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The mother of Scholar Ge suffered from bloody dysentery (dysentery characterized by blood) in early autumn, experiencing severe abdominal pain that occurred dozens of times a day. I prescribed herbs including Coptidis Rhizoma (Chuanlian), Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin), and Paeoniae Radix Alba (Baishao). Scholar Ge said, "When my mother's abdominal pain is most severe, applying hot water bags to her abdomen relieves the pain, indicating there must be cold pathogen inside. If it were a Fire syndrome, why would the pain relieve upon warming?" I replied, "If it belongs to Fire, Fire is Yang; however, within Yang there is Yin. It is like the flame of a lamp: if covered by an object, its color turns black. Black corresponds to Water, and Water corresponds to Yin. The fact that abdominal pain relieves with warmth is similar to how fire's nature is Yang, but its manifestation (flame) can appear Yin; this is called 'False Cold'." This dispelled his doubts, and he decided to take the medicine. After two doses, the pain ceased and the dysentery decreased. With the addition of herbs to raise Yang Qi, she recovered. Without this prior explanation, not only would his doubts remain, but I myself might have been swayed by his reasoning. Therefore, a physician must deeply investigate the principles of Yin and Yang.

Things thousands of miles away can be calculated through astronomical methods; things within one's own body cannot be deduced by ordinary logic. Why? Although Heaven and Earth are distant, beyond the borders of China, by following calendrical phenomena and consulting maps and records, everything can be known. Within the human body, centered around the middle, the positions of the Five Zang Organs (Heart, Liver, Spleen, Lung, Kidney) and the Five Fu Organs (Bladder, Small Intestine, Gallbladder, Large Intestine, Sanjiao/Triple Burner) can be determined. However, the mechanisms of their circulation and nourishment that sustain human life, even if modern physicians measure and speculate, ultimately do not know. In the past, Liezi recorded that the craftsman Yanshi created a mechanical entertainer (automaton) whose singing and dancing were rhythmic and varied infinitely according to intent. It was constructed from wood, grass, glue, lacquer, and pigments. Internally, it possessed the Heart, Liver, Lungs, Spleen, Kidneys, and intestines; externally, it had sinews, bones, joints, skin, hair, teeth, and nails, all fully formed. If its heart were removed, it could not speak; if its liver were removed, it could not see; if its kidneys were removed, it could not walk. Did someone like Yanshi not understand the workings of Creation (Nature)? Alas! Only thus can we understand the mechanisms of operation within our bodies. It is a pity that Yanshi has not been reborn!