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The onset of all diseases must arise from external pathogens such as dryness, dampness, cold, summer-heat, wind, and rain; internal factors such as yin-yang imbalance and excessive emotions (joy and anger); and improper diet and living habits. When these pathogenic factors combine with the body, they manifest physical forms; when invading the Zang-Fu organs, they acquire specific names. The disease course often follows a daily pattern: clearer in the morning, peaceful during the day, aggravated in the evening, and severe at night, mirroring the changes of the four seasons. A day is divided into four parts corresponding to the seasons: morning corresponds to Spring, noon to Summer, sunset to Autumn, and midnight to Winter. In the morning, the healthy Qi (Vital Energy) begins to generate, while pathogenic Qi declines, hence the clarity in the morning; at noon, healthy Qi grows strong, overcoming the pathogens, hence peace; in the evening, healthy Qi begins to decline, and pathogenic Qi starts to rise, hence aggravation; at midnight, healthy Qi enters the Zang organs, leaving pathogens to dominate the body, hence severity. If the pattern is reversed, it indicates that the disease is not following the seasonal Qi but is dominated by the specific nature of the affected organ. Specifically, the condition worsens during the season that overcomes the organ's Qi, and improves during the season that generates or is generated by the organ's Qi. (Not following seasonal Qi means the organ's Qi independently dictates the pathology, involving mutual overcoming relationships. "Overcome by" refers to elements that control the organ, e.g., Spleen fears Wood, Lung fears Fire, Kidney fears Earth, Liver fears Metal, Heart fears Water; thus, symptoms worsen on days associated with these controlling elements. "Overcoming" refers to supportive elements, e.g., Spleen likes Fire/Earth, Lung likes Earth/Metal, Kidney likes Metal/Water, Liver likes Water/Wood, Heart likes Wood/Fire; thus, symptoms improve on days associated with these supportive elements.) By conforming to Heaven's timing, one can predict the disease outcome. Treatment should align human physiology with the laws of the Four Seasons and Five Elements, stabilizing the Qi of the five Zang organs, thereby understanding the timing of remission, exacerbation, and survival. For instance, the Liver governs Spring, and the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian and Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian are primarily responsible. (Jueyin belongs to the Liver, representing Yi Wood; Shaoyang belongs to the Gallbladder, representing Jia Wood. As interior-exterior paired organs, their treatment principles are identical.) The corresponding days are Jia and Yi days. (Jia is Yang Wood, Yi is Yin Wood, both Eastern Heavenly Stems, internally corresponding to Liver and Gallbladder; this applies to years, months, days, and hours similarly.) The Liver suffers from tension/spasm; urgently consume Sweet flavors to relax it. (The Liver is the "General," its emotion is Anger, and its Qi is rapid/hasty. Haste leads to self-injury and suffering, so Sweet flavors are suitable to relax it, calming the tension through softness overcoming hardness.) Diseases in the Liver heal in Summer; (Summer belongs to Fire, which is generated by Wood. Liver-Wood fears Metal, but Fire controls Metal; the "child" controls the "mother's enemy," hence healing. Others follow suit.) If not healed in Summer, it worsens in Autumn; (Autumn Metal overcomes Wood, the "overcomer.") If not fatal in Autumn, it remains stable in Winter, (Nourished by the Mother element Water, which generates Wood, hence stability. Others follow suit.) and improves in Spring. (Winter is when Water is Wang/Prosperous.) Avoid exposure to wind. (Wind Qi connects with the Liver, so avoid it.) Liver diseases heal on Bing-Ding days (Summer Fire days), (Same as above, Fire controls the overcomer Metal.) if not healed on Bing-Ding days, they worsen on Geng-Xin days (Autumn Metal days), (Same as above, Metal chops Wood.) if not fatal on Geng-Xin days, they remain stable on Ren-Gui days (Winter Water days), (Same as above, receiving generation,) and improve on Jia-Yi days (Spring Wood days). (Same as above, encountering its Wang phase.) Liver diseases show clarity at dawn, severity at dusk (Shen-You hours), and quietness at midnight. (Dawn Yin-Mao hours are Wood Wang times, hence clarity; dusk Shen-You hours are Metal overcoming Wood, hence severity; midnight Hai-Zi hours are Water generating Wood, hence quietness.) The Liver desires dispersion; urgently consume Pungent flavors to disperse it. Use Pungent for tonification, Sour for purgation. (Wood dislikes stagnation, so it desires Pungent dispersion. Following its nature is tonification, opposing it is purgation. The Liver likes dispersion and dislikes contraction, so Pungent is tonifying, Sour is purging.) The Heart governs Summer, and the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian and Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian are primarily responsible. (Shaoyin belongs to the Heart, Ding Fire; Taiyang belongs to the Small Intestine, Bing Fire. Paired interior-exterior, treatment is same.) Corresponding days are Bing and Ding days. (Bing is Yang Fire, Ding is Yin Fire, Southern Heavenly Stems.) The Heart suffers from flaccidity/laxity; urgently consume Sour flavors to astringe it. (The Heart houses the Spirit, its emotion is Joy. Joy causes Qi to relax, leading to Heart deficiency and spirit scattering, so Sour flavors are suitable to astringe.) Diseases in the Heart heal in Late Summer; (Late Summer belongs to Earth, child of Fire.) if not healed in Late Summer, they worsen in Winter; (Fire does not overcome Water.) if not fatal in Winter, they remain stable in Spring, (Fire receives generation from Wood.) and improve in Summer. (Fire is Wang.) Avoid warm food and hot clothing. (To prevent aiding Fire pathogen.) Heart diseases heal on Wu-Ji days (Late Summer Earth days), if not healed, worsen on Ren-Gui days (Winter Water days), if not fatal, remain stable on Jia-Yi days (Spring Wood days), and improve on Bing-Ding days (Summer Fire days). Heart diseases show clarity at noon, severity at midnight, and quietness at dawn. (Noon Si-Wu hours are Fire Wang, hence clarity; midnight Hai-Zi hours are Water overcoming Fire, hence severity; dawn Yin-Mao hours are Wood generating Fire, hence quietness.) The Heart desires softening; urgently consume Salty flavors to soften it. Use Salty for tonification, Sweet for purgation. (Excessive Heart Fire causes restlessness, so Salty is urgent to soften it. Salty transforms via Water, providing mutual assistance. Heart desires softening, so Salty softening is tonification; Heart suffers laxity, so Sweet relaxing is purgation.) The Spleen governs Late Summer, and the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian and Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian are primarily responsible. (Yangming belongs to Stomach, Taiyin to Spleen, both Wu-Ji Earth, paired interior-exterior, treatment same.) Corresponding days are Wu and Ji days. (Wu is Yang Earth, Ji is Yin Earth, Central Palace Heavenly Stems.) The Spleen suffers from Dampness; urgently consume Bitter flavors to dry it. (Spleen transports grain/water and controls water. Excess Dampness injures Spleen Earth, so Bitter-Warm flavors are suitable to dry Dampness.) Diseases in the Spleen heal in Autumn; (Autumn is Metal, child of Earth.) if not healed, worsen in Spring; (Earth does not overcome Wood.) if not fatal, remain stable in Summer, (Earth receives generation from Fire,) and improve in Late Summer. (Earth is Wang.) Avoid warm food, overeating, damp ground, and wet clothes. (Warmth prevents stagnation; damp/wet are Yin-Cold, causing Spleen disease, so avoid them.) Spleen diseases heal on Geng-Xin days (Autumn Metal days), worsen on Jia-Yi days (Spring Wood days), remain stable on Bing-Ding days (Summer Fire days), and improve on Wu-Ji days (Late Summer Earth days). Spleen diseases show clarity during the Wei hour (daytime), severity at sunrise, and quietness at dusk. (Wei hour is Earth Wang, hence clarity; sunrise Yin-Mao hours are Wood overcoming Earth, hence severity; dusk Shen-You hours are the "child" direction, hence quietness. Pronunciation: die.) The Spleen desires relaxation; urgently consume Sweet flavors to relax it. Use Bitter for purgation, Sweet for tonification. (Spleen values fullness, harmony, warmth, and density; its desire is relaxation, so Sweet is urgent. Spleen likes Sweet and dislikes Bitter, so Bitter is purgative, Sweet is tonifying.) The Lung governs Autumn, and the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian and Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian are primarily responsible. (Taiyin belongs to Lung, Xin Metal; Yangming belongs to Large Intestine, Geng Metal, paired interior-exterior, treatment same.) Corresponding days are Geng and Xin days. (Geng is Yang Metal, Xin is Yin Metal, Western Heavenly Stems.) The Lung suffers from rebellious Qi; urgently consume Bitter flavors to drain it. (Lung governs Qi and regulation. Qi pathology leads to rebellion upward, so Bitter flavors are urgent to drain downward.) Diseases in the Lung heal in Winter; (Child direction of Metal.) if not healed, worsen in Summer; (Metal is overcome by Fire.) if not fatal, remain stable in Late Summer, (Metal Qi receives generation,) and improve in Autumn. (Metal Qi is Wang.) Avoid cold food and cold clothing. (Cold form and cold drinks injure the Lung.) Lung diseases heal on Ren-Gui days (Winter Water days), worsen on Bing-Ding days (Summer Fire days), remain stable on Wu-Ji days (Late Summer Earth days), and improve on Geng-Xin days (Autumn Metal days). Lung diseases show clarity at dusk (Shen-You hours), severity at noon, and quietness at midnight. (Dusk Metal is Wang, hence clarity; noon Fire overcomes, hence severity; midnight Water, child controls evil, hence quietness.) The Lung desires consolidation/astringency; urgently consume Sour flavors to astringe it. Use Sour for tonification, Pungent for purgation. (Lung corresponds to Autumn Qi, governing convergence. So Sour is suitable for astringency. Lung Qi prefers gathering over dispersing, so Sour astringency is tonification, Pungent dispersion is purgation.) The Kidney governs Winter, and the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian and Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian are primarily responsible. (Shaoyin belongs to Kidney, Gui Water; Taiyang belongs to Bladder, Ren Water, paired interior-exterior, treatment same.) Corresponding days are Ren and Gui days. (Ren is Yang Water, Gui is Yin Water, Northern Heavenly Stems.) The Kidney suffers from Dryness; urgently consume Pungent flavors to moisten it, opening interstices, delivering fluids, and promoting Qi flow. (Kidney is Water organ, storing fluids. Yin diseases suffer dryness, so Pungent is suitable to moisten. Pungent transforms via Metal, mother of Water. It opens interstices and delivers fluids because Pungent promotes Qi. True Qi in Water is only reached by Pungent; when Qi arrives, Water arrives, thus moistening Kidney Dryness.) Diseases in the Kidney heal in Spring; (Child direction of Water.) if not healed, worsen in Late Summer; (Water does not overcome Earth.) if not fatal, remain stable in Autumn, (Water receives generation from Metal,) and improve in Winter. (Water is Wang.) Avoid roasted/explosive foods, hot food, and warm moxa clothing. (Roasted/explosive items are drying; Kidney dislikes dryness/stimulation, so avoid. Pronunciations: cui, ai.) Kidney diseases heal on Jia-Yi days (Spring Wood days), worsen on Wu-Ji days (Late Summer Earth days), remain stable on Geng-Xin days (Autumn Metal days), and improve on Ren-Gui days (Winter Water days). Kidney diseases show clarity at midnight, severity at the end of seasons (Chen-Xu-Chou-Wei hours), and quietness at dusk. (Midnight Water is Wang, hence clarity; end-of-season Earth overcomes, hence severity; dusk Metal is Wang, Water generates Metal, hence quietness.) The Kidney desires firmness; urgently consume Bitter flavors to firm it. Use Bitter for tonification, Salty for purgation. (Kidney governs storage, Qi requires secrecy/density, so Kidney desires firmness. Bitter firms, so it is tonifying; Salty softens, so it is purgative.) When pathogenic Qi invades the body, it acts through mutual overcoming relationships. (This summarizes the reasons for "healing," "worsening," "stability," and "improvement." All internal and external injuries are called "Pathogenic Qi." External Six Evils have seasonal prosperity/decline; internal Five Emotions vary by organ. Overcoming always insults the non-overcoming, hence "acting through overcoming.") Healing occurs when reaching the time of what I generate; (What I generate, from a temporal perspective. Same below.) Worsening occurs when reaching the time of what overcomes me; (I do not overcome it; I am controlled.) Stability occurs when reaching the time of what generates me; (Time of my generator.) Improvement occurs when reaching its own position (Wang phase). (Its own Wang time.) Therefore, one must first determine the pulse of the five Zang organs, observe their compliance/inverse and prosperity/decline, to discuss the timing of intermittent worsening and life/death. (To know seasonal Qi compliance, one must first inspect Zang Qi. To inspect Zang Qi, one must first fix the pulses of diseased Zang organs: Liver governs String-pulse, Heart governs Hook-pulse, Lung governs Hair-pulse, Kidney governs Stone-pulse, Spleen governs Dai-pulse. If the pulse comes exclusively without Stomach Qi, the timing of worsening and life/death can be known, as discussed above.) Liver color is Green; suitable to eat Sweet, such as Coix Seed (Jingmi), Beef, Dates, and Okra (Kui); (Continuing "Liver suffers tension, eat Sweet to relax," detailing suitable flavors.) Heart color is Red; suitable to eat Sour, such as Adzuki Bean, Dog Meat, Plum, and Leek; (Heart suffers laxity, so these Sour items are suitable to astringe.) Lung color is White; suitable to eat Bitter, such as Wheat, Mutton, Apricot, and Chinese Chives (Xie); (Lung suffers rebellious Qi, so these Bitter items are suitable to drain. Xie, pronunciation: xie, root white like small garlic, similar to leek but no bulb.) Spleen color is Yellow; suitable to eat Salty, such as Soybean, Pork, Millet, and Huo (Bean leaves soup); (Salty transforms via Water, entering Kidney. Spleen eats Salty because Kidney is the gate of Stomach, Stomach combines with Spleen, Salty moistens downward, benefiting the gate. If Stomach gate benefits, Spleen Qi transports, so it is suitable. Earlier said "Spleen suffers Dampness, eat Bitter to dry"; here saying "Salty" again. Because Salty drains Dampness and Bitter purges Dampness, each has its suitability. Thus, all organs follow previous rules, except this unique case. Huo is bean leaf soup.) Kidney color is Black; suitable to eat Pungent, such as Yellow Millet (Huangshu), Chicken, Peach, and Scallion. (Kidney suffers Dryness, so these Pungent items are suitable to moisten. Huangshu is glutinous millet, called "Yellow Rice" in the North.) Pungent disperses, Sour astringes, Sweet relaxes, Bitter firms, Salty softens. (Summarizing the uses of the Five Flavors, applicable to medicines.) Poisonous drugs attack Pathogenic Qi. (Medicines treat disease, relying on toxicity. "Toxicity" refers to biased flavor/nature. Pure flavors are grains, nourishing Righteous Qi; biased flavors are herbs/drugs, removing Pathogenic Qi. Disease lies in Yin-Yang excess/deficiency. To correct bias, only biased flavors work. Hence, highly toxic drugs remove 60% of disease; moderately toxic 70%; slightly toxic 80%; non-toxic 90%. Anything that expels evil and calms righteousness is called "poisonous drug," hence "Poisonous drugs attack Pathogenic Qi.") Five Grains nourish; (Nourish vital Qi.) Five Fruits assist; (Assist nourishment.) Five Meats benefit; (Benefit Essence and Blood.) Five Vegetables fill. (Fill Zang-Fu organs.) Consume combined flavors to benefit Essence and Qi. (Form deficiency is warmed by Qi; Essence deficiency is supplemented by Flavor. Combined flavors supplement Yin and benefit Qi.) These five categories have Pungent, Sour, Sweet, Bitter, Salty, each with specific benefits: some disperse, some astringe, some relax, some urgent, some firm, some soft. Diseases of the Four Seasons and Five Zang organs are treated according to the suitability of the Five Flavors. (Summarizing that Zang Qi and Seasonal uses have specific benefits, but variations occur; thus, treatment depends on disease, and flavors should be matched appropriately.)