肝色青，宜食甘，糯米、牛肉、枣、葵皆甘。心色赤，宜食酸，小豆、犬肉、李、韭皆酸。
肺色白，宜食
苦，麦、羊肉、杏、薤皆苦。脾色黄，宜食咸，大豆、豕肉、栗、藿皆咸。肾色黑，宜食辛，
黄黍、鸡肉、桃、葱皆辛。
咸走血，血病毋多食咸。苦走骨，骨病毋多食苦。辛走气，气病毋多食辛。酸走筋，筋
病毋多食酸。甘走肉，肉病毋多食甘。
五味入胃，各归所喜攻。酸先入肝，苦先入心，甘先入脾，辛先入肺，咸先入肾。久而
增气，物化之常；气增而久，夭之由也。盖阴之所生，本在五味；阴之五官，伤在五味。故味
过于酸，肝气以津，脾气乃绝。味过于咸，大骨气劳，短肌肤黑，心气抑。味过于甘，心气喘满，
色黑，肾气不衡。味过于苦，脾气不濡，胃气乃浓。味过于辛，筋脉沮弛，精神乃央。（与殃同。）
是故谨和五味，骨正筋柔，气血以流，腠理以密，则长有天命矣。
多食咸，则脉凝泣而变色。多食苦，则皮槁而毛拔。多食辛，则筋急而爪枯。多食酸，则
肉胝胸而唇揭。多食甘，则骨痛发落。
枳壳、陈皮与半夏，茱萸、野狼毒及麻黄。六般之药宜陈久，入用之时仔细详。
本草明言十八反，逐一从头说与君。人参、芍药与沙参，细辛、玄参及紫参，苦参、丹参并
前药，一见藜芦便杀人。白芨、白蔹并半夏，栝蒌、贝母五般真，莫见乌头与乌喙，逢之一反疾
如神。大戟、芫花并海藻，甘遂以上反甘草。若还吐蛊用翻肠，寻常犯之都不好。蜜、腊莫与
葱相睹，石决明休见云母。藜芦莫使酒米侵，人若犯之都是苦。
The liver corresponds to the color green and is suited for consuming sweet-flavored foods; glutinous rice, beef, jujube, and Malva verticillata (Okra) are all sweet. The heart corresponds to the color red and is suited for consuming sour-flavored foods; adzuki beans, dog meat, plums, and Chinese chives are all sour.
The lungs correspond to the color white and are suited for consuming bitter-flavored foods; wheat, mutton, apricots, and Allium macrostemon (Buckbean) are all bitter. The spleen corresponds to the color yellow and is suited for consuming salty-flavored foods; soybeans, pork, chestnuts, and soybean leaves are all salty. The kidneys correspond to the color black and are suited for consuming pungent-flavored foods; yellow millet, chicken, peaches, and scallions are all pungent.
Salty flavor enters the blood; in cases of blood diseases, one should not consume excessive salty food. Bitter flavor enters the bones; in cases of bone diseases, one should not consume excessive bitter food. Pungent flavor enters the qi; in cases of qi diseases, one should not consume excessive pungent food. Sour flavor enters the sinews; in cases of tendon/sinus diseases, one should not consume excessive sour food. Sweet flavor enters the flesh; in cases of muscle/flesh diseases, one should not consume excessive sweet food.
The five flavors enter the stomach and each tends toward its preferred organ to exert its effect. Sour flavor first enters the Liver; bitter flavor first enters the Heart; sweet flavor first enters the Spleen; pungent flavor first enters the Lungs; salty flavor first enters the Kidneys. Long-term consumption increases the qi of the respective organ, which is the normal law of transformation; however, if this excess of qi persists for a long time, it becomes the cause of premature death. Generally, the generation of Yin essence originates from the five flavors; yet, the injury to the five Zang organs associated with Yin also stems from the five flavors. Therefore, if the flavor is excessively sour, Liver Qi will become overflowing, and Spleen Qi will cease. If the flavor is excessively salty, the large bones will suffer labor/damage, muscles will shrink and darken, and Heart Qi will be depressed. If the flavor is excessively sweet, Heart Qi will become panting and full, the complexion will turn black, and Kidney Qi will become unbalanced. If the flavor is excessively bitter, Spleen Qi will fail to moisten, and Stomach Qi will become thick/stagnant. If the flavor is excessively pungent, sinews and vessels will become flaccid and ruined, and the spirit will be harmed ("Yang" is synonymous with "Ying," meaning disaster/harm). Thus, by carefully harmonizing the five flavors, the bones remain upright, sinews remain flexible, Qi and Blood flow smoothly, and the interstices (Couli) remain dense, thereby allowing one to enjoy their natural lifespan.
Excessive consumption of salty food causes blood vessels to coagulate and stagnate, leading to changes in complexion. Excessive consumption of bitter food causes skin to wither and hair to fall out. Excessive consumption of pungent food causes sinews to contract and nails to wither. Excessive consumption of sour food causes calluses on the flesh and peeling lips. Excessive consumption of sweet food causes bone pain and hair loss.
Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (Zhi Ke), Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi), and Pinellia Rhizome (Ban Xia); Cornus Officinalis Fruit (Zhuyu), Wild Manroot (Langdu), and Ephedra Herb (Mahuang). These six types of medicines are best used when aged and stored for a long time; one must examine them carefully when administering.
The Materia Medica clearly states the Eighteen Incompatibilities; I shall explain them to you one by one from the beginning. Ginseng Root (Renshen), Peony Root (Shaoyao), and Glehnia Root (Shashen); Asarum Root (Xixin), Scrophularia Root (Xuanshen), and Consolida Root (Zishen); Sophora Root (Kushen), Salvia Root (Danshen), and the aforementioned herbs, if they encounter Veratrum Rhizome (Lilu), they can cause death. Bletilla Tuber (Baiji), Ampelopsis Radix (Bailian), and Pinellia Rhizome (Ban Xia); Trichosanthes Fruit (Gualou), and Fritillaria Bulb (Beimu)—these five true substances, do not see Aconite Lateral Root (Wutou) or Aconite Car root (Wuhui); encountering them creates a rapid contrary reaction. Euphorbia Root (Daji), Genkwa Flower (Yuanhua), and Sargassum Thallus (Haizao); Kansui Root (Gansui) and others above all contradict Licorice Root (Gancao). If one still uses Intestine-Turning Grass (Fanchangcao) for vomiting poison, violating these rules generally yields bad results. Honey and beeswax should not meet with Scallion Stem (Congbai); Concha Haliotidis (Shijueming) should not see Mica (Yunmu). Veratrum Rhizome (Lilu) should not be invaded by wine and rice; if humans violate these, the suffering is great.