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Bladder is analogous to water. It flourishes in winter. The Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian (Zú Tàiyáng Pángguāng Jīng) is its meridian, and it is the Fu organ of the Kidney. The fluids from the five grains and five flavors all converge into the Bladder. Through Qi transformation (Qì Huà), they are divided and enter the blood vessels to form bone marrow. The surplus fluids enter the bladder (referred to as "bao" here), becoming urine. If the Qi of the Bladder is excessive, it constitutes a Fullness syndrome, leading to heat diseases. The bladder becomes obstructed, causing urinary retention, and swelling and pain on one side of the lower abdomen; this is the Excess syndrome of Bladder Qi, which should be treated with draining methods. If the Qi of the Bladder is deficient, cold pathogenic factors invade it. The bladder becomes lax, resulting in frequent and profuse urination, and a dark complexion; this is the Deficiency syndrome of Bladder Qi, which should be treated with tonifying methods.

The Sanjiao (Triple Burner) consists of the Upper, Middle, and Lower Burners. The Qi of the Upper Burner originates from the upper opening of the stomach, travels along the pharynx through the diaphragm, spreads within the chest, moves to the axilla, follows the distribution of the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian, ascends to the tongue, and descends to connect with the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. It often moves together with Ying-Qi (Nutritive Qi) and Wei-Qi (Defensive Qi), primarily responsible for receiving and retaining without excreting externally. The Qi of the Middle Burner also converges at the stomach region, emerging after the Upper Burner. This is where food qi is received; it separates dregs, receives fluids, transforms them into fine essences, and directs them upward to the lung vessels, where they transform into blood. Its function is neither ascending nor descending but intermediate. The Qi of the Lower Burner diverges from the ileum, pours into the bladder, and permeates it. Its function is excretion without reception. Thus, food and drink usually reside together in the stomach, become dregs, and descend together into the large intestine. These three types of Qi "scorch" or process food and drink, separating the clear from the turbid, hence named Sanjiao. The Sanjiao is the pathway for food and drink, and the beginning and end of Qi. If the Qi of the Sanjiao is excessive, distension occurs. Qi fills the interior of the skin, feeling light and unstable, or there may be difficult urination or constipation; this is the Excess syndrome of Sanjiao, which should be treated with draining methods. If the Qi of the Sanjiao is deficient, cold pathogenic factors invade it, leading to enuresis, diarrhea or dysentery, chest fullness, or indigestion; this is the Deficiency syndrome of Sanjiao Qi, which should be treated with tonifying methods. Palpating the Cun Kou pulse: if slow, there is cold in the Upper Burner; if the Chi pulse is slow, there is cold in the Lower Burner; if the Chi pulse is floating, there is wandering Yang residing in the Lower Burner.

When the Liver is deficient, use drugs such as Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) and Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) to tonify. According to the principle "tonify the mother when deficient," since the Kidney is the mother of the Liver, use Shudi (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata) and Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) to tonify. If there are no other symptoms, Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) is the primary formula. When the Liver is excess, use Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) to drain. If there are no other symptoms, Xieqing Wan (Drain-Green Pill) is the primary formula. According to the principle "drain the child when excess," use Gancao Xiexin Tang (Licorice Decoction for Draining the Heart) as the primary treatment, because the Heart is the child of the Liver.

When the Heart is deficient, use fried salt to tonify. According to the principle "tonify the mother when deficient," since the Liver is the mother of the Heart, use Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) to tonify. If there are no other symptoms, Anshen Wan (Calming Spirit Pill) is the primary formula. When the Heart is excess, use Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) to drain. If there are no other symptoms, for severe cases use Xiexin Tang (Drain-the-Heart Decoction); for mild cases, use Daochi San (Guide Out Red Powder).

When the Spleen is deficient, use drugs such as Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) and Dazao (Jujubae Fructus) to tonify. According to the principle "tonify the mother when deficient," since the Heart is the mother of the Spleen, use fried salt to tonify. When the Spleen is excess, drain its child. The Lung is the child of the Spleen, so use Sangbaipi (Mori Cortex) as the primary treatment. It is also said that for Spleen excess, use Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) and Zhishi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus) to drain. If there are no other symptoms, Yihuang San (Benefit-Yellow Powder) is the primary formula.

When the Lung is deficient, use Wuweizi (Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus) to tonify. When the Lung is excess, use Sangbaipi (Mori Cortex) to drain. If there are no other symptoms, use Ejiao San (Donkey-Hide Gelatin Powder). According to the principle "tonify the mother when deficient," since the Spleen is the mother of the Lung, tonify the Spleen with Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) and Dazao (Jujubae Fructus). When the Lung is excess, drain its child. The Kidney is the child of the Lung, so use Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma) to drain the Kidney.

When the Kidney is deficient, use Shudi (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata) and Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) to tonify. The Kidney has no excess conditions and cannot be drained. Qian Zhongyang (Qian Yi) only had Bushen Dihuang Wan (Tonify-Kidney Rehmannia Pill) and no drugs for draining the Kidney. According to the principle "tonify the mother when deficient," since the Lung is the mother of the Kidney, use Wuweizi (Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus) to tonify the Lung.