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Yellow Emperor asked, saying: When combining the human form with the laws of the Four Seasons and Five Elements for treatment, how should one follow (conform to) the condition? How should one go against it? I wish to hear about the principles of gain and loss. (This continues the question from the previous chapter. The *Jing Mai* Chapter states: "Align with the Four Seasons and Five Zang organs, using Yin-Yang measurement as the constant of the meridians." Therefore, the Emperor asks how the Yin-Yang of the Zang-Fu organs aligns with the human form, models itself on the Four Seasons and Five Elements, and establishes methods of rescue. How does one follow? How does one go against? Treating reversal as following is called "gain"; treating conformity as reversal is called "loss." Zhang Zhuohuang said: "Combining with the human form" means that the Yin-Yang of the Zang-Fu organs aligns with the nine orifices and nine pulses.)

Qi Bo replied: The Five Elements are Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. They alternate in precedence and inferiority, allowing us to know life and death, determine success and failure, and establish the Qi of the Five Zang organs, including the times of remission and exacerbation, and the periods of life and death. (This chapter discusses observing the Zang-Fu to determine the period of life and death. However, one must model oneself on the conformity and reversal of the generation and restriction of the Four Seasons and Five Elements before life and death can be certain. Thus it says: "The Five Elements are Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth." This refers to the Ten Heavenly Stems and Four Seasons of Heaven, the Five Grains and Five Flavors of Earth, and the Five Zang and Five Qi of Man, all aligning with these five elements. By synthesizing these five, success, failure, life, and death can be determined. "Alternating in precedence and inferiority" means alternating high and low status. "Jian" (remission) is the time when the disease holds or heals; "Shen" (exacerbation) is the time when it worsens.)

The Emperor said: I wish to hear this in full. ("Cu" means complete.)

Qi Bo said: The Liver governs Spring. (The Liver governs the Qi of Spring Wood.) The Foot Jueyin (Liver) and Foot Shaoyang (Gallbladder) meridians govern its treatment. (Foot Jueyin belongs to Yi Wood, Foot Shaoyang belongs to Jia Wood; the two are exterior-interior pairs and jointly govern their meridian Qi.) The corresponding days are Jia and Yi. (Jia is Yang Wood, Yi is Yin Wood; in terms of season, it corresponds to Spring; in terms of day stems, it corresponds to Jia and Yi.) The Liver suffers from tension/spasm; urgently eat Sweet flavors to relax it. (The Liver governs the Qi of Spring generation and anger, so it suffers from excessive tension; it is suitable to eat Sweet flavors to relax it.)

The Heart governs Summer. (The Heart governs the Qi of Summer Fire.) The Hand Shaoyin (Heart) and Hand Taiyang (Small Intestine) meridians govern its treatment. (Hand Shaoyin belongs to Ding Fire, Hand Taiyang belongs to Bing Fire; the two are exterior-interior pairs and jointly govern their meridian Qi.) The corresponding days are Bing and Ding. (Bing is Yang Fire, Ding is Yin Fire; in terms of season, it corresponds to Summer; in terms of day stems, it corresponds to Bing and Ding.) The Heart suffers from flaccidity/laxity; urgently eat Sour flavors to astringe it. (Wu Shi said: The Heart's function is nourishment and growth; Joy causes Qi to relax. If Qi relaxes, Heart Qi scatters and damages the Spirit. It is urgent to eat Sour flavors to astringe it.)

The Spleen governs Late Summer. (Late Summer is the sixth month, referring to the time when Fire generates Earth.) The Foot Taiyin (Spleen) and Foot Yangming (Stomach) meridians govern its treatment. (Foot Taiyin belongs to Ji Earth, Foot Yangming belongs to Wu Earth; the two meridians are exterior-interior pairs and jointly govern their meridian Qi.) The corresponding days are Wu and Ji. (Wu is Yang Earth, Ji is Yin Earth, positioned in the Center.) The Spleen suffers from Dampness; urgently eat Bitter flavors to dry it. (The Spleen belongs to Yin Earth, likes Dryness and dislikes Dampness; Bitter is the flavor of Fire, so it is suitable to eat Bitter flavors to dry it. Zhang Erzhong said: Liking Dryness means liking the Mother Qi for nourishment; disliking Dampness means disliking the invasion of the element it overcomes.)

The Lung governs Autumn. (It governs the decree of Autumn Metal.) The Hand Taiyin (Lung) and Hand Yangming (Large Intestine) meridians govern its treatment. (Hand Taiyin belongs to Xin Metal, Hand Yangming belongs to Geng Metal; the two meridians are exterior-interior pairs and jointly govern their meridian Qi.) The corresponding days are Geng and Xin. (Geng is Yang Metal, Xin is Yin Metal; in terms of season, it corresponds to Autumn; in terms of day stems, it corresponds to Geng and Xin.) The Lung suffers from rebellious Qi ascending; urgently eat Bitter flavors to drain/descend it. (The Lung governs the decree of gathering and descending, so it suffers from rebellious Qi ascending; it is suitable to eat Bitter flavors to drain/descend it.)

The Kidney governs Winter. (It governs the decree of Winter Water.) The Foot Shaoyin (Kidney) and Foot Taiyang (Bladder) meridians govern its treatment. (Foot Shaoyin belongs to Gui Water, Foot Taiyang belongs to Ren Water; the two meridians are exterior-interior pairs and jointly govern their meridian Qi.) The corresponding days are Ren and Gui. (Ren is Yang Water, Gui is Yin Water; in terms of season, it corresponds to Winter; in terms of day stems, it corresponds to Ren and Gui.) The Kidney suffers from Dryness; urgently eat Pungent flavors to moisten it. Opening the Cou Li (pores/skin texture), distributing Body Fluids, and circulating Qi. (The Kidney is the Water Organ, likes Moisture and dislikes Dryness, so it is suitable to eat Pungent flavors to moisten it. This means Pungent flavors can open the Cou Li, causing Body Fluids to circulate and Qi to flow, thus achieving moisture. The above discusses the fundamental Qi of the Five Zang organs and their alignment with the Four Seasons, Five Elements, and Five Flavors.)

Disease in the Liver heals in Summer. (This discusses pathogenic factors invading the body and diseases located in the Five Zang organs, which also align with the Four Seasons and Five Elements, having times of remission and exacerbation. Disease in the Liver heals in Summer because the Child (Fire) controls the Ghost-Thief (Metal), thereby strengthening the Mother (Wood).) If it does not heal in Summer, it exacerbates in Autumn. (Because the Child Qi is resting while the Thief Qi is prosperous, it exacerbates in the season where it is overcome.) If it does not die in Autumn, it stabilizes in Winter. (Because the Thief Qi rests and receives nourishment from the Mother Qi, it stabilizes in the season it generates.) It recovers in Spring. (Because it returns to its own position, it recovers. This discusses the monthly periods of life and death. The other Zang organs follow this example.) Contraindicate exposure to wind. (Wind Qi communicates with the Liver, so avoid contact.)

Patients with Liver disease heal on Bing and Ding days. (They heal when they reach the season/day they generate.) If they do not heal on Bing and Ding days, they worsen on Geng and Xin days. (Metal restricts Wood.) If they do not die on Geng and Xin days, they stabilize on Ren and Gui days. (They stabilize by receiving the generating Qi of the Mother.) They recover on Jia and Yi days. (The original Qi revives and recovers. This discusses the daily periods of life and death.)

Patients with Liver disease feel clear-headed at dawn, worsen in the late afternoon, and are quiet at midnight. (Dawn is the time when Wood Qi generates and prospers, so they feel clear-headed. Late afternoon is the time when Metal Qi is prosperous, so the disease worsens. Midnight receives the generating Qi of the Mother [Water], so they are quiet. This discusses the times of remission and exacerbation.)

The Liver desires dispersion; urgently eat Pungent flavors to disperse it. (When Liver Qi is invaded by pathogens, Wood becomes depressed and desires dispersion, so urgently eat Pungent flavors to disperse it.) Use Pungent to tonify, use Sour to drain. (According to the Annual Movement: When Jueyin prevails, drain with Sour; when Shaoyin prevails, drain with Sweet; when Taiyin prevails, drain with Bitter. It is also said: For the Master of the Wood Position, drain with Sour, tonify with Pungent; for the Master of the Fire Position, drain with Salty, tonify with Salty; for the Master of the Earth Position, drain with Bitter, tonify with Sweet; for the Master of the Metal Position, drain with Pungent, tonify with Sour; for the Master of the Water Position, drain with Sweet, tonify with Bitter. The Yin-Yang usage of the Five Flavors: Pungent and Sweet disperse and are Yang; Sour and Bitter induce vomiting/draining and are Yin; Salty induces vomiting/draining and is Yin; Dan (bland) drains and is Yang. These six flavors either astringe or disperse, relax or tense, dry or moisten, soften or harden. Act according to what is beneficial, regulate the Qi, and make it balanced. Liver disease is the prevalence of Jueyin Wind. When pathogens are strong, Zheng Qi is weak, so use the dispersing nature of Pungent to scatter Wood depression, use the moistening nature of Pungent to tonify Liver Qi, and use the draining nature of Sour to drain excess. This is acting according to what is beneficial, regulating Qi, and making it balanced. The other Zang organs follow this example.)

Disease in the Heart heals in Late Summer. If it does not heal in Late Summer, it exacerbates in Winter. If it does not die in Winter, it stabilizes in Spring. It recovers in Summer. (If it does not die, it can stabilize; if it stabilizes, it can heal.) Contraindicate warm food and hot clothing. (The Heart dislikes Heat.)

Patients with Heart disease heal on Wu and Ji days. If they do not heal on Wu and Ji days, they worsen on Ren and Gui days. If they do not die on Ren and Gui days, they stabilize on Jia and Yi days. They recover on Bing and Ding days. (If they should heal but do not, they worsen. If they should die but do not, they recover.)

Patients with Heart disease feel clear-headed at noon, worsen at midnight, and are quiet at dawn. (The *Ling Shu* states: Spring generates, Summer grows, Autumn harvests, Winter stores; this is the normal state of Qi, and humans respond to it. Dividing one day into four seasons: Morning is Spring, Noon is Summer, Sunset is Autumn, Midnight is Winter. Thus, they feel clear-headed when in their own position, worsen when in the position that overcomes them, and are quiet when in the position they generate.)

The Heart desires softness; urgently eat Salty flavors to soften it. (Ye Ruan means soft. The Heart is a Fire organ; Heart disease makes it rigid and dry, so it is suitable to eat Salty flavors to soften it.) Use Salty to tonify, use Sweet to drain. (Salty flavor descends, drains, and surges upward, transforming into Water. It can drain Heart Qi to descend and connect, and surge Water Qi to ascend and assist. When Water and Fire are balanced, Heart Qi benefits naturally. Fire desires to flare and disperse; drain it with the dispersing nature of Sweet.)

Disease in the Spleen heals in Autumn. If it does not heal in Autumn, it exacerbates in Spring. If it does not die in Spring, it stabilizes in Summer. It recovers in Late Summer. Contraindicate warm food, overeating, damp ground, and wet clothes. (The Stomach likes cool drinks, so warm food is contraindicated. Overeating injures the Spleen, so overeating is contraindicated. The Spleen belongs to Yin Earth and dislikes Dampness, so damp ground and wet clothes are strictly contraindicated.)

Patients with Spleen disease heal on Geng and Xin days. If they do not heal on Geng and Xin days, they worsen on Jia and Yi days. If they do not die on Jia and Yi days, they stabilize on Bing and Ding days. They recover on Wu and Ji days. (The Ten Heavenly Stems of Heaven transform into the Five Elements of Earth; the Five Elements of Earth transform into the Five Zang organs of Man. Born of Earth, life depends on Heaven; thus, born of Five Elements, destiny lies with the Ten Stems.)

Patients with Spleen disease feel clear-headed during the day, worsen at sunrise, and are quiet in the late afternoon. ("Bu" sounds like Die, meaning daytime. Aligning with Late Summer, so clear-headed. Sunrise is the time when Wood is prosperous, so it worsens. Late afternoon is the Shen-You division, aligning with the decree of Autumn Metal, so it is quiet.)

The Spleen desires relaxation; urgently eat Sweet flavors to relax it. (The virtue of Earth is harmonious and thick, so it desires relaxation. Disease loses its medium-and-harmonious Qi, so it is suitable to eat Sweet flavors to relax it.) Use Bitter to drain, use Sweet to tonify. (Spleen disease causes Earth depression, so use the surging-draining nature of Bitter to drain it, and use the relaxing nature of Sweet to tonify it. The *Jin Gui Yao Lue* states: Diseases of the Five Zang organs heal when they obtain what they desire; they have aversions. Each follows what they dislike as the cause of disease. Therefore, following their desired flavor is tonification.)

Disease in the Lung heals in Winter. If it does not heal in Winter, it exacerbates in Summer. If it does not die in Summer, it stabilizes in Late Summer. It recovers in Autumn. Contraindicate cold food and cold clothing. (Cold form and cold drinks injure the Lung, so both are contraindicated.)

Patients with Lung disease heal on Ren and Gui days. If they do not heal on Ren and Gui days, they worsen on Bing and Ding days. If they do not die on Bing and Ding days, they stabilize on Wu and Ji days. They recover on Geng and Xin days. (Initial illness is calculated by year/month; severe illness by ten-day periods; terminal illness by day/night.)

Patients with Lung disease feel clear-headed in the late afternoon, worsen at noon, and are quiet at midnight. (One day and night are divided into five parts, each having times of generation/restriction and remission/exacerbation.)

The Lung desires astringency; urgently eat Sour flavors to astringe it. (The Lung governs the decree of Autumn gathering; disease reverses this norm, so urgently eat Sour flavors to astringe it.) Use Sour to tonify, use Pungent to drain. (Use Sour astringency to tonify Zheng Qi, use Pungent dispersion to drain Xie Qi.)

Disease in the Kidney heals in Spring. If it does not heal in Spring, it exacerbates in Late Summer. If it does not die in Late Summer, it stabilizes in Autumn. It recovers in Winter. Contraindicate extremely hot food and baked hot clothing. ("Xun" sounds like Cui, "Nuan" sounds like Ai. Xun refers to boiling hot food; Nuan refers to baked hot clothing. The Kidney dislikes Dryness, so avoid these.)

Patients with Kidney disease heal on Jia and Yi days. If they do not heal on Jia and Yi days, they worsen on Wu and Ji days. If they do not die on Wu and Ji days, they stabilize on Geng and Xin days. They recover on Ren and Gui days. (For the four Zang organs, "worsen" means the overcoming Qi invades me, causing the disease to worsen; this is Guest Prevailing. For the Kidney, "worsens on Wu and Ji" means it worsens in the position that overcomes it; this is Host Weakness. The Classic often uses inconsistent terminology when discussing the Five Zang organs, as the Way of Yin-Yang is infinite.)

Patients with Kidney disease feel clear-headed at midnight, worsen at the end of the seasons (Chen, Xu, Chou, Wei hours), and are quiet in the late afternoon. (In Kidney disease, Water prosperity brings clarity, Earth prosperity brings worsening, Metal prosperity brings quietness.)

The Kidney desires firmness; urgently eat Bitter flavors to firm it. (The Kidney's substance is heavy and stone-like, its virtue is firm and condensed; disease loses its norm, so it is suitable to eat Bitter flavors to firm it.) Use Bitter to tonify, use Salty to drain. (Use Bitter firmness to tonify, use Salty drainage to drain. The above discusses diseases of the Five Zang organs and the suitability of medicines and foods; each of the Five Flavors has its appropriateness.)

Generally, when pathogenic factors invade the body, they interact through mutual overcoming. (Pathogens refer to external invading evils like Wind, Cold, Summer-Heat, and Dampness. Interacting through mutual overcoming means, for example, Liver disease worsening on Geng-Xin days, or Heart disease worsening on Ren-Gui days; when the overcoming Qi invades, the disease worsens.)

Healing occurs when reaching the generated position. (e.g., Liver disease heals in Summer, Heart disease heals on Ren-Gui days; healing is achieved by obtaining the Qi of the generated Child.)

Exacerbation occurs when reaching the overcoming position. (Meaning encountering the time when it is restricted/thieved, the disease worsens.)

Stabilization occurs when reaching the generating position. (Obtaining the Qi of the generating Mother allows support.)

Recovery occurs when returning to its own position. (Position refers to what the Classic calls Wood Position, Fire Position, etc. When the original Qi is prosperous, recovery occurs.)

One must first determine the pulse of the Five Zang organs before discussing the times of remission/exacerbation and the periods of life and death. (Meaning one must first determine the meridians of the Five Zang organs, understand the pathological pulses of the Five Zang organs, before discussing the remission/exacerbation of the disease and the periods of life and death.)

Liver disease presents with pain in the hypochondrium radiating to the lower abdomen, causing frequent anger. (Disease here refers to Excess of pathogenic Qi. The Liver meridian spreads over the costal region and reaches the lower abdomen, hence pain in the hypochondrium radiating to the lower abdomen. The *Ling Shu* states: Liver Qi Excess leads to anger. The Liver is the General Officer, and its will is anger. Liver Qi stagnation and lack of smooth flow cause anger.)

Deficiency presents with blurred vision and inability to see, deafness, frequent fear, as if being hunted. ("Huang Huang" sounds like Huang. Deficiency means depletion of Essence-Qi. "Huang Huang" means unclear. The Liver stores Blood and opens into the Eyes; Liver deficiency causes blurred vision. The Shaoyang meridian enters the ear, hence deafness. Gallbladder disease presents with a sense of emptiness in the chest, as if being hunted.)

Select the meridians: Jueyin and Shaoyang. (Meridian refers to the vessel network. Foot Shaoyang and Jueyin are exterior-interior pairs, so select these two meridians to unblock their Qi.)

Rebellious Qi causes headache, deafness and poor hearing, cheek swelling. Select bloodletting points. (Jueyin meets the Du Meridian at the vertex. Liver Qi rebellion causes headache. Shaoyang Qi rebellion causes deafness and cheek swelling. "Select bloodletting" means selecting the blood-rich points of the meridian to bleed. Foot Shaoyang and Jueyin are exterior-interior pairs; Shaoyang usually has little Blood and much Qi, while Jueyin usually has much Blood and little Qi. Since Zang-Fu meridian Qi connects, one should drain from the blood-rich side of Jueyin.)

Heart disease presents with pain in the chest, fullness and distension in the hypochondrium, pain under the hypochondrium, pain between the sternum, back, and scapula, and pain in the inner aspect of both arms. (The Hand Shaoyin Heart meridian originates in the heart, ascends along the throat, emerges from the hypochondrium, follows the inner arm, down the elbow, along the posterior medial aspect of the arm. The Hand Shaoyang Small Intestine meridian ascends the arm, follows the inner aspect, emerges from the shoulder joint, winds around the scapula. Excess Qi in these two meridians causes these pains. Hypochondriac fullness/distension is due to the branch collateral of Shaoyin causing fullness and pain in the hypochondrium.)

Deficiency presents with large chest and abdomen, and pulling pain between the hypochondrium and the waist. (Heart Fire Qi deficiency allows Turbid Qi to ascend, causing large chest and abdomen. The Classic states: Turbid Qi in the upper part causes distension. Heart Qi cannot connect with Yin, hence pulling pain between the hypochondrium and the Yin region.)

Select the meridians: Shaoyin and Taiyang, and bleed the sublingual vessels. (The Heart meridian ascends along the throat and opens into the tongue, so select the sublingual vessels. For diseases suffered by the Hand and Foot Yin-Yang, one must first remove the blood to alleviate suffering, then drain excess and tonify deficiency.)

For changed diseases, prick the Xi-Cleft points to bleed. (If there is a changed disease and the pathogen is not in the meridians, also select the Xi-Cleft points to bleed, as Zang-Fu meridian Qi is connected. Xu Gongxia asked: The Master said to select blood-rich points to bleed; Shaoyin usually has little Blood, why specifically select the sublingual Xi-Cleft point? Answer: Locations have constants and variables; applications have classics and flexibility. Shaoyin having little Blood refers to the constant. Disease suffering requiring blood removal first, then draining excess and tonifying deficiency, refers to the variable. Deficiency is also unsuitable for bloodletting; changed diseases take from the Xi-Cleft points. These are methods of handling change and applying flexibility. Thus, only the Shaoyin meridian is singled out, mentioning sublingual blood and changed diseases, to encourage analogy to other meridians.)

Spleen disease presents with heavy body, prone to muscle atrophy/withering, legs unable to hold weight, prone to stumbling, and pain in the soles. (The Spleen governs muscles and facilitates the integration of Yuan-Zhen Qi of the Five Zang organs. Injury to Spleen Qi causes heaviness and prone muscle atrophy. Withering means muscles collapse and lose sensation. The Foot Taiyin meridian follows the shin and knee; pathogens in the meridians cause legs unable to hold weight. Qi injury causes prone stumbling and pain. The use of two "prone/shan" characters indicates meridian disease affecting Qi.)

Deficiency presents with abdominal fullness, borborygmus, undigested stool diarrhea, and food not transforming. (This is due to Spleen Qi deficiency failing to transport water and grain.)

Select the meridians: Taiyin, Yangming, and Shaoyin blood points. (Ying-Wei Qi-Blood begins in Foot Shaoyin Kidney, is produced in Foot Yangming Stomach, and is transported by Foot Taiyin Spleen; thus, select these three meridians to unblock meridian Qi.)

Lung disease presents with wheezing, coughing, rebellious Qi, shoulder and back pain, sweating, and pain in the coccyx, yin region, thigh, knee, thigh bone, and foot. (This describes the connection of Lung and Kidney meridian Qi. The Lung governs Qi, originating from the Kidney. Kidney is the Root, Lung is the Branch; Mother-Child meridian Qi connects. Thus, the direct branch of Foot Shaoyin rises from the Kidney, pierces the diaphragm, enters the Lung, follows the throat, and clamps the root of the tongue. Disease causes Qi rebellion, hence wheezing. Lung-Shu Qi is in the shoulder and back; Qi rebellion upwards causes shoulder/back pain and sweating; rebellion downwards causes pain in the coccyx, yin, and knees. Note that the discussions of the Five Meridians vary; all require careful attention.)

Deficiency presents with shortness of breath, inability to complete inhalation/exhalation, deafness, and dry throat. (The Kidney is the source of generating Qi; the Lung governs whole-body Qi and respiration. Generating Qi declines below, unable to reach above for respiration. Kidney Qi decline causes deafness; insufficiency of Metal-Water Qi causes dry throat.)

Select the meridians: Taiyin, and the blood points outside Foot Taiyang and inside Foot Jueyin. (Taiyin refers to the main pulse of Hand Taiyin Lung. Qixuanzi said: "Outside Foot Taiyang, inside Foot Jueyin" precisely refers to the medial aspect of the leg, straight up from behind the medial malleolus, which is the Shaoyin pulse. Observe the Shaoyin portion of the pulses on both feet; if there is blood fullness different from normal, select it.)

Kidney disease presents with abdominal distension, calf swelling, wheezing/coughing, heavy body, nocturnal sweating, and aversion to wind. (The Kidney Shaoyin meridian originates in the foot, ascends, clamps the navel, follows the interior of the abdomen, and enters the Lung. Disease in the meridians causes abdominal distension and calf swelling. Water evil rebelling upwards causes wheezing/coughing; declining generating Qi below causes heaviness. Taiyang Qi governs the exterior and exits from the Bladder below. Meridian Qi rebellion causes exterior Qi deficiency, hence nocturnal sweating and aversion to wind.)

Deficiency presents with pain in the chest, large and small abdominal pain, cold extremities (Qing-Jue), and unhappiness. (Kidney Qi deficiency fails to connect upward to the Heart, causing chest pain. Shaoyin Qi combines with Yangming above; declining generating Qi below causes large and small abdominal pain. Qing-Jue is mild cold; Yang Qi deficiency causes cold extremities. Memory is Yi; Dan Zhong is the Official of Envoy, executing orders on behalf of the Sovereign, where Joy/Laughter emerge. Insufficiency of Heart Qi in the chest causes unhappiness.)

Select the meridians: Shaoyin and Taiyang blood points. (Shaoyin and Taiyang are exterior-interior pairs; Zang-Fu meridian Qi connects, so Zang disease involves the Fu meridian. The above discusses diseases arising in meridians and muscles, suitable for treatment with needles and stones; examine the deficiency/excess of Zang-Fu meridians and select points.)

The Liver color is Green; it is suitable to eat Sweet. Rice, beef, dates, and okra are all Sweet. (Essence and brightness, the five colors, are the splendor of Qi. Liver color Green indicates Qi suffering from tension, so it is suitable to eat Sweet to relax it. The Five Flavors are used to nourish the Qi of the Five Zang organs.)

The Heart color is Red; it is suitable to eat Sour. Mung beans, dog meat, plums, and leeks are all Sour. (Heart will is Joy; Joy causes Qi to relax. Relaxation causes Heart Spirit to slacken, so it is suitable to eat the Sourness of mung beans, dog meat, and plums to nourish and collect Heart Qi.)

The Lung color is White; it is suitable to eat Bitter. Wheat, mutton, apricots, and wild onions are all Bitter. (Lung color White; its Qi governs the descending decree of Autumn Metal, and suffers from rebellious Qi ascending, so it is suitable to eat the Bitterness of mutton, wheat, apricots, and wild onions to gather and descend Lung Qi.)

The Spleen color...