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Fire can overcome dampness; treatment employs Bitter-Warm (Ku Wen) herbs, as the Bitter flavor transforms with Fire. Assist with Sweet and Acrid herbs: when Wood is injured by Metal, use Sweet herbs to relax it, which is the proper flavor of Metal; use Acrid herbs to drain it. When dryness causes obstruction and blockage, pathogenic factors become excessive internally, so one should employ Bitter herbs to purge downwards. This differs slightly from the aforementioned principle where "excessive Dryness" is assisted with Sour and Acrid herbs. Furthermore, in the *Da Lun of the Six Primary Ordinances* (Liu Yuan Zheng Ji Da Lun), for Zi and Wu years where Yangming Metal governs below, it also states to purge with Sour-Warm herbs, which differs from the present context. Examining the *Treatise on Organ Qi According to Time* (Zang Qi Fa Shi Lun): "The Lung suffers from rebellious Qi ascending; urgently eat Bitter herbs to drain it; use Sour herbs to tonify it, and Acrid herbs to drain it." This precisely distinguishes the current situation. (When Heat counteracts and prevails, treat with Neutral-Cold (Ping Han) herbs, assist with Bitter-Sweet herbs, use Sour herbs to level it, taking harmony as beneficial. (If Qi is deficient, Heat may counteract and prevail. Treatment uses Neutral-Cold herbs because Metal governs the earth, and its nature is inherently austere and killing. If Great Cold herbs are used, they will surely exacerbate this harshness; thus, only Neutral-Cold herbs should be used to suppress Heat. Assisting with Bitter-Sweet herbs serves to drain Fire. Using Sour herbs to level it reflects the proper flavor of Metal, whose tonifying action lies in Sour. Taking harmony as beneficial warns against overuse, embodying the intent of Neutral-Cold.)

Taiyang Cold Water governs below (Chou and Wei years); Cold invades internally. Treat with Sweet-Hot herbs, assist with Bitter-Acrid herbs. Use Salty herbs to drain, Acrid herbs to moisten, and Bitter herbs to firm. (Cold is Water Qi; Earth can overcome Water. Heat can overcome Cold; thus, treatment uses Sweet-Hot herbs. Sweet transforms with Earth, and Hot transforms with Fire. The rationale for assisting with Bitter and Acrid is similar to that discussed above. As stated in the *Treatise on Organ Qi According to Time*: "The Kidney suffers from dryness; urgently eat Acrid herbs to moisten it. The Kidney desires firmness; urgently eat Bitter herbs to firm it. Use Bitter herbs to tonify it, and Salty herbs to drain it.") When Heat counteracts and prevails, treat with Salty-Cold herbs, assist with Sweet-Acrid herbs, and use Bitter herbs to level them. (If Qi is deficient, Heat may counteract and prevail; therefore, treat with Salty-Cold herbs to suppress Fire pathogens. Assisting with Sweet-Acrid herbs: Sweet drains Fire, and Acrid disperses. Using Bitter herbs to level them refers to the proper flavor of Water, whose tonifying action lies in Bitter. Master Wang states: These treatments for the Six Qi differ in consistency from the methods for overcoming excess. "Treating" refers to draining the prevailing Qi of exogenous pathogens. "Assisting" refers to what is beneficial and appropriate. "Leveling" refers to tonifying the already weakened righteous Qi. Li Shizhen states: Si Tian (Managing Heaven) governs the first half of the year; Heaven's Qi governs, so the Six Excesses are called "prevailing," invading from above downwards, hence termed "leveling." Zai Quan (Governing Below) governs the second half of the year; Earth's Qi governs, so the Six Excesses are called "within," invading from outside inwards, hence termed "treating." When the season arrives but one instead receives the Qi that overcomes it, it is called "counter-prevailing." According to the fluctuating abundance and deficiency of the Six Qi, wherever there is overcoming, there is retaliation. Master Wang also says: Wherever there is prior overcoming, there must be subsequent retaliation; see the *Da Lun of the Supreme Truth and Essential Needs* for details. Those seeking profound understanding should study this carefully. The above discussion concerns the Five Movements and Six Excesses as Guest Qi, which change according to each annual cycle. Furthermore, the Principal Qi of a year begins on the Day of Major Cold, transitioning into the First Qi of Jueyin Wind-Wood. Next, on the Spring Equinox, it transitions into the Second Qi of Shaoyin Ministerial Fire. Next, on the Grain Full solar term, it transitions into the Third Qi of Shaoyang Ministerial Fire. Next, on the Major Heat solar term, it transitions into the Fourth Qi of Taiyin Damp-Earth. Next, on the Autumn Equinox, it transitions into the Fifth Qi of Yangming Dry-Metal. Next, on the Minor Snow solar term, it transitions into the Final Qi of Taiyang Cold-Water. Each Qi governs for sixty days. The Six Qi divide the four seasons, remaining constant year after year, hence called Principal Qi. Guest Qi distributes Heavenly Decrees, superimposing upon Principal Qi. Thus, upper and lower interact, and diseases arise. Li Shizhen states: The Classics say, "First ascertain the Annual Qi, do not violate the Harmony of Heaven." It also says, "Follow the trends of ascending, descending, floating, and sinking; oppose the natures of cold, heat, warm, and cool." Therefore, in Spring, one should add Acrid-Warm herbs to follow the ascending Qi of Spring. In Summer, one should add Acrid-Hot herbs to follow the floating Qi of Summer. In Late Summer, one should add Sweet-Bitter-Acrid-Warm herbs to follow the transforming and maturing Qi. In Autumn, one should add Sour-Warm herbs to follow the descending Qi of Autumn. In Winter, one should add Bitter-Cold herbs to follow the sinking Qi of Winter. This is what is meant by following seasonal Qi to nourish the Harmony of Heaven. The Classics further state: In Spring, reduce Sour and increase Sweet to nourish Spleen Qi; in Summer, reduce Bitter and increase Acrid to nourish Lung Qi; in Late Summer, reduce Sweet and increase Salty to nourish Kidney Qi; in Autumn, reduce Acrid and increase Sour to nourish Liver Qi; in Winter, reduce Salty and increase Bitter to nourish Heart Qi. This avoids violating the Harmony of Heaven while preventing excess, thereby embodying the great virtue of Heaven and Earth. Ignorant practitioners abandon the root for the branch: using Acrid-Cold in Spring to attack Wood, Salty-Cold in Summer to suppress Fire, Bitter-Warm in Autumn to drain Metal, and Acrid-Hot in Winter to deplete Water. They call these "Seasonal Medicines," which severely contradict the principles of opposition and conformity in the *Suwen*. One can infer this from the concepts of Yin hiding in Summer and Yang hiding in Winter. Nevertheless, months have four phases, and days have four phases. One might encounter Autumn diseases in Spring or Winter diseases in Summer. Through spiritual illumination and flexible application, adapting to circumstances requires flexibility; one cannot adhere rigidly to a single rule.)