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Salt varies in five colors, among which Qingyan (Green Salt) is the most excellent. It tastes salty, is cold in nature, and is non-toxic. It can be used to wash hidden sores in the lower body, can induce vomiting to expel phlegm-stagnation in the middle jiao, relieve sudden pain in the heart and abdomen, stop bleeding from tooth gaps, drive out earthworm poison injuries, and kill gu-poison and epidemic pestilence qi. Used in small amounts, it guides medicines into the Kidney; used in excess, it triggers coughs and damages Lung Metal. It disperses blood, damages sinews, darkens the skin, and causes loss of luster. It is contraindicated for edema and strictly prohibited for coughs.

Qingyan (Green Salt) benefits Qi, removes Qi-gu (abdominal mass caused by pathogenic qi), brightens the eyes, relieves eye pain, stops hematemesis, strengthens bones and sinews, and surpasses other salts in efficacy. It particularly benefits the human body because the salty flavor enters the Kidney.

Moreover, salt can soften hardness, thus possessing both tonifying and attacking properties. The Kidney is suited for tonification but not for purging; therefore, those with Kidney deficiency are not contraindicated from eating salt. However, patients with edema also suffer from Kidney deficiency. Why should they avoid salt? This seems to suggest that salt purges the Kidney. In fact, this is not the case. The disease of edema is a pathological manifestation of Earth overcoming Water. When Earth overcomes Water, one should abhor "Earth" pathogens, why abhor "Water"? Water is a Yin entity; Earth is also a Yin entity. Salt tonifies the Kidney and necessarily tonifies Yin; thus, entering the Kidney, it inevitably also enters the Spleen. Edema disease is extreme Yin deficiency. Salt tonifying the Kidney naturally enters directly into the Kidney. However, the Spleen also desires salt for support. Salt, reluctantly, must distribute its flavor to the Spleen, but the Kidney refuses to yield to the Spleen. Consequently, the Kidney and Spleen contend with each other, preventing the cure of water disorders. Even if cured temporarily, it will surely relapse severely and become incurable, due to the unresolvable anger of the Spleen. Thus, it is clear that the prohibition of salt for edema is not because salt purges the Kidney. ([Commentary] This discussion was not mentioned by predecessors.)

One might ask: *The Inner Canon* states: "Salt travels through the blood; patients with blood diseases should not eat much salt. Excessive consumption causes blood vessels to coagulate and stagnate, leading to changes in complexion." Is salt not salty? Why did you not mention this? I reply: Humans living in this world cannot sustain life without the Five Flavors. Without eating salt, how can one benefit Kidney Water? Moreover, after hematemesis, epistaxis, or hematochezia, what is deficient is precisely the salty flavor. If one prohibits the intake of saltiness, what substance will assist in generating blood and essence? Does this mean the words of *The Inner Canon* are not entirely trustworthy? Not at all. Generally, *The Inner Canon* discusses the normal state, whereas I discuss the variable state. Furthermore, *The Inner Canon* only teaches people not to consume excessive saltiness, not to completely abstain from salt. Modern physicians, upon seeing blood diseases, regardless of their excess/deficiency or acute/chronic nature, universally prohibit salt intake, similar to the prohibition for edema. This often exacerbates the condition and increases bleeding. This is the error of overly prohibiting salt. I added this section through question and answer to advise against rigidly applying *The Inner Canon* to treat blood diseases.