论曰妊娠一月谓之始形，二月谓之始膏，三月谓之始胎，当是之时，血脉不流，形象始
化，男女于此，仪则未分，缘感而应，所以孕妇欲令见荣贵端正之人，不欲见伛偻侏儒之辈
，及猿猴犬马怪禽异兽，夜卧仍宜息心静意，慎勿乱思，恐形异梦而感不祥也，妊妇所以择
食者，盖假五气五味，生成五脏，气味各随所喜而归之，阴阳应象论曰，酸生肝，苦生心，
甘生脾，辛生肺，咸生肾，此五脏假五味以生也。六节脏象论曰，臊气凑肝，焦气凑心，香
气凑脾，腥气凑肺，腐气凑肾，此五脏假五气以成也，若形脏未备，则随其不足而孕妇不欲
其气味食之，盖阳为气，阴为味，气化则精生，味化则形长，诚以人之生也，气本于天，形
本于地，内经谓天食人以五气，地食人以五味，正此之谓，若夫天合既分，形质不完者，皆
孕妇择食之时，不得其气味，故视斜觑短，偏瞽双盲，手挛足跛，腰伛背偻，此肝形之不备
也，言迟语吃，或哑或聩，神气昏塞，此心形之不备也，胸背凸凹，舌短唇缺，此脾形之不
备也，毫毛疏薄，发鬓秃落，或毫毛通白，皮肤遍赤，此肺形之不备也，毛发焦黄，形体黑
小，五硬五软，数岁不能行，此肾形之不备也，由是孕妇择食，假其气味，生成五脏，一
有不备，病辄随之，譬犹陶冶成器，一或苦窳，是水火之剂不谨，岂曰工之良哉。
论述说：妊娠第一个月称为“始形”，第二个月称为“始膏”，第三个月称为“始胎”。在这个时候，血脉运行尚未通畅，胎儿的形象开始变化，男女的性别特征在此时尚未分明。这是由感应而产生的，所以孕妇希望看到的是荣华富贵、相貌端正的人，不希望看到驼背、侏儒之类的人，以及猿猴、狗马、怪异的禽兽等。夜间睡眠时应当平心静气，千万不要胡思乱想，恐怕因形象怪异、梦境不祥而感应到不好的结果。
孕妇之所以要挑选食物，是因为借助五气（臊、焦、香、腥、腐）和五味（酸、苦、甘、辛、咸），来生成五脏。气味各自随着孕妇的喜好而归聚于相应的脏腑。《阴阳应象大论》说：酸味生养肝，苦味生养心，甘味生养脾，辛味生养肺，咸味生养肾，这就是五脏借助五味来生成的道理。《六节脏象论》说：臊气趋向肝脏，焦气趋向心脏，香气趋向脾脏，腥气趋向肺脏，腐气趋向肾脏，这就是五脏借助五气来成形的道理。
如果胎儿的形体和脏腑尚未完备，就会随着其不足之处，使孕妇对这些气味产生厌恶而不愿食用。大概阳气主司气化，阴味主司成形。气化则精气产生，味化则形体生长。确实，人的生存，气本源于天，形本源于地。《内经》说上天用五气供养人，大地用五味供养人，正是这个意思。
既然天地合气之后，若胎儿形质不完备，这都是孕妇在挑选食物时期未能获得适宜的气味的结果。因此会出现视物歪斜、眼睛短小或偏盲、双目失明，手脚拘挛、足部跛行、腰部弯曲、背部佝偻，这是肝的形体不完备；说话迟缓、言语结巴，或者失语、耳聋，神志气息昏沉闭塞，这是心的形体不完备；胸背凹凸不平，舌头短小、嘴唇缺损，这是脾的形体不完备；毫毛稀疏单薄，鬓发秃落，或者全身毫毛变白，皮肤遍体发红，这是肺的形体不完备；毛发焦黄，形体黑小，出现“五硬”、“五软”症状，几岁还不能行走，这是肾的形体不完备。
因此，孕妇通过挑选食物，借助食物的气味来生成五脏。一旦有一方面不完备，疾病就会随之而来。这就好比陶工烧制器皿，如果稍有粗劣，那是水火调配不当，怎么能说是工匠技艺不好呢？
It is stated that the first month of pregnancy is called "beginning of form" (Shi Xing), the second month is called "beginning of paste" (Shi Gao), and the third month is called "beginning of fetus" (Shi Tai). At this time, the blood vessels are not yet flowing smoothly, and the fetal image begins to transform. The distinction between male and female has not yet been established. This arises from influence and response; therefore, pregnant women should wish to see people who are prosperous, noble, and dignified in appearance, and avoid seeing hunchbacks, dwarfs, or strange animals such as apes, monkeys, dogs, horses, and exotic birds and beasts. During nighttime sleep, one should calm the mind and quiet the will, strictly avoiding chaotic thoughts, for fear that strange forms and ominous dreams may induce inauspicious influences.
The reason why pregnant women select their diet lies in borrowing the Five Qi (Sour/Foul, Scorched, Fragrant, Fishy, Rotten) and Five Flavors (Sour, Bitter, Sweet, Pungent, Salty) to generate the Zang organs. The flavors and qi tend to return to the respective organs according to the individual's preferences. The *Treatise on Yin and Yang and Corresponding Images* states: Sour generates the Liver, Bitter generates the Heart, Sweet generates the Spleen, Pungent generates the Lung, and Salty generates the Kidney. This illustrates how the Zang organs are generated through the five flavors. The *Treatise on the Six Sections and Visceral Manifestations* states: Foul odor gathers at the Liver, scorched odor gathers at the Heart, fragrant odor gathers at the Spleen, fishy odor gathers at the Lung, and rotten odor gathers at the Kidney. This illustrates how the Zang organs are formed through the five qi.
If the fetal form and viscera are not yet complete, the pregnant woman will naturally develop an aversion to the corresponding odors and flavors due to these deficiencies. Generally, Yang governs Qi transformation, while Yin governs Flavor formation. Qi transformation produces Essence, and Flavor transformation promotes physical growth. Indeed, human life originates from Heaven in terms of Qi, and from Earth in terms of Form. The *Inner Canon* states that Heaven nourishes humans with the Five Qi, and Earth nourishes humans with the Five Flavors; this is precisely what is meant.
Once the union of Heaven and Earth has occurred, if the fetal substance remains incomplete, it is because during the period when the pregnant woman selects her food, she failed to obtain the appropriate Qi and Flavor. Consequently, defects such as strabismus, microphthalmia, hemianopia, or bilateral blindness; hand spasms and foot claudication; lumbar curvature and dorsal kyphosis, occur due to the incompleteness of the Liver's form. Slurred speech, stuttering, aphonia, or deafness, along with dull spirit and blocked Qi, occur due to the incompleteness of the Heart's form. Concave and convex chest and back, short tongue, and cleft lip occur due to the incompleteness of the Spleen's form. Sparse and thin body hair, bald temples, generalized leukotrichia, or diffuse erythema of the skin occur due to the incompleteness of the Lung's form. Scaly yellow hair, small blackish body, symptoms of "Five Stiffnesses" and "Five Softnesses," and the inability to walk even after several years, occur due to the incompleteness of the Kidney's form.
Thus, by selecting food, the pregnant woman utilizes the Qi and Flavor of food to generate the Zang organs. If any aspect is incomplete, disease will inevitably follow. This is analogous to a potter firing vessels; if the result is flawed, it is due to improper control of fire and water, not necessarily the lack of skill on the part of the artisan.