, avoiding extreme flavors, must be warm and moist, representing the flavor of warming the Kidney (Wen Shen). Tonics suitable for balancing Qi and Blood, avoiding single-sided bias, must be sweet and warm, representing the flavor of warming the Middle Jiao (Wen Zhong). Tonics suitable for Qi and Blood, avoiding overly strong tonification, must be neutral and bland, representing the flavor of gentle tonification (Ping Bu). By distinguishing these various tonifying methods, the general principles of tonification are understood; further excessive differentiation is unnecessary. Furthermore, all things grow through warmth, so tonification primarily utilizes warm agents. All things regard Earth as their mother, and Sweetness belongs to Earth, so tonification values Sweetness above all. If Earth Qi is deficient, things lack support; thus, nothing surpasses Atractylodis Rhizoma (Baizhu, 白术) for tonifying Spleen Qi. Nothing surpasses Chicken Meat (Ji Rou, 鸡肉) for tonifying Liver Qi. Nothing surpasses Ginseng Radix (Renshen, 人参) and Astragali Radix (Huangqi, 黄芪) for tonifying Lung Qi. Nothing surpasses Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui, 当归) for tonifying Heart Blood. These all obtain the sweetness of flavor while maintaining the orthodoxy of tonification. Secondly, for tonifying the Spleen, there are Beef (Niurou, 牛肉), Jujubae Fructus (Dazao, 大枣), Maltose (Yitang, 饴糖), Honey (Fengmi, 蜂蜜), Longan Aril (Longyan, 龙眼), Litchi Fruit (Lizhi, 荔枝), and Crucian Carp (Jiyu, 鲫鱼), all belonging to Sweet and Warm. Although their qi nature is slightly less pure than Baizhu, Honey and Maltose also tonify the Lung and moisten dryness; Longan also tonifies the Heart and calms the Spirit; Litchi also tonifies Ying (Nutritive) Qi and benefits Blood. Only Beef can tonify the Spleen and secure the Middle Jiao; Dazao can tonify the Spleen and assist the Stomach; Jiyu can tonify Earth to control Water. Moreover, Huang Gongxiu once reflected on Spleen tonification: when Earth Qi is stagnant and uneven, one must rely on Baizhu for tonification. If the Earth becomes dry and arid, does it not require moistening? This calls for drugs such as Dioscoreae Rhizoma (Shanyao, 山药), Human Milk (Renru, 人乳), Polygonati Rhizoma (Huangjing, 黄精), and Pork (Zhurou, 猪肉). If the Earth is damp and congealed, does it not require drying and refreshing? This calls for drugs such as Amomi Fructus Rotundus (Baiko, 白蔻) and Amomi Fructus (Sharen, 砂仁). If the Earth is moist and slippery, does it not require astringency and consolidation? This calls for drugs such as Nelumbinis Semen (Lianzi, 莲子), Euryales Semen (Qianshi, 芡实), and Arecae Semen Preparatum (Roukou, 肉蔻). If the Earth is depressed and knotted, does it not require dispersal and awakening? This calls for drugs such as Aucklandiae Radix (Muxiang, 木香), Nardostachyos Radix et Rhizoma (Gansong, 甘松), Pogostemonis Herba (Huoxiang, 藿香), Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma (Changpu, 菖蒲), Coriandri Fructus (Huisui, 胡荽), and Allium Sativum Bulb (Dasuan, 大蒜). If the Earth is inundated and collapsing, does it not require leaching and draining? This calls for drugs such as Poria (Fuling, 茯苓), Dolichos Lablab Seed (Baidou, 扁豆), Shanyao, and Jiyu. If the Earth is depressed and steaming, does it not require clearing and draining? This calls for drugs such as Coicis Semen (Yiyiren, 薏苡仁), Chaenomelis Fructus (Mugua, 木瓜), Dictamni Cortex (Baixianpi, 白鲜皮), Lumbricus (Qiuyin, 蚯蚓), Concha Tridacnae (Zibei), Gleditsiae Spina (Zaocys, 皂 - likely referring to Gleditsia sinensis thorn here contextually or similar), Alum (Bai Fan, 白矾), Phytolaccae Radix (Shanglu, 商陆), and Prunus Armeniaca Seed (Yuli, 郁李). If the Earth is cold and frozen, does it not require warming and dispersing? This calls for drugs such as Zingiberis Rhizoma (Ganjiang, 干姜) and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Fuzi, 附子). If the Earth is thick and congested, does it not require unblocking and purging? This calls for drugs such as Natrii Sulfas (Xiaoshuang, 硝), Rheoi Radix et Rhizoma (Huanglian/Huangqin contextually usually Huanglian but here likely Da Huang given 'Xiao Huang' pairing often implies Xiao Ming Fan/Da Huang, strictly 'Xiao Huang' refers to Glauber's salt and Rhubarb), Ziziphi Spinosae Semen (Zhishi, 枳实). If the Earth collapses and sinks, does it not require ascending and raising? This calls for drugs such as Renshen, Huangqi, and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao, 甘草). All these belong to Spleen-tonifying flavors, yet none are as orthodox as Sweet and Warm Spleen tonification.