温邪上受，首先犯肺，逆传心包。肺主气属卫，心主血属营。辨营卫气血虽与伤寒同，若论治法则与伤寒大异也。
今译温热邪气从口鼻上部而入，最先侵犯手太阴肺经；若病势逆传，则内陷手厥阴心包。肺主一身之气，司卫外；心主血脉，属营分。因此辨别卫、气、营、血四个层次，虽然与伤寒六经辨证同样是分层论病，但温病的治法（清透为主）与伤寒（辛温发表为主）迥然不同。
Warm evils are contracted from above: they first invade the Lung, and in adverse progression they sink into the Pericardium. The Lung governs qi and belongs to the protective (wei) layer; the Heart governs blood and belongs to the nutritive (ying) layer. Although differentiating ying, wei, qi, and xue parallels the layered approach of Cold Damage, the method of treatment stands in sharp contrast to that of Shang Han.
某。风温发热，咳嗽咽痛，肢节不适，头胀，脉右寸浮数。此风温上受，肺气不宣。辛凉轻剂，桑杏汤加减。
今译某患者，感受风温之邪，发热而咳嗽、咽痛，四肢关节不舒，头胀，右寸脉浮数。此证为风温上受，肺卫失于宣发，邪在卫分。治宜辛凉轻剂，以桑杏汤加减，轻清宣透肺卫之邪。
A patient presents with wind-warmth fever, cough and sore throat, malaise of the limbs, distending headache, and a floating-rapid pulse at the right cun position. This is wind-warmth striking from above, with the Lung failing to diffuse — the evil lodged in the Wei layer. Treatment calls for a light, cool-acrid formula: Sang Xing Tang with modifications, to gently disperse and vent the evil from the Lung-Wei.
某。脉缓无力，不思饮食，食入腹胀，大便溏薄，面色萎黄，四肢倦怠。此脾虚中气不运，清阳不升。法当甘温益气，补中益气汤主之。
今译某患者，脉象缓而无力，饮食无味，食后腹胀，大便溏泄，面色萎黄，四肢困倦乏力。此为脾气虚弱，中焦运化失职，清阳之气不能上升。当用甘温补气之法，以补中益气汤升阳益气治之。
A patient with a slow, forceless pulse, no appetite, abdominal distension after eating, loose stools, a sallow-yellow complexion, and weariness of the limbs. This is Spleen deficiency: the middle qi fails to transport and the clear yang cannot rise. The method is sweet-warm tonification of qi; Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang is the master formula.
某。头目眩晕，肢体麻木，时或抽掣，舌绛少津，脉弦细而数。此水亏木旺，肝阳化风，非外来之风也。法当柔肝熄风，育阴潜阳，不可妄投风药。
今译某患者，头晕目眩，肢体发麻，时有抽搐掣动，舌质红绛而津液不足，脉弦细而带数。此为肾水亏虚而肝木偏旺，肝阳上亢化生内风，并非外感风邪。治当柔养肝阴，平肝熄风，滋育真阴而潜降浮阳，切不可妄用祛风散邪之品。
A patient suffers dizziness and blurred vision, numbness of the limbs, intermittent twitching, a crimson tongue with scanty fluids, and a wiry-thin rapid pulse. This is Water depleted and Wood flourishing: Liver yang has transformed into internal wind — not wind from without. The method is to soften the Liver and extinguish wind, nourish yin and subdue the floating yang. Dispersing wind-medicinals must never be casually prescribed.
某。秋燥伤肺，干咳无痰，咽喉不利，鼻燥唇干，脉右寸细数。此燥邪化火，劫烁肺津。宜辛凉甘润，桑杏汤加沙参、麦冬之属。
今译某患者，秋令燥邪伤肺，干咳而无痰，咽喉不利，鼻干唇燥，右寸脉细数。此为温燥化火，耗伤肺中津液，肺失清润。治宜辛凉甘润，以桑杏汤加沙参、麦冬等养阴润肺之品。
A patient in autumn, dryness injuring the Lung: dry cough without phlegm, discomfort of the throat, dry nose and parched lips, a thin-rapid pulse at the right cun. This is dryness transforming into fire, scorching the Lung fluids. The method is cool-acrid and sweet-moistening — Sang Xing Tang supplemented with Sha Shen and Mai Dong.