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The relationships of deficiency and excess among the Five Zang organs regarding mother-son generation, as well as the transmission patterns of Gui Ze (Ghost Thief), Wei Zheng (Slight Correct), etc., cannot be easily mastered if their purport is not thoroughly understood. Transmission from the preceding organ to the succeeding organ (one I generate) constitutes Excess Evil (Shi Xie); this is "the son can make the mother excessive." Alternatively, if the conquering element (Thief Evil) injures the mother organ, its son organ may summon the organ conquered by the mother (Wife/Superior) to assist, thus termed Excess Evil. Transmission from the succeeding organ to the preceding organ (one that generates me) constitutes Deficiency Evil (Xu Xie); this occurs when the mother organ brings the Gui Ze (ghost thief) that conquers the son, because the mother can cause deficiency in the son. The *Neijing* states: "The son can make the mother excessive, and the mother can cause deficiency in the son," which refers to this principle. When the Wife (Superior) conquers the Husband (Inferior), it is Slight Evil (Wei Xie); when the Husband conquers the Wife, it is Thief Evil (Ze Xie). The treatment method should involve draining the Gui Ze evil and tonifying the affected Zang organ itself. Disease originating within the same organ is Proper Evil (Zheng Xie); it should be tonified if deficient and drained if excessive. The *Neijing* states: "To nourish the sprouts, one must surely secure the roots; to cut down the lower parts, one must surely wither the upper parts." To go against the root and cut the source will ruin the true Qi.

The Heart governs Heat. If the Heart suffers self-disease manifesting as severe heat, *Xiexin Tang* (Heart Draining Decoction) is indicated. If excess manifests as vexatious heat, *Huanglian Xiexin Tang* (Coptis Heart Draining Decoction) is indicated. If deficiency manifests as palpitations and fright, *Shengxi San* (Raw Rhinoceros Horn Powder) is indicated. Lung Metal conquering Heart Fire is Slight Evil, presenting with wheezing and high fever, treated with *Xiebai San* (Draining White Powder). Liver Wood conquering Heart Fire is Deficiency Evil, presenting with wind-heat, treated with a decoction of *Da Qianghuo Tang* (Great Notopterygium Decoction) administered with *Daqing Wan* (Great Indigo Pill). Spleen Earth conquering Heart Fire is Excess Evil, presenting with diarrhea and body heat, treated with *Xiehuang San* (Draining Yellow Powder). Kidney Water conquering Heart Fire is Thief Evil, presenting with terror and aversion to cold, treated with *Anshen Wan* (Calming Spirit Pill).

The Lung governs Dryness. Self-disease of the Lung presents with wheezing and cough; dryness requires moistening. Excess presents with wheezing and abundant Qi, treated with *Xiebai San*. Deficiency presents with wheezing and shortness of breath, initially treated with *Yihuang San* (Benefiting Yellow Powder) followed by *Ejiao San* (Donkey-Hide Gelatin Powder). Heart Fire conquering Lung Metal is Thief Evil, presenting with heat, wheezing, and cough, treated initially with *Dihuang Wan* (Rehmannia Pill), subsequently with *Daochi San* (Guiding Out Red Powder), and finally with *Ejiao San*. Liver Wood conquering Lung Metal is Slight Evil, presenting with aversion to wind, dizziness, confusion, and cough, treated with *Qianghuo Gao* (Notopterygium Paste). Kidney Water conquering Lung Metal is Excess Evil, presenting with aversion to cold, clear cough, and profuse urination, treated with *Bubai Wan* (Stemona Pill). Spleen Earth conquering Lung Metal is Deficiency Evil, presenting with heavy body, expectoration, diarrhea, and cough, treated with *Renshen Baizhu San* (Ginseng and Atractylodes Macrocephala Powder).

The Liver governs Wind. Self-disease of the Liver presents with wind convulsions and stiffness/tension. The Liver dislikes tension; urgently use sweet flavors to relax it, assist with sour and bitter flavors, and disperse with pungent flavors. Excess presents with forceful wind convulsions, treated with *Xieqing Wan* (Draining Green Pill). Deficiency presents with weak wind convulsions, treated with *Dihuang Wan*. Heart Fire conquering Liver Wood is Excess Evil, presenting with high fever and convulsions, treated with *Lijing Wan* (Relieving Convulsion Pill) and *Liangjing Wan* (Cooling Spirit Pill). Lung Metal conquering Liver Wood is Thief Evil; if Qi is abundant, there is forward extension, yawning, and slight convulsions. The method is to drain the Lung. First tonify the affected organ (Liver) with *Dihuang Wan*, and drain the Lung with *Xiebai San*. Spleen Earth conquering Liver Wood is Slight Evil, presenting with excessive sleep, heavy body, and convulsions. First, stop the convulsions with *Xieqing Wan*; after convulsions cease, if subsequent symptoms appear, establish a new treatment strategy. Kidney Water conquering Liver Wood is Deficiency Evil, presenting with aversion to cold, yawning, and convulsions, treated with *Qianghuo Gao*.

The Spleen governs Dampness. Self-disease of the Spleen presents with diarrhea, excessive sleep, heavy body, and lethargy. The Spleen dislikes dampness; urgently use bitter flavors to dry it. Excess presents with yellow-red diarrhea and sleeping with eyes closed, treated with *Xiehuang San*. Deficiency presents with white-colored diarrhea and sleeping with eyes open, treated with *Baizhu San*. Liver Wood conquering Spleen Earth is Thief Evil, presenting with wind-diarrhea and vomiting, treated with *Fuling Banxia Tang* (Poria and Pinellia Decoction). Heart Fire conquering Spleen Earth is Deficiency Evil, presenting with high fever, heavy body, and diarrhea, treated with *Qianghuo Huangqin Cangzhu Gancao Tang* (Notopterygium, Scutellaria, Atractodes Lancea, and Licorice Decoction). Lung Metal conquering Spleen Earth is Excess Evil, presenting with ability to eat but no bowel movement, vomiting, and cough, treated with a decoction of *Binglang Dahuang Tang* (Betel Nut and Rhubarb Decoction) administered with *Tingli Wan* (Descurainia Seed Pill). Kidney Water conquering Spleen Earth is Slight Evil, presenting with aversion to cold and diarrhea, treated with *Lizhong Wan* (Regulate the Middle Pill) and similar formulas.

The Kidney governs Cold. Self-disease of the Kidney presents with cold and reversal in the feet and shins. Among the five Zang organs, only the Kidney has no Excess condition; however, if pediatric smallpox/variolous lesions turn black and sink inward, this indicates Kidney Excess, where Water overcomes and retreats Heart Fire. Heart Fire conquering Kidney Water is Slight Evil, presenting with internal heat without aversion to cold, treated with *Guizhi Tang* (Cinnamon Twig Decoction). Lung Metal conquering Kidney Water is Deficiency Evil, presenting with wheezing, cough, dry/rough skin, and cold, treated with *Bubai Wan*. Liver Wood conquering Kidney Water is Excess Evil, presenting with stiffness, Qi convulsions, and cold body, treated with *Lizhong Wan*. Spleen Earth conquering Kidney Water is Thief Evil, presenting with heavy body, diarrhea, and cold body, treated with *Lizhong Wan*.

Generally, when any of the five Zang organs is weak, it is because its own proper command does not function, allowing Gui Ze evils to conquer and harm it; one should commonly tonify the righteous Qi of the affected Zang organ. For example, if Lung disease presents with wheezing and cough: if seen in early Spring, the method is to tonify the Kidney; if seen in Summer, rescue the Lung; if seen in Autumn, drain the Lung; if seen in Winter, tonify the Heart and drain the affected organ (Lung). This is also called Cold Cough. Broadly speaking, when the Qi of each Zang organ reaches its own position, it is abundant and should not be further tonified; when it reaches the position it conquers, it should not be further drained.