Library

Huangdi asked, "By combining human morphology with the laws of the four seasons and the Five Phases (Wu Xing) for treatment, how should one follow [the natural order] and how should one go against it? I wish to hear about the principles behind these gains and losses." Qibo replied, "The Five Phases are Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. They alternate in precedence and inferiority, allowing us to understand life and death, determine success or failure in treatment, and establish the timing of the Qi of the five Zang organs, as well as the times when symptoms alleviate or worsen, and the periods of life and death." The Emperor said, "I wish to hear this completely."

Qibo said, "The Liver governs Spring. The Foot Jueyin (Liver Meridian) and Shaoyang (Gallbladder Meridian) are under its jurisdiction, corresponding to the Heavenly Stems Jia and Yi. The Liver suffers from tension/spasms; urgently consume Sweet flavors to relax it. The Heart governs Summer. The Hand Shaoyin (Heart Meridian) and Taiyang (Small Intestine Meridian) are under its jurisdiction, corresponding to Bing and Ding. The Heart suffers from flaccidity/looseness; urgently consume Sour flavors to astringe it. the Spleen governs Late Summer. The Foot Taiyin (Spleen Meridian) and Yangming (Stomach Meridian) are under its jurisdiction, corresponding to Wu and Ji. The Spleen suffers from dampness; urgently consume Bitter flavors to dry it. The Lung governs Autumn. The Hand Taiyin (Lung Meridian) and Yangming (Large Intestine Meridian) are under its jurisdiction, corresponding to Geng and Xin. The Lung suffers from rebellious Qi ascending; urgently consume Bitter flavors to drain/descend it. The Kidney governs Winter. The Foot Shaoyin (Kidney Meridian) and Taiyang (Bladder Meridian) are under its jurisdiction, corresponding to Ren and Gui. The Kidney suffers from dryness; urgently consume Pungent flavors to moisten it. This opens the interstices (Cou Li), generates body fluids, and unblocks Qi.

In Liver diseases, recovery occurs in Summer. If not recovered in Summer, worsening occurs in Autumn. If not fatal in Autumn, stability is maintained in Winter, and improvement begins in Spring. Wind exposure must be prohibited. In Liver diseases, recovery occurs on Bing and Ding days. If not recovered on these days, worsening occurs on Geng and Xin days. If not fatal on these days, stability is maintained on Ren and Gui days, and improvement begins on Jia and Yi days. In Liver diseases, the patient feels clear and comfortable at dawn, worsens in the late afternoon, and is quiet at midnight. The Liver desires dispersion; urgently consume Pungent flavors to disperse it. Use Pungent as tonification and Sour as sedation.

In Heart diseases, recovery occurs in Late Summer. If not recovered in Late Summer, worsening occurs in Winter. If not fatal in Winter, stability is maintained in Spring, and improvement begins in Summer. Warm food and hot clothing must be prohibited. In Heart diseases, recovery occurs on Wu and Ji days. If not recovered on these days, worsening occurs on Ren and Gui days. If not fatal on these days, stability is maintained on Jia and Yi days, and improvement begins on Bing and Ding days. In Heart diseases, the patient feels clear and comfortable at noon, worsens at midnight, and is quiet at dawn. The Heart desires softening; urgently consume Salty flavors to soften it. Use Salty as tonification and Sweet as sedation.

In Spleen diseases, recovery occurs in Autumn. If not recovered in Autumn, worsening occurs in Spring. If not fatal in Spring, stability is maintained in Summer, and improvement begins in Late Summer. Warm food, overeating, damp environments, and wet clothing must be prohibited. In Spleen diseases, recovery occurs on Geng and Xin days. If not recovered on these days, worsening occurs on Jia and Yi days. If not fatal on these days, stability is maintained on Bing and Ding days, and improvement begins on Wu and Ji days. In Spleen diseases, the patient feels clear and comfortable during the day (specifically after midday), worsens at sunrise, and is quiet in the late afternoon. The Spleen desires relaxation; urgently consume Sweet flavors to relax it. Use Bitter as sedation and Sweet as tonification.

In Lung diseases, recovery occurs in Winter. If not recovered in Winter, worsening occurs in Summer. If not fatal in Summer, stability is maintained in Late Summer, and improvement begins in Autumn. Cold food and cold clothing must be prohibited. In Lung diseases, recovery occurs on Ren and Gui days. If not recovered on these days, worsening occurs on Bing and Ding days. If not fatal on these days, stability is maintained on Wu and Ji days, and improvement begins on Geng and Xin days. In Lung diseases, the patient feels clear and comfortable in the late afternoon, worsens at noon, and is quiet at midnight. The Lung desires astringency; urgently consume Sour flavors to astringe it. Use Sour as tonification and Pungent as sedation.

In Kidney diseases, recovery occurs in Spring. If not recovered in Spring, worsening occurs in Late Summer. If not fatal in Late Summer, stability is maintained in Autumn, and improvement begins in Winter. Exposure to scalding hot food and warm-moxa clothing must be prohibited. In Kidney diseases, recovery occurs on Jia and Yi days. If not recovered on these days, worsening occurs on Wu and Ji days. If not fatal on these days, stability is maintained on Geng and Xin days, and improvement begins on Ren and Gui days. In Kidney diseases, the patient feels clear and comfortable at midnight, worsens during the transition periods of the four seasons (Chen, Xu, Chou, Wei hours/days), and is quiet in the late afternoon. The Kidney desires firmness; urgently consume Bitter flavors to firm it. Use Bitter as tonification and Salty as sedation.

When pathogenic factors invade the body, they act according to the cycle of overcoming (Ke). Recovery occurs when reaching the phase that produces it; worsening occurs when reaching the phase that overcomes it; stability is maintained when reaching the phase it produces; and improvement arises when returning to its own dominant position. One must first ascertain the pulse of the five Zang organs before discussing the times of alleviation/worsening and the periods of life and death.

Patients with Liver disease experience pain in the hypochondrium radiating to the lower abdomen, leading to irritability. Deficiency manifests as blurred vision, deafness, excessive fear (as if being hunted). Treatment involves taking the Jueyin and Shaoyang meridians. If Qi rebels, headache, deafness, poor hearing, and cheek swelling occur. Bloodletting should be performed.

Patients with Heart disease experience chest pain, fullness and distension in the hypochondrium, pain below the ribs, pain between the chest, back, and shoulder blades, and pain in the inner aspect of both arms. Deficiency manifests as large chest and abdomen, and pulling pain between the hypochondrium and waist. Treatment involves taking the Shaoyin and Taiyang meridians, specifically bloodletting from under the tongue. For altered conditions, bloodletting from the Weizhong point (BL-40) is indicated.

Patients with Spleen disease experience heavy body, frequent muscle atrophy, inability to hold the feet or walk properly, frequent spasms, and pain in the soles. Deficiency manifests as abdominal fullness, borborygmus, undigested stool in diarrhea. Treatment involves taking the Taiyin, Yangming, and Shaoyin meridians, performing bloodletting.

Patients with Lung disease experience wheezing, coughing, rebellious Qi, shoulder and back pain, sweating, and pain in the buttocks, yin region, thighs, knees, thighs (bi), and feet. Deficiency manifests as shortness of breath, inability to complete inhalation, deafness, and dry throat. Treatment involves taking the Taiyin meridian, the outer aspect of the Foot Taiyang meridian, and the inner aspect of the Foot Jueyin meridian, performing bloodletting.

Patients with Kidney disease experience abdominal distension, swollen calves, wheezing, coughing, heavy body, night sweats, and aversion to wind. Deficiency manifests as chest pain, large and small abdominal pain, cold extremities, and unhappiness. Treatment involves taking the Shaoyin and Taiyang meridians, performing bloodletting.

The color of the Liver is Green; it benefits from Sweet foods: Jingmi (Oryza sativa var. glutinosa), Beef, Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba), and Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) are all Sweet. The color of the Heart is Red; it benefits from Sour foods: Adzuki Bean (Vigna angularis), Dog Meat, Plum (Prunus mume), and Chinese Chives (Allium tuberosum) are all Sour. The color of the Lung is White; it benefits from Bitter foods: Wheat (Triticum aestivum), Mutton, Apricot (Armeniaca vesca), and Wild Leek (Allium macrostemon) are all Bitter. The color of the Spleen is Yellow; it benefits from Salty foods: Soybean (Glycine max), Pork, Chestnut (Castanea mollissima), and Soya Bean Leaves (Glycine max) are all Salty. The color of the Kidney is Black; it benefits from Pungent foods: Millet (Panicum miliaceum), Chicken, Peach (Prunus persica), and Scallion (Allium fistulosum) are all Pungent. Pungent disperses, Sour astringes, Sweet relaxes, Bitter firms, and Salty softens. Toxic drugs attack pathogens; Grains nourish; Fruits assist; Meats benefit; Vegetables fill. Consuming them in harmony of flavor and nature supplements essence and boosts Qi. These five flavors—Pungent, Sour, Sweet, Bitter, Salty—each have their advantages, either dispersing or astringing, relaxing or urgent, firming or softening. Diseases of the four seasons and five Zang organs are treated according to the suitability of the five flavors.