肝胆（温补凉泻，辛补酸泻。） 心小肠（热补寒泻，酸补甘泻。） 肺大肠（凉补温泻，
辛泻。） 肾膀胱（寒补热泻，苦补咸泻。） 脾胃（温热补寒凉，泻各从其宜，甘补苦泻。）
三焦命门同心。
张元素曰∶五脏更相平也，一脏不平，所胜平之，故云安谷则昌，绝谷则亡。水去则营
散，
肝 苦急，急食甘缓之。（甘草） 以酸泻之，（赤芍药） 实则泻其子。（甘草） 欲散，
急食辛以散之，（川芎） 以辛补之，（细辛） 虚则补其母。（地黄、黄柏）
心 苦缓，急食酸以收之，（五味子） 以甘泻之，（甘草、黄 ） 实则泻其子。（甘草）
欲软，急食咸以软，（芒硝） 以咸补之，（泽泻） 虚则补其母。（生姜）
脾 苦湿，急食苦以燥之，（白术） 以苦泻之，（黄连） 实则泻其子。（桑白皮） 欲缓
，急食甘以缓之，（炙甘草） 以甘补之，（人参） 虚则补其母。（炒盐）
肺 苦气逆，急食苦以泄之，（诃子） 以辛泻之（桑白皮） 实则泻其子。（泽泻） 欲收
，急食酸以收之，（白芍药） 以酸补之，（五味子） 虚则补其母。（五味子）
肾 苦燥，急食辛以润之，（黄柏、知母） 以咸泻之，（泽泻） 实泻其子。（芍药） 欲
坚，急食苦以坚之，（知母） 以苦补之，（黄柏） 虚则补其母。（五味子）
张元素曰∶凡药之五味，随五脏所入而为补泻，亦不过因其性而调之。酸入肝，苦入心
入脾，辛入肺，咸入肾。辛主散，酸主收，甘主缓，苦主坚，咸主软。辛能散结润燥，致津
液通气，酸能收缓敛散，甘能缓急调中，苦能燥湿坚软，咸能软坚，淡能利窍。李氏曰∶甘
缓咸收，苦燥辛散，咸软淡渗，五味之本性，一定而不变者也。其或补或泻，则因五脏四时
而迭相施用者也，温凉寒热四时之本性也，其于五脏补泻亦迭相用也。此特洁古张氏因《素
问》饮食补泻之义，举数药以为例耳，学人宜因意而充之。
Liver and Gallbladder (Tonify with warm-natured herbs, drain with cool-natured herbs; Tonify with pungent-flavor herbs, drain with sour-flavor herbs.) Heart and Small Intestine (Tonify with hot-natured herbs, drain with cold-natured herbs; Tonify with sour-flavor herbs, drain with sweet-flavor herbs.) Lung and Large Intestine (Tonify with cool-natured herbs, drain with warm-natured herbs; Drain with pungent-flavor herbs.) Kidney and Bladder (Tonify with cold-natured herbs, drain with hot-natured herbs; Tonify with bitter-flavor herbs, drain with salty-flavor herbs.) Spleen and Stomach (Tonify with warm-hot natured herbs, drain with cold-cool natured herbs, specific draining methods vary according to appropriateness; Tonify with sweet-flavor herbs, drain with bitter-flavor herbs.) Sanjiao (Triple Burner) and Mingmen (Gate of Life) are the same as the Heart.
Zhang Yuansu stated: The five Zang organs maintain mutual balance. If one organ is imbalanced, it is balanced by the organ that controls it. Therefore, it is said, "Abundance of food leads to prosperity, lack of food leads to demise." When water and grain essence are lost, Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi) scatters.
The Liver suffers from tension/spasms; urgently consume sweet-flavor herbs to relax it. (Gancao [Radix Glycyrrhizae]) Drain with sour-flavor herbs. (Chishao Yao [Radix Paeoniae Rubra]) For excess conditions, drain the son organ. (Gancao [Radix Glycyrrhizae]) To disperse, urgently consume pungent-flavor herbs to disperse. (Chuanxiong [Rhizoma Chuanxiong]) Tonify with pungent-flavor herbs. (Xixin [Herba Asari]) For deficiency conditions, tonify the mother organ. (Dihuang [Radix Rehmanniae Preparata], Huangbai [Cortex Phellodendri])
The Heart suffers from flaccidity/laxity; urgently consume sour-flavor herbs to astringe/collect. (Wuweizi [Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis]) Drain with sweet-flavor herbs. (Gancao [Radix Glycyrrhizae], Huangqin [Radix Scutellariae]) For excess conditions, drain the son organ. (Gancao [Radix Glycyrrhizae]) To soften hardness, urgently consume salty-flavor herbs to soften. (Mangxiao [Natrii Sulfas]) Tonify with salty-flavor herbs. (Zexie [Rhizoma Alismatis Orientails]) For deficiency conditions, tonify the mother organ. (Shengjiang [Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens])
The Spleen suffers from dampness; urgently consume bitter-flavor herbs to dry dampness. (Baizhu [Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae]) Drain with bitter-flavor herbs. (Huanglian [Rhizoma Coptidis]) For excess conditions, drain the son organ. (Sangbaipi [Cortex Mori Radicis]) To relieve urgency, urgently consume sweet-flavor herbs to relax. (Zhigancao [Radix Glycyrrhizae Preparata]) Tonify with sweet-flavor herbs. (Renshen [Radix Ginseng]) For deficiency conditions, tonify the mother organ. (Chao Yan [Fried Salt])
The Lung suffers from rebellious Qi; urgently consume bitter-flavor herbs to drain/descend. (Hezi [Fructus Terminaliae Chebulae]) Drain with pungent-flavor herbs. (Sangbaipi [Cortex Mori Radicis]) For excess conditions, drain the son organ. (Zexie [Rhizoma Alismatis Orientails]) To astringe, urgently consume sour-flavor herbs to collect/astringe. (Baishao Yao [Radix Paeoniae Alba]) Tonify with sour-flavor herbs. (Wuweizi [Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis]) For deficiency conditions, tonify the mother organ. (Wuweizi [Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis])
The Kidney suffers from dryness; urgently consume pungent-flavor herbs to moisten. (Huangbai [Cortex Phellodendri], Zhimu [Rhizoma Anemarrhenae]) Drain with salty-flavor herbs. (Zexie [Rhizoma Alismatis Orientails]) For excess conditions, drain the son organ. (Shaoyao [Radix Paeoniae]) To firm/strengthen, urgently consume bitter-flavor herbs to firm. (Zhimu [Rhizoma Anemarrhenae]) Tonify with bitter-flavor herbs. (Huangbai [Cortex Phellodendri]) For deficiency conditions, tonify the mother organ. (Wuweizi [Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis])
Zhang Yuansu stated: The five flavors of all herbs produce tonification or drainage depending on which Zang organ they enter, merely adjusting according to their properties. Sour flavor enters the Liver, Bitter flavor enters the Heart, Sweet flavor enters the Spleen, Pungent flavor enters the Lung, Salty flavor enters the Kidney. Pungent flavor governs dispersion, Sour flavor governs astringency, Sweet flavor governs relaxation, Bitter flavor governs firming, Salty flavor governs softening. Pungent flavor can dissipate nodules and moisten dryness, promoting fluid circulation and Qi movement; Sour flavor can astringe, relax, and collect dispersed Qi; Sweet flavor can relieve urgency and harmonize the Middle Jiao; Bitter flavor can dry dampness and firm or soften (context dependent); Salty flavor can soften hardness; Dan flavor (Bland flavor) can open orifices. Li Shi said: Sweet relaxes, Salty collects, Bitter dries, Pungent disperses, Salty softens, Bland渗 (percolates/drainages), these are the inherent natures of the five flavors, fixed and unchanging. Whether they tonify or drain depends on alternating application based on the five Zang organs and four seasons. Warm, Cool, Cold, and Hot are the inherent natures of the four seasons, and their tonification/draining effects on the five Zang organs also alternate. This is merely Zhang Jiegu (Zhang Yuansu) citing a few herbs as examples based on the meaning of dietary tonification and drainage in the *Suwen* (Basic Questions). Students should grasp the intent and expand upon it.