论气逆痰滞 论气虚痰多 气虚痰寒 气虚痰热
天师曰∶气治者，气病实多，吾亦举其大者言之，如气逆痰滞是也。夫痰之滞，非痰之故，乃气之
滞也。苟不利气，而惟治痰，吾未见痰去而病消也。方用人参一钱，白术二钱，茯苓三钱，陈皮一钱，
天花粉一钱，白芥子一钱，神曲一钱，苏子一钱，豆蔻三粒，水煎服。（〔批〕顺气活痰汤。）此方之妙，
在治痰之中。而先理气，气顺则痰活，气顺则湿流通，而痰且不生矣。此气治之宜知，可即一方，而悟滞
气之法。
张公曰∶气治法甚多，天师方甚略，吾再传二方。可以
悟治法矣。气虚痰多之症，痰多本是湿也，而治痰之法，又不可徒去其湿，必须补气为先，而佐以消痰
之品。方用人参三钱，茯苓三钱，薏仁五钱，半夏三钱，神曲一钱，陈皮一钱，甘草一钱，水煎服。（〔
批〕助气消痰汤）。此方虽有半夏、陈皮消痰，然而不多用人参，则痰从何消。有人参以助气，有薏仁、
茯苓之类，自能健脾以去湿，湿去而痰自除矣，此气治之一法也。
更有气虚痰寒者，即用前方，加肉桂三钱，干姜五分足矣。
有气虚痰热者，不可用此方。当用麦冬三钱，天花粉一钱，甘草一钱，陈皮一钱，白芥子一钱，茯苓
二钱，神曲三分，白芍三钱，当归三钱，水煎服。（〔批〕清火消痰汤。）此方之妙在不燥而又是补气之
剂，润以化痰，痰去而气自足也。得此二方，则治气无难矣。
天师说：治疗气病的方法中，气病实证居多，我也只列举其中重要的情况，比如气逆导致痰液停滞。痰液的停滞，并非痰本身的原因，而是气的停滞所致。如果不疏通气机，仅仅治疗痰，我从未见过痰去除了而疾病消除的情况。方剂用人参一钱，白术二钱，茯苓三钱，陈皮一钱，天花粉一钱，白芥子一钱，神曲一钱，苏子一钱，豆蔻三粒，水煎服。（批注：顺气活痰汤）。这个方剂的妙处，在于治痰之中先调理气机，气机顺畅则痰液流动，气机顺畅则湿气流通，痰便不再产生了。这是治疗气病应当知晓的道理，可以通过这一个方子，领悟到疏通滞气的方法。
张公说：治疗气病的方法很多，天师的方子比较简略，我再传授两个方子，可以从中领悟治疗方法。气虚导致痰多的症状，痰多本质上是湿气重，但治疗痰的方法，又不能单纯去除湿气，必须以补气为先，并辅以消痰的药物。方剂用人参三钱，茯苓三钱，薏仁五钱，半夏三钱，神曲一钱，陈皮一钱，甘草一钱，水煎服。（批注：助气消痰汤）。这个方子虽然有半夏、陈皮来消痰，但如果不多用人参，痰从何而来消除呢？有人参来辅助气机，有薏仁、茯苓之类的药物，自然能健脾以去除湿气，湿气去除了痰自然也就消除了，这是治疗气病的另一种方法。
更有气虚且伴有寒痰的情况，就用前面的方子，加上肉桂三钱，干姜五分就可以了。
有气虚且伴有热痰的情况，不可使用这个方子。应当用麦冬三钱，天花粉一钱，甘草一钱，陈皮一钱，白芥子一钱，茯苓二钱，神曲三分，白芍三钱，当归三钱，水煎服。（批注：清火消痰汤）。这个方剂的妙处在于不燥烈却又具有补气的作用，通过滋润来化解痰液，痰液去除了气自然充足。得到这两个方子，那么治疗气病就没有困难了。
The Heavenly Master said: In the methods for treating Qi disorders, excess patterns are predominant. I will only mention the major ones, such as rebellious Qi leading to phlegm stagnation. The stagnation of phlegm is not due to the phlegm itself, but rather due to the stagnation of Qi. If one does not promote the flow of Qi and merely treats the phlegm, I have never seen a case where the phlegm was eliminated and the disease resolved. The prescription consists of Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix) 1 qian, Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) 2 qian, Fu Ling (Poria), Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) 1 qian, Tian Hua Fen (Trichosanthis Radix) 1 qian, Bai Jie Zi (Sinapis Semen) 1 qian, Shen Qu (Massa Medicata Fermentata) 1 qian, Su Zi (Perillae Fructus) 1 qian, and Dou Kou (Amomi Fructus Rotundus) 3 grains. Decoct with water and take orally. [Commentary: Shun Qi Huo Tan Tang (Smooth Qi and Activate Phlegm Decoction)]. The brilliance of this formula lies in regulating Qi while treating phlegm. When Qi flows smoothly, phlegm becomes mobile; when Qi flows smoothly, dampness circulates freely, and phlegm ceases to form. This illustrates the principle of treating Qi disorders, allowing one to comprehend the method of resolving Qi stagnation from this single formula.
Master Zhang said: There are many methods for treating Qi disorders, and the Heavenly Master’s prescriptions are quite concise. I will transmit two additional formulas so that you may understand the treatment principles. For symptoms of Qi deficiency leading to excessive phlegm, excessive phlegm is essentially dampness. However, the method for treating phlegm should not rely solely on removing dampness; it must prioritize tonifying Qi, assisted by herbs that resolve phlegm. The prescription consists of Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix) 3 qian, Fu Ling (Poria) 3 qian, Yi Yi Ren (Coicis Semen) 5 qian, Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) 3 qian, Shen Qu (Massa Medicata Fermentata) 1 qian, Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) 1 qian, and Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) 1 qian. Decoct with water and take orally. [Commentary: Zhu Qi Xiao Tan Tang (Assist Qi and Resolve Phlegm Decoction)]. Although this formula contains Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) and Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) to resolve phlegm, without sufficient Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix) to assist Qi, how can the phlegm be eliminated? With Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix) to support Qi, and herbs like Yi Yi Ren (Coicis Semen) and Fu Ling (Poria) to strengthen the Spleen and remove dampness, once the dampness is gone, the phlegm will naturally disappear. This is another method for treating Qi disorders.
In cases of Qi deficiency accompanied by cold-phlegm, the aforementioned formula can be used with the addition of Rou Gui (Cinnamomi Cortex) 3 qian and Gan Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) 0.5 qian.
In cases of Qi deficiency accompanied by heat-phlegm, this formula should not be used. Instead, use Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Radix) 3 qian, Tian Hua Fen (Trichosanthis Radix) 1 qian, Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) 1 qian, Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) 1 qian, Bai Jie Zi (Sinapis Semen) 1 qian, Fu Ling (Poria) 2 qian, Shen Qu (Massa Medicata Fermentata) 0.3 qian, Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) 3 qian, and Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) 3 qian. Decoct with water and take orally. [Commentary: Qing Huo Xiao Tan Tang (Clear Fire and Resolve Phlegm Decoction)]. The brilliance of this formula lies in its non-drying nature while still possessing Qi-tonifying properties; it moistens to transform phlegm, and once the phlegm is resolved, Qi becomes sufficient. With these two formulas, treating Qi disorders presents no difficulty.