汤液醪醴论篇

Tang Ye Lao Li Lun

(On the Rice Soup, Turbid Wine and Sweet Wine)

黄帝问曰：为五谷汤液及醪醴奈何?岐伯对曰：必[《圣济经》“必”作“醖”]以稻米，炊之稻薪，稻米者完，稻薪者坚。帝日:何以然?岐伯日:此得天地[《知古今篇》“天”下无“地”字]之和，高下之宜，故能至完，伐取得时，故能至坚也。

Yellow Emperor asked: "What is the method of making the rice soup, turbid wine and the sweet wine with five cereals?" Qibo answewed:"Keep the paddy rice in fermentation and the rice stalk as the fuel, as the energy of the paddy rice is complete with that of all seasons and orientations, and the rice stalk is tough. "Yellow Emperor asked:"Why is it so?" Qibo answered: "The paddy rice receives the harmonious energy of the heaven and grows in the land of proper altitude in centrality, so, it receives the energy which is most counplete as it is harvested in the appropriate season, and the rice stalk is most tough."

帝曰：上古圣人作汤液醪醴，为而不用何也?岐伯曰：自[《太素》“自”作“上”]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。帝日:今之世不必已何也?岐伯日:当今之世，必齐毒药攻其中，鏡石针艾治其外也。帝日:形弊血尽而功不立者何?歧伯日:神不使也。帝日:何谓神不使?岐伯日:针石，道也。精神不进[《太素》“进”作“越”]，志意不治[《太素》“治”作“散”]，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。

Yellow said:"In ancient times, the rice soup, turbid wine and sweet wine prepared by the physicians were used in sacrifices or entertaining guests but seldom used in treating disease, and why was it so?" Qibo answered: "In ancient times, the rice soup, turbid wine and sweet wine prepared were only used in contingency, so, they were rarely used in treating disease.

"In the middle ancient times, the people paid less attention to health-preserving and their bodies became weaker, but when the exogenous evil took advantage to invade, after some rice soup,turbid wine or sweet wine were taken by the patient, the disease was cured."

Yellow Emperor asked: "In nowadays, when people contract disease, although some rice soup, turbid wine or sweet wine were taken, the disease is not surely to be cured, and why is it?" Qibo said: "In nowadays, when people contract disease, it is neccessary to treat them with medicine internally or with acupuncture stone pricking or moxibustion externally to cure the disease."

Yellow Emperor said: "When the body of the patient is declined, his blood and energy are exhausted, why is it that the treating is ineffective?" Qibo said: "This is because the spirit of the patient can no more play the role it should play. "Yellow Emperor asked. "What do you mean by that?" Qibo said: "The acupuncture and stone therapy can only conduct the blood and energy, but can do nothing to the spirit and consciousness of the patient. If the spirit and the energy of the patient are disappearing, his will and consciousness are dispersing, the disease can by no means be cured. Since now the patient's spirit is declining, and his energy is dispersing, the functions of his Rong-energy inside of the vessels for nourishing the whole body and the Wei-energy outside of the vessels for moisturing the skin and striae can no more be recovered. The reason of the disease being developed into such a serious condition is the patient's excessive indulging of sexual desire, together with endless anxieties to worry his heart, so as causing his spirit and energy be on the wane, his Rong-energy in blood exhausted, and the Wei-energy diminishing. Since his spirit and energy are divorcing from the body, his disease will not be cured."