素问·汤液醪醴论 Discourse on Decoctions and Sweet Wine Ferments
黄帝问曰：为五谷汤液及醪醴，柰何。歧伯对曰：必以稻米，炊之稻薪，稻米者完，稻薪者坚。帝曰：何以然。歧伯曰：此得天地之和，高下之宜，故能至完，伐取得时，故能至坚也。帝曰：上古圣人作汤液醪醴，为而不用，何也。歧伯曰：自古圣人之作汤液醪醴者，以为备耳，夫上古作汤液，故为而弗服也。中古之世，道德稍衰，邪气时至，服之万全。帝曰：今之世不必已何也。歧伯曰：当今之世，必齐毒药攻其中，鑱石针艾治其外也。
帝曰：形弊血尽而功不立者何。歧伯曰：神不使也。帝曰：何谓神不使。歧伯曰：针石道也。精神不进，志意不治，故病不可愈。今精坏神去，荣卫不可复收。何者，嗜欲无穷，而忧患不止，精气弛坏，荣泣卫除，故神去之而病不愈也。
帝曰：夫病之始生也，极微极精，必先入结于皮肤。今良工皆称曰：病成名曰逆，则针石不能治，良药不能及也。今良工皆得其法，守其数，亲戚兄弟远近音声日闻于耳，五色日见于目，而病不愈者，亦何暇不早乎。歧伯曰：病为本，工为标，标本不得，邪气不服，此之谓也。
帝曰：其有不从毫毛而生，五藏阳以竭也，津液充郭，其魄独居，孤精于内，气耗于外，形不可与衣相保，此四极急而动中，是气拒于内，而形施于外，治之柰何。歧伯曰：平治于权衡，去宛陈莝，微动四极，温衣，缪刺其处，以复其形。开鬼门，洁净府，精以时服，五阳已布，踈涤五藏，故精自生，形自盛，骨肉相保，巨气乃平。帝曰：善.
Huangdi asked: How does one make decoctions and sweet wine ferments from the five grains? Qibo replied: One must use rice, and cook it with rice stalks as fuel; rice grain is complete in its qi, and rice stalks are firm. Huangdi said: Why is this so? Qibo said: Rice obtains the harmony of heaven and earth and the suitability of high and low ground, and so it can reach completeness; it is harvested and cut at the proper time, and so it can reach firmness. Huangdi said: Why did the sages of high antiquity make decoctions and sweet wine ferments yet not use them? Qibo said: Since ancient times, the sages who made decoctions and sweet wine ferments did so only to have them in readiness; in high antiquity, decoctions were made but not taken. In middle antiquity, when virtue had somewhat declined, evil qi arrived from time to time, and taking them ensured complete recovery. Huangdi said: Why is it that in the present age this is not always sufficient? Qibo said: In the present age, one must use toxic medicines to attack disease within, and lancet stones, needles, and moxa to treat disease without.
Huangdi said: Why is it that sometimes the bodily form is exhausted and the blood depleted, yet no effect is achieved? Qibo said: The spirit is not being made use of. Huangdi said: What is meant by 'the spirit is not being made use of'? Qibo said: Needles and stone lancets follow the Way only when the patient's spirit cooperates. If essence and spirit do not advance, and the will and intent are not well ordered, then the disease cannot be cured. Now, when essence is ruined and spirit has departed, the nutritive and defensive qi can no longer be recovered. Why is this? Because cravings and desires are endless, and worries and troubles never cease; essence and qi become slack and ruined, the nutritive qi stagnates and the defensive qi is dispersed. Hence the spirit departs and the disease is not cured.
Huangdi said: Now, when a disease first arises, it is extremely subtle and extremely fine, and must first enter and bind in the skin. Yet skilled physicians all say: once a disease is fully formed, it is called contrary, and then needles and stone cannot treat it, nor can good medicine reach it. Now, even when skilled physicians have all grasped the method and adhere to its principles, with relatives near and far constantly heard in the patient's ear and the five colors constantly seen by the patient's eyes, and yet the disease is still not cured — how could there be any leisure left for delay? Qibo said: The disease is the root, the physician is the branch; when root and branch do not correspond, the evil qi will not submit — this is what is meant.
Huangdi said: There are cases where illness does not arise from the fine hairs of the exterior, but where the yang of the five viscera is exhausted, fluid fills the outer frame of the body, the corporeal soul dwells alone, essence is isolated within, and qi is drained without, so that the body can no longer be kept warm even with clothing. In such cases the four extremities become tense and affect the center — this is a state in which qi is repelled within while the swollen form is displayed without. How should this be treated? Qibo said: Regulate and balance it as with a steelyard, remove what is stagnant and stale, gently move the four extremities, keep the patient warmly clothed, and apply contralateral needling to the affected areas, so as to restore the bodily form. Open the ghost gate, cleanse the clean palace, let the essence be replenished in its proper time, so that the five yang qi are spread throughout, the five viscera are cleared and drained, and thus essence will regenerate of itself, the bodily form will flourish of itself, bone and flesh will support each other, and the great qi will then become balanced. Huangdi said: Good.