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To implement methods for treating diseases, one must investigate the source of the disease. Generally, diseases do not deviate from Yin and Yang pathogenic factors. Wind, heat, and fire belong to Yang; dampness, dryness, and cold belong to Yin. If treatment is undertaken without investigation, the pathogenic factors of Yin and Yang will spread and become difficult to control. (After a long time, transmission and transformation occur, making it impossible to handle the multitude of changes.) Now, Jueyin (Liver/Pericardium) has San Yin (Three Yin) as its Biao (Manifestation/Exterior aspect) and Wind-Wood as its Ben (Root/Internal aspect). When wind pathogen injures the human body, diseases such as tremors, convulsions, sudden stiffness, and rigidity arise. Shaoyin (Heart/Kidney) has Er Yin (Two Yin) as its Biao and Jun Huo (Ministerial Fire/Emperor Fire) as its Ben. When heat pathogen injures the human body, diseases such as sores, ulcers, sudden diarrhea, and turbid fluids arise. Shaoyang (Gallbladder/Triple Burner) has Yi Yang (One Yang) as its Biao and Xiang Huo (Ministerial Fire) as its Ben. When fire pathogen injures the human body, diseases such as restlessness, agitation, mania, and loss of mental control arise. Skilled practitioners treat excessive wind with pungent-cool herbs to pacify it; excessive heat with salty-cold herbs to pacify it; excessive fire with salty-cold herbs to pacify it. Since the disease originates in Yang, one must seek out the Yang pathogen and treat it. Taiyin (Spleen/Lung) has San Yin as its Biao and Damp-Earth as its Ben. When damp pathogen injures the human body, diseases such as abdominal fullness, generalized edema, and various spasms and rigidity arise. Yangming (Stomach/Large Intestine) has Er Yang as its Biao and Dryness-Metal as its Ben. When dryness pathogen injures the human body, diseases such as skin郁结 (stagnation), cracking, peeling, and various dryness and withering arise. Taiyang (Bladder/Small Intestine) has Yi Yang as its Biao and Cold-Water as its Ben. When cold pathogen injures the human body, diseases such as vomiting and purging of foul odors, and various cold contraction and pulling arise. Skilled practitioners treat excessive dampness with bitter-hot herbs to pacify it; excessive dryness with bitter-warm herbs to pacify it; excessive cold with pungent-hot herbs to pacify it. Since the disease originates in Yin, one must seek out the Yin pathogen and treat it. In this manner, if a disease does not heal, it has never happened.

The Six Qi are the Ben (Root), and the Three Yin and Three Yang are the Biao (Manifestation). The three Qi of Heaven descend from above and are received by the Foot Yang Meridians in the human body; the three Qi of Earth ascend from below and are received by the Foot Yin Meridians in the human body. In Taiyang Cold-Water syndrome, the pulse is floating and tight. Tightness represents the Ben of Cold-Water; floating represents the Biao of Taiyang. When arising in the Three Yang Meridians, urgently use pungent-hot herbs to attack the tightness of the Ben, assisted by mild sweet-cold agents to resolve the floating of the Biao. When entering the Fu Organs from the Meridians, examine the pulse for floating and tightness again. If the tightness disappears but the floating remains, the floating has entered the Fu; use cold herbs to resolve it. If the floating disappears but the tightness remains, the tightness has entered the Fu; use hot herbs to attack it. If neither floating nor tightness disappears, both have entered the Fu; still use hot herbs to attack the Ben and cold herbs to resolve the Biao. When arising in the Three Yin Meridians, urgently use pungent-hot herbs to attack the tightness of the Ben, assisted by heavy sweet-cold agents to resolve the floating of the Biao. When entering the Zang Organs from the Meridians, examine the pulse for floating and tightness again. If the tightness disappears but the floating remains, the floating has entered the Zang; use cold herbs to resolve it. If the floating disappears but the tightness remains, the tightness has entered the Zang; use hot herbs to attack it. If neither floating nor tightness disappears, both have entered the Zang; still use hot herbs to attack the Ben and cold herbs to resolve the Biao. In Shaoyin Jun Huo syndrome, the pulse is deep and large. Largeness represents the Ben of Jun Huo; depth represents the Biao of Shaoyin. When arising in the Three Yang Meridians, use pungent-cold herbs to attack the fire of the Ben, assisted by mild sweet-warm agents to resolve the depth of the Biao. When arising in the Three Yin Meridians, use pungent-cold herbs to attack the fire of the Ben, assisted by heavy sweet-warm agents to resolve the depth of the Biao. In Shaoyang Xiang Huo syndrome, the pulse is floating and rapid; in Taiyin Damp-Earth syndrome, the pulse is deep and slow. Since the Ben and Biao are identical in nature, treatment follows the Ben. In Jueyin Wind-Wood syndrome, the pulse is deep and wiry. In Yangming Dryness-Metal syndrome, the pulse is floating and short. Since the Ben, Biao, and Zhong Qi (Middle Qi) differ, treatment does not follow the Ben or Biao but follows the Zhong Qi.

Furthermore, regarding therapeutic methods, each has its key points, not limited to just one aspect! For pathogens in the exterior, disperse them through sweating; for pathogens in the interior, purge and drain them; for pathogens located high, induce vomiting by following their upward trend; for fierce pathogens, press and restrain them (massage); for deficiency and cold in the Zang Organs, treat with moxibustion; for pulse diseases causing spasms and bi-syndrome, treat with acupuncture; for blood excess with stasis, swelling, and heat, treat with Bian stone (bloodletting); for Qi stagnation, flaccidity, cold limbs, and alternating chills and fever, treat with Daoyin (guiding and pulling exercises); for blocked meridians and numbness, treat with medicinal wine; for coagulated Qi and Blood affecting sinews and vessels, treat with warming plasters. To seek the root of the disease at the beginning and eliminate the pathogenic factor at the end, nothing exceeds these methods. In ancient times, Emperor Huangdi sat in the Ming Tang, studied under Qibo, and transmitted knowledge to Leigong, saying: Yin and Yang are the Way of Heaven and Earth. They are the guidelines for all things, governing changes, life, and death, containing unmeasurable divine power that rotates and controls within. Since disease originates from this, what else can a physician seek? It is also said: Seek those that exist, seek those that do not. This theory of seeking the disease mechanism is consistent with the principle of necessarily seeking the root.