When Shen (Spirit) is in excess or deficiency, Qi (Vital Energy) is in excess or deficiency, Blood is in excess or deficiency, Xing (Form/Structure) is in excess or deficiency, and Zhi (Willpower) is in excess or deficiency. These ten conditions indicate that the body's Qi dynamics are unbalanced.
Deficiency of pulse Qi in the upper position and deficiency at the Chi position (the distal part of the radial pulse near the wrist crease) constitute "Chong Xu" (Double Deficiency).
Decline of Yang Qi in the lower part leads to Han Jue (Cold Reversal Syndrome, characterized by cold extremities); decline of Yin Qi in the lower part leads to Re Jue (Heat Reversal Syndrome, characterized by internal heat or warm extremities).
Five days constitute one Hou (Observation Period); five Hou constitute one Qi (Solar Term); six Qi constitute one Shi (Season); four Shi constitute a year.
Heavenly Qi connects with the Lung; Earthly Qi connects with the throat; Wind Qi connects with the Liver; Thunder Qi connects with the Heart; Grain Qi (Qi derived from food and water) connects with the Spleen; Two Qi (Yin and Yang or Pure Qi of Heaven and Earth) connect with the Kidney. The intestines and stomach are like the great sea; the nine orifices (eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and two excretory openings) are the pathways for fluid metabolism.
The Qi of the Five Zang Organs all depends on Stomach Qi; the Stomach is the root of the Five Zang Organs. The Qi of the organs cannot reach the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian on its own but must rely on Stomach Qi.
Heaven has Four Seasons and Five Elements, possessing characteristics of growth, flourishing, harvesting, and storing, which generate Cold, Heat, Dryness, Dampness, and Wind. Humans have Five Zang Organs that transform into Five Qi, generating Joy, Anger, Worry, Grief, and Fear. Thus, emotions such as joy and anger damage Qi; external pathogens such as cold and heat damage the Form; sudden anger damages Yin; sudden joy damages Yang.
At dawn, Human Qi begins to rise; at noon, Yang Qi is at its peak; in the evening, Yang Qi is declining, and the pores close. Therefore, in the evening, one should conserve and reject external pathogens, avoid disturbing the sinews and bones, and avoid exposure to fog and dew. Violating the rhythms of these two times (activity in the morning, rest in the evening) leads to physical exhaustion and weakness.
Injury by Wind in Spring causes pathogenic factors to linger, resulting in Dong Xie (severe diarrhea), because Wood overacts on Spleen Earth. Injury by Summer Heat in Summer leads to Nue Ji (Malaria) in Autumn. Injury by Dampness in Autumn causes Qi to rebel upward leading to cough, developing into Wei Jue (Flaccidity and Reversal Syndrome). Injury by Cold in Winter leads to Wen Bing (Warm Diseases) in Spring. The Qi of the four seasons alternately injures the Five Zang Organs.
The Heart stores Shen (Spirit); the Lung stores Po (Corporeal Soul); the Liver stores Hun (Ethereal Soul); the Spleen stores Yi (Intellect); the Kidney stores Zhi (Willpower). These are what the Five Zang Organs store.
Prolonged viewing damages Blood; prolonged lying down damages Qi; prolonged sitting damages flesh/muscles; prolonged standing damages bones; prolonged walking damages sinews/tendons. These are injuries to the Five Zang Organs and their associated structures.
The Liver pulse is Xian (Wiry/String-taut); the Heart pulse is Gou (Hook-like/Come strong, go weak); the Spleen pulse is Dai (Intermittent/Regular pause); the Lung pulse is Mao (Feather-like/Light and floating); the Kidney pulse is Shi (Stone-like/Deep and firm). These are the pulses of the Five Zang Organs.
Sour enters the Liver; Pungent enters the Lung; Bitter enters the Heart; Salty enters the Kidney; Sweet enters the Spleen. This is the "Five Entrances."
The Heart dislikes Heat; the Lung dislikes Cold; the Liver dislikes Wind; the Spleen dislikes Dampness; the Kidney dislikes Dryness. This is the "Five Dislikes."
The fluids transformed by the Five Zang Organs: Heart transforms into Sweat; Liver transforms into Tears; Lung transforms into Nasal Mucus; Spleen transforms into Saliva (thin saliva); Kidney transforms into Thick Saliva. These are the Five Fluids.
The Heart governs the Vessels; the Lung governs the Skin and Hair; the Liver governs the Sinews/Tendons; the Spleen governs the Muscles/Flesh; the Kidney governs the Bones. These are the Five Governing functions.
Pungent moves Qi; do not eat much pungent food when suffering from Qi diseases. Salty moves Blood; do not eat much salty food when suffering from Blood diseases. Bitter moves to the Bones; do not eat much bitter food when suffering from Bone diseases. Sweet moves to the Flesh; do not eat much sweet food when suffering from Flesh diseases. Sour moves to the Sinews/Tendons; do not eat much sour food when suffering from Sinew diseases. These are the Five Prohibitions.
Excessive fullness from diet causes sweat originating from the Stomach; shock causing loss of Jing (Essence) causes sweat originating from the Heart; carrying heavy loads and traveling far causes sweat originating from the Kidney; rapid running combined with fear causes sweat originating from the Liver; bodily swaying and arduous labor causes sweat originating from the Spleen.