（足厥阴肝经 足少阳胆经） 味辛补酸泻 气温补凉泻
（足太阴脾经 足阳明胃经） 味甘补苦泻 气温热补寒凉泻
（足少阴肾经 足太阳膀胱） 味苦补咸泻 气寒补热泻
（手少阴心经 手太阳小肠） 味咸补甘泻 气热补寒泻
（手太阴肺经 手阳明大肠） 味酸补辛泻 气凉补温泻
五脏更相平也，一脏不平，以所胜平之。故曰，安谷则昌，绝谷则亡，水去则荣散，谷
清则卫荣，荣散则亡，神无所居。仲景云，水入于经，其血乃成，谷入于胃，脉道乃行。故
血不可不养，卫不可不温，血温卫和，荣卫将行，常有天年。又曰，人之一身，外为阳、内
为阴。背为阳，腹为阴。腑为阳，脏为阴。阳中之阳，心也。阳中之阴，肺也。阴中之阴，
肾也。阴中之阳，肝也。阴中之至阴，脾也。
黄连泻心火，枯芩泻肺火，白芍泻肝火，柴胡黄连泻肝胆火，木通泻小肠火，知母泻肾
火，条芩泻大肠火，黄柏泻膀胱火，滑石泻六经火，栀子泻屈曲火。
寒者热之，热者寒之。微者逆之，甚者从之。坚者削之，客者除之。劳者温之，结者散
之，留者行之，燥者润之。损者益之，惊者平之，逸者行之，上者下之。逆者正治，从者反
治。
则肝，法春木酸，生之道也，失常则病矣。
风淫于内，治以辛凉，佐以甘辛，以甘缓之，以辛散之。
则心，法夏火苦，长之道也，失常则病矣。
热淫于内，治以咸寒，佐以甘苦，以咸甘收之，以苦发之。
则脾，法中央土甘，化之道也，失常则病矣。
湿淫于内，治以酸热，佐以咸寒，以苦燥之，以淡泄之。
则肺，法秋金辛，收之道也，失常则病矣。
燥淫于内，治以苦温，佐以甘辛，以辛润之，以苦下之。
则肾，法冬水咸，藏之道也，失常则病矣。
寒淫于内，治以甘热，佐以苦辛，以辛发之，以苦坚之。
假如风淫于内，即是肝木失常，火随而炽，治以辛凉，是用辛金克其肝木，凉水沃其炎
火也。余治例此。
(Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian and Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian) Pungent flavor tonifies, sour flavor drains; Warm qi tonifies, Cool qi drains.
(Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian and Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian) Sweet flavor tonifies, Bitter flavor drains; Warm qi tonifies, Cold and Cool qi drain.
(Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian and Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian) Bitter flavor tonifies, Salty flavor drains; Cold qi tonifies, Hot qi drains.
(Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian and Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian) Salty flavor tonifies, Sweet flavor drains; Hot qi tonifies, Cold qi drains.
(Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian and Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian) Sour flavor tonifies, Pungent flavor drains; Cool qi tonifies, Warm qi drains.
The Five Viscera (Zang organs) maintain mutual balance. If one viscera becomes unbalanced, it is regulated by the organ that controls it. Thus it is said: Ability to digest food leads to prosperity; inability to digest food leads to demise. Loss of fluids leads to dispersion of Ying Blood (Nutritive Blood); proper digestion of grain harmonizes Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) and Ying Blood. Dispersion of Ying Blood leads to death, and Shen (Spirit) has no place to reside. Zhang Zhongjing said: When water enters the meridians, blood is formed; when grain enters the stomach, the vessel pathways begin to 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 will circulate properly, allowing one to enjoy a natural lifespan. It is also said: In the human body, the exterior is Yang and the interior is Yin; the back is Yang and the abdomen is Yin; the Fu Organs (Hollow Organs) are Yang and the Zang Organs (Solid Organs) are Yin. The Yang within Yang is the Heart; the Yin within Yang is the Lung; the Yin within Yin is the Kidney; the Yang within Yin is the Liver; the Ultimate Yin within Yin is the Spleen.
Coptis Rhizoma (Huanglian) drains Heart Fire; dried Scutellaria Root (Kuhuangqin) drains Lung Fire; White Peony Root (Baishao) drains Liver Fire; Bupleurum Root (Chaihu) combined with Coptis Rhizoma drains Liver-Gallbladder Fire; Akebia Caulis (Mutong) drains Small Intestine Fire; Anemarrhena Rhizoma (Zhimu) drains Kidney Fire; Scutellaria Root (Tiaohuangqin) drains Large Intestine Fire; Phellodendron Bark (Huangbai) drains Bladder Fire; Talcum (Huashi) drains Fire in all six meridians; Gardenia Fruit (Zhizi) drains Fire in convoluted pathways.
Cold conditions are treated with Heat methods; Heat conditions are treated with Cold methods. Mild cases are treated by opposing the pathogenic factor (Direct Treatment); severe cases are treated by following the pathogenic factor (Reverse Treatment). Indurations are reduced; exogenous pathogens are eliminated. Debility is warmed; stagnation is dispersed; retention is moved; dryness is moistened. Deficiency is supplemented; palpitations are calmed; lethargy is activated; upward rebellion is directed downward. Opposing the disease nature is called Direct Treatment (Zheng Zhi); following the disease nature is called Reverse Treatment (Fan Zhi).
The Liver corresponds to Spring Wood and Sour flavor, governing the principle of generation. If this function is失常 (abnormal), disease occurs.
When Wind invades internally, treat with Pungent-Cold herbs, assist with Sweet-Pungent herbs, use Sweet herbs to relax/tension, and use Pungent herbs to disperse.
The Heart corresponds to Summer Fire and Bitter flavor, governing the principle of growth. If this function is abnormal, disease occurs.
When Heat invades internally, treat with Salty-Cold herbs, assist with Sweet-Bitter herbs, use Salty-Sweet herbs to astringe/collect, and use Bitter herbs to vent/disperse.
The Spleen corresponds to Central Earth and Sweet flavor, governing the principle of transformation. If this function is abnormal, disease occurs.
When Dampness invades internally, treat with Acid-Hot herbs, assist with Salty-Cold herbs, use Bitter herbs to dry dampness, and use Acrid/Light herbs to drain/diurese.
The Lung corresponds to Autumn Metal and Pungent flavor, governing the principle of gathering/restraining. If this function is abnormal, disease occurs.
When Dryness invades internally, treat with Bitter-Warm herbs, assist with Sweet-Pungent herbs, use Pungent herbs to moisten, and use Bitter herbs to purge/downbear.
The Kidney corresponds to Winter Water and Salty flavor, governing the principle of storage. If this function is abnormal, disease occurs.
When Cold invades internally, treat with Sweet-Hot herbs, assist with Bitter-Pungent herbs, use Pungent herbs to vent/dispatch, and use Bitter herbs to consolidate/firm.
For example, if Wind invades internally, it indicates Liver Wood dysfunction, causing Fire to blaze subsequently. Treatment uses Pungent-Cold herbs: this utilizes Pungent Metal to control Liver Wood, and Cool Water to extinguish blazing Fire. The remaining treatment examples follow this logic.