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Exterior pathogens are removed by scraping (scraping therapy), superior pathogens are expelled by emesis (vomiting therapy), inferior pathogens are purged by catharsis (purging therapy). Following the disease trend, tonification is applied; opposing the disease trend, sedation is applied. Whether for chronic diseases or acute diseases, this constitutes a single correct method of treatment.

The Yellow Emperor asked: When the disease is located in the middle jiao (Middle Burner), but feels neither solid nor firm upon palpation, and symptoms gather and disperse intermittently, what should be done?
This question follows the discussion on scraping, emesis, and purging, reiterating the inquiry.

Qibo replied: Your question is indeed thorough! For conditions without accumulation, seek the affected Zang organs (Solid Organs). If deficiency exists, apply tonification. Use medicinal herbs to dispel pathogens, use food to follow up with nourishment, and use warm water immersion to induce sweating. Harmonize the interior and exterior, and the disease can be completely resolved.
For diseases of the interior and exterior, seek their cause in the meridians (Meridians and Collaterals); for diseases of the upper and lower parts, seek their cause in the Fu organs (Hollow Organs). If the disease is in the middle, feeling neither solid nor firm, gathering and dispersing intermittently, and without accumulation, one should seek the Zang organs. If the Zang organs are deficient, tonify them. Alternatively, first use medicine to dispel the pathogen, then use food to nourish the righteous qi (Healthy Qi). Or, perform water immersion to induce sweating. Thus, both interior and exterior will be harmonized, and conditions of deficiency with retained pathogens can be completely resolved.

The Yellow Emperor asked: Regarding toxic and non-toxic medicines, is there a rule for their administration?
"Yue" (Rule) refers to regulations. The previous text stated that those who can tolerate toxicity may take strong/concentrated medicines, while those who cannot tolerate toxicity should take weak/thin medicines. This implies that concentrated medicines are toxic, while thin medicines are non-toxic. Therefore, it is asked whether there are rules for administering toxic and non-toxic medicines.

Qibo replied: Diseases vary between chronic and acute, prescriptions vary between large and small formulas, and medicines vary between toxic and non-toxic. These inherently require standard regulations. When using highly toxic medicines to treat disease, stop when six-tenths of the disease has been eliminated. When using moderately toxic medicines, stop when seven-tenths have been eliminated. When using slightly toxic medicines, stop when eight-tenths have been eliminated. When using non-toxic medicines, stop when nine-tenths have been eliminated. The remaining disease is cleared through dietary nourishment from grains, meats, fruits, and vegetables. Do not allow treatment to exceed this limit, lest it injure the righteous qi (Healthy Qi). If the disease is not fully eliminated, repeat the process according to these methods.
One must first consider the annual climate qi (Annual Climate Qi) and not violate the harmony of heaven (Natural Harmony). Do not exacerbate excess conditions ("Sheng Sheng"), and do not worsen deficiency conditions ("Xu Xu"), thereby avoiding bringing premature death upon people. Do not aid the pathogenic factors, and do not lose the righteous qi, thereby preserving human longevity.
"Food" is pronounced "si". For all diseases, whether chronic or acute, and prescriptions, whether large or small, when prescribing based on the disease and using toxic or non-toxic medicines, there must inherently be consistent regulations. Therefore, when treating with highly toxic medicines, stop after eliminating six-tenths of the disease; with moderately toxic medicines, stop after eliminating seven-tenths; with slightly toxic medicines, stop after eliminating eight-tenths; with non-toxic medicines, stop after eliminating nine-tenths. Beyond taking medicine, combine grain, meat, fruit, and vegetable dietary nourishment to ensure the disease is completely removed. Toxic medicines attack pathogens; cease when the disease is addressed, do not overdo it, lest it injure the righteous qi (Healthy Qi). If the disease persists even after dietary nourishment with grains, meats, fruits, and vegetables, and further treatment is desired, proceed as described previously. However, one must first know whether the annual climate qi is excessive or insufficient. Do not overuse toxic medicines to damage the harmony of heaven. If the condition is already excessive and tonification is applied, this is "Sheng Sheng" (making excess more excessive). If the condition is already deficient and reduction/attack is applied, this is "Xu Xu" (making deficiency more deficient). Thus, do not create "Sheng Sheng," do not create "Xu Xu," to avoid leaving people with the calamity of premature death. "Sheng Sheng" leads to the generation of pathogenic factors; "Xu Xu" leads to the loss of righteous qi. Therefore, do not generate pathogenic factors, do not lose righteous qi, so as not to cut short human life. This is the proper approach.

The Yellow Emperor asked: For those with chronic diseases, although the qi mechanism has become smooth, the body does not recover; although the disease has passed, the body becomes emaciated. What should be done?
If the qi mechanism is smooth, the body should be healthy. If the disease has passed, the form should be robust. Why do some patients with chronic diseases, despite having smooth qi mechanisms, fail to recover healthfully, and despite the disease passing, become emaciated? What is the reason?

Qibo replied: Indeed profound! It is truly the question of a sage. Natural transformation (Metabolism/Transformation) cannot be substituted by human intervention, and the timing of seasons cannot be violated. Ensure the meridians (Meridians and Collaterals) are unobstructed and the blood and qi (Blood and Qi) flow smoothly. Restore insufficiency, making it equal to that of others. Nourish and harmonize, wait quietly, carefully guard the qi, preventing it from collapsing or shifting. Then the physical form will manifest clearly, and the vital qi (Vital Qi) will grow. This is called the way of the Sage King. Therefore, the *Da Yao* (Great Essentials) states: Do not substitute natural transformation, do not violate seasonal timing, must nourish and must harmonize, wait for recovery to come. This is what is meant.

The Yellow Emperor said: Excellent.
The heavenly qi transformation is the same as human qi transformation; thus, transformation cannot be substituted. The four seasons of heaven are the four seasons of humans; thus, timing cannot be violated. When diseased, meridians are obstructed, and blood and qi are discordant. When the disease passes, meridians become unobstructed, and blood and qi flow smoothly. When diseased, righteous qi is insufficient and differs from others. When the disease passes, insufficiency is restored, becoming equal to others. However, even after the disease passes, one must still nourish and harmonize, wait quietly for the appropriate time, and carefully guard the qi, preventing collapse or shifting. Only then will the physical form manifest clearly, and the vital qi (Vital Qi) grow. This is referred to as the Sage King of longevity in the world. "Transformation cannot be substituted, timing cannot be violated; must nourish and must harmonize, wait for recovery to come." Thus, the *Da Yao* states: "Do not substitute transformation, do not violate timing, must nourish and must harmonize, wait for recovery to come." This refers to the Emperor's question. The Emperor praised it. This section discusses the differences between Yin and Yang (specifically Shaoyin and Shaoyang), the principles of prosperity and decline among the five categories, the Five Movements and Six Qi (Five Movements and Six Qi), whether rooted internally or externally, all belong to the governance of the Five Constants (Five Elements).