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The *Wu Chang Zheng Da Lun* (Great Discourse on the Five Regular Policies) states: The heaven is deficient in the northwest, where the left is cold and the right is cool; the earth is incomplete in the southeast, where the right is hot and the left is warm. What is the reason for this? (This is explained using the Xun trigram of the Eight Trigrams.) It is due to the principles of Yin and Yang Qi, the differences in terrain elevation, and the variations in the magnitude of Yin and Yang Qi. ("Elevation" refers to terrain. "Magnitude" refers to the differences in the prosperity and decline of Yin and Yang Qi. In the Central Plains, the terrain is higher in the northwest and lower in the southeast; the west is cool, the north is cold, the east is warm, and the south is hot.) The southeast belongs to Yang. The essence of Yang descends downward, hence the right is hot and the left is warm. (The essence of Yang descends, so the earthly Qi becomes warm and harmonious below. Yang Qi originates in the East and prospers in the South, hence the East is warm and the South is hot, clearly indicating the quantity of Qi.) The northwest belongs to Yin. The essence of Yin is offered upward, hence the left is cold and the right is cool. (The essence of Yin is offered upward, so the earth becomes cold and harmonious above. Yin Qi originates in the West and prospers in the North, hence the West is cool and the North is cold. The ruler speaks facing the Xun direction, and the minister responds facing the Qian direction.) Therefore, there are differences in terrain elevation and Qi temperature/warmth. High places have cold Qi, and low places have hot Qi. (The *Liu Yuan Zheng Ji Lun* says: At the highest places, Winter Qi is always present. At the lowest places, Spring Qi is always present.) People in places where Yin essence is offered upward live long, while people in places where Yang essence descends downward die young. (Where Yin essence is offered upward refers to high places. Where Yang essence descends refers to low places. In Yin regions, Yang does not leak recklessly, Cold Qi holds the exterior, pathogenic factors do not frequently strike the righteous Qi which remains firm, thus life is extended. In Yang regions, Yang Qi dissipates, excretion lacks replenishment, Wind-Dampness frequently strikes, and True Qi collapses, thus premature death occurs. Currently in the Central Plains, people in the northwest tend to live long, while those in the southeast tend to die young, with intermediate areas showing varying degrees of each.) The Qi of the northwest is dispersing and cold; treatment should involve dispersing and cooling. The Qi of the southeast is gathering and warm; treatment should involve gathering and warming. This is what is called "treating the same disease differently based on different causes." (People in the West and North have dense skin and tight interstices, and eat hot foods, so dispersing and cooling are suitable. People in the East and South have loose skin and open interstices, and eat cold foods, so gathering and warming are suitable. "Dispersing" refers to warm baths to make the interior and exterior flow freely. "Gathering" refers to warming the interior without releasing the exterior.) That which is rooted within is called Shen Ji (Spirit Mechanism); when Shen departs, the mechanism ceases. That which is rooted externally is called Qi Li (Qi Establishment); when Qi stops, transformation ends. (All that receives from Heaven focuses on Shen; all that receives from Earth focuses on Qi. Among all有形 entities, those rooted within derive their source from Heaven; their movements and fluctuations are primarily driven by Shen Qi. Their actions are unknown to other things. Thus, when the abode of Shen leaves, the way of mechanism activation and use ceases. Furthermore, since the root of generating Qi originates from within the physical form, it is said: "Rooted within." Those rooted externally derive their source from Earth; thus their growth, transformation, and storage are established by the Qi of Creation. Their origins are also unknown to other things. Thus, when Qi stops, the way of biological formation and knotting is severed. Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water; Dryness, Dampness, Fluidity, Hardness, Softness—although their constant natures do not change, once external objects depart and generating Qi separates, and root transformation stops, their constant forms, natures, and colors must inevitably shift from their original state.) When Qi begins, generation and transformation occur; when Qi scatters, form appears; when Qi spreads, proliferation and nurturing happen; when Qi ends, phenomena change. (Beginning movement leads to generation and transformation; flowing and scattering leads to form; spreading and transforming leads to knots; reaching the end leads to the transformation of all phenomena.) For conditions involving Qi reversal: if the disease is in the upper part, treat the lower part; if in the lower part, treat the upper part; if in the middle, treat the sides. ("Treating the lower" means Cold rebels in the lower part while Heat attacks the upper part, making the lower unfavorable, and Qi fills the upper part; thus, warm the lower part to regulate it. "Treating the upper" means Cold accumulates in the lower part, cannot be dispelled by warming, and Yang storage is insufficient; thus, tonify Yang. "Treating the side" means Qi merges to the left, then apply medicinal heat to the right; Qi merges to the right, then apply medicinal heat to the left to harmonize it.)

Are there regulations for taking toxic and non-toxic medicines? Diseases differ in duration (chronic vs. acute), and formulas differ in size (large vs. small). Regardless of toxicity, there are indeed fixed protocols. When using highly toxic drugs to treat disease, stop when six-tenths of the disease is removed. (Lower-grade herbs have high toxicity, which is "highly toxic".) When using moderately toxic drugs, stop when seven-tenths is removed. (Middle-grade herbs have moderate toxicity, less than high but more than low.) When using slightly toxic drugs, stop when eight-tenths is removed. (Upper-grade herbs have slight toxicity, less than moderate.) When using non-toxic drugs, stop when nine-tenths is removed. (Non-toxic herbs of upper, middle, and lower grades are all considered "neutral".) Use grains, meats, fruits, and vegetables for dietary therapy to eliminate the remainder, ensuring no excess that might injure Zheng Qi (Righteous Qi). (Highly toxic properties are fierce, causing much injury. Slightly toxic properties are mild, causing little injury. Moderate toxicity is one degree less than high and one degree more than slight, so its injury is known. Therefore, one must stop at the prescribed limit. Thus, stop after removing six, seven, or eight-tenths. However, even though non-toxic herbs are mild, long-term excessive use leads to Qi imbalance and potential deficiency, so they cannot be used indefinitely. Hence, stop after removing nine-tenths. After reaching the prescribed limit, use five grains, five meats, five fruits, and five vegetables, tailored to the Five Zang organs, for dietary therapy to clear the remainder.) If the disease is not fully resolved, repeat the method. (The "method" refers to the four preceding limits. If residual disease remains, repeat the process, stopping at the limit based on toxicity, ensuring no excess.) First, observe the annual Qi, do not violate the Harmony of Heaven, do not reinforce excess, and do not deplete deficiency, thereby avoiding bringing disaster upon people. (Failing to examine deficiency and excess, and only thinking of attack, causes excess to become more excess and deficiency to become more deficient. All kinds of diseases worsen from this, True Qi diminishes daily, and pathogenic trends invade daily. Then disasters come, and bitter early deaths arise, which are hard to escape.) Do not cause pathogenic factors to enter, do not lose Zheng Qi, and do not cut short people's lives. (This is what is meant by violating the Harmony of Heaven. Attacking deficiency as if it were excess causes pathogenic factors to enter. Failing to recognize organ deficiency constitutes losing Zheng Qi. Once Zheng Qi is lost, it becomes the cause of death.) When the meridians are unblocked and Blood and Qi flow smoothly, restore what is deficient to be equal with others, nourish and harmonize, wait quietly for the right time, guard the Qi carefully, prevent it from collapsing, so that the physical form becomes distinct and Sheng Qi (Generating Qi) grows. (When the disease is gone but the body is emaciated, the meridians are already unblocked and Blood and Qi are smooth. One should restore the deficient Zang organs to match those that are sufficient, nourish and harmonize, wait quietly for the time, and the form will naturally become robust and not emaciated.)