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The discussion on syndrome differentiation and prescription has been detailed. However, fearing that some may not know the source of these theories and lack evidence for verification, I hereby list below the discussions on the Spleen and Stomach as stated in the *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) and Zhang Zhongjing.

The *Taiyin Yangming Lun* (Treatise on Taiyin and Yangming) states: Taiyin and Yangming are interior and exterior to each other, belonging to the meridians of the Spleen and Stomach. Why do diseases manifest differently? Qibo answered: The positions of Yin and Yang are different; they alternate between deficiency and excess, and between reversal and compliance. Some diseases originate internally, while others are contracted externally. Since the origins differ, the disease names also differ. The Yellow Emperor said: I wish to hear about their different symptoms. Qibo said: Yang represents the Qi of Heaven and governs the exterior; Yin represents the Qi of Earth and governs the interior. Therefore, the Path of Yang is often solid (excess), and the Path of Yin is often hollow (deficient). Thus, those who suffer from treacherous winds and empty pathogens contract them in the Yang meridians; those whose diet and drinking are irregular and whose daily routine is untimely contract them in the Yin meridians. Contraction in the Yang meridians leads to transmission into the Six Fu Organs (e.g., Stomach, Large Intestine, Small Intestine); contraction in the Yin meridians leads to transmission into the Five Zang Organs (e.g., Heart, Liver, Spleen, Lung, Kidney). When pathogenic factors enter the Six Fu Organs, the body becomes feverish with inability to lie down, and upwardly manifests as panting and calling out. When they enter the Five Zang Organs, abdominal fullness and constipation occur, and downwardly manifests as undigested stool diarrhea (Sun Xie); if prolonged, it develops into Chang Pi (dysentery or bloody stools). Therefore, the throat governs the intake of Heavenly Qi, and the pharynx governs the intake of Earthly Qi. Consequently, the Yang meridians are susceptible to Wind pathogen, and the Yin meridians are susceptible to Dampness pathogen. Yin Qi ascends from the feet to the head and then descends along the arms to the fingertips; Yang Qi ascends from the hands to the head and then descends to the feet. Hence it is said: In Yang diseases, when the upward progression reaches its extreme, it turns downward; in Yin diseases, when the downward progression reaches its extreme, it turns upward. Therefore, those injured by Wind pathogen are first affected at the upper part; those injured by Dampness pathogen are first affected at the lower part.

The Yellow Emperor asked: Why does Spleen disease lead to immobility of the four limbs? Qibo answered: The four limbs all receive nourishment from the Stomach Qi, but Stomach Qi cannot reach the meridians directly; it must rely on the Spleen's transportation to be distributed to the limbs. Now, due to Spleen disease, it cannot transport fluids and essence for the Stomach. The four limbs do not receive the Qi of water and grain. The vital Qi declines day by day, the meridian pathways become obstructed, and the sinews, bones, muscles, and flesh have no Qi to sustain life, hence they do not function.

The Yellow Emperor asked: Why does the Spleen not govern a specific season? Qibo answered: The Spleen belongs to Earth, governs the center, and commonly supports the Four Zang Organs for eighteen days each throughout the four seasons; it cannot exclusively govern one season. The function of the Spleen organ is to constantly manifest the refined essence of Stomach Earth. Earth generates all things and models itself after Heaven and Earth; thus, its Qi extends from head to feet and cannot govern a single time.

The *Yinyang Yingxiang Dalun* (Great Treatise on Yin-Yang Correspondence to Phenomena) states: Humans have five Zang organs that transform five Qi, thereby generating the emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, worry, and fear. Therefore, excessive joy and anger injure Qi; excessive cold and heat injure the form. Violent anger injures Yin; violent joy injures Yang. Rebellious Qi ascending causes vessels to fill and spirit to separate from form. If joy and anger are unregulated, and exposure to cold and heat is excessive, the foundation of life becomes unstable. The *Yuji Zhenzang Lun* (Treatise on the True Viscera and Pulse Mechanisms) states: If Spleen Qi is excessive, it causes the four limbs to be unable to lift; if Spleen Qi is deficient, it causes the nine orifices to be obstructed, a condition named "Zhong Qiang" (heavy stiffness). Furthermore, the *Tongping Xushi Lun* (Treatise on Uniform Evaluation of Deficiency and Excess) states: Headache, tinnitus, and obstruction of the nine orifices arise from disorders of the intestines and stomach. The *Tiaojing Lun* (Treatise on Regulating the Meridians) states: If the form is in excess, there is abdominal distension and difficulty in urination and defecation; if the form is deficient, the four limbs are immobile.

Additionally, the *Jiaobian Dalun* (Great Treatise on Changes in Qi Interaction) states: When the annual Earth Qi is excessive, rain and dampness prevail, and Kidney Water suffers evil. The people suffer from abdominal pain, cold extremities, depression, heavy body, and vexation. Severe cases present with muscle atrophy, foot flaccidity and inability to grasp, difficulty walking, pain under the feet, fluid retention edema, epigastric fullness, reduced appetite, and immobility of the four limbs. It also states: When annual Earth Qi is deficient, Wind prevails greatly. Cholera, heavy body, abdominal pain, wavering sinews and bones, sore muscles, and irritability occur. It further states: Salty flavors causing disease often involve Cold in the middle. When the restoring Qi arrives, the policy of contraction is severe, causing sudden chest and hypochondriac pain radiating to the lower abdomen, frequent sighing, insects eating sweet yellow foods, Qi lodging in the Spleen, resulting in poor appetite and loss of taste. It also states: When Earth Qi is deficient, there are dusty clouds at the four corners (transitional periods of seasons), and the transformation of moistening fails. Then spring brings policies like rustling branches and breaking drums; if the four corners exhibit changes like shaking, pulling, and drifting, autumn brings retribution policies of solemn killing and excessive rain. The disaster occurs at the four corners, the corresponding viscera is the Spleen, and the disease involves the interior heart and abdomen, and the exterior muscles and four limbs.

The *Wuchang Zheng Dalun* (Great Treatise on the Five Constant Policies) states: Balanced Earth is called "Beihua" (Complete Transformation); deficient Earth is called "Beijian" (Low Supervision). It also states: Its movements manifest as ulcers, swelling, rupture, and carbuncles; its onset is sluggish; its diseases include lingering fullness and blockage, transforming from Wood. Its diseases also include undigested stool diarrhea. It further states: Excessive Earth is called "Dunfu"; its flavors include sweet, salty, and sour; its image corresponds to Late Summer; its meridians are the Foot-Taiyin Spleen and Foot-Yangming Stomach. It also says: Its diseases are abdominal fullness and immobility of the four limbs, caused by pathogenic invasion of the Spleen.

The *Jingmai Bielun* (Extraordinary Discourse on the Meridians) states: When the Taiyin visceral pulse is forceful, one must carefully examine the true Qi. If the Qi of the five pulses is scant and Stomach Qi is uneven, it is a Three-Yin disease. One should treat the lower Shu points, tonifying Yang and draining Yin. The *Zangqi Fashi Lun* (Treatise on Visceral Qi and Time Laws) states: The Spleen governs Late Summer, controlled by the Foot-Taiyin Spleen and Foot-Yangming Stomach meridians, corresponding to Wu and Ji days. The Spleen dislikes Dampness; urgently consume bitter substances to dry it. It also states: For Spleen disease, recovery occurs in Autumn; if not recovered in Autumn, it worsens in Spring; if not fatal in Spring, it stabilizes in Summer and begins to improve in Late Summer. Avoid warm food, overeating, damp ground, and wet clothing. For Spleen disease, recovery occurs on Geng and Xin days; if not recovered on Geng and Xin days, it worsens on Jia and Yi days; if not fatal on Jia and Yi days, it stabilizes on Bing and Ding days and begins to improve on Wu and Ji days. Patients with Spleen disease feel clear-headed during the day, worse at sunrise, and quiet in the late afternoon. The Spleen desires relaxation; urgently consume sweet substances to relax it, use bitter substances to drain it, and sweet substances to tonify it. It also states: Patients with Spleen disease have a heavy body, frequent hunger, foot flaccidity, inability to walk, tendency to fall while walking, and pain under the feet. In deficiency, there is abdominal fullness, borborygmus, undigested stool diarrhea, and indigestion. The *Jingmai Bielun* states: Food Qi enters the Stomach, disperses essence to the Liver, and nourishes the sinews. Food Qi enters the Stomach, turbid Qi returns to the Heart, and refined essence enters the vessels. Vessel Qi returns to balance; when balanced, the Cun Kou pulse forms, determining life and death. Drinks enter the Stomach, overflow with essence and Qi, ascend to the Spleen. The Spleen disperses essence, sending it up to the Lung, which regulates water passages and transports it down to the Bladder. Water essence distributes everywhere, the five meridians run together, conforming to the Yin-Yang of the four seasons and five viscera, measured as the norm.

The *Wuchang Zheng Dalun* states: There are conditions of excess and deficiency. Excess invades what it cannot overcome and overcomes what it can. Deficiency means the time arrives but the Qi does not; this is deficiency. What it overcomes acts recklessly, what it generates suffers disease, and what overcomes it takes advantage.

Zhang Zhongjing said: Humans receive Qi from water and grain to nourish Shen (Spirit). When water and grain are exhausted, Shen departs. Thus, it is said: "If one can digest grain, prosperity ensues; if grain is cut off, demise follows." Loss of fluids causes Ying (Nutrient) Qi to scatter; consumption of grain causes Wei (Defensive) Qi to perish. With scattered Ying Qi and perished Wei Qi, Shen has no basis. He also said: When water enters the meridians, blood is formed; when grain enters the Stomach, the meridian pathways flow. Therefore, blood must not fail to be nourished, and Wei Qi must not fail to be warmed. When blood is warm and Wei Qi is harmonious, Ying and Wei Qi circulate properly, allowing one to fulfill their natural lifespan.