人有遇事或多言而烦心生，常若胸中扰攘纷纭而嘈杂，此阴阳偏胜之故，火有余而水不
足也。或谓心热则火动而生烦，胆寒则血少而厌烦矣。不知虚烦实本于心热，胆则未曾寒也
。夫胆则最喜热而恶寒，世人云胆寒则怯者，正言胆之不可寒也。胆寒既怯，何敢犯火热之
心，可见虚烦是心火之热，非胆木之寒矣。古人用温胆汤以治虚烦，而烦转盛者，正误认胆
寒也。治法宜于补心之中，而用清心之味。方名解烦益心
人参（二钱） 黄连（一钱） 生枣仁（三钱） 白术（一钱） 茯神（三钱） 当归（三钱） 玄参（五钱） 甘
草（三分） 枳壳（五分） 天花粉（二钱）
水煎服。一剂烦止，再剂烦除矣。
此方纯是入心之药。清火而加入消痰之药者，有火必有痰也。痰火散而烦自释矣，况又
有补心之剂，同群并济哉!
此症用玄冬汤亦甚神。
玄参 麦冬（各二两）
水煎服。一剂而心安，二剂全愈。
人有年老患虚烦不寐，大便不通，常有一裹热气，自脐下直冲于心，便觉昏乱欲绝，人
以为火气之冲心也，谁知是肾水之大亏乎?夫心中之液，实肾内之精也。心火畏肾水之克，
乃假克也；心火喜肾水之生，乃真生也。心得肾之交，而心乃生，心失肾之通，而心乃死。
虚烦者正死心之渐也。惟是肾既上通于心，何以脐下之气上冲而心烦?不知肾之交于心者，
乃肾水之交，而非肾火之交也。肾水交于心，而成既济之泰；肾火交于心，而成未济之否。
故既济而心安，未济而心烦耳。老人孤阳无水，热气上冲，乃肾火冲心也。火之有余，实水
之不足，治法大补肾中之水，则水足以制火，火不上冲而烦自止矣。方用六味地黄汤加品治
之。
熟地（一两） 山茱萸（五钱） 山药（四钱） 茯苓（三钱） 丹皮（五钱） 泽泻（二钱） 白芍（五钱） 麦
冬
（五钱） 炒枣仁（五钱） 北五味（一钱） 柴胡（五分） 甘菊（三钱）
水煎服。二剂而烦却，四剂而大便通，二十剂不再发。
六味丸汤所以滋肾水之涸也。麦冬、五味，滋其化源；白芍、柴胡，以平肝，肝平而相
火无党，不至引动包络之火；又得枣仁、甘菊相制，则心气自舒，而复有肾水交通，有润之
乐而无燥之苦，岂尚有虚烦之动乎!
此症用济心丹亦效。
熟地（二两） 麦冬 玄参 生枣仁（各五钱） 丹皮 地骨皮 柏子仁 菟丝子 巴戟天（各三
水煎服。十剂全愈。
有人遇到事情后，因为多说话而导致烦闷之心产生，常常感觉胸中扰乱纷乱、嘈杂不安，这是阴阳偏盛的原因，即火有余而水不足。有人说是心热则火动而生烦，胆寒则血少而厌烦。却不知道虚烦实际上根本在于心热，胆并没有寒冷。胆最喜欢热而厌恶寒，世人说胆寒则胆怯，正是说明胆不可寒的道理。既然胆寒就会胆怯，怎么敢去侵犯火热的心呢？由此可见，虚烦是心火的炎热，而不是胆木的寒冷。古人用温胆汤（Warm the Gallbladder Decoction）来治疗虚烦，但服用后烦躁反而加重，正是因为错误地认为胆寒。治疗方法应当在补心的同时，使用清心的药物。方剂名为解烦益心汤（Relieve Irritation and Benefit Heart Decoction）。
人参（二钱） 黄连（一钱） 生枣仁（Raw Ziziphus Seed, 三钱） 白术（一钱） 茯神（三钱） 当归（三钱） 玄参（五钱） 甘草（三分） 枳壳（五分） 天花粉（二钱）
用水煎服。服用一剂后烦躁停止，再服用一剂后烦躁消除。
这个方子纯粹是入心的药物。在清火中加入消痰的药物，是因为有火必然有痰。痰火消散，烦躁自然解除，况且又有补心的药剂，协同作用啊！
这种病症使用玄冬汤（Xuan Dong Decoction）也非常神奇。
玄参（Scrophulariae Radix, 麦冬：各二两）
有人年老患虚烦不寐（Insomnia due to Deficiency Heat），大便不通，常常有一股热气，从脐下直冲于心，便觉得昏乱欲绝，人们以为是火气上冲侵犯心脏，哪里知道这是肾水的大亏呢？心中之液，实际上是肾内的精。心火畏惧肾水的克制，那是假性的克制；心火喜欢肾水的滋生，那是真性的滋生。心得到肾的交济，心才能生存；心失去肾的沟通，心就会死亡。虚烦正是走向死心的开始。只是既然肾已经上通于心，为什么脐下的气会上冲而导致心烦呢？不知道肾与心相交，是肾水与心相交，而不是肾火与心相交。肾水交于心，形成既济（Ji Ji, Water and Fire in Balance）的泰和状态；肾火交于心，形成未济（Wei Ji, Water and Fire out of Balance）的闭塞状态。所以既济则心安，未济则心烦耳。老人孤阳无水，热气上冲，这是肾火冲犯心脏。火有余，实则是水不足，治疗方法大补肾中的水，那么水就足以制约火，火不上冲而烦躁自然停止。方剂用六味地黄汤（Liu Wei Di Huang Tang / Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill Decoction）加味治疗。
熟地（Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata, 一两） 山茱萸（Corni Fructus, 五钱） 山药（Dioscoreae Rhizoma, 四钱） 茯苓（Poria, 三钱） 丹皮（Moutan Cortex, 五钱） 泽泻（Alismatis Rhizoma, 二钱） 白芍（Paoniae Radix Alba, 五钱） 麦冬（Ophiopogonis Tuber, 五钱） 炒枣仁（Stir-fried Ziziphus Seed, 五钱） 北五味（Schisandrae Fructus, 一钱） 柴胡（Bupleuri Radix, 五分） 甘菊（Chrysanthemi Flos, 三钱）
用水煎服。服用两剂后烦躁退却，四剂后大便通畅，二十剂后不再复发。
六味丸汤之所以能滋补肾水的枯竭。麦冬、五味子，滋养其化源；白芍、柴胡，用以平肝，肝气平和则相火没有党羽，不至于引动心包络之火；又得到枣仁、甘菊的制约，则心气自然舒展，并且有肾水交通，只有滋润的乐趣而没有干燥的痛苦，难道还会有虚烦的扰动吗！
这种病症使用济心丹（Ji Xin Dan / Heart-Nourishing Pill）也有效。
熟地（二两） 麦冬 玄参 生枣仁（各五钱） 丹皮 地骨皮（Cortex Lycii, 柏子仁（Biota Seed, 菟丝子（Cuscutae Semen, 巴戟天（Morinda Officinalis Root, 各三钱）
用水煎服。十剂后完全痊愈。
There are cases where a person, after encountering certain events or speaking excessively, develops irritability (Fan Xin). They often feel a sense of disturbance, confusion, and discomfort (Zao La) in the chest. This is caused by an imbalance of Yin and Yang, specifically where Fire is excessive and Water is insufficient. Some argue that heart heat causes Fire to move and generate irritation, while gallbladder cold leads to blood deficiency and aversion/annoyance. However, one must not realize that deficiency irritation (Xu Fan) essentially stems from heart heat, and the gallbladder is not actually cold. The gallbladder prefers warmth and abhors cold; when people say "gallbladder cold leads to timidity," it precisely indicates that the gallbladder cannot be cold. If the gallbladder were cold and timid, how could it dare to invade the fiery heart? Thus, it is evident that deficiency irritation is due to the heat of heart fire, not the cold of gallbladder wood. In ancient times, Wen Dan Tang (Warm the Gallbladder Decoction) was used to treat deficiency irritation, but if irritation worsens after taking it, it is precisely because of the misdiagnosis of gallbladder cold. The treatment method should involve supplementing the heart while using herbs that clear heart heat. The formula is named Jie Fan Yi Xin Tang (Relieve Irritation and Benefit Heart Decoction).
Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, 2 qian), Huang Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma, 1 qian), Sheng Zao Ren (Raw Semen Ziziphi Spinosae, 3 qian), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, 1 qian), Fu Shen (Poria with Hostwood, 3 qian), Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix, 3 qian), Xuan Shen (Scrophulariae Radix, 5 qian), Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, 0.3 qian), Zhi Ke (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus, 0.5 qian), Tian Hua Fen (Trichosanthis Radix, 2 qian).
Decoct in water and take orally. After one dose, irritation ceases; after two doses, irritation is eliminated.
This formula consists entirely of herbs that enter the Heart channel. Herbs that resolve phlegm are added to those that clear fire because where there is fire, there is inevitably phlegm. Once phlegm and fire dissipate, irritation naturally resolves. Moreover, there are herbs that tonify the heart, working synergistically!
For this syndrome, Xuan Dong Tang (Xuan Dong Decoction) is also very effective.
Xuan Shen (Scrophulariae Radix), Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Tuber: each 2 liang).
Decoct in water and take orally. After one dose, the mind becomes peaceful; after two doses, full recovery occurs.
There are cases where elderly patients suffer from deficiency irritation and insomnia (Bu Mei), along with constipation. They often feel a surge of hot qi rising directly from below the umbilicus to the heart, causing dizziness, confusion, and a feeling of impending death. People assume this is fire qi rushing to attack the heart, but who would know it is actually a severe depletion of Kidney Water? The fluid in the heart is essentially the essence within the Kidneys. Heart Fire fears the control of Kidney Water, which is a false control; Heart Fire welcomes the generation by Kidney Water, which is true generation. When the Heart receives interaction from the Kidney, the Heart lives; when the Heart loses communication with the Kidney, the Heart dies. Deficiency irritation is merely the gradual approach to a dying Heart. Since the Kidney connects upward to the Heart, why does qi from below the umbilicus rush upward causing heart irritation? It is unknown that the interaction between the Kidney and Heart involves Kidney Water interacting with the Heart, not Kidney Fire interacting with the Heart. When Kidney Water interacts with the Heart, it forms the state of Ji Ji (Water and Fire in Balance), leading to peace; when Kidney Fire interacts with the Heart, it forms the state of Wei Ji (Water and Fire out of Balance), leading to obstruction. Therefore, Ji Ji results in a peaceful heart, while Wei Ji results in an irritated heart. In the elderly, isolated Yang without Water causes hot qi to rush upward, which is Kidney Fire attacking the Heart. The excess of Fire is actually due to the insufficiency of Water. The treatment method is to greatly tonify the Water in the Kidney, so that Water is sufficient to control Fire, preventing Fire from rushing upward and stopping irritation naturally. The formula used is Liu Wei Di Huang Tang (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill Decoction) with modifications.
Shu Di (Prepared Rehmanniae Radix, 1 liang), Shan Zhu Yu (Corni Fructus, 5 qian), Shan Yao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma, 4 qian), Fu Ling (Poria, 3 qian), Dan Pi (Moutan Cortex, 5 qian), Ze Xie (Alismatis Rhizoma, 2 qian), Bai Shao (Radix Paoniae Alba, 5 qian), Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Tuber, 5 qian), Chao Zao Ren (Stir-fried Semen Ziziphi Spinosae, 5 qian), Bei Wu Wei Zi (Schisandrae Fructus, 1 qian), Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix, 0.5 qian), Gan Ju (Chrysanthemi Flos, 3 qian).
Decoct in water and take orally. After two doses, irritation recedes; after four doses, bowel movements become unobstructed; after twenty doses, it does not recur.
Liu Wei Wan Tang serves to nourish the depletion of Kidney Water. Mai Dong and Wu Wei Zi nourish its source of transformation; Bai Shao and Chai Hu level the Liver. When the Liver is balanced, Ministerial Fire has no support and does not incite the fire of the Pericardium. Furthermore, aided by the restraining effects of Zao Ren and Gan Ju, the Qi of the Heart naturally relaxes. With the communication of Kidney Water, there is the joy of moistening without the bitterness of dryness. How could there still be movement of deficiency irritation!
For this syndrome, Ji Xin Dan (Heart-Nourishing Pill) is also effective.
Shu Di (2 liang), Mai Dong, Xuan Shen, Sheng Zao Ren (each 5 qian), Dan Pi, Di Gu Pi (Cortex Lycii), Bai Zi Ren (Biota Orientalis Seed), Tu Si Zi (Cuscutae Semen), Ba Ji Tian (Morindae Officinalis Radix, each 3 qian).
Decoct in water and take orally. After ten doses, full recovery is achieved.