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As stated in the *Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon: Treatise on the Correspondence of Yin and Yang*: Carefully examine the Yin and Yang to distinguish between softness and hardness; treat Yin for Yang diseases, and treat Yang for Yin diseases. Determine the state of Qi and Blood, ensuring each remains in its proper domain. For excess conditions of Blood, it is appropriate to drain them (e.g., via bloodletting); for deficiency conditions of Qi, it is appropriate to lift and guide them.

When a Yin disease manifests in Yang, it refers to external pathogenic factors such as wind and cold from nature penetrating the middle jiao and entering outwardly, affecting the Fu and Zang organs located on the back of the human body. This constitutes the reception of external pathogenic factors by the body. There are two interpretations: when pathogens strike the Yang aspect, they flow into the meridians. Such diseases begin with external cold and ultimately resolve into external heat. Therefore, treating wind-cold pathogens involves addressing the respective Zang organs. This is not limited to wind and cold; the Six Excesses—dampness, summerheat, dryness, and fire—are also pathogens received by the Five Zang organs, subsequently affecting the sinews, bones, blood vessels, and muscles. Each has corresponding Back-Shu points on the back to eliminate these pathogens. Regarding cold damage, following Zhang Zhongjing’s theory, those struck by the Eight Winds have specific discussions on wind diseases; those struck by summerheat are treated via the Small Intestine Back-Shu point on the back; those struck by dampness are treated via the Stomach Back-Shu point; and those struck by dryness are treated via the Large Intestine Back-Shu point. These are all diseases of excess caused by external Six Excess pathogens, treated by draining the Back-Fu points. If the disease persists and transforms, presenting as either deficiency or excess, the method of tonification or drainage varies according to the transformation of the disease, focusing solely on treating the Back-Fu points.

Another condition is upper heat and lower cold. The classics state: For Yin diseases manifesting in Yang, one should draw Yin from Yang. It is necessary first to remove stagnant blood from the collaterals and channel tunnels. If Fire within Yin flares up and ascends to the Heaven level, causing the Six Yang aspects to remain undiminished and fill upward, one must first remove the blood stasis from the Five Zang collaterals, guiding it downward. When Heavenly Qi descends, the lower cold pathology will naturally dissipate. One must be cautious not to solely drain the Six Yang aspects. This condition involves Yang hyperactivity, fueled by Yin Fire pathogens. One should only clear the Yin Fire and address the pathogens in the blood collaterals and channel tunnels, avoiding mismanagement.

Yang diseases manifesting in Yin imply drawing Yang from Yin. Water and grain (dietary) cold and heat pathogens, upon invasion, harm the Six Fu organs. Furthermore, irregular diet and physical overexertion cause Yin Fire to attack the Earth element (Spleen/Stomach). This prevents Grain Qi, Ying (Nutritive) Qi, Clear Qi, Stomach Qi, and Yuan (Source) Qi from ascending to nourish the Yang Qi of the Six Fu organs. Consequently, the Yang Qi of the Five Organs fails externally first; "external" here refers to Heaven. These Qi descend and stagnate within the Yin Fire of the Earth element. All this originates from emotional injuries—joy, anger, sorrow, worry, and fear—which harm the body like the "Five Thieves," leading to impaired Stomach Qi movement. Subsequent physical exertion and dietary irregularities then injure Yuan Qi. Treatment should involve pushing and uplifting Qi from the He-Sea point of the Stomach Meridian, Zusanli (ST36), to extend Yuan Qi; thus, it is called "drawing Yang from Yin." If Yuan Qi is severely deficient, treatment focuses on the Front-Mu points of the abdominal Fu organs. If the disease transmits to the Zang organs, causing obstruction of the Nine Orifices, treatment targets the Front-Mu points of the respective Zang organs on the abdomen. Thus, it is said that imbalance in the Five Zang arises from the blockage of Yuan Qi in the Six Fu organs. It is also stated: Disharmony in the Five Zang and obstruction of the Nine Orifices are due to insufficient Yang Qi and excess Yin Qi, hence "Yang cannot overcome Yin." All treatments of abdominal Front-Mu points aim to address Yuan Qi deficiency, drawing Yang from Yin, without error. If one erroneously tonifies the extremities or erroneously drains excess at the extremities, the latter error is particularly severe. According to Qibo’s teachings, taking points on "Heaven" (the back, where the Back-Shu points of the Five Zang and Six Fu organs are located) would certainly be fatal. Reflecting on this chills one to the bone! If Six Excess pathogens, upper heat/lower cold, or diseases of sinews, bones, skin, flesh, and blood vessels are incorrectly treated by selecting the He-Sea point of the Stomach or abdominal Front-Mu points, danger is inevitable. This aligns with Qibo’s description of inferior practitioners; how can one not be cautious?