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The *Bencao Shijin* (Herbal Food Prohibitions) states: In the first month, abstaining from all meats is auspicious.
The *Yangsheng Yaoji* (Essentials for Health Preservation) states: In the first month, do not consume leftovers eaten by rats; this will immediately cause rat fistula (scrofula), manifesting on the top of the head. Or, toxins may enter the abdomen and spleen, causing persistent lower bleeding; or sores may appear in the mouth, resembling a lunar eclipse, sized like a bean.
It also states: Do not eat raw green onions, as this may trigger latent diseases.
It also states: During long walks in the second month, do not drink flowing spring water from shady places during travel. This may cause chronic malaria to recur, predispose one to dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), damage the spleen, induce coughing, shortness of breath, and inability to breathe comfortably.
The *Bencao Shijin* states: Eating on Yin days in the second month is inauspicious.
It also states: Eating fish and soft-shelled turtles on the ninth day of the second month shortens lifespan.
The *Yangsheng Yaoji* states: In the third month, do not eat old pickled vegetables; one will surely suffer from heat pathogens throughout the summer, develop malignant sores, contract jaundice, and produce excessive saliva. "Ji" refers to turnip pickles.
The *Cui Yuxi Shijing* (Cui Yuxi's Food Classic) states: Celery seeds should not be eaten in the third month, as they contain "dragon offspring"; consuming them can be fatal.
It also states: Eating meat of birds and beasts, as well as all fruits, vegetables, and five pungent spices on the third day of the third month harms the human body.
The *Zhenzhong Fang* (Prescriptions from the Pillow) states: On the first day of the third month, do not eat any meat or five pungent spices.
The *Yangsheng Yaoji* states: In the fourth month, do not eat garlic, as it damages the five internal organs.
It also states: On the eighth day of the fourth month, do not eat herbs, vegetables, or meat.
The *Shijing* (Food Classic) states: In the fourth month (the month of Si), do not eat pheasant meat.
The *Yangsheng Yaoji* states: In the fifth month, do not eat unripe fruits, peaches, or plums, as this triggers carbuncles, furuncles, and boils; otherwise, one will feel extreme cold at night, develop jaundice, and suffer from diarrhea and dysentery downwards.
It also states: On the fifth day of the fifth month, eating various vegetables until the end of the month depletes Yang qi, causing shortness of breath.
It also states: On the fifth day of the fifth month, pork liver should not be eaten together with carp; carp fails to digest properly and forms zheng jia (abdominal masses).
It also states: On the fifth day of the fifth month, do not eat mustard greens or pheasant meat.
Cui Yu says: In the fifth month, do not eat leeks, as they damage the essence of the eyes.
It also states: On the fifth day of the fifth month, do not eat all vegetables, as this triggers myriad diseases.
The *Shijing* states: On the fifth day of the fifth month, do not eat yellow and green flowering vegetables or leeks, as these are detrimental to humans and cause disease.
The *Bencao Shijin* states: Do not eat roe deer and sika deer meat, nor any other meat.
The *Yangsheng Yaoji* states: In the sixth month, do not drink stagnant water from marshes; liking to eat soft-shelled turtle meat leads to bie jia (abdominal mass resembling a turtle).
It also states: Do not eat fruits that have fallen naturally; overnight fruits may have ants, mole crickets, or dung beetles crawling on them, predisposing one to lou syndrome (chronic fistula or hemorrhagic disease).
Que Yu says: Do not eat eagles or pelicans, as they damage human essence and qi.
It also states: In the fifth and sixth months, celery should not be eaten; insects within its hollow stems cause dizziness and confusion when consumed.
The *Yangsheng Yaoji* states: In the seventh month, do not eat raw honey, as it causes sudden summer cholera.
It also states: Not eating raw wheat transforms into pinworms.
The *Zhu Sijian Shijing* (Zhu Sijian's Food Classic) states: In the seventh month, do not eat fallen fruits or raw wheat.
The *Yangsheng Yaoji* states: In the eighth month, do not eat pig lungs or placenta; coughing will definitely occur in winter. If drinking water from shady places, malaria will definitely arise.
The *Bencao Shijin* states: Do not eat wild garlic (allium macrostemon), as it induces wheezing.
It also states: Do not eat ginger, as it damages the spirit.
The *Meng Shen Shijing* (Meng Shen's Food Classic) states: From after the fourth month until before the eighth month, quail meat should not be eaten.
The *Qianjin Fang* (Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold) states: In the eighth month, do not eat pheasant meat, as it damages human spirit and qi.
The *Yangsheng Yaoji* states: In the ninth month, do not eat grasses and vegetables frosted by frost; towards winter, chills and fever or warm diseases will develop. Appetite may lead to vomiting, or water may stagnate in the heart without being digested, or become wei fan disease (regurgitation).
It also states: Not eating ginger causes soul disorders.
It also states: Do not eat pork.
The *Bencao Shijin* states: In the ninth month, do not eat frosted melons or any meat; this is highly auspicious.
The *Yangsheng Yaoji* states: In the tenth month, do not eat frosted raw vegetables; facial luster is lost. Eyes become dry, chest pain and waist pain develop, or xin nue (cardiac malaria) with cold extremities occurs.
It also states: Not eating Sichuan pepper causes qi deficiency and flaccidity.
It also states: Snails and pork are prohibited.
The *Qianjin Fang* states: In the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth months, do not eat raw leeks, as this increases nasal discharge and saliva.
The *Yangsheng Yaoji* states: In the eleventh month, do not eat meat or jerky that has spoiled over the summer. This disturbs the kidneys, predisposing to edema and dizziness; avoid snails and things attached to objects.
It also states: In the twelfth month, do not eat leftovers from dogs and rats; this transforms into xin xian (cardiac epilepsy) and lou syndrome. If children eat it, white sores form in the throat leading to death.
It also states: In the first and second months, Water qi is prosperous; do not eat animal livers. Eating liver damages the Hun (Ethereal Soul); damaged Hun leads to madness.
In the fourth and fifth months, Fire qi is prosperous; do not eat hearts. Damaging the heart damages the Shen (Spirit); damaged Shen leads to excessive sorrow and fear.
In the seventh and eighth months, Metal qi is prosperous; do not eat lungs. Eating lungs damages the Po (Corporeal Soul); damaged Po leads to madness.
In the tenth and eleventh months, Water qi is prosperous; do not eat kidneys. Eating kidneys damages the Zhi (Will); damaged Zhi leads to unrest in the five zang organs.
In the third, sixth, ninth, and twelfth months, Earth qi is prosperous; do not eat spleens. Eating spleen damages the Yi (Intellect); damaged Yi leads to paralysis of the four limbs.