五脏子母虚实，鬼贼微正，若不达旨意，不易得而入焉。在前者为实邪，子能
令母实，拒贼伤于母，其子又引母所克者妻、来相助，故曰实邪也。在后者为虚邪，
母引子之鬼贼至，由母能使子虚也，《内经》云∶子能令母实，母能令子虚，此之谓
也。妻来乘夫为微邪，夫来乘妻为贼邪，法当泻鬼补本脏。本脏自病为正邪，当虚
则补之，实则泻之，《内经》云∶滋苗者必固其根，伐下者必枯其上，逆其根，伐其
本，则败其真矣。心主热，自病或大热，泻心汤主之，实则烦热，黄连泻心汤主之，虚
则惊悸，生犀散主之。肺乘心，微邪，喘而壮热，泻白散主之。肝乘心，虚邪，风
热，煎大羌活汤下大青丸主之。脾乘心，实邪，泄泻身热，泻黄散主之。肾乘
心，贼邪，恐怖恶寒，安神丸主之。肺主燥，自病则喘嗽，燥则润之，实则喘而气
盛，泻白散主之，虚则喘而少气，先益黄散、后阿胶散主之。心乘肺，贼邪，热而
喘嗽，先地黄丸、中导赤散、后阿胶散、主之。肝乘肺，微邪，恶风眩冒昏愦嗽，
羌活膏主之。肾乘肺，实邪，憎寒嗽清利，百部丸主之。脾乘肺，虚邪，体重吐
痰泄泻嗽，人参白术散主之。肝主风，自病则风搐拘急，肝苦急，急食甘以缓之，
佐以酸苦，以辛散之，实则风搐力大，泻青丸主之，虚则风搐力小，地黄丸主之。
心乘肝，实邪，壮热而搐，利惊丸、凉惊丸主之。肺乘肝，贼邪，气盛则前伸呵欠
微搐，法当泻肺，先补本脏，补肝，地黄丸主之，泻肺，泻白散主之。脾乘肝，微
邪，多睡体重而搐，先当定搐，泻青丸主之，搐止再见后证，则别立法治之。肾乘
肝，虚邪，憎寒呵欠而搐，羌活膏主之。脾主湿，自病则泄泻多睡，体重昏倦，脾
苦湿，急食苦以燥之，实则泄泻赤黄，睡不露睛，泻黄散主之，虚则泄泻色白，睡
露睛，白术散主之。肝乘脾，贼邪，风泻而呕，茯苓半夏汤主之。心乘脾，虚邪，
壮热体重而泻，羌活黄芩苍术甘草汤主之。肺乘脾，实邪，能食不大便而呕吐嗽，
煎槟榔大黄汤下葶苈丸。肾乘脾，微邪，恶寒泄泻，理中丸之类主之。肾主寒，
自病则足胫寒而逆，人之五脏，惟肾无实，小儿疮疹变黑陷，则是肾实，水克退心
火。心乘肾，微邪，内热不恶寒，桂枝汤主之。肺乘肾，虚邪，喘嗽皮涩寒，百
部丸主之。肝乘肾，实邪，拘急气搐身寒，理中丸主之。脾乘肾，贼邪，体重泄
泻身寒，理中丸主之。凡五脏虚弱，是自己正令不行，乃鬼贼之所克害，常补本脏
之正气，假令肺病喘嗽，时于初春见之，法当补肾，见于夏，救肺，见于秋，泻肺，
见于冬，补心、泻本脏，又名寒嗽。大抵五脏各至本位，即气盛不可更补，到所克
位，不可更泻。
五脏之间子母关系的虚实变化，以及鬼贼、微正等邪气的传变规律，如果不能透彻理解其旨意，就很难掌握其中的要领。在前者为实邪，即子脏能令母脏实证；若受贼邪伤害的是母脏，其子脏又会引来母脏所克制的脏腑（妻）来相助，所以称为实邪。在后者为虚邪，即母脏引来了克制子脏的鬼贼之邪，这是因为母脏能使子脏虚弱，《内经》说：“子能令母实，母能令子虚”，说的就是这个道理。妻脏来乘袭夫脏为微邪，夫脏来乘袭妻脏为贼邪，治法应当泻除鬼贼之邪，补益本脏。本脏自病为正邪，应当虚则补之，实则泻之，《内经》说：“滋润苗株必须稳固其根部，砍伐下部必须使其上部枯萎”，如果逆乱根本，砍伐本源，就会败坏真气了。
心主热，若心自病出现大热，用泻心汤主治；若心实证出现烦热，用黄连泻心汤主治；若心虚证出现惊悸，用生犀散主治。肺脏乘袭心脏，属微邪，症状为气喘且壮热，用泻白散主治。肝脏乘袭心脏，属虚邪，症状为风热，用煎剂大羌活汤送服大青丸主治。脾脏乘袭心脏，属实邪，症状为泄泻身热，用泻黄散主治。肾脏乘袭心脏，属贼邪，症状为恐怖恶寒，用安神丸主治。
肺主燥，若肺自病则气喘咳嗽，燥邪当用润法治疗；若肺实证出现气喘且气盛，用泻白散主治；若肺虚证出现气喘且少气，先用益黄散，后用阿胶散主治。心脏乘袭肺脏，属贼邪，症状为热而喘嗽，先用地黄丸，中用导赤散，后用阿胶散主治。肝脏乘袭肺脏，属微邪，症状为恶风、眩晕昏冒、神志昏愦、咳嗽，用羌活膏主治。肾脏乘袭肺脏，属实邪，症状为憎寒、咳嗽清稀，用百部丸主治。脾脏乘袭肺脏，属虚邪，症状为身体沉重、呕吐痰涎、泄泻、咳嗽，用人参白术散主治。
肝脏主风，若肝自病则出现风搐、拘急，肝苦于急迫，应紧急食用甘味药以缓和它，佐以酸苦味药，并用辛味药发散它；若肝实证出现风搐且力度大，用泻青丸主治；若肝虚证出现风搐且力度小，用地黄丸主治。心脏乘袭肝脏，属实邪，症状为壮热而抽搐，用利惊丸、凉惊丸主治。肺脏乘袭肝脏，属贼邪，症状为气盛则前伸、呵欠、轻微抽搐，治法应当泻肺，先补本脏（肝），用地黄丸主治；泻肺，用泻白散主治。脾脏乘袭肝脏，属微邪，症状为多睡、身体沉重而抽搐，先应当止抽，用泻青丸主治；抽搐停止后若再见其他证候，则另立法治之。肾脏乘袭肝脏，属虚邪，症状为憎寒、呵欠而抽搐，用羌活膏主治。
脾脏主湿，若脾自病则出现泄泻、多睡、身体沉重、昏倦，脾苦于湿，应紧急食用苦味药以燥湿；若脾实证出现泄泻色赤黄、睡觉不露睛，用泻黄散主治；若脾虚证出现泄泻色白、睡觉露睛，用白术散主治。肝脏乘袭脾脏，属贼邪，症状为风泻且呕吐，用茯苓半夏汤主治。心脏乘袭脾脏，属虚邪，症状为壮热、身体沉重而泄泻，用羌活黄芩苍术甘草汤主治。肺脏乘袭脾脏，属实邪，症状为能食但不大便且呕吐咳嗽，用煎剂槟榔大黄汤送服葶苈丸。肾脏乘袭脾脏，属微邪，症状为恶寒泄泻，用理中丸之类主治。
肾脏主寒，若肾自病则足胫寒冷且逆冷，人的五脏中，只有肾没有实证，小儿疮疹变为黑陷，则是肾实证，这是水气克制退却心火所致。心脏乘袭肾脏，属微邪，症状为内热而不恶寒，用桂枝汤主治。肺脏乘袭肾脏，属虚邪，症状为喘嗽、皮肤干燥涩滞、恶寒，用百部丸主治。肝脏乘袭肾脏，属实邪，症状为拘急、气搐、身寒，用理中丸主治。脾脏乘袭肾脏，属贼邪，症状为身体沉重、泄泻、身寒，用理中丸主治。
凡是五脏虚弱，是因为自身的正气不能正常运行，乃是被鬼贼之邪所克制伤害，常需补益本脏的正气。举例来说，肺病出现喘嗽，如果在初春见到，治法应当补肾；如果在夏季见到，救肺；如果在秋季见到，泻肺；如果在冬季见到，补心、泻本脏，这又被称为寒嗽。大抵五脏之气到达本位时，即气盛不可再补；到达被其克制的脏腑位置时，不可再泻。
The changes of deficiency and excess in the mother-son relationships among the Five Zang organs, as well as the transmission patterns of Gui-Zei (Ghost-Thief), Wei (Slight), and Zheng (Upright) pathogens, are difficult to master if their purport is not thoroughly understood. When the pathogen is in the front, it is an Excess Pathogen (Shi-Xie); the Son organ can cause the Mother organ to become Excess; if the Mother organ is injured by a Thief Pathogen, its Son organ will summon the organ that the Mother controls (the Wife) to assist, hence it is called an Excess Pathogen. When the pathogen is in the back, it is a Deficiency Pathogen (Xu-Xie); the Mother organ brings the Gui-Zei pathogen that controls the Son organ, because the Mother organ can cause the Son organ to become Deficient. The *Neijing* states: "The Son can make the Mother Excess, and the Mother can make the Son Deficient," which refers to this principle. When the Wife organ attacks the Husband organ, it is a Slight Pathogen (Wei-Xie); when the Husband organ attacks the Wife organ, it is a Thief Pathogen (Zei-Xie). The treatment method should be to drain the Gui-Zei pathogen and tonify the affected Zang organ itself. Disease originating from the Zang organ itself is an Upright Pathogen (Zheng-Xie); it should be tonified if Deficient and drained if Excess. The *Neijing* states: "To nourish the sprout, one must surely stabilize the root; to cut down the lower part, one must surely wither the upper part." If one goes against the root and cuts the source, one will ruin the true Qi.
The Heart governs Heat. If the Heart suffers self-disease manifesting as severe heat, Xixin Decoction (Heart-Draining Decoction) is indicated. If Heart Excess manifests as vexation and heat, Huanglian Xixin Decoction (Coptis Heart-Draining Decoction) is indicated. If Heart Deficiency manifests as palpitations and fright, Shengxi San (Raw Rhinoceros Horn Powder) is indicated. Lung attacking Heart is a Slight Pathogen, manifesting as wheezing and high fever, treated with Xiebai San (Draining White Powder). Liver attacking Heart is a Deficiency Pathogen, manifesting as wind-heat, treated with Da Qianghuo Tang (Major Notopterygium Decoction) decocted and taken with Daqing Wan (Major Qing Pill). Spleen attacking Heart is an Excess Pathogen, manifesting as diarrhea and body heat, treated with Xiehuang San (Draining Yellow Powder). Kidney attacking Heart is a Thief Pathogen, manifesting as terror and aversion to cold, treated with Anshen Wan (Calming Spirit Pill).
The Lung governs Dryness. If the Lung suffers self-disease, it manifests as wheezing and cough; dryness should be moistened. If Lung Excess manifests as wheezing with abundant Qi, Xiebai San (Draining White Powder) is indicated. If Lung Deficiency manifests as wheezing with shortness of breath, Yihuang San (Tonifying Yellow Powder) is used first, followed by Ejiao San (Donkey-Hide Gelatin Powder). Heart attacking Lung is a Thief Pathogen, manifesting as heat with wheezing and cough, treated with Dihuang Wan (Rehmannia Pill) initially, Daochi San (Guiding Red Powder) in the middle, and Ejiao San (Donkey-Hide Gelatin Powder) finally. Liver attacking Lung is a Slight Pathogen, manifesting as aversion to wind, dizziness, vertigo, confusion, and cough, treated with Qianghuo Gao (Notopterygium Paste). Kidney attacking Lung is an Excess Pathogen, manifesting as aversion to cold, clear cough, treated with Baibu Wan (Stemona Pill). Spleen attacking Lung is a Deficiency Pathogen, manifesting as heavy body, vomiting phlegm, diarrhea, and cough, treated with Renshen Baizhu San (Ginseng and Atractylodes Macrocephala Powder).
The Liver governs Wind. If the Liver suffers self-disease, it manifests as wind-tremors and spasms. The Liver dislikes tension; urgently use sweet flavors to relax it, assist with sour and bitter flavors, and disperse with pungent flavors. If Liver Excess manifests with forceful wind-tremors, Xieqing Wan (Draining Green Pill) is indicated. If Liver Deficiency manifests with weak wind-tremors, Dihuang Wan (Rehmannia Pill) is indicated. Heart attacking Liver is an Excess Pathogen, manifesting as high fever and tremors, treated with Lijing Wan (Benefiting Fright Pill) and Liangjing Wan (Cooling Fright Pill). Lung attacking Liver is a Thief Pathogen; if Qi is abundant, there is forward stretching, yawning, and slight tremors. The method is to drain the Lung; first tonify the affected organ (Liver) with Dihuang Wan (Rehmannia Pill), and drain the Lung with Xiebai San (Draining White Powder). Spleen attacking Liver is a Slight Pathogen, manifesting as excessive sleep, heavy body, and tremors; first stop the tremors with Xieqing Wan (Draining Green Pill). If other symptoms appear after the tremors cease, establish a different treatment. Kidney attacking Liver is a Deficiency Pathogen, manifesting as aversion to cold, yawning, and tremors, treated with Qianghuo Gao (Notopterygium Paste).
The Spleen governs Dampness. If the Spleen suffers self-disease, it manifests as diarrhea, excessive sleep, heavy body, and fatigue. The Spleen dislikes dampness; urgently use bitter flavors to dry it. If Spleen Excess manifests as yellow-red diarrhea and sleeping with eyes closed, Xiehuang San (Draining Yellow Powder) is indicated. If Spleen Deficiency manifests as white diarrhea and sleeping with eyes open, Baizhu San (Atractylodes Macrocephala Powder) is indicated. Liver attacking Spleen is a Thief Pathogen, manifesting as wind-diarrhea and vomiting, treated with Fuling Banxia Tang (Poria and Pinellia Decoction). Heart attacking Spleen is a Deficiency Pathogen, manifesting as high fever, heavy body, and diarrhea, treated with Qianghuo Huangqin Cangzhu Gancao Tang (Notopterygium, Scutellaria, Atractodes, and Licorice Decoction). Lung attacking Spleen is an Excess Pathogen, manifesting as ability to eat but no bowel movement, vomiting, and cough, treated with Binglang Dahuang Tang (Areca Seed and Rhubarb Decoction) decocted and taken with Tingli Wan (Descurainia Pill). Kidney attacking Spleen is a Slight Pathogen, manifesting as aversion to cold and diarrhea, treated with Lizhong Wan (Regulate the Middle Pill) or similar formulas.
The Kidney governs Cold. If the Kidney suffers self-disease, it manifests as cold and reversal in the feet and shins. Among the five Zang organs of humans, only the Kidney has no Excess conditions. However, if pediatric smallpox/variolous lesions turn black and sink inward, this is a Kidney Excess condition, where Water overcomes and retreats Heart Fire. Heart attacking Kidney is a Slight Pathogen, manifesting as internal heat without aversion to cold, treated with Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction). Lung attacking Kidney is a Deficiency Pathogen, manifesting as wheezing, cough, dry/rough skin, and cold, treated with Baibu Wan (Stemona Pill). Liver attacking Kidney is an Excess Pathogen, manifesting as spasms, Qi tremors, and cold body, treated with Lizhong Wan (Regulate the Middle Pill). Spleen attacking Kidney is a Thief Pathogen, manifesting as heavy body, diarrhea, and cold body, treated with Lizhong Wan (Regulate the Middle Pill).
Whenever the Five Zang organs are deficient, it is because their own righteous Qi fails to function normally, and they are overcome and harmed by Gui-Zei pathogens. One should often 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. This is also called Cold Cough. Generally, 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 of the organ it controls, it should not be further drained.