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The changes of deficiency and excess in the mother-son relationships among the Five Zang organs, as well as the transmission patterns of Gui-Zei (Ghost-Thief), Wei (Slight), and Zheng (Upright) pathogens, are difficult to master if their purport is not thoroughly understood. When the pathogen is in the front, it is an Excess Pathogen (Shi-Xie); the Son organ can cause the Mother organ to become Excess; if the Mother organ is injured by a Thief Pathogen, its Son organ will summon the organ that the Mother controls (the Wife) to assist, hence it is called an Excess Pathogen. When the pathogen is in the back, it is a Deficiency Pathogen (Xu-Xie); the Mother organ brings the Gui-Zei pathogen that controls the Son organ, because the Mother organ can cause the Son organ to become Deficient. The *Neijing* states: "The Son can make the Mother Excess, and the Mother can make the Son Deficient," which refers to this principle. When the Wife organ attacks the Husband organ, it is a Slight Pathogen (Wei-Xie); when the Husband organ attacks the Wife organ, it is a Thief Pathogen (Zei-Xie). The treatment method should be to drain the Gui-Zei pathogen and tonify the affected Zang organ itself. Disease originating from the Zang organ itself is an Upright Pathogen (Zheng-Xie); it should be tonified if Deficient and drained if Excess. The *Neijing* states: "To nourish the sprout, one must surely stabilize the root; to cut down the lower part, one must surely wither the upper part." If one goes against the root and cuts the source, one will ruin the true Qi.

The Heart governs Heat. If the Heart suffers self-disease manifesting as severe heat, Xixin Decoction (Heart-Draining Decoction) is indicated. If Heart Excess manifests as vexation and heat, Huanglian Xixin Decoction (Coptis Heart-Draining Decoction) is indicated. If Heart Deficiency manifests as palpitations and fright, Shengxi San (Raw Rhinoceros Horn Powder) is indicated. Lung attacking Heart is a Slight Pathogen, manifesting as wheezing and high fever, treated with Xiebai San (Draining White Powder). Liver attacking Heart is a Deficiency Pathogen, manifesting as wind-heat, treated with Da Qianghuo Tang (Major Notopterygium Decoction) decocted and taken with Daqing Wan (Major Qing Pill). Spleen attacking Heart is an Excess Pathogen, manifesting as diarrhea and body heat, treated with Xiehuang San (Draining Yellow Powder). Kidney attacking Heart is a Thief Pathogen, manifesting as terror and aversion to cold, treated with Anshen Wan (Calming Spirit Pill).

The Lung governs Dryness. If the Lung suffers self-disease, it manifests as wheezing and cough; dryness should be moistened. If Lung Excess manifests as wheezing with abundant Qi, Xiebai San (Draining White Powder) is indicated. If Lung Deficiency manifests as wheezing with shortness of breath, Yihuang San (Tonifying Yellow Powder) is used first, followed by Ejiao San (Donkey-Hide Gelatin Powder). Heart attacking Lung is a Thief Pathogen, manifesting as heat with wheezing and cough, treated with Dihuang Wan (Rehmannia Pill) initially, Daochi San (Guiding Red Powder) in the middle, and Ejiao San (Donkey-Hide Gelatin Powder) finally. Liver attacking Lung is a Slight Pathogen, manifesting as aversion to wind, dizziness, vertigo, confusion, and cough, treated with Qianghuo Gao (Notopterygium Paste). Kidney attacking Lung is an Excess Pathogen, manifesting as aversion to cold, clear cough, treated with Baibu Wan (Stemona Pill). Spleen attacking Lung is a Deficiency Pathogen, manifesting as heavy body, vomiting phlegm, diarrhea, and cough, treated with Renshen Baizhu San (Ginseng and Atractylodes Macrocephala Powder).

The Liver governs Wind. If the Liver suffers self-disease, it manifests as wind-tremors and spasms. The Liver dislikes tension; urgently use sweet flavors to relax it, assist with sour and bitter flavors, and disperse with pungent flavors. If Liver Excess manifests with forceful wind-tremors, Xieqing Wan (Draining Green Pill) is indicated. If Liver Deficiency manifests with weak wind-tremors, Dihuang Wan (Rehmannia Pill) is indicated. Heart attacking Liver is an Excess Pathogen, manifesting as high fever and tremors, treated with Lijing Wan (Benefiting Fright Pill) and Liangjing Wan (Cooling Fright Pill). Lung attacking Liver is a Thief Pathogen; if Qi is abundant, there is forward stretching, yawning, and slight tremors. The method is to drain the Lung; first tonify the affected organ (Liver) with Dihuang Wan (Rehmannia Pill), and drain the Lung with Xiebai San (Draining White Powder). Spleen attacking Liver is a Slight Pathogen, manifesting as excessive sleep, heavy body, and tremors; first stop the tremors with Xieqing Wan (Draining Green Pill). If other symptoms appear after the tremors cease, establish a different treatment. Kidney attacking Liver is a Deficiency Pathogen, manifesting as aversion to cold, yawning, and tremors, treated with Qianghuo Gao (Notopterygium Paste).

The Spleen governs Dampness. If the Spleen suffers self-disease, it manifests as diarrhea, excessive sleep, heavy body, and fatigue. The Spleen dislikes dampness; urgently use bitter flavors to dry it. If Spleen Excess manifests as yellow-red diarrhea and sleeping with eyes closed, Xiehuang San (Draining Yellow Powder) is indicated. If Spleen Deficiency manifests as white diarrhea and sleeping with eyes open, Baizhu San (Atractylodes Macrocephala Powder) is indicated. Liver attacking Spleen is a Thief Pathogen, manifesting as wind-diarrhea and vomiting, treated with Fuling Banxia Tang (Poria and Pinellia Decoction). Heart attacking Spleen is a Deficiency Pathogen, manifesting as high fever, heavy body, and diarrhea, treated with Qianghuo Huangqin Cangzhu Gancao Tang (Notopterygium, Scutellaria, Atractodes, and Licorice Decoction). Lung attacking Spleen is an Excess Pathogen, manifesting as ability to eat but no bowel movement, vomiting, and cough, treated with Binglang Dahuang Tang (Areca Seed and Rhubarb Decoction) decocted and taken with Tingli Wan (Descurainia Pill). Kidney attacking Spleen is a Slight Pathogen, manifesting as aversion to cold and diarrhea, treated with Lizhong Wan (Regulate the Middle Pill) or similar formulas.

The Kidney governs Cold. If the Kidney suffers self-disease, it manifests as cold and reversal in the feet and shins. Among the five Zang organs of humans, only the Kidney has no Excess conditions. However, if pediatric smallpox/variolous lesions turn black and sink inward, this is a Kidney Excess condition, where Water overcomes and retreats Heart Fire. Heart attacking Kidney is a Slight Pathogen, manifesting as internal heat without aversion to cold, treated with Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction). Lung attacking Kidney is a Deficiency Pathogen, manifesting as wheezing, cough, dry/rough skin, and cold, treated with Baibu Wan (Stemona Pill). Liver attacking Kidney is an Excess Pathogen, manifesting as spasms, Qi tremors, and cold body, treated with Lizhong Wan (Regulate the Middle Pill). Spleen attacking Kidney is a Thief Pathogen, manifesting as heavy body, diarrhea, and cold body, treated with Lizhong Wan (Regulate the Middle Pill).

Whenever the Five Zang organs are deficient, it is because their own righteous Qi fails to function normally, and they are overcome and harmed by Gui-Zei pathogens. One should often tonify the righteous Qi of the affected Zang organ. For example, if Lung disease presents with wheezing and cough: if seen in early Spring, the method is to tonify the Kidney; if seen in Summer, rescue the Lung; if seen in Autumn, drain the Lung; if seen in Winter, tonify the Heart and drain the affected organ. This is also called Cold Cough. Generally, when the Qi of each Zang organ reaches its own position, it is abundant and should not be further tonified; when it reaches the position of the organ it controls, it should not be further drained.