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Herbs and trees that do not wither or turn yellow in the cold season, and those that bloom in winter, obtain their nourishment from the cold water energy of winter. Wood is born from Water, Water connects to Heaven, Fire and Water mutually assist each other, Water flows through the earth; this represents the passage of Water Qi (vital energy) to the four Zang organs (Liver, Heart, Spleen, Lung). For instance, Ophiopogonis Radix (Maidong), Daphne Flower (Kudonghua), Loquat Leaf (Pipaye), Biota Leaf (Cebaiye), Kudzu Root (Shandougen), and Morinda Officinalis Root (Bajitian) are herbs entering the Kidney but acting on the Lung; Coptis Rhizome (Huanglian), Acorus Tatarinowii Rhizome (Changpu), Gardenia Fruit (Shanzhi), Myrsine Branch (Nanzhu), Camellia Flower (Chahua), and Plum Blossom (Meihua) are herbs entering the Kidney but acting on the Heart; Magnolia Bark (Houpo), Cardamom Seed (Doukou), Clove (Dingxiang), Aurantium Fruit (Zhiju) are herbs entering the Kidney but acting on the Spleen; Cinnamon Twig (Jun Gui), Bamboo species, Freesia Bulb (Mimenghua), and Ligustrum Lucidum Fruit (Nvzhenzi) are herbs entering the Kidney but acting on the Liver. The Kidney is the Water organ, storing the essence of the five Zang organs, and returning it to circulate to the four Zang organs: entering the Liver as tears, entering the Heart as blood, entering the Spleen as saliva, entering the Lung as nasal mucus. They communicate vertically and horizontally, and externally pour into the nine orifices. Therefore, herbs and plants receiving the nourishment of cold water can initiate Yin Qi to moisten the four Zang organs upwards, and can also guide the Qi of the four Zang organs to descend and connect with Yin. This is not merely the connection of Kidney Qi to the four Zang organs. The Qi of the five Zang organs are all interconnected, and so are the properties of medicines. For example, Schisandra Seed (Zaoren) is an herb entering the Spleen but acting on the Heart; Dendrobium Stem (Shihu) is an herb entering the Spleen but acting on the Kidney; Paeonia Lactiflora Root (Shaoyao) is an herb entering the Spleen but acting on the Liver; Mulberry Root Bark (Sangpi) is an herb entering the Spleen but acting on the Lung. Extending this logic, it all falls within the generation and transformation of the Five Elements.

The Classic states: "Ascending, descending, floating, and sinking should follow the nature [of the disease/herb]; Cold, Heat, Warmth, and Coolness should oppose [the nature of the disease]." This means that in Spring, ascending herbs should be used to aid the Sheng (growth) Qi; in Summer, floating herbs should be used to aid the Zhang (proliferation) Qi; in Autumn, descending herbs should be used to comply with the Shou (harvest/convergence) command; in Winter, sinking herbs should be used to comply with the Cang (storage) command. This refers to the appropriateness of herb properties following the Four Seasons. The climate of Spring is warm, so Cool herbs are appropriate; the climate of Summer is hot, so Cold herbs are appropriate; the climate of Autumn is cool, so Warm herbs are appropriate; the climate of Winter is cold, so Hot herbs are appropriate. This refers to the appropriateness of using Qi to oppose the Four Seasons. Disease treatment follows this principle as well. However, seasonal Qi and pathogenic Qi both have constant patterns and variable changes. Understanding these constants and variables, and reversing the application of opposition and compliance, allows one to grasp Yin and Yang and shape creation.

Jujube has a yellow color and sweet taste, belonging to the fruits of the Spleen. The fruit at the tip of the wood branch becoming the fruit of the Heart represents the Dao of Generation and Transformation; the fruit at the tip of the wood branch becoming the fruit of the Spleen represents the Dao of Restriction and Transformation. Generally, all things born of Heaven and Earth are influenced by the generation and transformation of the Five Movements and Six Qi. Understanding the principles of Yin-Yang and Generation-Overcoming allows the properties of all things to be utilized for generation and transformation within the Five Zang and Six Fu organs. Zhu Danxi once said: Peach is the fruit of the Lung, and its pit primarily benefits Liver Blood; Apricot is the fruit of the Heart, and its pit primarily benefits Lung Qi. Is this not also due to the principle of restriction and transformation?