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Zhang Zhongjing stated: When the human body is in a state of harmony, one only needs proper nourishment and should not take medicines recklessly. The biased nature of drugs assists specific forces, causing disharmony in Zang-Fu Qi (Visceral Energy), making one susceptible to external pathogens. All living beings rely on food for survival, yet people are unaware that diet has both beneficial and detrimental outcomes. Common people use it daily without understanding, just as water and fire are close yet difficult to comprehend.

In my "Record of Hedong Wei Xun," I recorded: Bian Que said, "The form is what humans rely on. Disease disrupts harmonious Qi. Medicine eliminates heat and toxicity. The physician saves lives and stabilizes crises." The foundation of settling the body must rely on food. The rapid cure of disease must rely on medicine. One who does not understand dietary appropriateness cannot preserve life. One who does not understand drug contraindications cannot eliminate disease. Therefore, food can expel evil and stabilize Zang-Fu organs, delighting the spirit and refreshing the will to nourish Blood and Qi. If one can use food to calm emotions, dispel diseases, and resolve ailments, they can be called a skilled artisan. This is a miraculous method for longevity and the ultimate art of health preservation. Physicians must first thoroughly understand the origin of diseases and know where the pathogen attacks, treating it with food first. Only if dietary therapy fails should medication be prescribed. Drug properties are fierce and potent, akin to commanding an army. The ferocity of troops cannot be unleashed recklessly; improper use causes widespread harm. Similarly, the application of drugs to diseases can cause indiscriminate damage.

Wang Xi of Gaoping said: "Diet should not be mixed; mixing may lead to violations. Violations may cause injury. Although there may be no immediate disaster, accumulation over time creates hidden dangers." Furthermore, when eating dishes, one must strive for simplicity and moderation. Choose fish, meat, fruits, and vegetables that benefit the body. Ordinary meals should be frugal. Greed for taste and overeating leads to abdominal distension and shortness of breath after meals, potentially triggering acute illnesses like Huoluan (Cholera-like disorder). From Summer Solstice to Autumn Equinox, one must be cautious with fatty foods, pastries, butter, and ghee, as these conflict greatly with wine, fruit juices, and melons. The prevalence of illness is often due to excessive cooling during spring and summer and unregulated diet. Fish and other raw/cold items are generally harmful; abstaining is beneficial. Regular consumption of milk, cheese, and ghee strengthens sinews and bones, moistens skin and muscles. However, sudden excessive consumption causes abdominal distension and diarrhea, which subsides gradually.

The Yellow Emperor said: "The Five Flavors enter the mouth and travel to specific locations, each causing specific diseases. Sour travels to Sinews; excessive sour intake causes Lin syndrome (difficulty in urination)." Why? Shao Yu answered: "Sour enters the Stomach; its Qi is astringent and contracting. It travels upward to the Upper and Middle Jiao. If the Qi of the Jiao becomes astringent and cannot move freely, it flows back into the Stomach. The warm Stomach directs it downward to the Bladder. The Bladder connects to the Bao (Uterus/Bladder area). The Bao wall is thin and soft; upon encountering sour, it contracts and narrows, obstructing the water passages, thus causing Lin syndrome."

Salty travels to Blood vessels; excessive salty intake causes thirst. Why? Answer: "Salty enters the Stomach; its Qi travels to the Middle Jiao and injects into the meridians. Meridians are pathways for Blood. When Blood meets Salt, coagulation occurs. Coagulation depletes Stomach fluids, leading to dryness and thirst. (The *Jia Yi Jing* states: Coagulation prevents fluid infusion, leading to exhaustion.) Thirst scorches the throat passage, causing dry tongue and desire for water. Blood vessels are the pathways of the Middle Jiao. Thus, salty enters the Stomach and travels to Blood. (Huangfu Mi stated: The Kidney combines with the Sanjiao meridians; although associated with Liver and Heart, it serves as the Middle Jiao pathway, so salty enters and travels to Blood.)"

Pungent travels to Qi; excessive pungent intake causes heart oppression. Why? Answer: "Pungent enters the Stomach. Its Qi travels to the Upper Jiao, which receives and distributes Qi to nourish Yang meridians. The aroma of ginger and leeks熏 (fumes) Ying and Wei (Nutritive and Defensive Qi); if not received promptly, it flows down to the epigastrium, causing oppression and pain. Pungent flavor moves with Qi; thus, entering the Stomach, it travels to Qi and exits with it, resulting in excess Qi."

Bitter travels to Bones; excessive bitter intake causes vomiting. Why? Answer: "Bitter enters the Stomach; its Qi is drying and inducing vomiting/ejection. The Qi of grains cannot withstand Bitter. Bitter enters the Lower Wan (Lower Orifice of Stomach), which is the pathway of Sanjiao. If closed, flow is blocked, causing Qi transformation and vomiting. Teeth are the endpoint of Bones; thus, Bitter enters the Stomach, travels to Bones, enters, and re-emerges. Teeth become dark and sparse. (Huangfu Mi stated: Water and Fire balance, so Bone Qi connects to Heart.)"

Sweet travels to Flesh; excessive sweet intake causes nausea. Why? Answer: "Sweet enters the Stomach; Sweet Qi is weak and cannot ascend to the Upper Jiao, remaining with grain in the Stomach. Sweet induces relaxation; relaxation causes Ascaris movement, leading to nausea. Sweet Qi extends outward to Flesh; thus, Sweet travels to Flesh, causing flesh to thicken and calluses to form. (Huangfu Mi stated: Its Qi extends to Skin, so Sweet enters and travels to Skin. Skin covers Flesh; although Skin belongs to Lung, it is connected to Flesh, so Sweet moistens Muscle and Skin.)"

The Yellow Emperor asked: "Can you explain the governing effects of the Five Flavors of Grains?" Bo Gao replied: "Those who eat Wind have spirituality and lightness; those who eat Qi have harmony and longevity; those who eat Grain have wisdom but mental labor; those who eat Grass are dull but strong; those who eat Meat are brave but prone to anger. Therefore, Liver (Wood, Green) suits Sour; Heart (Fire, Red) suits Bitter; Spleen (Earth, Yellow) suits Sweet; Lung (Metal, White) suits Pungent; Kidney (Water, Black) suits Salty. Internally are Five Zang, externally govern Five Elements, colors match Five Directions."

Correspondence of Five Zang: Liver corresponds to Sinews, manifests in Nails. Heart corresponds to Vessels, manifests in Complexion. Spleen corresponds to Flesh, manifests in Lips. Lung corresponds to Skin, manifests in Hair. Kidney corresponds to Bones, manifests in Head Hair.

Contraindications for Five Zang: Excessive Sour dries Skin and ages Hair. Excessive Bitter contracts Sinews and withers Nails. Excessive Sweet causes Bone pain and Hair loss. Excessive Pungent causes Calluses and Cold Lips. Excessive Salty coagulates Vessels and alters Complexion.

Appropriate Foods for Five Zang: For Liver disease, eat Hemp, Dog meat, Plum, Leek. For Heart disease, eat Wheat, Mutton, Apricot, Scallion white base (Xie). For Spleen disease, eat Barnyard millet... [Text gap] ... *Question* states: "Liver color green suits Sweet: Rice, Beef, Date, Okra are Sweet. Heart color red suits Sour: Adzuki bean, Dog meat, Plum, Leek are Sour. Lung color white suits Bitter: Wheat, Mutton, Apricot, Xie are Bitter. Spleen color yellow suits Salty: Soybean, Pork, Chestnut, Legume leaves are Salty. Kidney color black suits Pungent: Millet, Chicken, Peach, Onion are Pungent."

Five Flavors Provoking Diseases: Sour travels to Sinews; Sinew disease avoids Sour. Bitter travels to Bones; Bone disease avoids Bitter. Sweet travels to Flesh; Flesh disease avoids Sweet. Pungent travels to Qi; Qi disease avoids Pungent. Salty travels to Blood; Blood disease avoids Salty.

Formulas of Five Flavors: Rice is Sweet (*Su Wen*: Glutinous rice is Sweet). Hemp is Sour (*Su Wen*: Adzuki bean is Sour - *Note: Text discrepancy noted*). Soybean is Salty. Wheat is Bitter. Peach is Pungent. Date is Sweet. Plum is Sour. Chestnut is Salty. Apricot is Bitter. Millet is Pungent. Okra is Sweet. Leek is Sour. Legume leaves are Salty. Xie is Bitter. Onion is Pungent. Beef is Sweet. Dog is Sour. Pork is Salty. Mutton is Bitter. Chicken is Pungent.

Treatment of Five Zang Diseases by Five Flavors: Liver suffers from tension; urgently eat Sweet to relax. Liver desires dispersion; urgently eat Pungent to disperse, use Sour to drain, avoid wind. Heart suffers from laxity; urgently eat Sour to astringe. Heart desires softening; urgently eat Salty to soften, use Sweet to drain, avoid warm food and thick clothes. Spleen suffers from dampness; urgently eat Bitter to dry. Spleen desires relaxation; urgently eat Sweet to relax, use Bitter to drain, avoid warm/full meals and damp clothes. Lung suffers from rebellious Qi and asthma; urgently eat Bitter to drain. Lung desires consolidation; urgently eat Sour to consolidate, use Pungent to drain, avoid cold food and clothes. Kidney suffers from dryness; urgently eat Pungent to moisten, open pores, generate fluids and move Qi. Kidney desires firmness; urgently eat Bitter to consolidate, use Salty to drain, avoid HT (likely typo for contraindications), hot clothes, and warm food. Thus, toxic drugs attack evil; Five Grains nourish; Five Meats benefit; Five Fruits assist; Five Vegetables fill. Essence is nourished by Food Qi; Qi nourishes Essence to luster Complexion. Form is built by Food Flavor; Flavor nourishes Form to generate Strength. This is the principle. Shen (Spirit) resides in five; 5x5=25 types. Xing (Form) resides in four directions, four seasons, four limbs. Total 5x9=45. Assisting Shen this way allows longevity. Jing follows Five Qi to become spiritual; conflicting Food Qi injures Jing. Form is formed by Flavor; conflicting Food Flavor damages Form. Thus, sages first use dietary taboos to preserve nature, then drugs to protect life. Deficient Form is warmed by Qi; deficient Essence is tonified by Flavor. Warm and tonify Qi/Flavor to preserve Form/Essence. Qibo said: Yang is Qi, Yin is Flavor. Flavor returns to Form; Form returns to Qi; Qi returns to Essence; Essence transforms. Essence eats Qi; Form eats Flavor; Transformation generates Essence; Qi generates Form. Flavor damages Form; Qi damages Essence. Essence transforms to Qi; Qi is damaged by Flavor. Yin Flavor exits lower orifices; Yang Qi exits upper orifices. Strong Flavor is Yin; weak Flavor is Yang within Yin. Strong Qi is Yang; weak Qi is Yin within Yang. Strong Flavor causes purging; weak Flavor promotes flow. Weak Qi causes sweating; strong Qi causes blockage. Vigorous Fire diminishes Qi; Gentle Fire strengthens Qi. Vigorous Fire consumes Qi; Qi feeds Gentle Fire. Vigorous Fire scatters Qi; Gentle Fire generates Qi. Pungent/Sweet dispersing is Yang; Sour/Bitter vomiting/draining is Yin. Yin excess harms Yang; Yang excess harms Yin. Harmony of Yin/Yang brings peace. In Spring (72 days), reduce Sour, increase Sweet to nourish Spleen Qi. In Summer (72 days), reduce Bitter, increase Pungent to nourish Lung Qi. In Autumn (72 days), reduce Pungent, increase Sour to nourish Liver Qi. In Winter (72 days), reduce Salty, increase Bitter to nourish Heart Qi. In Interseasonal months (18 days each), reduce Sweet, increase Salty to nourish Kidney Qi.