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Qibo said: The five flavors enter the stomach and each returns to its preferred organ. Sourness first enters the Liver, bitterness first enters the Heart, sweetness first enters the Spleen, pungency first enters the Lung, and saltiness first enters the Kidney. Long-term consumption increases the Qi of the respective organs, which is the normal law of transformation; however, if this increase in Qi persists for too long, it becomes the cause of premature death.

Wang Bing stated: Entering the Liver manifests as Warmth, entering the Heart as Heat, entering the Lung as Coolness, entering the Kidney as Cold, and entering the Spleen as Supreme Yin, which encompasses the four Qi of the seasons. All these act by increasing the flavor to benefit the corresponding organ's Qi. Therefore, each follows the Qi of its root organ, and long-term use leads to transformation according to that nature. Thus, long-term consumption of Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) or Kushen (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix) may paradoxically generate Heat, due to transformation from Bitterness. The other flavors follow this pattern. If the increase in Qi does not cease, it leads to an excess of one Zang organ's Qi and a subsequent deficiency in another; such deficiency inevitably leads to sudden death. Therefore, if medicines lack the complete Five Flavors or the Four Qi, although they may yield temporary benefits, long-term use will inevitably cause premature death. This is why those who abstain from grains and only take medicinal herbs do not die suddenly, because they lack the support of the Five Flavors.

Gao stated: The alternation of Yin and Yang is called the Dao (Way); deviation towards either Yin or Yang is called disease. If Yang agents dominate with rigidity, accumulation resembles a raging fire, leading to conditions such as Xiao Ke (Wasting and Thirsting), Kuang (Mania), and Yong Ju (Carbuncles and Sores), resulting in the exhaustion of Tian Gui (Heavenly Water/Reproductive Essence) and depletion of Ying Blood (Nutritive Blood). If Yin agents dominate with softness, accumulation resembles congealed water, leading to conditions such as Dong Xie (Profuse Diarrhea) and Han Zhong (Cold in the Middle Jiao), resulting in the weakening of True Fire and dispersion of Wei Qi (Defensive Qi). Therefore, drugs of extreme Cold or extreme Heat should be used flexibly and discontinued once the Qi returns to balance. Any biased assistance causes imbalance in Zang organ Qi, which is the cause of premature death.

Gao further stated: In treating diseases, one must understand the principles of Root (Ben) and Branch (Biao). Regarding the body, the exterior is the Branch, and the interior is the Root; Yang is the Branch, and Yin is the Root. Thus, the Six Fu Organs belong to Yang and are the Branch, while the Five Zang Organs belong to Yin and are the Root; the Zang and Fu organs within are the Root, and the Twelve Meridians on the exterior are the Branch. Furthermore, the Zang and Fu organs, Yin and Yang, Qi and Blood, and meridians each have their own Root and Branch aspects. Regarding disease, the initial manifestation is the Root, and subsequent transmission is the Branch. Therefore, all diseases should be treated at the Root first, and then at the Branch. Otherwise, pathogenic factors will intensify, and the disease will accumulate. Even if a mild condition arises first and a severe one later, one should treat the mild condition first and the severe one later, so that pathogenic factors can be subdued. However, in cases of abdominal fullness or difficulty in urination and defecation, regardless of the sequence of Root and Branch, treatment must prioritize relieving fullness and restoring bowel/bladder function, as these are emergencies. Thus it is said: When the condition is slow, treat the Root; when urgent, treat the Branch. Furthermore, transmission from the generating element (Mother to Child) constitutes Excess Pathogen (Shi Xie); transmission from the generated element (Child to Mother) constitutes Deficient Pathogen (Xu Xie). For Excess, drain the Child; for Deficiency, tonify the Mother. For example, if the Liver is affected by Heart Fire, this is an Excess Pathogen coming from the source. One should puncture the Ying-Spring acupoint on the Liver Meridian to drain Heart Fire, which is treating the Root first; or puncture the Ying-Spring acupoint on the Heart Meridian to drain Heart Fire, which is treating the Branch first. In herbal prescription, herbs entering the Liver serve as guiding herbs, while herbs draining the Heart serve as Sovereign herbs. The Classic states: "Root then Branch," meaning treat the Root first, then the Branch. Conversely, if the Liver is affected by Kidney Water, this is a Deficient Pathogen. One should puncture the Jing-Well acupoint on the Kidney Meridian to tonify Liver Wood, which is treating the Branch first; then puncture the He-Sea acupoint on the Liver Meridian to drain Kidney Water, which is treating the Root second. In herbal prescription, herbs entering the Kidney serve as guiding herbs, while herbs tonifying the Liver serve as Sovereign herbs. The Classic states: "Branch then Root," meaning treat the Branch first, then the Root.