问曰:上工治未病,何也?师曰:夫治未病者,见肝之病,知肝传脾,当先实脾。
今译有人问:高明的医生治未病,是什么意思?老师说:所谓治未病,是说看到肝脏有病,便知道病邪会按五行相克的次序传到脾脏,所以应当先补益脾土,使其不受肝木之克。
It was asked: What does it mean when it is said that the superior physician treats disease before it arises? The Master replied: To treat disease before it arises means, upon seeing a disease of the Liver, to know that the Liver will transmit it to the Spleen — and therefore first to replete the Spleen.
太阳病,发热无汗,反恶寒者,名曰刚痉。太阳病,发热汗出,而不恶寒者,名曰柔痉。
今译太阳病见发热、无汗,反而畏寒的,叫作刚痉;太阳病见发热、出汗,却不畏寒的,叫作柔痉。
When a Tai Yang disease presents with fever and absence of sweating yet aversion to cold, it is called hard spasm (gang jing). When a Tai Yang disease presents with fever and sweating yet no aversion to cold, it is called soft spasm (rou jing).
百合病者,百脉一宗,悉致其病也。意欲食复不能食,常默然,欲卧不能卧,欲行不能行。
今译百合病一证,由百脉同根一源而致,一经发病,遍及全身。其人想吃又吃不下,常常默默无语,想躺又不能安卧,想走又不能行动。
Lily disease is so named because the hundred vessels share a single source, and when disease arises it involves them all at once. The patient wishes to eat yet cannot eat, remains silent and withdrawn, wishes to lie down yet cannot rest, wishes to walk yet cannot move.
虚劳里急,悸,衄,腹中痛,梦失精,四肢酸疼,手足烦热,咽干口燥,小建中汤主之。
今译虚劳病见腹中拘急、心悸、鼻出血、腹痛、梦中遗精、四肢酸痛、手足心烦热、咽喉口舌干燥的,应当用小建中汤治疗。
When vacuity taxation presents with internal urgency — palpitations, nosebleeds, abdominal pain, seminal loss in dreams, aching of the four limbs, vexing heat in the palms and soles, and dryness of the throat and mouth — Xiao Jian Zhong Tang governs.
胸痹之病,喘息咳唾,胸背痛,短气,寸口脉沉而迟,关上小紧数,瓜蒌薤白白酒汤主之。
今译胸痹一证,见气喘、咳嗽吐痰涎、胸背部疼痛、气短,寸口脉沉而迟、关部脉略紧而数的,应当用瓜蒌薤白白酒汤治疗。
In chest impediment disease, with panting, cough and expectoration, pain of the chest and back, and shortness of breath — the cun pulse sunken and slow, the guan pulse slightly tight and rapid — Gua Lou Xie Bai Bai Jiu Tang governs.
病痰饮者,当以温药和之。
今译凡患痰饮病的,应当用温性的药物来调和治疗。
For those suffering from phlegm-rheum disease, one should harmonize the condition by means of warming medicinals.