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The *Da Yi Ying Xiang Lun* (Great Treatise on the Correspondence of Yin and Yang) states: "The cold and hot nature of food and drink, when perceived, harms the Six Fu Organs." The *Bi Lun* (Treatise on Bi Syndrome) states: "Yin Qi is quiet; in quietness, the Spirit is stored. If restless, the Spirit dissipates." Excessive intake of food and drink injures the Intestines and Stomach. This is a general statement; specifically divided into two categories: Drinks (Yin) and Food (Shi).

"Drinks" refer to water, which belongs to formless Qi. Drinking excessively causes Qi rebellion. Cold exposure and drinking cold liquids injure the Lungs, resulting in symptoms such as panting and coughing, swelling and fullness, or watery diarrhea. For mild cases, sweating and promoting urination should be employed to disperse dampness from above and below. *Jie Cheng Tang* (Dreg-Resolving Decoction), *Wu Ling San* (Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria), and herbs such as *Sheng Jiang* (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens), *Ban Xia* (Pinelliae Rhizoma), *Zhi Shi* (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), and *Bai Zhu* (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) are indicated. For severe cases where dampness accumulates causing abdominal fullness, drugs such as *Yuan Hua* (Genkwa Flos), *Da Ji* (Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix), *Gan Sui* (Kansui Radix), and *Qian Niu* (Pharbitidis Semen) should be used to purge downwards. This constitutes the treatment for "Drinks."

"Food" refers to solid matter, belonging to the category of有形之血 (formative blood/substance). The *Sheng Qi Tong Tian Lun* (Treatise on Vital Energy Communicating with Heaven) states: "Excessive satiety leads to flaccidity of sinews and vessels, and intestinal damage results in hemorrhoids." It further states: "Injury to the Tai Yin and Jue Yin meridians by food results in the Cun Kou pulse being two or three times larger than the Ren Ying pulse, accompanied by vomiting, epigastric fullness, or dysentery and intestinal disorders." Treatment must distinguish between cold and heat, and severity. Mild cases are treated by internal resolution; severe cases by purgation. For injury caused by cold-natured foods, *Ban Xia*, *Shen Qu*, *Gan Jiang*, *San Leng*, *E Zhu*, and *Ba Dou* are indicated. For injury caused by hot-natured foods, *Zhi Shi*, *Bai Zhu*, *Qing Pi*, *Chen Pi*, *Mai Dong*, *Huang Lian*, and *Da Huang* are indicated. Emetic therapy is also suitable in some cases. The *Da Yi Ying Xiang Lun* states: "For pathogens located above, induce vomiting to expel them." *Gua Di San* (Melon Seed Powder) is indicated for such conditions. However, dosage must not be excessive, as it will re-injure the intestines and stomach. Since the patient has already self-injured via diet, adding excessive medication further damages the gastrointestinal Qi, impairing digestion and leading to emaciation and debility. Thus, the *Wu Chang Zheng Da Lun* (Great Treatise on the Five Constant Policies) states: "When treating disease with highly toxic substances, stop when six-tenths of the disease is removed; when using slightly toxic substances, stop when seven-tenths is removed. One must never overuse toxic drugs." This is a profound warning from the Sages.

The *Tiao Jing Lun* (Treatise on Regulating the Channels) states: "Yin deficiency generates internal heat." Qi Bo said: "Due to fatigue and overexertion, the physical form and Qi decline, and Gu Qi (Grain Qi) becomes insufficient. The Upper Jiao fails to circulate, and the Lower Wan fails to transmit, causing Stomach Qi to generate heat. This heat steams the chest, resulting in internal heat." The *Ju Tong Lun* (Treatise on Painful Conditions) states: "Fatigue consumes Qi. Fatigue leads to panting and sweating, causing both interior and exterior Qi to escape, thus depleting Qi." Unregulated emotions and irregular daily routines cause injury to Qi. When Qi declines, Fire flares up, attacking the Spleen Earth. Since the Spleen governs the four limbs, the patient feels fatigued and feverish, lacks strength for movement, is reluctant to speak, experiences panting and weakness during activity, has surface heat, spontaneous sweating, and restlessness. During illness, one should sit quietly to nourish Qi, use Sweet-Cold herbs to clear Heat, use Sour herbs to astringe escaping Qi, and use Sweet-Warm herbs to tonify Middle Qi. The Classics state: "Tonify fatigue with warmth, tonify deficiency with warmth," which refers to this principle. The *Jin Gui Yao Lue* states: "A large pulse indicates labor syndrome; an extremely deficient pulse also indicates labor syndrome." In labor syndrome, the pulse is floating and large, with vexing heat in the hands and feet, worsening in Spring and Summer, and improving in Autumn and Winter. A large pulse indicates Heat pathogen; extreme deficiency indicates Qi damage. Worsening in Spring/Summer is due to seasonal support of the pathogen; improvement in Autumn/Winter is due to seasonal suppression of the pathogen. *Huang Qi Jian Zhong Tang* (Astragalus Decoction to Establish the Middle) is used for treatment, embodying the principle of "warming."

The Ancient Sages regulated their diet, maintained regular routines, avoided excessive exertion, and preserved both Form and Spirit, living to a hundred years. This is called "treating disease before it arises." People today, far removed from the Sages' era, do not act thus. They have irregular diets, improper routines, and engage in reckless labor, injuring both Form and Qi. Consequently, they fall ill and then take medicine, which is "treating disease after it has arisen." Tracing the origin of all diseases reveals that dietary indiscretion and fatigue cause the dispersion of Wei Qi (Stomach Qi) and Yuan Qi (Original Qi), preventing them from nourishing the collaterals, irrigating the Zang-Fu organs, and protecting the body. Therefore, the Qi of Heaven values clarity and stillness, while Yang Qi dislikes vexation and labor. Alas! Must one not be cautious regarding diet, emotions, climate, and daily routine?