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Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian), Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin), Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (Zhimu), and Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai), when treating diseases located in the head, face, and skin of the fingertips, must be stir-fried with wine to borrow the ascending power of wine to lift the medicinal properties upward. For diseases below the throat and above the umbilicus, they must be washed with wine; for diseases in the lower part, they should be used raw. Generally, processed (cooked) herbs ascend, while raw herbs descend. Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (Dahuang) must be baked (roasted) to prevent its cold nature from damaging Stomach Qi (Stomach energy). As for Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Wutou) and Aconiti Radix Praeparata (Fuzi), they must be processed to remove their toxicity. When using drugs that act on the Upper Jiao (Upper Burner), they must be washed with wine and sun-dried. Huangbai and Zhimu are cold-natured drugs; for people who are chronically weak, they must be combined with processing: soaked in wine and sun-dried, fearing that the cold nature will damage Stomach Qi; Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata (Shudihuang) is also washed with wine for the same reason. Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui) is soaked in wine to assist its dispersing action.

Generally, for plant roots, the upper half (above the middle) has qi and blood vessels flowing upward, and the part that sprouts is called the root. The lower half (below the middle) has qi and blood vessels flowing downward, and the part entering the soil is called the tip (or end). One should know: for diseases in the Middle Jiao (Middle Burner), use the body (middle section) of the herb; for diseases in the Upper Jiao, use the root; for diseases in the Lower Jiao, use the tip. The classics state: Roots ascend, tips descend.

The Lung belongs to Metal, the Liver to Wood, the Kidney to Water, the Heart to Fire, and the Spleen to Earth. Those that generate me are Parents; those that I generate are Offspring; those that control me are Ghosts/Thieves; those that I control are Wife/Wealth. Generating cycle: Wood generates Fire, Fire generates Earth, Earth generates Metal, Metal generates Water, Water generates Wood. Controlling cycle: Wood controls Earth, Earth controls Water, Water controls Fire, Fire controls Metal, Metal controls Wood. For example, if Wood generates Fire, Wood is the Parent of Fire, and Fire is the Offspring of Wood; if Wood controls Earth, Wood is the Husband of Earth, and Earth is the Wife of Wood. The rest follow this pattern.

The Heart stores Shen (Spirit), the Lung stores Po (Corporeal Soul), the Liver stores Hun (Ethereal Soul), the Spleen stores Yi (Intellect) and Zhi (Will/Intention), and the Kidney stores Jing (Essence) and Zhi (Will/Fear).

Medicines have four natures: Cold, Hot, Warm, and Cool; and six flavors: Sour, Bitter, Pungent, Salty, Sweet, and Bland. Each has specific capabilities and must be understood thoroughly. The qi and flavor of medicines do not necessarily correspond; for instance, substances with the same qi may all have a salty flavor and cold nature. Generally, substances with the same qi possess various flavors, and substances with the same flavor possess various qis. Due to the interplay of qi and flavor, there are differences in density and thickness, leading to unequal properties and uses. Formulators must clearly understand these applications. The classics state: Flavor is Yin; dense flavor is Pure Yin, thin flavor is Yang within Yin; Qi is Yang; dense qi is Pure Yang, thin qi is Yin within Yang. However, dense flavor causes purging/descending, while thin flavor promotes unblocking/flowing; dense qi causes heat generation, while thin qi induces sweating/release. It is also said: Pungent and Sweet flavors disperse and belong to Yang; Sour and Bitter flavors induce vomiting and purging and belong to Yin; Salty flavor induces vomiting and purging and belongs to Yin; Bland flavor promotes渗泄 (percolation and draining) and belongs to Yang. All these flavors have specific functions. Specifically, Pungent can dissipate nodules and moisten dryness; Bitter can dry dampness and firm softness; Salty can soften hardness; Sour can astringe and relax tension; Sweet can relieve urgency; Bland can open orifices and promote diuresis. Thus, the classics state: If the Liver suffers from tension/urgency, urgently consume Sweet flavors to relax it; if the Heart suffers from flaccidity/scattering, urgently consume Sour flavors to astringe it; if the Spleen suffers from dampness, urgently consume Bitter flavors to dry it; if the Lung suffers from rebellious Qi, urgently consume Bitter flavors to drain it; if the Kidney suffers from dryness, urgently consume Pungent flavors to moisten it, opening the cutaneous pores, promoting fluid distribution, and facilitating Qi flow. The Liver desires dispersion, so urgently consume Pungent flavors to disperse it; use Pungent to tonify it, and Sour to drain it. The Heart desires softening, so urgently consume Salty flavors to soften it; use Salty to tonify it, and Sweet to drain it. The Spleen desires relaxation, so urgently consume Sweet flavors to relax it; use Sweet to tonify it, and Bitter to drain it. The Lung desires astringency, so urgently consume Sour flavors to astringe it; use Sour to tonify it, and Pungent to drain it. The Kidney desires firmness, so urgently consume Bitter flavors to firm it; use Bitter to tonify it, and Salty to drain it. These clarify the uses of Qi and Flavor. If using flavor, one must determine its appropriateness; if using Qi, one must determine its suitability. By identifying the root and branch of the disease, the affected Zang-Fu organs, the Cold/Heat and Deficiency/Excess patterns, and the severity and urgency, one selects medicines based on their Qi and Flavor, formulating prescriptions according to the syndrome. Therefore, prescriptions contain the hierarchy of Jun (Monarch), Chen (Minister), Zuo (Assistant), and Shi (Envoy), as well as principles of weight, urgency, size, reversal, and conformity. The drug that treats the main disease is the Monarch; the drug assisting the Monarch is the Minister; the drug responding to the Minister is the Envoy. This follows the needs of the disease and assists in completing the prescription's function. A prescription with one Monarch and two Ministers is an Odd (Qi) formula; one with two Monarchs and four Ministers is an Even (Ou) formula. For diseases of the throat, which are near, use Odd formulas; for diseases of the Liver and Kidney, which are far, use Even formulas. Sweating methods should not use Odd formulas; purging methods should not use Even formulas. Tonifying the upper or treating upper diseases requires slow-acting formulations, which have thin Qi and Flavor; tonifying the lower or treating lower diseases requires rapid-acting formulations, which have dense Qi and Flavor. Thin substances are taken in small doses frequently; dense substances are taken in larger doses at once. One must also understand the five types of Qi stagnation: Wood stagnation is resolved by venting (using emesis to regulate and smooth); Fire stagnation is resolved by dispersing (using sweating to scatter); Earth stagnation is resolved by seizing/purging (using purgatives to remove obstruction); Metal stagnation is resolved by draining (using exterior-releasing and promoting urination); Water stagnation is resolved by restraining (controlling its rushing rebellion). These five points are the major essentials of treating diseases.