阴阳有造化升降消长者。生主长主升主造属阳。息主消主降主化属阴阴化而阳造之阴降
而阳升之至
消则灭而无复长矣又降其性沉。化其性缓。消则其性速也。化又有生生不息之机。曰生化。
曰化生。曰化
强化顽。曰风化德化。是皆由渐而致之。此物理之最微而最彰者也。陈皮理脾化气。非补脾
益气也。留白为
橘皮。尚能和中。以白性甘缓也。去白为橘红。则专乎降气消痰为剥削之物矣。降因滞气
升。消因痰壅盛
惟升则降之盛则消之降之消之有滞气痰壅则病受之。若夫脾亏作滞脾虚生痰。盒饭君以参术
疗本。恐
概用橘红半夏二陈之属。则徒耗损真气。故先哲以六物必用陈者。政为新性暴烈泄真之故耳
。至半夏
性燥。久服亦能潜消脾之真气。必惟因湿生热。因热生痰。用之则宜。亦只宜暂宜少。未有
脾胃健而湿热
能为患者也。奈何世之医者。每以二陈举为常用扶脾之品。竟不分脾阴脾阳。有湿无湿。属
虚属实。且曰王道如此。甚至阴虚劳嗽。金水俱败。尚亦妄用之。近岁鹾客连翔梧患前症。两名医俱投以
款冬橘红
麦冬石斛白芍之属。喘嗽倍增。且兼呕闷。乃支词曰正要呕唾痰尽。便速愈耳。吁昧病源而
投见病之剂。又矫本心之昧。伪自己之异。其不杀人也者几希。
阴阳有着造化、升降、消长的规律。生、长、升、造属于阳；息、消、降、化属于阴。阴进行化，由阳来造作；阴进行降，由阳来升举。到了“消”的阶段，事物就消灭而不再复生；到了“长”的阶段，事物就生长。至于“降”，其性质是沉静的；“化”，其性质是缓慢的；“消”，其性质是迅速的。“化”中又蕴含着生生不息的机理，称为生化、化生、强化顽劣、风化、德化等，这些都是逐渐积累而成的。这是物理中最微妙也最显著的道理。
陈皮能够调理脾胃之气，化解气滞，并不是补益脾胃之气。保留白色的部分称为橘皮，尚且能调和脾胃，因为白色性味甘缓。去掉白色的部分称为橘红，则专门用于降气消痰，成为一种攻伐消耗的药物。降是针对气滞而言，消是针对痰壅盛而言。通过降和消，如果存在气滞或痰壅，疾病就会受到侵害（被消除）。如果是脾虚导致气滞，脾虚产生痰湿，应当用党参、白术等药物来治疗根本。恐怕不能一概使用橘红、半夏以及二陈汤之类的方剂，那样只会徒然耗损人体的真气。所以先哲认为六物（指二陈汤中的主要药材）必须用陈久的，正是因为新采的药物性质暴烈，会泄耗真气的缘故。
至于半夏，性质燥烈，久服也能暗中消蚀脾胃的真气。只有在因湿生热、因热生痰的情况下，使用它才适宜，但也只宜暂时少量使用。没有脾胃健旺而湿热为患的情况。为什么世间的医生，常常把二陈汤当作常用的健脾药物？竟然不分脾阴与脾阳，有湿与无湿，属虚与属实。甚至说这是“王道”之法。甚至有阴虚劳嗽，金水（肺肾）俱败的患者，还妄加使用。近年来，盐商连翔梧患有前症，两位医生都投以款冬花、橘红、麦冬、石斛、白芍等药物，导致喘咳加倍，并且兼有呕吐胸闷的症状。他们却支吾其词说：“正要呕出唾沫痰液，病就会迅速痊愈。”唉！不明辨病源而投用只见症状的药剂，又是违背本心的愚昧，伪装自己的特异，这样的人不杀人也是很少见的了。
Yin and Yang possess the laws of creation (Zao), transformation (Hua), ascending (Sheng), descending (Jiang), increasing (Zhang), and decreasing (Xiao). Generation, growth, ascending, and creating belong to Yang; nourishment, decreasing, descending, and transforming belong to Yin. Yin undergoes transformation, which is created by Yang; Yin descends, which is ascended by Yang. When "decreasing" occurs, things perish and do not return; when "increasing" occurs, things grow. Regarding "descending," its nature is sinking; regarding "transforming," its nature is slow; regarding "decreasing," its nature is rapid. "Transforming" also contains the mechanism of endless generation, referred to as Shenghua (generation and transformation), Huasheng (transformation into generation), strengthening the stubborn, Fenghua (wind transformation), Dehua (virtue transformation), etc. All these are achieved gradually. This is the most subtle yet most manifest principle in physical phenomena.
Chenpi (Aged Tangerine Peel) regulates Spleen Qi and transforms Qi stagnation; it does not tonify Spleen Qi. Retaining the white pith makes it Jupi (Tangerine Peel), which can still harmonize the Middle Jiao because the white color corresponds to a sweet and mild nature. Removing the white pith makes it Juhong (Red Tangerine Peel), which specializes in descending Qi and resolving phlegm, becoming an agent of depletion and attack. Descending addresses Qi stagnation; resolving addresses Phlegm congestion. Through descending and resolving, if there is Qi stagnation or Phlegm congestion, the disease is affected (eliminated). However, if Stagnation arises from Spleen Deficiency, and Phlegm is generated from Spleen Deficiency, one should use Renshen (Ginseng) and Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala) to treat the root. One must avoid indiscriminately using agents like Juhong, Banxia (Pinellia Rhizome), and Erchen Tang (Two-Aged Decoction), as this would merely deplete True Qi. Therefore, the sages insisted that the ingredients in Erchen Tang must be aged, precisely because fresh herbs have violent properties that drain True Qi.
As for Banxia, its nature is dry and hot; long-term use can secretly consume the True Qi of the Spleen. It is appropriate only when Heat is generated from Dampness, and Phlegm is generated from Heat, and even then, it should only be used temporarily and in small doses. There is no scenario where robust Spleen and Stomach function leads to pathology caused by Damp-Heat. Why do physicians of today often regard Erchen Tang as a common spleen-tonifying preparation? They fail to distinguish between Spleen Yin and Spleen Yang, presence or absence of Dampness, and deficiency or excess patterns. They claim this is the "Kingly Way." Even in cases of Yin-deficiency with chronic cough, where Metal and Water (Lung and Kidney) are both exhausted, they still recklessly use it. In recent years, a salt merchant named Lian Xiangwu suffered from the aforementioned condition. Two physicians administered agents such as Kuandonghua (Adenophora Flower), Juhong, Maidong (Ophiopogon Tuber), Shihu (Dendrobium Stem), and Baishao (White Peony Root). His wheezing and coughing doubled, accompanied by vomiting and chest fullness. Yet, they offered excuses, saying, "It is necessary to vomit out saliva and phlegm for a rapid recovery." Alas! Prescribing medication based solely on symptoms without understanding the disease origin is ignorance contrary to one's true intent, and feigning uniqueness to cover up errors. Such people rarely escape causing death.