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The pathology of the human body is limited to Exterior (Biao) and Interior (Li), and the state of Qi and Blood is limited to Deficiency (Xu) and Excess (Shi). A skilled physician first treats Excess, then treats Deficiency; a mediocre physician sometimes treats Deficiency, sometimes treats Excess; an erroneous physician [mismanages both, leading to further imbalance]; only a dull physician knows only to tonify Deficiency and dares not treat Excess. The world fails to realize this, which is why I wrote about the three methods: Sweating (Han), Vomiting (Tu), and Purgation (Xia). Disease is not something inherent in the body; whether it enters from outside or arises from inside, it is all Pathogenic Factor (Xieqi). When pathogenic factors invade the body, it is permissible to eliminate them; is it permissible to retain them? If retained, mild cases may resolve naturally over time, severe cases may worsen over time, and even more severe cases may result in sudden death. If one does not eliminate the pathogenic factor but uses tonifying agents first, it is like repairing the house before the thief has left; the Healthy Qi (Zhengqi) has not yet overcome the pathogen, while the pathogen runs rampant. Only in cases where the pulse is deep/faint, the body is weak, and there are no pathogens or accumulations, can one discuss using tonification. For other diseases, one should first use the three methods to attack and eliminate the pathogenic factor, and the Original Qi (Yuanshen) will recover on its own. In the *Suwen* (Plain Questions), it states that Acrid (Xin) and Sweet (Gan) flavors that disperse, and Bland (Dan) flavors that drain, belong to Yang; Sour (Suan) and Bitter (Ku) flavors that induce vomiting and purging belong to Yin. Dispersing belongs to the Sweating Method (Han Fa); inducing vomiting belongs to the Vomiting Method (Tu Fa); purging belongs to the Purgation Method (Xia Fa); draining belongs to releasing the exterior. Releasing the exterior is similar to sweating; purging bowels and bladder is similar to purgation. It speaks little of tonification. What is called "tonification" refers to: Acrid tonifies Liver, Salty tonifies Heart, Sweet tonifies Kidney, Sour tonifies Spleen, Bitter tonifies Lung. They act as Sovereign, Minister, Assistant, and Courier (Jun-Chen-Zuo-Shi), merely by opening the Couli (pores/skin texture), promoting the flow of Jin-Ye (body fluids), and circulating Qi and Blood. This is not what modern people call tonification using warm, dry, or eccentric substances. Generally, herbal medicines are used to treat disease; once the disease is gone, grains, fruits, vegetables, and meats serve as tonics. One must also distinguish what is appropriate to avoid bias. Even if herbs are considered tonics, such as Gancao (Licorice Root) and Renshen (Ginseng Root), they carry the risk of excessiveness. Therefore, the three methods (Sweating, Vomiting, Purgation) are like punishments, while food and meat are like virtuous governance. Using punishment to govern chaos, and virtue to govern peace, is the principle. When I use the three methods, I often combine other methods, including pressing, lifting/guiding, directing, increasing/decreasing, continuing/stopping. Physicians who do not grasp these methods and instead slander me—how sorrowful! For example, drawing out phlegm, filtering saliva, extracting nasal discharge, forcing tears—all upward-moving actions belong to the Vomiting Method; fumigation, washing, hot compresses, cauterization, acupuncture, bi-shi (stone therapy), Dao-yin (guiding and pulling), massage—all actions that release the exterior belong to the Sweating Method; inducing labor, promoting lactation, grinding accumulations, driving out water, breaking menstrual stasis, venting Qi—all downward-moving actions belong to the Purgation Method. The Six Qi of Heaven: Wind, Cold, Summer-heat, Dampness, Dryness, Fire; diseases caused by these mostly occur in the Upper Jiao (Upper Burner). The Six Qi of Earth: Fog, Dew, Rain, Snow, Mud, Water; diseases caused by these mostly occur in the Lower Jiao. The six flavors: Sour, Bitter, Sweet, Acrid, Salty, Bland; diseases caused by these mostly occur in the Middle Jiao. There are three categories of disease onset, and correspondingly, three methods of expulsion. Wind-Cold pathogens, knotting between the skin and muscles, stagnating within the meridians, remaining without going, may cause pain, numbness, dripping sensations, Bi-syndrome (obstruction), swelling, itching, or spasms; all can be expelled via Sweating. Phlegm-fluids and retained food, lodged in the chest and diaphragm, causing various diseases, can all be expelled via induced vomiting. Cold, Heat, chronic cold, and fire-heat, lodging in the Lower Jiao, causing various diseases, can all be expelled via purgation. Vomiting contains dispersing properties; purgation contains tonifying properties. The Classics say, "He who grasps the essence needs only one word to conclude." This is what is meant.