《伤寒论》中大黄黄连泻心汤为治痞名方，历代医家多从火热病机探讨其治痞机理，认为大黄黄连泻心汤运用“麻沸汤浸渍”是该方取效的关键因素之一，此独特煎煮方法可“取其气，薄其味”，即“取大黄、黄连、黄芩清扬之气，去苦泄之味”，避免大黄、黄连、黄芩苦寒趋下，药过病所。但笔者认为上述观点有待深入认识，“薄其味”或非“去其味”，“薄”乃量之变化，非“去”之质变。并通过对“薄其味”之意蕴深入探讨，提出大黄黄连泻心汤证或非热邪为患，或是火邪致痞。

Dahuang Huanglian Xiexin Decoction (i.e., Dahuang Huanglian Heart -Draining Decoction) is considered as the most important formula in the Treatise on Febrile Diseases for the treatment of the syndrome of feeling fullness and distension in the upper abdomen. The treatment mechanism of this prescription was explored from the aspect of fire-heat disease by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) experts through all ages. Meanwhile, they considered the application of "boiling water dipping" in Dahuang Huanglian Xiexin Decoction as one of the key factors, since it can better "grasp the property and lighten the flavor", namely to "fully make use of the clear and uprising property of Dahuang, Huanglian and Huangqin, and to eliminate their bitter flavor", so as to avoid the drugs function in places away from the diseased location as a result of the downward effects of Dahuang, Huanglian and Huangqin caused by their bitter and cold property. However, the author thinks further study should be conducted regarding to the above-mentioned viewpoint, considering "lightening the flavor" may not be equivalent to the idea of "eliminating the flavor," since lightening shows a quantitative change but eliminating show a qualitative change. The author then came up with the idea that Dahuang Huanglian Xiexin Decoction syndrome may not be caused by pathogenic heat but pathogenic fire through further exploration of the meaning of "lightening the flavor".

江苏省普通高校研究生科研创新计划项目（CXZZ12_0603）：基于三焦腑病视角探讨柴胡加龙骨牡蛎汤干预代谢综合征机制，负责人：卞尧尧。