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The *Zangqi Fashi Lun* (Treatise on the Laws of Zang Organ Times) states: When pathogenic factors invade the body, they inflict harm according to the principle of mutual overcoming. (By "pathogenic factors" is meant abnormal qi, such as wind, cold, summer-heat, dampness, overeating or hunger, fatigue, and inactivity.)

The condition improves when it reaches the time of its offspring (i.e., when the qi of the organ it generates is prosperous). (Referring to the time when the qi generated by the affected zang organ becomes strong.) The condition worsens when it reaches the time of its conqueror (i.e., when the qi that overcomes it is prosperous). (Referring to the time when the qi that controls the affected zang organ becomes strong.) The condition stabilizes when it reaches the time of its mother (i.e., when the qi that generates it is prosperous). (Referring to the time when the qi that nourishes the affected zang organ becomes strong.) The condition arises or peaks when it attains its own position (i.e., when its own qi is prosperous). (Referring to the season or location governed by the affected zang organ, termed "attaining its own position".)

When the Liver is diseased, there is pain in both hypochondriac regions radiating to the lower abdomen, causing irritability. (The Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian ascends from the foot, circles the genitalia, reaches the lower abdomen, pierces through the liver and diaphragm, and distributes along the hypochondrium; hence the pain in the hypochondrium radiating to the lower abdomen. If Liver Qi is Excess, irritability occurs.)

When Liver Qi is Deficient, vision is impaired, hearing is diminished, and there is excessive fear, as if being pursued. (The Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian travels from the hypochondrium and elbow, follows the throat, enters the pharynx, and connects with the eye system. The Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian has a branch entering the ear from behind, emerging anterior to the ear, and reaching the lateral canthus; thus these symptoms arise. "Fear" refers to fright and unsettled Hun [Soul].)

When the Heart is diseased, there is pain in the chest, distension and fullness in the hypochondrium, pain below the hypochondrium, pain between the back and scapula, and pain in the medial aspect of both arms. (The Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian has a branch following the chest to emerge at the hypochondrium. Additionally, the Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian originates in the chest; its branch also follows the chest, emerges below the hypochondrium three cun lateral to the axilla, ascends to the axilla, descends along the medial arm, running between the Hand Taiyin and Hand Shaoyin meridians, entering the elbow, and descending along the forearm between two tendons. Furthermore, the direct pathway of the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian rises from the heart connection to the lung, emerges from the axilla, descends along the posterior-medial aspect of the arm, posterior to the Hand Taiyin and Hand Jueyin, passes the medial elbow, follows the posterior-medial forearm, and reaches the tip of the radial styloid process. Additionally, the Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian ascends from the arm, winds around the scapula, and crosses the shoulder; thus these symptoms occur.)

When Heart Qi is Deficient, the chest and abdomen become distended, and there is pulling pain between the hypochondrium and the waist. (The Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian originates in the chest, belongs to the Pericardium, descends through the diaphragm, and interconnects with the Sanjiao; its branch follows the chest to emerge at the hypochondrium. The Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian descends from the heart connection through the diaphragm to connect with the Small Intestine. Thus these symptoms arise.)

When the Spleen is diseased, the body feels heavy, muscles may atrophy, the feet cannot support walking, and there is frequent pain in the soles of the feet. ("Kui" refers to pediatric malnutrition syndrome. The Spleen corresponds to Earth and governs muscles, hence heaviness and muscle atrophy. The Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian originates at the tip of the great toe, ascends along the medial aspect of the toe to the anterior edge of the medial malleolus, and continues up the medial leg. The Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian originates below the little toe,斜趋es the sole, ascends the medial leg, emerges anterior to the medial malleolus; thus disease manifests as inability to support the feet, frequent Kui, and pain in the soles.)

When Spleen Qi is Deficient, there is abdominal distension and fullness, borborygmus, undigested stool diarrhea, and food stagnation. (The Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian enters the abdomen from the anterior medial thigh, belongs to the Spleen, and connects with the Stomach, hence these symptoms. The *Ling Shu* states: "Deficiency of Middle Qi causes frequent abdominal fullness and borborygmus.")

When the Lung is diseased, there is wheezing, coughing, rebellious Qi, shoulder and back pain, sweating, and pain in the sacrum, yin region, thighs, knees, hips, calves, and feet. The Lung stores Qi and governs respiration; its pathological change manifests as coughing, hence wheezing, coughing, and rebellious Qi. The back is the mansion of the chest, and the shoulder is proximate to it, hence shoulder and back pain. The Lung nourishes skin and hair; when pathogenic factors are excess, Heart fluids leak outward, hence sweating. The Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian ascends from the foot along the medial calf, emerges anterior to the medial malleolus, ascends the posterior-medial thigh, penetrates the spine, belongs to the Kidney, and connects with the Bladder. Now, Lung disease affects the Kidney meridian, hence pain in the sacrum, yin region, thighs, knees, hips, calves, and feet.)

When Lung Qi is Deficient, there is shortness of breath with inability to complete inhalation, deafness, and dry throat. (Qi deficiency leads to insufficient breath completion. The Luo-connecting vessel of the Foot Taiyin Lung Meridian converges in the ear, hence deafness. The Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian ascends from the Kidney through the Liver and Diaphragm, enters the Lung, and follows the throat flanking the tongue root. Now, Lung deficiency causes insufficient Kidney Qi to moisten the throat upward, hence dry throat.)

When the Kidney is diseased, there is abdominal distension, swelling of the calves, wheezing and coughing, body heaviness, nocturnal sweating, and aversion to wind. (The Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian originates at the foot, ascends the medial calf, passes through the transverse bone, runs alongside the umbilicus within the abdomen, ascends into the Lung; hence abdominal distension, calf swelling, and wheezing/coughing. Kidney disease impairs bone function, hence body heaviness. Kidney pathogens enter the Lung, weakening Heart Qi; Heart fluid becomes sweat, hence nocturnal sweating. With calf swelling and sweat leaking fluids, Yin congeals at the Xuanfu pores, Yang scorches the Lower Jiao, creating internal heat and external cold, hence aversion to wind.)

When Kidney Qi is Deficient, there is pain in the chest, pain in the greater and lesser abdomen, cold extremities with reversal cold, and low spirits/unhappiness. (The Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian exits the Lung, connects with the Heart, and pours into the chest. With Kidney Qi deficient, the Heart lacks control; Heart Qi scorches the Lung, hence pain gathering in the chest. The Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian descends from the nape to the foot. Kidney deficiency prevents Taiyang Qi from prospering in the feet, hence cold feet and rebellious Qi. "Qing" means cold/chilly. "Jue" means reversal cold. Due to cold Qi rebellion, there is pain in the greater and lesser abdomen. Insufficient willpower leads to restless spirit, hence unhappiness.)