黄帝问于少俞曰。五味入于口也。各有所走。各有所病。酸走筋。多食之令人癃。咸走血。多食之令人渴。辛走气。
多食之令人洞心。苦走骨。多食之令人变呕。甘走肉。多食之令人 心。余知其然也。不知其何由。愿闻其故。少俞答
曰。酸入于胃其气涩以收。上之两焦弗能出入也。不出即留于胃中。胃中和温则下注膀胱。膀胱之胞薄以懦。得酸则缩
绻。约而不通。水道不行。故癃。阴者。积筋之所终也。故酸入而走筋矣。黄帝曰。咸走血。多食之令人渴。何也。少
俞曰。咸入于胃。其气上走中焦。注于脉。则血气走之。血与咸相得则凝。凝则胃中汁注之。注之则胃中竭。竭则咽路
焦。故舌本干而善渴。血脉者。中焦之道也。故咸入而走血矣。黄帝曰。辛走气。多食之令人洞心。何也。少俞曰。辛
入于胃其气走于上焦。上焦者。受气而营诸阳者也。姜韭之气熏之。营卫之气。不时受之。久留心下。故洞心。辛与气
俱行。故辛入而与汗俱出。黄帝曰。苦走骨。多食之令人变呕。何也。少俞曰。苦入于胃五谷之气。皆不能胜苦。苦入
下脘。三焦之道皆闭而不通。故变呕。齿者骨之所终也。故苦入而走骨。故入而复出。知其走骨也。黄帝曰。甘走肉。
多食之令人 心。何也。少俞曰。甘入于胃。其气弱小不能上。至于上焦而与谷留于胃中者。令人柔润者也。胃柔则缓。
缓则虫动。虫动则令人 心。其气外通于肉。故甘走肉。
思清笔健不染纤尘。
黄帝向少俞问道：五味进入口中，各自有它趋向的部位，也各自会引起特定的病变。酸味趋向于筋，多食酸味会让人发生小便不通（癃闭）。咸味趋向于血，多食咸味会让人感到口渴。辛味趋向于气，多食辛味会让人心中空虚难受（洞心）。苦味趋向于骨，多食苦味会让人发生呕吐。甘味趋向于肌肉，多食甘味会让人心中烦闷（憺憺然）。我知道这些现象是这样，但不知道其中的原因，希望听听其中的道理。
少俞回答说：酸味进入胃中，它的性质涩滞且具有收敛作用，向上到达上焦和中焦时，不能正常出入流通。如果不能外出，就会停留在胃中。胃中的温和之气使其向下注入膀胱。膀胱的胞壁薄而柔软，遇到酸味就会收缩卷曲，导致约束不通，水道无法通行，所以发生小便不通（癃）。阴部是筋脉汇聚终结的地方，所以酸味进入后趋向于筋。
少俞回答说：咸味进入胃中，其气向上趋向中焦，注入血脉，使血气随之运行。血液与咸味相合则变得凝滞，凝滞后胃中的津液就会补充进去以稀释它。津液不断注入，导致胃中津液枯竭。津液枯竭则咽喉道路干燥，所以舌根干燥且容易口渴。血脉是中焦运行的通道，所以咸味进入后趋向于血。
黄帝说：辛味趋向于气，多食辛味让人心中空虚难受，这是为什么呢？
少俞回答说：辛味进入胃中，其气趋向于上焦。上焦的功能是接受水谷精微之气并温养诸阳经。生姜和大蒜的气味熏蒸上焦，营气和卫气不时受到这种刺激，长时间停留于心下部位，所以产生心中空虚难受的感觉。辛味随着气一起运行，所以辛味进入体内后会随着汗液一起排出。
少俞回答说：苦味进入胃中，五谷的精微之气都不能胜过苦味的沉降之性。苦味进入下脘，三焦的通道都闭塞不通，所以发生呕吐。牙齿是骨骼终结表现的地方，所以苦味进入后趋向于骨。因此苦味入内后又会复出，由此可知它趋向于骨。
黄帝说：甘味趋向于肌肉，多食甘味让人心中烦闷，这是为什么呢？
少俞回答说：甘味进入胃中，其气弱小不能上行。如果它与食物一同留在胃中，会使胃部变得柔润松弛。胃变得松弛则蠕动减缓，导致虫动（指胃肠蠕动异常或寄生虫扰动），虫动就会让人心中烦闷（憺憺然）。甘味的气向外通达于肌肉，所以甘味趋向于肌肉。
Huangdi asked Shaoyu, saying: "When the five flavors enter the mouth, each has its specific pathway and can induce specific pathologies. Sourness (Suan) travels to the sinews; excessive consumption causes urinary retention (Long). Saltness (Xian) travels to the blood; excessive consumption causes thirst. Pungency (Xin) travels to the Qi; excessive consumption causes a hollow feeling in the heart (Dong Xin). Bitterness (Ku) travels to the bones; excessive consumption causes vomiting. Sweetness (Gan) travels to the flesh; excessive consumption causes a sense of restlessness or discomfort in the heart (Dan Dan Ran). I know these phenomena occur, but I do not understand their underlying mechanisms. I wish to hear the explanation."
Shaoyu replied, "When sourness enters the stomach, its Qi is astringent and contracting. When it ascends to the Upper Jiao and Middle Jiao, it cannot circulate freely. If it does not exit, it remains in the stomach. The warm Qi of the stomach directs it downward into the bladder. The wall of the bladder's sac is thin and soft; upon contact with sourness, it contracts and curls, leading to obstruction and blockage of the water passages. Thus, urinary retention (Long) occurs. The Yin regions are where the sinews converge and terminate; therefore, sourness travels to the sinews."
Huangdi said, "Saltness travels to the blood, and excessive consumption causes thirst. Why is this?"
Shaoyu replied, "When saltness enters the stomach, its Qi ascends to the Middle Jiao and enters the vessels, causing the Blood and Qi to flow with it. When Blood combines with saltness, it becomes coagulated. This coagulation draws gastric fluids into the vessels to dilute it. As these fluids are drawn in, the stomach's fluids become depleted. Depletion leads to dryness in the throat and swallowing passages; thus, the root of the tongue becomes dry and thirst ensues. The blood vessels are the pathways of the Middle Jiao; therefore, saltness travels to the blood."
Huangdi said, "Pungency travels to the Qi, and excessive consumption causes a hollow feeling in the heart. Why is this?"
Shaoyu replied, "When pungency enters the stomach, its Qi travels to the Upper Jiao. The Upper Jiao receives Qi and nourishes the Yang meridians. The fumes of ginger and leeks熏 (xun - fumigate/irritate) this area. The Ying (Nutrient) Qi and Wei (Defensive) Qi are frequently subjected to this stimulation. Over time, it lingers below the heart, causing a hollow sensation (Dong Xin). Pungency moves together with Qi; therefore, when pungency enters the body, it exits along with sweat."
Huangdi said, "Bitterness travels to the bones, and excessive consumption causes vomiting. Why is this?"
Shaoyu replied, "When bitterness enters the stomach, the Qi of the five grains cannot overcome its heavy, sinking nature. When bitterness reaches the lower epigastrium, the pathways of the Three Jiao become closed and obstructed, resulting in vomiting. The teeth are the termination point of the bones; therefore, bitterness travels to the bones. Because it enters and then re-emerges, we know it travels to the bones."
Huangdi said, "Sweetness travels to the flesh, and excessive consumption causes a sense of restlessness in the heart. Why is this?"
Shaoyu replied, "When sweetness enters the stomach, its Qi is weak and small, unable to ascend. If it remains in the stomach along with food, it makes the stomach soft and moist. A soft stomach becomes lax; laxity leads to intestinal movement or parasitic activity (Chong Dong), which causes a sense of restlessness or discomfort in the heart (Dan Dan Ran). Its Qi extends outward to the flesh; therefore, sweetness travels to the flesh."