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Yellow (the color of the Spleen): Foods suitable for consumption should be salty. Soybeans, pork, chestnuts, and soybean leaves are all salty. (The reason why Spleen Earth irrigates the four Zang organs is primarily by seeping upwards to the Heart and Lungs, and draining downwards to the Liver and Kidneys. If the Spleen suffers from dampness, it cannot seep upwards. If Earth Qi is too thick and elevated, it cannot drain downwards. The Classic states: Sour and bitter flavors induce vomiting and purging, which belong to Yin; salty flavor induces permeation and drainage, which also belongs to Yin. Therefore, it is advisable to consume bitter flavors to utilize their ability to dry dampness and promote upward seepage; it is advisable to consume salty flavors to utilize their ability to move Earth Qi and promote downward drainage.) Black (the color of the Kidney): Foods suitable for consumption should be pungent. Yellow millet, chicken meat, peaches, and green onions are all pungent. (When the Kidney is black in color, its Qi prefers moisture. Pungent flavors can open the interstices (cou li) and facilitate the distribution of body fluids. Etymologically, adding 'xin' (pungent) to 'ge' implies the ability to connect with the generative source of the mother organ.) Pungent flavors disperse, sour flavors astringe, sweet flavors moderate, bitter flavors firm, and salty flavors soften hardness. (This refers to the properties of astringing, moderating, firming, or softening hardness, in addition to dispersing, inducing vomiting, and purging. Those skilled in application act according to what is beneficial.) Toxic medicines attack pathogenic factors. (Qixuanzi stated: Medicines refer to metals, gems, stones, earth, herbs, trees, vegetables, fruits, insects, fish, birds, and beasts, all of which can dispel pathogens and support righteous Qi. However, only toxic substances can effectively attack pathogens and cure diseases. Hence, it is said that toxic medicines attack pathogens. Furthermore, according to Materia Medica: Superior drugs serve as Sovereigns, mainly nourishing life to correspond to Heaven. They are non-toxic; taking them in large amounts or over long periods does not harm humans. Those wishing to lighten the body, benefit Qi, and prolong life follow the Superior Class. Moderate drugs serve as Ministers, mainly nourishing nature to correspond to Humanity. They may be toxic or non-toxic, used with discretion. Those wishing to suppress disease and replenish deficiency follow the Moderate Class. Inferior drugs serve as Assistants, mainly treating disease to correspond to Earth. They are often toxic and should not be taken for long periods. Those wishing to eliminate cold-heat pathogens, break up accumulations, and cure illnesses follow the Inferior Class.) Five grains provide nourishment. (Referring to millet, broomcorn millet, rice, wheat, and beans, which nourish the Qi of the five Zang organs.) Five fruits provide assistance. (Referring to peaches, plums, apricots, jujubes, and chestnuts, which assist in nourishment.) Five meats provide benefits. (Referring to cattle, sheep, dogs, pigs, and chickens, which tonify the five Zang organs.) Five vegetables provide fulfillment. (Referring to mallow, soybean leaves, green onions, garlic chives, and wild leeks, which fill and enrich the Zang and Fu organs. According to the Treatise on the Five Constant Policies: When using highly toxic medicines to treat disease, remove six-tenths of the illness; when using moderately toxic medicines, remove seven-tenths; when using slightly toxic medicines, remove eight-tenths; when using non-toxic medicines, remove nine-tenths. Generally, toxic medicines are used to attack pathogens. Grains, meats, fruits, and vegetables should not be consumed excessively to avoid injury; they can tonify essence and benefit Qi. When Essence and Qi are sufficient, pathogenic diseases will naturally disappear.) Consume flavors and aromas in combination to tonify essence and benefit Qi. (This summarizes the preceding text, stating that grains, meats, fruits, and vegetables all possess five flavors and five aromas. They should be eaten in harmony to prevent any single flavor from becoming excessive, thereby tonifying Essence and Qi. For instance, consuming excessive pungent-bitter flavors increases Fire transformation; consuming excessive salty-fermented foods increases Cold transformation. The Classic states: Long-term consumption of certain flavors increases the corresponding organ's Qi, which is the normal law of material transformation. However, prolonged excess of Qi leads to premature death. Therefore, it is advisable to consume harmonized flavors and aromas.) These five categories [toxic medicines, grains, meats, vegetables, fruits] contain pungent, sour, sweet, bitter, and salty flavors, each having specific benefits. Some disperse, some astringe, some moderate, some accelerate, some firm, and some soften hardness. Diseases of the four seasons and five Zang organs are suited to different flavors based on the five tastes. (The "five" refers to toxic medicines, grains, meats, vegetables, and fruits. It means that these five categories all have the dispersing action of pungent and sweet flavors, the vomiting/purging action of sour, bitter, and salty flavors, and the properties of pungent dispersion, sour astringency, bitter firming, and salty softening. Actions may vary according to the suitability of the four seasons for dispersing or astringing, or according to the dislikes and desires of the five Zang organs, acting according to what is beneficial. This chapter discusses observing the five Zang organs to determine the severity of illness and the timing of death or survival, and assessing social status to differentiate the use of acupuncture, moxibustion, medicine, and diet. Generally, diseases observed through the nine pulse positions originate from the five Zang organs.)