虚劳则肾气不足，伤于冲脉。冲脉为阴脉之海，起于关元，关元穴在脐下，随腹直上至
咽喉。劳伤内损，故腹里拘急也。
上部之脉微细，而卧引里急，里急心膈上有热者，口干渴。寸口脉阳弦下急，阴弦里急
，弦为胃气虚，食难已饱，饱则急痛不得息。寸微关实、尺弦紧者，少腹腰背下苦拘急痛外
，如不喜寒，身愦愦也。其汤熨针石，别有正方。补养宣导，今附于后。
《养生方·导引法》云∶正偃卧，以口徐徐纳气，以鼻出之。除里急、饱食。后小咽气
，令温中；若气寒者，使人干呕腹痛，从口纳气七十所，咽，即大填腹内，小咽气数十
；两手相摩，令极热，以摩腹，令气下。
肝藏血而候筋。虚劳损血，不能荣养于筋，致使筋气极虚；又为寒邪所侵，故筋挛也。
心藏神而主血脉。虚劳损伤血脉，致令心气不足，因为邪气所乘，则使惊而悸动不定。
夫风寒湿三气合为痹。病在于阴，其人苦筋骨痿枯，身体疼痛，此为痿痹之病，皆愁思
所致，忧虑所为。
诊其脉，尺中虚小者，是胫寒痿痹也。
虚劳病是因为肾气不足，损伤了冲脉。冲脉是阴脉的海，起始于关元穴，关元穴位于脐下，沿腹部直上至咽喉。因劳伤导致内部受损，所以腹部拘挛急迫。
上部脉搏微细，且卧床时牵引引起里急（腹内拘急），若里急伴有心膈部位有热，则出现口干渴。寸口脉阳部弦紧而下部急迫，阴部弦紧而里急，弦脉表示胃气虚弱，食物难以消化至饱足，饱食后则急痛且呼吸不畅。寸脉微、关脉实、尺脉弦紧的，少腹、腰背部苦于拘急疼痛，外部表现如不喜欢寒冷，身体昏沉烦乱。对于此类病症，汤药热敷、针刺砭石等有专门的方剂。补益调养和导引宣通的方法，现在附在后面。
《养生方·导引法》说：正身仰卧，用口缓缓吸入气息，用鼻呼出。可消除里急、饱食感。随后小口吞咽气息，使中焦温暖；如果气息寒冷，会导致干呕腹痛，从口吸气七十次，吞咽，就会使腹部充满，再小口吞咽气息数十次；双手相互摩擦，使其极热，用来按摩腹部，使气下行。
肝主管筋并储藏血，肾主管骨并生成髓。虚劳损耗血液、耗竭骨髓，所以损伤筋骨。
肝储藏血并反映在筋的状态。虚劳损耗血液，不能荣养筋，致使筋气极度虚弱；又被寒邪侵袭，所以发生筋脉拘挛。
心储藏神并主宰血脉。虚劳损伤血脉，导致心气不足，因此被邪气乘虚而入，使人受惊且悸动不安。
风寒湿三种邪气结合形成痹证。病位在阴分，患者苦于筋骨痿弱枯槁，身体疼痛，这是痿痹病，都是由愁思所致，忧虑所为。
诊察其脉象，尺部脉虚小的，是小腿寒冷、痿弱痹阻。
Deficiency consumption (Xu Lao) arises from insufficiency of Kidney Qi, damaging the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel). The Chong Mai is the sea of Yin vessels, originating at Guanyuan (CV-4), which is located below the umbilicus, and ascending straight up along the abdomen to the throat. Due to labor injury causing internal damage, there is abdominal cramping and urgency.
The pulse in the upper portion is fine and minute, and lying down induces internal urgency. If internal urgency is accompanied by heat above the heart and diaphragm, dry mouth and thirst occur. At the Cun Kou (radial artery) position, if the Yang aspect is wiry and the lower aspect is urgent, and the Yin aspect is wiry with internal urgency, the wiry pulse indicates deficiency of Stomach Qi; food is difficult to digest to fullness, and after eating until full, acute pain occurs with inability to breathe smoothly. If the Cun position is faint, the Guan position is excess, and the Chi position is wiry and tight, there is suffering from cramping and pain in the lower abdomen, waist, and back, external manifestations include aversion to cold, and the body feels heavy and confused. For such conditions, decoctions, hot compresses, acupuncture, and stone therapy have separate specific formulas. Methods for tonification, nourishment, and guidance are attached hereafter.
The "Health Preservation Formulas · Daoyin Method" states: Lie supine upright, slowly inhale air through the mouth, and exhale through the nose. This eliminates internal urgency and overeating. Subsequently, swallow small amounts of air to warm the middle jiao; if the air is cold, it causes dry heaving and abdominal pain. Inhale seventy times through the mouth, swallow, thereby filling the abdomen; then swallow small amounts of air dozens of times. Rub hands together until extremely hot, then massage the abdomen to direct Qi downward.
The Liver governs the sinews and stores Blood. The Kidneys govern the bones and generate Marrow. Deficiency consumption damages Blood and exhausts Marrow, thus injuring the sinews and bones.
The Liver stores Blood and manifests in the sinews. Deficiency consumption damages Blood, failing to nourish the sinews, causing Sinew Qi to become extremely deficient; furthermore, invaded by Cold pathogenic factors, sinew spasms occur.
The Heart stores Shen (Spirit) and governs the Blood vessels. Deficiency consumption damages the Blood vessels, leading to insufficiency of Heart Qi, allowing pathogenic factors to take advantage, resulting in fright and restless palpitations.
The combination of Wind, Cold, and Dampness forms Bi Syndrome (Obstruction Syndrome). When the disease resides in the Yin aspects, the patient suffers from flaccidity, withering of sinews and bones, and body pain. This is Wei-Bi syndrome (Flaccidity-Obstruction syndrome), all caused by sorrow and worry.
Diagnosing the pulse, if the Chi position is deficient and small, it indicates coldness and flaccid obstruction in the shins.
The Liver manifests in the eyes and stores Blood. Blood nourishes the eyes. Damage to the Zang-Fu organs leads to deficiency of both Qi and Blood; insufficiency of Qi in the five Zang organs fails to nourish the eyes, causing dim vision.
The Kidneys manifest in the ears. Labor injury leads to deficiency of Kidney Qi; when Wind pathogenic factors enter the Kidney meridian, deafness and tinnitus occur. If stagnant water exists in the Bladder and infiltrates the Kidneys, deafness and a sensation of fullness of Qi result.