凡药之性味。各以五行归五脏。而生克好恶具焉。故各有宜忌。盖药得性味之偏所以调五脏。之偏胜也。偏而得中
则病已。偏而太过则不宜。
肝欲散。急。食辛以散之。用辛补之。酸泻之。
肝木性主散达。急而不散。则宜辛以散之。夫辛是金之味然适得木之性故辛能补肝酸是木之味。而反得。金收之性。
故酸能泻肝。
心欲软急。食咸以软之。用咸补之。甘泻之。
心为火脏。性主柔。韧急则刚燥。故食咸以软之。咸得水味。而具火性。故入心血。甘为土之味。火生土。则泻其
气矣。
脾欲缓。急。食甘以缓之。用苦泻之。甘补之。
凡性与味皆。互换。故得木味者。得金性得水味者。得火性惟土为中气性味不换得土味者即得土性。缓者和也。脾
急则不和。食甘以缓之。以甘之本味归脾。能补土也。以苦泻之者。甘升苦降。味相反而功异也。
肺欲收。急食酸以收之。用酸补之辛泻之。
肺主秋收之金。急则反常。故用酸以收之。辛则能散其气也。
肾欲坚急食咸以坚之。用苦补之。咸泻之。
肾体沉石。欲其坚病则失常惟苦味具寒之性能坚之。故以苦补之。咸则润软。故能泻肾。
辛走气。气病毋多食辛咸走血。血病毋多食咸苦走骨。骨病毋多食苦。甘走肉。肉病毋多食甘。酸走筋。筋病毋多
食酸。
五脏之本味。即能伤及五体。总见太过之为病也。
按照肺肝之例。苦亦泻心。酸亦泻脾。而云甘泻心。苦泻脾。总见性味之功用。非出于一途也。
The nature and flavor of all medicines are respectively assigned to the Five Zang Organs according to the Five Elements, wherein the generating and overcoming relationships, as well as preferences and aversions, are inherent. Therefore, each medicine has its appropriate indications and contraindications. This is because medicines utilize their biased nature and flavor to regulate the excessive states of the Five Zang Organs. If the bias leads to a state of balance (Zhong), the disease resolves; however, if the bias is excessive, it is inappropriate for use.
The Liver desires dispersion. In cases of urgency or stagnation, one should consume pungent foods to disperse it. Pungent flavor tonifies the Liver, while sour flavor drains it.
Liver Wood naturally governs dispersion and free flow. If there is urgency without dispersion, pungent flavor is suitable to disperse it. Although pungent is the flavor of Metal, it coincidentally aligns with the nature of Wood; thus, pungent flavor can tonify the Liver. Sour is the flavor of Wood, but it possesses the astringent nature of Metal; therefore, sour flavor can drain the Liver.
The Heart desires softness. In cases of urgency, one should consume salty foods to soften it. Salty flavor tonifies the Heart, while sweet flavor drains it.
The Heart is the Fire Organ, and its nature governs flexibility. Urgency leads to rigidity and dryness; thus, consuming salty food softens it. Salty belongs to the flavor of Water yet possesses the nature of Fire, so it enters the Heart Blood. Sweet belongs to the flavor of Earth. Since Fire generates Earth, Earth drains Fire Qi; therefore, sweet flavor drains the Heart.
The Spleen desires relaxation. In cases of urgency, one should consume sweet foods to relax it. Bitter flavor drains the Spleen, while sweet flavor tonifies it.
Generally, nature and flavor are interchangeable. Thus, obtaining the flavor of Wood often confers the nature of Metal, and obtaining the flavor of Water often confers the nature of Fire. Only Earth resides in the center, where nature and flavor do not interchange; obtaining the flavor of Earth directly confers the nature of Earth. "Relaxation" implies harmony. When the Spleen is urgent, it lacks harmony. Consuming sweet food relaxes it because the intrinsic flavor of sweetness returns to the Spleen, thereby tonifying Earth. Using bitter flavor to drain the Spleen works because sweet flavor ascends and bitter flavor descends; although their flavors are opposite, their effects differ.
The Lungs desire consolidation. In cases of urgency, one should consume sour foods to consolidate them. Sour flavor tonifies the Lungs, while pungent flavor drains them.
The Lungs govern the metallic energy of autumnal consolidation. Urgency contradicts this normal function; thus, sour flavor is used to consolidate. Pungent flavor, conversely, disperses Lung Qi.
The Kidneys desire firmness. In cases of urgency, one should consume salty foods to firm them. Bitter flavor tonifies the Kidneys, while salty flavor drains them.
The Kidney body is heavy and solid like stone, desiring firmness. Illness disrupts this state. Only bitter flavor possesses cold properties that can induce firmness; thus, bitter flavor tonifies the Kidneys. Salty flavor moistens and softens; therefore, it can drain the Kidneys.
Pungent flavor travels to Qi. In Qi disorders, one should not consume excessive pungent foods. Salty flavor travels to Blood. In Blood disorders, one should not consume excessive salty foods. Bitter flavor travels to Bones. In Bone disorders, one should not consume excessive bitter foods. Sweet flavor travels to Flesh. In Flesh disorders, one should not consume excessive sweet foods. Sour flavor travels to Tendons. In Tendon disorders, one should not consume excessive sour foods.
The intrinsic flavors of the Five Zang Organs can injure the Five Body Structures, demonstrating that pathology arises from excess.
By analogy with the Lungs and Liver, bitter flavor also drains the Heart, and sour flavor also drains the Spleen. However, the text states that sweet flavor drains the Heart and bitter flavor drains the Spleen. This collectively illustrates that the functions of nature and flavor are not limited to a single pathway.