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The True Lord Leigong said: The Five Elements—Fire, Wood, Earth, Metal, and Water—are matched with the Heart, Liver, Spleen, Lung, and Kidney respectively. This is known by everyone. However, within generation there is restriction, and within restriction there is generation; generation is not complete generation, and restriction is not complete restriction. Generation fears restriction and dares not generate fully; restriction fears generation and dares not restrict fully. These principles are not necessarily known by everyone.

How can we see that restriction exists within generation? The Kidney generates the Liver (Wood). However, Fire resides within the Kidney. If Kidney Water dries up, the Kidney cannot generate Liver Wood. If Fire is unrestrained by Water, it boils, causing the disaster of Liver Wood being burned. Is this not restriction within generation? The treatment method should urgently tonify the Water in the Kidney. When Water is sufficient, Fire subsides; the Kidney no longer restricts Wood but instead generates it. The Liver generates the Heart (Fire). However, Yin-fluid (Water) resides within the Liver. If Liver Fire is dry and fierce, the Liver cannot generate Heart Fire. If Wood lacks nourishment from Water, it becomes scorched and withered, and Heart Fire will inevitably face the danger of coldness. Is this not restriction within generation? The treatment method should urgently tonify the Yin-fluid in the Liver. When Yin-fluid is sufficient, Wood flourishes; the Liver no longer restricts Fire but instead generates it. The Fire in the Heart is the Ministerial Fire (Jun Huo), and the Fire in the Pericardium is the Ministerial Fire (Xiang Huo). Within these two Fires, each contains Water. If these two Fires lack Water, the Heart will scorch and the Pericardium will burn itself, how then can Fire generate the Earth of the Spleen and Stomach? If Fire lacks nourishment, the two Fires will blaze fiercely, inevitably causing the harm of a prairie fire. Is this not restriction within generation? Indeed so. The treatment method should tonify the Water in the Heart to generate the Ministerial Fire, and furthermore tonify the Water in the Kidney to nourish the Ministerial Fire. When Water is sufficient, both Fires are at peace; they do not restrict the Earth of the Spleen and Stomach, and the Earth of the Spleen and Stomach naturally generates itself. The Spleen Earth restricts Water, yet Earth must be moistened by Water before it can generate Metal. If Earth lacks Water, it becomes excessively hyperactive and hot, inevitably causing the disaster of barren lands for a thousand miles and smelting stones and flowing metals, generating Metal not but restricting it instead. The treatment method should tonify the Yin-Water of the Spleen, allowing Water to sufficiently moisten Earth, so that the Qi of Metal has resources, and thus Metal may have generation without restriction. The Lung Metal generates Water, yet Metal must also be moistened by Water before it can generate Water. If Metal lacks Water, it becomes excessively rigid, inevitably leading to the worry of over-smelting and mercury flying from the furnace, generating Water not but restricting it instead. The treatment method should tonify the Water in the Lung, allowing Water to sufficiently assist Metal, so that the source of Water has an outlet, and thus Water may have generation without restriction. The above five cases discuss restriction within generation; they contain profound truth and are not arbitrary theories. If there is no Water in the Kidney, use Liuwei Dihuang Wan Decoction (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill Decoction) in large doses. If there is no Water in the Liver, use Siwu Tang (Four-Substance Decoction). If there is no Water in the Heart, use Tianwang Buxin Wan (Heavenly Emperor's Heart-Nourishing Pill). If there is no Water in the Pericardium, use Guipi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction). If there is no Water in the Spleen and Stomach, use Liujunzi Tang (Six-Gentleman Decoction) or Sijunzi Tang (Four-Gentleman Decoction). If there is no Water in the Lung Meridian, use Shengmai San (Generate the Pulse Powder). One case can be used to infer others.

How can we see that generation exists within restriction? The Liver Wood restricts Spleen Earth, yet Liver Wood is not Earth, so how can it generate Earth? However, Liver Wood has never failed to generate Earth; when Earth receives the dredging action of Wood, Earth gains vital energy. The Spleen Earth restricts Kidney Water, yet Spleen Earth is not Water, so how can it generate Water? However, Spleen Earth has never failed to generate Water; when Water receives accumulation from Earth, Water gains a foundation. The Kidney Water restricts Heart Fire, yet Kidney Water is not Fire and cannot generate Fire; without Fire, the Kidney lacks warm energy. However, Heart Fire must be generated by Kidney Water; Water generates Fire, and Fire avoids the disaster of self-immolation. The Heart Fire restricts Lung Metal, yet Heart Fire is not Metal and cannot generate Metal; without Metal, the Heart lacks clear and肃 (descending/purifying) energy. However, Lung Metal must be generated by Heart Fire; Fire generates Metal, and Metal avoids the worry of coldness. The Lung Metal restricts Liver Wood, yet Lung Metal is not Wood and cannot generate Wood; without Wood, Metal lacks expansive and venting energy. However, Liver Wood must be generated by Lung Metal; Metal generates Wood, and Wood avoids the affliction of flaccidity and paralysis. The above five cases also contain profound truth; understanding this strange inversion allows one to treat diseases with miraculous efficacy.

How can we see that generation is not complete generation? The Kidney generates the Liver, but it does not completely generate Liver Wood. This is because Kidney Water is utilized by every Zang organ. The Heart obtains Kidney Water, and its Spirit (Shen) begins to shine forth; the Spleen obtains Kidney Water, and its essence and subtle substances begin to be transformed and guided; the Lung obtains Kidney Water, and its clear and descending nature begins to move downward; the Liver obtains Kidney Water, and its planning and decision-making begin; the Six Fu organs also all obtain Kidney Water before they can distribute it. This is the incomplete generation of the Kidney Meridian, yet there is nowhere it does not generate.

How can we see that restriction is not complete restriction? The Kidney Water restricts Heart Fire, but it does not completely restrict Heart Fire. This is because Kidney Fire burns every Zang organ. The Heart obtains Kidney Fire, and restlessness arises; the Spleen obtains Kidney Fire, and body fluids dry up; the Lung obtains Kidney Fire, and wheezing and coughing diseases arise; the Liver obtains Kidney Fire, and Dragon-Lei fire erupts; the Six Fu organs also all obtain Kidney Fire, presenting symptoms of dryness, thirst, and exhaustion. This is the incomplete restriction of the Kidney Meridian, yet there is nowhere it does not restrict.

How can we see that generation fears restriction and dares not generate? Liver Wood originally generates Heart Fire, but Liver Wood fears the restriction of Lung Metal and dares not generate Heart Fire. Then Heart Qi becomes weaker, unable to control the excess of Lung Metal, and Metal restricts Wood even more. Heart Fire originally generates Stomach Earth, but Heart Fire fears the invasion of Kidney Water and dares not generate Stomach Earth. Then Stomach Qi turns deficient, unable to control the superiority of Kidney Water, and Water invades Stomach Earth even more. The Fire of the Pericardium originally generates Spleen Earth, but Pericardium Fire fears the flooding of Kidney Water and dares not generate Spleen Earth. Then Spleen Qi becomes more troubled, unable to subdue the bullying of Kidney Water, and Water bullies Spleen Earth even more. Spleen-Stomach Earth originally generates Lung Metal, but Spleen-Stomach Earth fears the flourishing of Liver Wood and dares not generate Lung Metal. Then Lung Metal turns weak, daring not control the infringement of Liver Wood, and Wood insults Earth even more. Kidney Water originally generates Liver Wood, but Kidney Water fears the dryness of Spleen-Stomach Earth and dares not generate Liver Wood. Then Liver Wood becomes more withered, unable to control the joint action of Spleen-Stomach Earth, and the upper part restricts Water even more. Seeing generation and controlling its restriction allows generation to be complete; forgetting restriction and assisting generation makes restriction even stronger. This is what the medical Dao should know, and what those using medicine should study carefully.

How can we see that restriction fears generation and dares not restrict? Metal restricts Wood. Why does Lung Metal's restriction of the Liver fear the Kidney's generation of the Liver? It is unknown that if the Kidney is flourishing, the Liver is also flourishing; if the Liver is flourishing, Wood is abundant; if Wood is abundant, Lung Metal must decline. Although its nature desires to restrict Wood, seeing a dense forest, it returns on its own. Therefore, when Wood is deficient, one should tonify the Kidney to generate the Liver, rather than restrict the Lung to support the Liver. Wood restricts Earth. Why does Liver Wood's restriction of the Spleen fear the Heart's generation of the Spleen? It is unknown that if the Heart is flourishing, the Spleen is also flourishing; if the Spleen is flourishing, Earth is abundant; if Earth is abundant, Liver Wood naturally weakens. Although its nature desires to restrict Earth, encountering scorched earth, it collapses on its own. Therefore, when Earth is deficient, one should tonify the Heart to cultivate Earth, rather than restrict Wood to save Earth. Earth controls Water. Why does Spleen Earth's restriction of the Kidney fear the Lung's generation of the Kidney? It is unknown that if the Lung is flourishing, the Kidney is also flourishing; if the Kidney is flourishing, Water is abundant; if Water is abundant, Spleen Earth naturally diminishes. Although its nature desires to control Water, seeing the Yangtze River, it loses its footing on its own. Therefore, when Water is deficient, one should tonify the Lung to benefit Water, rather than restrict Earth to retain Water. Water controls Fire. Why does Kidney Water's restriction of the Heart fear the Liver's generation of the Heart? It is unknown that if the Liver is flourishing, the Heart is also flourishing; if the Heart is flourishing, Fire is abundant; if Fire is abundant, Kidney Water must be deficient. Although its nature likes to restrict Fire, seeing a cartload of firewood burning, it retreats on its own. Therefore, when Fire is deficient, one should tonify the Liver to assist the Heart, rather than restrict Water to aid the Heart. Fire controls Metal. Why does Heart Fire's restriction of the Lung fear the Spleen's generation of the Lung? It is unknown that if the Spleen is flourishing, the Lung is also flourishing; if the Lung is flourishing, Metal is abundant; if Metal is abundant, Heart Fire naturally declines. Although its nature desires to restrict Metal, seeing stubborn metal, it finds it difficult to melt. Therefore, when Metal is deficient, one should tonify Earth to nourish Metal, rather than extinguish Fire to preserve Metal. This is the wonderful principle of the Five Elements, truly the subtlety of the medical Dao. To deepen one's understanding here, if a physician is not called divine, it has never been heard of before.

Zhang Zhenren, the Guardian of Changsha, said: Having expounded to this extent, it is exquisite and divine. Since the books of Xuanyuan and Qibo, there has never been talk of the Five Elements of the Five Zang organs reaching such inversion and wonder. There is indeed profound truth within it, and using it yields results. Do not be surprised that the words are too innovative and delightful, yet difficult to implement.