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Jiegu said: When the Heart is affected by pathogenic factors and manifests as its own disease, if there is severe heat, Xixin Tang (Heart-Draining Decoction) should be used; if it is excess syndrome manifesting as irritability and heat, Huanglian Xixin Tang (Coptis Heart-Draining Decoction) should be used; if it is deficiency syndrome manifesting as palpitations and fright, Shengxi Tang (Raw Rhinoceros Horn Decoction) should be used.

When the Lung is affected by slight pathogenic factors from the Heart, manifesting as wheezing and high fever, Xiebai San (White Powder for Draining the Lung) should be used.

When the Lung is affected by deficient pathogenic factors from the Heart due to wind-heat, Daqing Gao (Major Blue Paste) should be decocted and drunk, along with Daqing Wan (Major Blue Pill).

When the Spleen is affected by thief-pathogenic factors from the Heart, manifesting as terror and aversion to cold, Anshen Wan (Spirit-Calming Pill) should be used.

Note: Liu Zongnong stated that "Cheng" (overcoming/assaulting) is like riding a carriage. Generally, diseases of the Five Zang organs overcome each other, lying hidden or appearing unpredictably. The above only discusses the principle of the primary organ overcoming others when sick. Therefore, *Essentials for Treating the Five Zang Organs* is attached below for reference.

Whenever the Heart suffers disease, one must first regulate the Liver and Kidney. The Kidney is the "Ghost" (organ that controls/overcomes) of the Heart. If Liver Qi flows smoothly, Heart Qi harmonizes; if Liver Qi stagnates, Heart Qi becomes deficient. This means treating Heart disease by seeking the source in the Liver to clear it. When any of the five Zang organs suffer disease, they must first transmit to the organ they control. Water overcomes Fire, so if the Kidney suffers evil, it must transmit to the Heart. Thus, one treats the Kidney first to expel the evil. One should reduce Kidney Qi and tonify Liver Qi. If pulse diagnosis reveals both the Liver and Kidney are harmonious, yet the Heart falls ill spontaneously, then examine the Heart's deficiency or excess and treat accordingly.

The Lung governs dryness. If it suffers disease itself, it manifests as wheezing and coughing. Dryness requires moistening. Excess syndrome manifests as wheezing with abundant Qi, treated with Xiebai San (White Powder for Draining the Lung); deficiency syndrome manifests as wheezing with shortness of breath, initially treated with Yihuang San (Yellow-Protecting Powder), followed by Ejiao San (Donkey-Hide Gelatin Powder).

When the Heart assaults the Lung (thief-pathogen), manifesting as heat with wheezing and coughing, first use Daochi San (Guide Out Redness Powder) within Dihuang Wan (Rehmannia Pill), followed by Ejiao San (Donkey-Hide Gelatin Powder).

When the Liver assaults the Lung (slight pathogen), manifesting as aversion to wind, dizziness, confusion, and coughing, use Huoxiao Gao (Notopterygium Paste).

When the Kidney assaults the Lung (excess pathogen), manifesting as increased cold and coughing, use Qingli Baibu Wan (Clearing and Benefiting Stemona Pill).

When the Spleen assaults the Lung (deficient pathogen), manifesting as heavy body, vomiting phlegm, and diarrhea, use Renshen Baizhu San (Ginseng and Atractylodes Macrocephala Powder).

Whenever the Lung suffers disease, one must first observe the Heart's deficiency or excess. If Heart Fire blazes and scorches Metal (Lung), one must first tonify Heart Qi before administering Lung medicine. If Heart Qi is harmonious, check the Spleen pulse. If Spleen Qi is deficient and cold, failing to generate support, Lung Qi generation will be insufficient, making it susceptible to wind pathogens. Thus, lung cold cases often stem from Spleen deficiency. If Spleen Qi is excessive and solid, it may cause blockage in the Middle Jiao. Since the Large Intestine and Lung are exterior-interior related, they cannot communicate freely. If heat blocks the Middle Jiao, Lung and Large Intestine communication fails, and toxic heat steams upward to the Lung, generating phlegm. Thus, lung heat cases often stem from Spleen excess. Tonify deficient Heart Qi, drain excess Heart Qi, tonify deficient Spleen Qi, and unblock excessive Spleen Qi. Then treat according to the Lung's cold or heat. Hence, there are three methods: suppressing Heart Qi, tonifying Spleen Qi, and unblocking Lung Qi. If pulse diagnosis shows both Heart and Spleen are harmonious, yet the Lung falls ill spontaneously, examine the Lung's deficiency or excess and treat accordingly.

The Liver governs wind. If it suffers disease itself, it manifests as wind convulsions and stiffness. The Liver dislikes tension; quickly administer sweet flavors to relax it, assist with sour and bitter flavors, and disperse with pungent flavors. Excess syndrome manifests as forceful wind convulsions, treated with Xieqing Wan (Draining Green Pill); deficiency syndrome manifests as weak wind convulsions, treated with Dihuang Wan (Rehmannia Pill).

When the Heart assaults the Liver (excess pathogen), manifesting as high fever and convulsions, use Lijing Wan (Relieving Convulsion Pill).

When the Lung assaults the Liver (thief pathogen), with excessive Qi, manifesting as stretching forward, yawning, and slight convulsions, the treatment method should drain the Lung. First tonify the primary organ. Tonify the Liver with Dihuang Wan (Rehmannia Pill); drain the Lung with Xiebai San (White Powder for Draining the Lung).

When the Spleen assaults the Liver (slight pathogen), manifesting as excessive sleep, heavy body, and convulsions, first stop convulsions using Xieqing Wan (Draining Green Pill). After convulsions cease, address subsequent symptoms with separate methods.

When the Kidney assaults the Liver (deficient pathogen), manifesting as increased cold, yawning, and convulsions, use Huoxiao Gao (Notopterygium Paste).

Whenever the Liver suffers disease, one must first inspect the Lung and Kidney to root the cause, then examine the Liver's primary organ deficiency or excess before treating. The Kidney is the Mother of the Liver, and Metal (Lung) is the Thief of Wood (Liver). Now, if the Liver suffers disease, unless it is due to Kidney Water failing to generate, it must be an attack by Lung Metal. One must carefully investigate. If the source is in the Lung, treat the Lung first to attack the thief; if the source is in the Kidney, tonify the Kidney first to nourish the root. Then examine the Liver's primary organ deficiency or excess and treat with cold or warm methods.

The Spleen governs dampness. If it suffers disease itself, it manifests as diarrhea, excessive sleep, heavy body, and fatigue. The Spleen dislikes dampness; quickly administer sweet flavors to relax it. Excess syndrome manifests as yellow-red diarrhea and sleeping with eyes partially closed, treated with Xiehuang San (Draining Yellow Powder); deficiency syndrome manifests as white diarrhea and sleeping with eyes open, treated with Baizhu San (Atractylodes Macrocephala Powder).

When the Liver assaults the Spleen (thief pathogen), manifesting as wind-diarrhea and vomiting, use Fuling Banxia Tang (Poria and Pinellia Decoction).

When the Heart assaults the Spleen (deficient pathogen), manifesting as high fever, heavy body, and diarrhea, use Qianghuang Huangqin Gancao Cangzhu Tang (Notopterygium, Coptis, Licorice, and Atractodes Lancea Decoction).

When the Lung assaults the Spleen (slight pathogen), manifesting as aversion to cold and diarrhea, use Lizhong Wan (Regulate the Middle Pill) and similar formulas.

Whenever the Spleen suffers disease, one must inspect the Liver and Heart for deficiency or excess to root the cause before treating. The Liver is the Ghost of the Spleen, and the Heart is the Mother of the Spleen. If Liver Qi is excessive, the ghost prevails; if Heart Qi is deficient, Spleen Qi generation is insufficient. Suppress the excessive to reduce it; tonify the deficient to prevent scarcity. Hence, there are two methods: suppressing Spleen Qi and tonifying Heart Qi. If pulse diagnosis shows both Liver and Heart are harmonious, then the Spleen falls ill spontaneously; examine its deficiency or excess and treat accordingly.

The Kidney governs cold. If it suffers disease itself, it manifests as cold and reversal in the lower legs and shins. Among the five Zang organs of humans, only the Kidney has no excess syndrome. In pediatric smallpox/variolous eruptions turning black and sinking inward, this is Kidney Water excess overcoming Heart Fire, demonstrating water controlling fire.

When the Heart assaults the Kidney (slight pathogen), manifesting as internal heat without aversion to cold, use Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction).

When the Liver assaults the Kidney (excess pathogen), manifesting as stiffness, Qi convulsions, and cold body, use Lizhong Wan (Regulate the Middle Pill).

When the Lung assaults the Kidney (deficient pathogen), manifesting as wheezing, dry skin, and cold body, use Baibu Wan (Stemona Pill).

When the Spleen assaults the Kidney (thief pathogen), manifesting as heavy body, diarrhea, and cold body, use Lizhong Wan (Regulate the Middle Pill).

Primary organ weakness occurs when one's own righteous command fails, leading to being overcome by ghost/thief pathogens. One should tonify the righteous Qi of the primary organ. For example, if Lung disease presents with wheezing and coughing: seen in early spring, treat by tonifying the Kidney; seen in summer, rescue the Lung; seen in autumn, drain the Lung; seen in winter, tonify the Heart. Draining the primary organ is named Cold Cough. Generally, when each of the five Zang organs reaches its own position, Qi is excessive and should not be further tonified; when reaching the position it controls, it should not be further drained.

Furthermore, according to Master Liu, among the Five Elements, only the Kidney exhibits a condition where the Mother is excessive and the Child suffers reverse evil. However, the nature of things cannot be generalized. The Lung and Kidney are examples. Why? The Lung belongs to Metal, connects to skin and hair, and governs Qi; the Kidney belongs to Water, governs bone marrow, and stores Essence-Qi. Qi is light and floating, able to ascend but not descend; Essence is heavy and sinking, able to descend but not ascend. This is the natural nature of things. Currently, Lung excess is likely caused by heat. Qi heated steams upward to the Lung and cannot descend to generate the Kidney, causing the Kidney to suffer evil. Quickly administer cool medicines to resolve this, allowing Kidney Qi to become harmonious and naturally descend to generate the Kidney. This is why Kidney disease must first seek its source in the Lung. If the Lung is harmonious but the Kidney suddenly suffers disease, it is merely Spleen dampness influencing the Kidney to create illness. Hence, there are two methods: resolving Lung heat and removing Spleen evil. If both Spleen and Lung are harmonious but the Kidney falls ill spontaneously, examine the primary organ and treat accordingly.