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Excessive drinking causes disorder of blood and Qi (vital energy), while a light diet ensures peace of the Hun and Shen (spirit). Rinsing the mouth at night is superior to doing so in the morning; eating dinner in the evening is inferior to eating breakfast. Tinnitus requires tonifying the Kidney, while dim vision requires treating the Liver. Moderating alcohol intake naturally strengthens the Spleen and Stomach; reducing thought必定 ensures peace of the spirit. Do not stand in the wind when sweating, and do not let tea pass through an empty stomach.

Yang Quan stated in *Wulun* (Theory of Things): Those whose Gu Qi (grain qi) exceeds their Yuan Qi (original qi) are fat but have short lifespans; those whose Yuan Qi exceeds Gu Qi are thin but have long lifespans. The art of cultivating nature is to keep Gu Qi low, so that illness does not arise. (From *Taiping Yulan*)

Storing essence during the dark hours (night) clarifies vision; nurturing the spirit in tranquility brings peace. Using darkness to accumulate utility and stillness to respond to movement: those who accumulate well do not deplete, and those who respond well do not exhaust. This is the method for gentlemen to cultivate themselves and govern others; only those close to Nature can master it easily.

Guard against evil and preserve sincerity; refine Qi and nourish Jing (essence). Preserve one, clarify one, refine one, clear one. When clarity reaches its peak, Dan Yuan (Elixir Field/Dantian) is born, Kan and Li (Heart and Kidney) intersect, and Li Zao (Pear and Jujube, metaphorical for internal fluids/essence) forms. Sit upright at midnight and consume these four "medicines". One medicine corresponds to one effect; reaching the extreme allows one to dwell near the subtle principles. Spending a thousand breaths, in leisure one is vast and open, in preservation one is outstanding, in nourishment one is lush, in refinement one is radiant. Guard with unity, achieve with duration. The work lies in each day; why complain of being late?

Extreme anger injures Qi unilaterally; excessive thinking severely damages the Shen. When Shen is fatigued, the Heart is easily dominated; when Qi is weak, diseases entangle. Do not allow sorrow or joy to reach extremes; ensure dietary balance. Repeatedly guard against nighttime drunkenness; first,戒 (avoid) morning anger. Sleep at Hai hour (9-11 PM), rise at Yin hour (3-5 AM) and rinse with Jade Saliva (saliva). Demons cannot invade if you protect yourself; Jing naturally protects the whole body. To avoid all illnesses, frequently practice restraining the Five Pungents (Five Spices: garlic, chives, leeks, scallions, asafoetida). To calm the Shen, seek joy and pleasure; to cherish Qi, maintain purity and harmony. Do not discuss fate regarding longevity; cultivation depends on humans. If one follows this principle, one can ascend to truth even on flat ground.

People over forty should not take purgatives; taking tonics regularly is excellent. When angry, blood and Qi are unsettled; engaging in intercourse then causes carbuncles and sores. Engaging in intercourse after traveling far and feeling fatigued leads to the Five Exhaustions and deficiency injuries, resulting in few children. Mercury should not be near the genitals, as it causes shrinkage; deer and pig fat should not be near the genitals, as they cause impotence. Therefore, good cultivators often practice the Twelve Lows: little thought, little desire, little affair, little speech, little laughter, little worry, little joy, little delight, little anger, little preference, little aversion. These Twelve Lows are the key to cultivating nature. The way of cultivating nature involves slight labor but avoiding exhaustion and forcing what one cannot bear. Flowing water does not rot; door hinges are not eaten by worms, because they move. One should practice Huangdi's Inner Vision method, visualizing the five Zang organs like hanging bells, clearly seeing their colors, without stopping. Inhale gently through the nose, exhale through the mouth, slightly exhaling without opening the mouth wide, aiming for less outflow and more inflow. Before eating, send Qi into the abdomen; Qi is the master. Love deeply but do not love excessively; hate deeply but do not hate excessively. Both damage nature and harm the spirit. Often make oneself feel hungry when full, and full when hungry. Fullness injures the Lung; hunger injures Qi. Eat less meat, more rice. Do not eat raw vegetables or raw meat, as they injure the Stomach. All meats must be boiled thoroughly and eaten cold. Rinse the mouth several times after eating to prevent tooth decay. Do not eat meat corresponding to your parents' birth year, as it shortens life. Do not eat meat corresponding to your own birth year, as it makes the soul and spirit fly away. Do not eat brains of any animal, as it greatly damages the body. Holding urine causes cold knees and Bi syndrome (painful obstruction); holding stool causes Qi hemorrhoids. Do not strain during urination or defecation, as it causes disease; letting it flow naturally is better. Do not stay long near springs in mountain valleys, as consuming them causes Goiter (Ying disease). Cold water from deep, shady places should not be drunk, or it will cause Malaria. Wet or sweaty clothes should not be worn for long, or they cause sores. In spring, do not wear thin clothes, or one may contract Cold Damage or Cholera. Do not sleep with the head facing North, and do not place a stove near the head. At night, habitually keep the mouth closed; opening it loses Qi and allows evil to enter, draining blood color. If having a nightmare, do not light a lamp or call out loudly, or death is certain; calling softly in the dark is auspicious. Do not approach and call urgently. Do not speak of bad dreams; upon waking, face East and use water to cast a spell: "Bad dreams attach to grass and trees, good dreams become jade and treasure," thus avoiding disaster. Do not speak of good or bad dreams, as silence is auspicious. Sudden heat in winter or sudden cold in summer should be avoided; people suffering from epidemic fevers (Tian Xing Shi Qi) violate this. Living quarters should not have small gaps allowing wind to enter. If one feels a breeze, do not endure it; avoid sitting for long periods to prevent Wind Stroke (Zhong Feng). Ancient cases of sudden hemiplegia (Pian Feng) were due to ignoring this. Sudden strong winds, heavy rain, thunder, or fog while at home or traveling are caused by dragons and spirits passing by. Enter the room, close doors, burn incense, sit quietly, and calm the mind to avoid them. Wait until they pass before going out, otherwise one is harmed.