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After a person is born, with the first cry, they enter the "Post-Heaven" (Houtian) stage. The root of Post-Heaven is the Spleen and Stomach. The Spleen and Stomach belong to Earth in the Five Elements; Earth is the mother of all things. The *I Ching* (Book of Changes) says: "Great indeed is the Kun Yuan (Earthly Origin)! All things rely on it for life." Therefore, the Stomach is the source of Wei Qi (Defensive Qi), the Spleen is the root of Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi), and the Spleen and Stomach constitute the Post-Heaven Yuan Qi (Original Qi). The *Zhen Jing* (Classic of Acupuncture) states: "Ying Qi arises from the Middle Jiao (Spleen/Stomach), Wei Qi arises from the Upper Jiao (Heart/Lungs)." However, Wei Qi belongs to Yang, so tonifying it requires Pungent (Xin) flavors; Ying Qi belongs to Yin, so nourishing it requires Sweet (Gan) flavors. When Pungent and Sweet flavors combine, the Spleen and Stomach become robust, and Ying and Wei Qi flow smoothly. The *Jing* (Inner Canon) says: "The Spleen and Stomach are the officials of the granary, from which the Five Flavors emerge." It also says: "Food enters the Stomach, its essence is dispersed to the Liver, nourishing the sinews; turbid Qi returns to the Heart, essence flows into the vessels, vessel Qi circulates through the meridians, and Qi converges in the Lungs." Drinks enter the Stomach, their essence overflows and is transported upward to the Spleen; the Spleen disperses essence upward to the Lungs, regulates water passages, and transports downward to the Bladder. Water essence is distributed throughout the body, the five meridians run in parallel, conforming to the Four Seasons, regulating the Yin and Yang of the five Zang organs, establishing this as the norm. Thus, we know that when food and drink enter the Stomach, they are spread among the Six Fu organs to generate Qi, harmonize with the five Zang organs to generate Blood, circulate through the hundred vessels, flow freely in the four limbs, fill the muscles, and sustain life. Hence it is said: "Those who can eat prosper; those who cannot eat perish." Generally, after an infant is born, if they do not eat for one day, they will be hungry; if they do not eat for seven days, their intestines and stomach will exhaust and they will die. Humans having Spleen and Stomach is like an army having supply lines; once the supply line is cut, the masses scatter instantly; once the Spleen and Stomach fail, even hundreds of medicines cannot be effective. The sages of ancient times, seeing that Earth is the root of Post-Heaven, stated in pulse diagnosis theory: "All four seasons take Stomach Qi as the root; with Stomach Qi there is life, without Stomach Qi there is death." Therefore, in critical conditions of Shanghan (Cold Damage) disease, one examines the presence or absence of Stomach Qi by palpating the Chongyang acupoint (Chongyang, ST42, located on the dorsum of the foot, reflecting Stomach Qi). If the pulse at Chongyang is felt, there is hope for recovery; if the pulse at Chongyang is absent, one can only wait for death.

Mr. Li Dongyuan deeply understood the purport of the classics and specifically wrote *Pi Wei Lun* (Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach) to awaken people. He said: If Qi in the Stomach is abundant, one can eat without injury and feel no hunger past mealtime, with both Spleen and Stomach vigorous. One can eat and gain weight [Note: Text implies specific pathological states here, usually strong Stomach/weak Spleen leads to eating but emaciation, but translating literally]. If Spleen and Stomach are both deficient, one cannot eat and becomes thin. Those who eat well but are thin have latent Fire pathogen in the Qi level of the Stomach, leading to increased appetite, while Spleen deficiency leads to muscle wasting. Some say: Excess Blood and Deficient Qi lead to obesity; Excess Qi and Deficient Blood lead to leanness. Any internal injury from the Seven Emotions (Seven Affects) or external attack by the Six Qi (Six Pathogenic Factors) can cause deficiency, but among these, Diet and Fatigue are particularly significant. The *Jing* says: "If diet doubles, the intestines and stomach are injured." It also says: "The cold or heat of food and drink, if mishandled, harms the Six Fu organs."

"Drink" refers to water, which is formless Qi. The *Jing* says: "Excessive drinking causes Qi rebellion, potentially leading to panting and coughing, edema, vomiting, etc." "Food" refers to substances, which are有形 (form/material). The *Jing* says: "Overeating causes meridians to relax horizontally, bowels transform into hemorrhoids. It may cause distension, accumulation, various pains, or vomiting and diarrhea." This is called dietary injury. The *Jing* says: "With fatigue and overwork, form and Qi decline, Grain Qi is not abundant, Upper Jiao does not function, Lower Wan (stomach outlet) is blocked, Stomach Qi becomes hot, hot Qi steams the chest, causing internal heat." It also says: "Labor consumes Qi. Labor causes panting and sweating, internal and external Qi escape, thus Qi is consumed." Any fatigue damages Qi. When Qi declines, Deficient Fire flares up; when Deficient Fire flares, it attacks the Spleen Earth. The Spleen governs the four limbs, so one feels tired and hot, lacks energy to move, is reluctant to speak, pants upon movement, has surface heat and spontaneous sweating, and feels restless. This is called fatigue injury.

Humans rely on the Qi of water and grain to live. The so-called Clear Qi, Ying Qi, and Wei Qi are all aliases of Stomach Qi. The Stomach is the sea of water and grain; the five Zang and six Fu organs receive its irrigation. If daily routine is irregular or diet is unregulated, the Spleen and Stomach will inevitably be injured. Once the Spleen and Stomach are injured, Yuan Qi must be depleted, Heart Fire burns alone. Heart Fire is the Yin Fire of the Lower Jiao; when the Heart does not issue commands, Minister Fire takes over. Fire and Yuan Qi are incompatible; when one wins, the other loses. Yin Fire rushes upward, causing shortness of breath and panting, body heat and irritability. Spleen and Stomach Qi sinks, Grain Qi cannot ascend purely. This means the Spring-generating command does not operate, lacking Yang to protect Ying and Wei, resulting in alternating chills and fever. The *Jing* says: "Tonify deficiency with warmth; treat loss with warmth." It also says: "Warmth can eliminate great heat; bitter-cold herbs are most taboo as they damage the Spleen and Stomach." For fatigue injuries, Mr. Dongyuan established Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Supplement the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction), using purely sweet-warm herbs with ascending properties, allowing the spring sun to spread and all things to flourish. Yi Lao (Master Yi) for dietary injuries established Ji Shu Wan (Immature Bitter Orange and Atractylodes Pill), combining tonification and purging, not seeking quick resolution but strengthening the Stomach to prevent further injury. These are loyal inheritances of Yan-Huang medicine, serving as standards for later generations. Luo Qianfu elaborated on this principle, stating that for Spleen deficiency with poor appetite, one should not use attacking methods; tonification naturally restores appetite, implying other methods exist.

The East corresponds to Wood, which should be pacified, lest Wood excess insults Earth and becomes arrogant. The West corresponds to Metal, which should be protected, lest Child (Metal) deficiency steals Mother (Earth) Qi for self-rescue. As for Minor Fire (Shao Huo), it is the origin of generating Qi. Therefore, above the Center (Spleen Earth), for deficiency patterns, there is the theory of "tonifying the mother." Scholar Xu said: "Kidney deficiency cannot transform food, like a pot where, without fire below, how can it cook?" Yan Yonghe said: "Excessive sexual activity weakens True Yang, which cannot steam the Spleen Earth upward. The Middle Jiao fails to transport, causing indigestion, distension, and fullness. One must know to tonify the Kidney. If Kidney Qi is strong, Dantian Fire is abundant, steaming the Spleen Earth upward, warming the Earth so it self-regulates." In summary, the Spleen possesses the virtue of Kun (yielding/receptive) and the operation of Qian (strong/moving). If Kun virtue is lacking, tonify Earth to cultivate its function; if Qian strength slackens, benefit Fire to assist transformation. This is what Dongyuan and Qianfu advocated by tonifying Earth, and Xu and Yonghe taught by strengthening Fire. If Earth is strong, intake and output are free; if Fire is strong, transportation is diligent. Fire is the mother of Earth; in deficiency, tonify the mother. This is the constant method of treating disease.

The secular world, upon encountering Spleen and Stomach deficiency and stagnation, immediately administers Shen Qu (Medicated Leaven), Ban Xia (Pinellia), Shan Zha (Hawthorn), Mai Ya (Barley Sprout), Xiang Fu (Cyperus), Sha Ren (Cardamom), Hou Po (Magnolia Bark), and even Huang Lian (Coptis) and Shan Zhi (Gardenia), considering them good prescriptions for the Spleen and Stomach, yet countless people die prematurely from this. They do not realize these are methods of "purging the child when excess," used because the Spleen and Stomach have accumulated Excess Fire, Yuan Qi is not yet depleted, and pathogenic Qi is rampant. Using Qi-breaking agents to purge Lung Metal (the child of Earth, governing Qi) is appropriate for excess. If used for deficiency, it increases deficiency; tonifying deficiency with cold herbs will suppress the origin of True Fire generation, destroying Qi and cutting off Grain Qi! Most strangely, some regard Ren Shen (Ginseng) and Bai Zhu (Atractylodes) as cloying and obstructing, fearing them like arsenic. Have they not heard the *Jing* say: "Tonify the deficient, warm the fatigued"? And "Treat obstruction with obstruction (Se due Sai yong)"? Have they not heard Dongyuan advocate: For Spleen/Stomach Qi excess, purge with Zhi Shi (Immature Bitter Orange) and Huang Lian; for deficiency, tonify with Bai Zhu and Chen Pi (Tangerine Peel)? Have they not heard Danxi say: Excess Fire can be purged with Huang Qin and Huang Lian; Deficient Fire can be tonified with Ren Shen? Moreover, when dietary injury first occurs, stagnation turns into Damp-Heat, and if Yuan Qi is not yet defeated, temporarily using Huang Lian, Shan Zha, and Shen Qu is suitable. However, the Stomach prefers warmth and dislikes cold; excessive dosage weakens Spleen Yang further, making transformation harder. If the illness persists, Yuan Qi becomes deficient, Yang Qi is insufficient, and Yin-Cold becomes a pestilence. Taking Huang Lian then is like throwing stones on someone who has fallen into a well. The *Jing* says: "Dietary and fatigue injury to Spleen/Stomach initially presents as Re-Middle (Heat Syndrome), not Cold-Middle. Initially, clear heat is appropriate; finally, warm nourishment is appropriate. There is a clear distinction and sequence!" Furthermore, the sage treats disease before it arises, not after. Observing the image of Ji Ji (After Completion), the gentleman thinks of disaster and prevents it. Observing Sui (Following), the gentleman rests at dusk. Observing Yi (Nourishment), the gentleman regulates diet. Does this not clearly show that diet and fatigue can harm life? Therefore, health cultivators prioritize nourishing Qi: sexual activity should be slow and steady, speech calm and respectful, sitting upright and straight, voice low and harmonious. Practice stillness within movement, keeping the body in the Great Harmony Yuan Qi. Over time, one will possess the demeanor of a sage.

*Changsheng Midian* (Secret Canon of Longevity) says: Internal mental labor and external physical labor both lead to premature death, but sexual labor is more severe as form and spirit are jointly used, and essence and Qi are equally damaged. It also says: Standing, sitting, walking, or lying for too long all injure humans. If Yuan Qi exceeds Grain Qi, the person is thin but lives long; if Grain Qi exceeds Yuan Qi, the person is fat but dies young. Taixi Shui says: Digestion has three transformations: Cooking/breakdown is Fire Transformation; chewing slowly is Mouth Transformation; steaming and transporting is Stomach Transformation. If one transformation is effective, the Stomach is not labored. *Yi Shuo* (Medical Sayings) states: Food reaching the Stomach should be mild/warm, regardless of cold or hot items; chewing slowly makes it naturally warm. *Midian* says: After eating full, loosen the belt, rub the abdomen, stretch the waist, walk slowly, perform spitting motions to clear blockage, and exhale sounds to remove stagnation, allowing food to descend before sitting. Sitting full causes hemorrhoids; bending over causes middle-fullness. Do not drink cold water after drunkenness; do not lie down immediately after eating; do not get angry after eating; do not eat after anger. Cold and hot foods should not be mixed excessively. *Zunsheng Bian* (Compilation of Respecting Life) says: Drinking nourishes Yang, eating nourishes Yin. Food should be moderate, not leaving one empty. Force eating when not hungry, force drinking when not thirsty, and the Spleen labors causing distension. Do not let oneself go hungry in the morning; do not eat heavily at night. Light diet provides more tonification; Five Pungents (Five Spices/Aromatics) easily aid Fire. *Tiao Shi Fa* (Method of Regulating Diet) says: Better to eat less than more, better to be hungry than full, better to eat late than far apart, better to eat hot than cold, better to eat in small amounts than in one big meal, better to eat soft than hard. These six points are key methods for regulating Spleen deficiency. The saying goes: Cultivation is inferior to resting from labor; taking medicine is inferior to dietary restrictions. Though humble, these words hit the essential truth. If one can maintain such preservation, Earth becomes strong, Zang-Fu are peaceful, the Post-Heaven root is undamaged, Ying and Wei are harmonious, and one enjoys longevity.