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All people exist within the intersection of Qi (vital energy) between Heaven and Earth, and their respiration and exchange connect with the Qi of Heaven and Earth. Therefore, when the violent climatic factors of Wind, Cold, Summerheat, and Dampness from the four seasons occasionally invade the human body, those with robust constitution will recover as their Qi circulates freely, whereas those with weak constitution will have the pathogenic factors remain and cause disease. One should adjust care according to the season to maintain Yin-Yang balance, which is called preventing disease before it arises.

The Yang Qi in the spring wind, which was stored during winter, gradually disperses outward; thus, it is appropriate to use methods that disperse to unblock the flow of Yang Qi.
*The Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor* states: "In the three months of Spring, this is called 'releasing the old and generating the new'; Heaven and Earth generate, and all things flourish." Go to bed late and rise early, take broad steps in the courtyard. Let your hair down and relax your body to allow your will to grow. Foster growth rather than kill, give rather than take, reward rather than punish. This corresponds to the Qi of Spring and is the way of nourishing life; violating it injures the Liver, leading to cold transformations in Summer. Therefore, starting from the second month, pick one handful of peach branches and leaves growing towards the east, add three bowls of water, decoct to obtain two bowls, and take on an empty stomach. This will induce vomiting to expel phlegm-fluids and accumulated heat from the Heart and Diaphragm. As spring deepens, one should maintain a peaceful lifestyle, delay removing cotton clothes, and avoid chilling the back; cold injury damages the Lungs, causing nasal congestion and coughing. Remove clothes if feeling hot, add them if feeling cold; adjustments should be made in the morning. Avoid going out after meals or at noon to prevent catching Wind-Cold. In Spring, do not wear thin clothes, lest one contract Cold Damage, Cholera, Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst), or headache. When spring thaw is incomplete, dress heavily below and lightly above.

In the three months of Summer, the body's Yang Qi disperses outward while Yin Qi remains latent inside; this is a time of spiritual dispersion, so one must specifically avoid diarrhea which depletes Yin Qi. *The Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor* states: "In the three months of Summer, this is called 'lush and beautiful'; Heaven and Earth Qi intersect, and all things flower and bear fruit." Go to bed late and rise early, do not dislike the sun, keep anger away from your will, let brilliance mature and solidify, allow Qi to vent, as if loving what is outside. This corresponds to the Qi of Summer and is the way of nourishing growth; violating it injures the Heart, leading to Malaria in Autumn. Therefore, one should often dwell quietly and sit still, reduce dietary desires, and harmonize the mind-heart. At this time, Heart Qi is prosperous and Kidney Qi is declining; essence transforms into water, which condenses only in Autumn. It is especially necessary to conserve and secure Yin Qi. One should frequently eat warm foods to keep the abdomen warm. Fruits, raw/cold items, ice water, cold noodles, bean powder, and honey should especially be avoided; excessive consumption leads to Malaria and Dysentery in Autumn. Do not bathe or wash the face and back with cold water, as this causes deficiency-heat, eye diseases, Jue-Ni (reversal of Qi in meridians), Cholera, and Yin Jaundice. Do not sleep facing the wind, and do not fan yourself while sleeping; when sweat pores are open, Wind Pathogens easily enter, causing Feng Bi (Wind Bi syndrome with numbness), paralysis of limbs, and slurred speech. The young and strong may not fall ill immediately but have planted the seeds of disease. Those with declining Qi will respond like drumbeats. After drinking alcohol, these prohibitions are especially strict.

In the three months of Autumn, Yang Qi should converge; vomiting and sweating are inappropriate, as they consume and wither the Zang-Fu organs. *The Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor* states: "In the three months of Autumn, this is called 'containing and leveling'; the Heavenly Qi is urgent, and the Earthly Qi is clear." Go to bed early and rise early, waking with the chickens. Keep the will peaceful to缓 (slow/relax) the autumn form. Converge the Shen (Spirit) to keep the Autumn Qi balanced; do not let the will wander outward, keeping the Lung Qi pure. This corresponds to the Qi of Autumn and is the way of nourishing harvest; violating it injures the Lungs, leading to undigested stool diarrhea in Winter. If one knows they ate many melons and cool foods in Summer, it is suitable to take two bowls of urine from a healthy child, five pieces of Areca Seed (Da Fu Bing Lang), finely cut and decocted in water to 80% volume, mixed with one part Ginger Juice and three parts Snow Water. Take divided doses on an empty stomach in the morning. After two or three bowel movements, all cold foods eaten during Summer and stagnant water in the Bladder will be expelled and cease to cause harm. Even the elderly should take this. However, those who are careful with diet need not take it. After purging, eating Allium macrostemon porridge with Lamb Kidneys on an empty stomach is superior to tonics.

In the three months of Winter, Heaven and Earth close up, and Qi and Blood hide; latent Yang resides inside, causing heat in the Heart and Diaphragm. Sweating to vent Yang Qi is strictly contraindicated. *The Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor* states: "In the three months of Winter, it is called 'closing and storing'; water freezes and earth cracks. Do not disturb Yang." Go to bed early and rise late, waiting for sunlight. Let the will be hidden and concealed, as if having private thoughts, as if satisfied. Move away from cold toward warmth; do not let skin pores open, lest Qi be frequently lost. This corresponds to the Qi of Winter and is the way of nourishing storage; violating it injures the Kidneys, leading to Wei-Jue (limb weakness and coldness) in Spring. Therefore, one should take medicated wine to welcome Yang Qi. Although so, one should not over-warm; cotton clothes should be worn at night, gradually thickening. Even in severe cold, do not roast by fire, as it harms the eyes, and heating the palms and soles draws fire inward, causing Heart dryness and blood depletion. Clothes should not be too hot. In Winter, due to cold weather, Yang Qi hides internally; adding roasted clothes, heavy furs, fire-roasting, and drunkenness makes Yang excessively strong. If Spring cold persists after long closure without dispersion, when Spring-Summer transition arrives, Yin Qi has entered but cannot control Yang Qi, leading to epidemic heat syndromes, even delirium and mania. All result from failing to preserve Yin in Winter. One must love oneself, maintaining moderate cold and heat; this is paramount and the great method of health preservation.