凡药酸属木入肝、苦属火入心、甘属土入脾、辛属金入肺、咸属水入肾，此五味之义
也。
凡药青属木入肝、赤属火入心、黄属土入脾、白属金入肺、黑属水入肾，此五色之义
也。
凡药酸者能涩能收、苦者能泻能燥能坚、甘者能补能和能缓、辛者能散能润能横行、
咸者能下能软坚、淡者能利窍能渗泄，此五味之用也。
凡药寒、热、温、凉，气也；酸、苦、甘、辛、咸，味也。气为阳，味为阴。气浓者
阳中之阳，薄者阳中之阴；味浓者阴中之阴，薄者阴中之阳。气薄则发泄（发散），浓则发
热（温燥），味浓则泄（降泻），薄则通（利窍渗湿）。辛甘发散为阳，酸苦涌泄为阴，咸味
涌泄为阴，淡味渗泄为阳。轻清升浮为阳，重浊沉降为阴。阳气出上窍，阴味出下窍。清阳
发腠理，浊阴走五脏。清阳实四肢，浊阴归六腑。此阴阳之义也。
凡药轻虚者浮而升，重实者沉而降。味薄者升而生（象春），气薄者降而收（象秋），
气浓者浮而长（象夏），味浓者沉而藏（象冬），味平者化而成（象土）。气浓味薄者浮而升，
味浓气薄者沉而降，气味俱浓者能浮能沉，气味俱薄者可升可降。酸咸无升，辛甘无降，寒
无浮，热无沉，此升降浮沉之义也（李时珍曰∶升者引之以咸寒，则沉而直达下焦；沉者引
之以酒，则浮而上至巅顶。一物之中，有根升梢降、生升熟降者，是升降在物亦在人也）。
凡药根之在土中者，半身以上则上升，半身以下则下降（以生苗者为根，以入土者为
梢。上焦用根，下焦用梢，半身以上用头，中焦用身，半身以下用梢。虽一药而根、梢各别，
用之或差，服亦罔效）。药之为枝者达四肢，为皮者达皮肤，为心、为干者内行脏腑。质之
轻者上入心、肺，重者下入肝、肾。中空者发表，内实者攻里。枯燥者入气分，润泽者入血
分。此上下内外，各以其类相从也。
凡药色青、味酸、气臊、性属木者，皆入足厥阴肝、足少阳胆经（肝与胆相表里，胆
为甲木，肝为乙木）；色赤、味苦、气焦、性属火者，皆入手少阴心，手太阳小肠经（心与
小肠相表里，小肠为丙火，心为丁火）；色黄、味甘、气香、性属土者，皆入足太阴脾、足
阳明胃经（脾与胃相表里，胃为戊土，脾为己土）；色白、味辛、气腥、性属金者，皆入手
太阴肺、手阳明大肠经（肺与大肠相表里，大肠为庚金，肺为辛金）；色黑、味咸、气腐、
性属水者，皆入足少阴肾、足太阳膀胱经（肾与膀胱相表里，膀胱为壬水，肾为癸水，凡一
脏配一腑，腑皆属阳，故为甲、丙、戊、庚、壬；脏皆属阴，故为乙、丁、己、辛、癸也）。
十二经中，惟手厥阴心包、手少阳三焦经无所主，其经通于足厥阴、少阳。厥阴主血，诸药
入肝经血分者，并入心包；少阳主气，诸药入胆经气分者，并入三焦。命门相火，散行于胆、
三焦、心包络，故入命门者，并入三焦。此诸药入诸经之部分也。
药有相须者，同类而不可离也（如黄柏、知母、破故纸、胡桃之类）；相使者，我之佐
使也；相恶者，夺我之能也；相畏者，受彼之制也；相反者，两不可合也；相杀者，制彼之
毒也，此异同之义也。
肝苦急（血燥苦急），急食甘以缓之；肝欲散（木喜条达），急食辛以散之；以辛补之，
以酸泻之（以散为补，以敛为泻）。心苦缓（缓则散逸），急食酸以收之；心欲软，急食咸以
软之；以咸补之（按∶水能克火，然心以下交于肾为补，取既济之义也），以甘泻之。脾苦
湿，急食苦以燥之；脾欲缓（舒和），急食甘以缓之；以甘补之，以苦泻之。肺苦气上逆（火
旺克金），急食苦以泻之；肺欲收，急食酸以收之；以酸补之，以辛泄之。肾苦燥，急食辛
以润之；肾欲坚（坚固则无狂荡之患），急食苦以坚之；以苦补之，以咸泻之。此五脏补泻
之义也。
风淫于内，治以辛凉，佐以苦甘，以甘缓之，以辛散之（风属木，辛为金，金能胜木，
故治以辛凉。过辛恐伤真气，故佐以苦甘，苦胜辛，甘益气也。木性急，故以甘缓之。木喜
条达，故以辛散之）。热淫于内，治以咸寒，佐以苦甘，以酸收之，以苦发之（水胜火，故
治以咸寒。甘胜咸，佐之所以防其过，必甘苦者，防咸之过，而又以泻热气佐实也。热淫故
以酸收之，热结故以苦发之），湿淫于内，治以苦热，佐以酸淡，以苦燥之，以淡泄之（湿
为土气，苦热皆能燥湿，淡能利窍渗湿，用酸者，木能制土也）。火淫于内，治以咸冷，佐
以苦辛，以酸收之，以苦发之（相火畏火也，故治以咸冷。辛能滋润，酸能收敛，苦能泄热，
或从其性而升发之也）。燥淫于内，治以苦温，佐以甘辛，以苦下之（燥属金，苦属火，火
能胜金，故治以苦温。甘能缓，辛能润，苦能下，故以为佐也）。寒淫于内，治以甘热，佐
以苦辛，以咸泻之，以辛润之，以苦坚之（土能制水，热能胜寒，故治以甘热。苦而辛，亦
热品也。伤寒内热者，以咸泻之。内燥者，以辛润之。苦能泻热而坚肾，泻中有补也）。此
六淫主治各有所宜，故药性宜明而施用贵审也。
人之五脏应五行，金、木、水、火、土，子母相生。经曰∶虚则补其母，实则泻其子。
又曰∶子能令母实。如肾为肝母，心为肝子，故入肝者，并入肾与心；肝为心母，脾为心子
，故入心者，并入肝与脾；心为脾母，肺为脾子，故入脾者，并入心与肺；脾为肺母，肾为
肺子，故入肺者，并入脾与肾；肺为肾母，肝为肾子，故入肾者，并入肺与肝。此五行相生
，子母相应之义也。
酸伤筋（敛则筋缩），辛胜酸；苦伤气（苦能泻气），咸胜苦；甘伤肉，酸胜甘；辛伤
皮毛（疏散腠理），苦胜辛；咸伤血（咸能渗泄），甘胜咸。此五行相克之义也。
酸走筋，筋病毋多食酸，筋得酸，则拘挛收引益甚也。苦走骨，骨病毋多食苦；骨得
苦，则阴益甚重而难举也。甘走肉，肉病毋多食甘，肉得甘，则壅气胪肿益甚也。辛走气，
气病毋多食辛，气得辛，则散而益虚也。咸走血，血病毋多食咸，血得咸，则凝涩而口渴也
（咸能渗泄津液）。此五病之所禁也。
多食咸，则脉凝泣（涩同）而变色（脉即血也，心合脉，水克水）。多食苦，则皮槁而
毛拔（肺合皮毛，火克金）。多食辛，则筋急而爪枯（肝合筋，爪者筋之余。为金克木，按
肝喜散，故辛能补肝，惟多则为害）。多食酸，则肉胝 而唇揭（脾合肉，其华在唇，水克
土，胝音支，皮浓也）。多食甘，则骨痛而发落（肾合骨，其华在发，土克水）。此五味之所
伤也。
药之为物，各有形、性、气、质。其入诸经，有因形相类者（如连翘似心而入心，荔
枝核似睾丸而入肾之类）；有因性相从者（如属木者入肝，属水者入肾；润者走血分，燥者
入气分；本天者亲上，本地者亲下之类）；有因气相求者（如气香入脾，气焦入心之类）；有
因质相同者（如药之头入头，干入身，枝入肢，皮行皮。又如红花、苏木，汁似血而入血之
类），自然之理，可以意得也。
药有以形名者，人参、狗脊之类是也；有以色名者，黄连、黑参之类是也；有以气名
者， 、香薷之类是也；有以味名者，甘草、苦参之类是也；有以质名者，石膏、石脂、
归身、归尾之类是也；有以时名者，夏枯、款冬之类是也；有以能名者，何首乌、骨碎补之
类是也。
凡药火制四， 、煨、炙、炒也；水制三，浸、泡、洗也；水火共制二，蒸、煮也。
酒制升提，姜制温散；入盐走肾而软坚，用醋注肝而收敛；童便制，除劣性而降下；米泔制，
去燥性而和中；乳制润枯生血，蜜制甘缓益元；陈壁土制，借土气以补中州；面裹曲制，抑
酷性勿伤上膈；黑豆、甘草汤渍，并解毒致令平和；羊酥、猪脂涂烧，咸渗骨容易脆断；去
穣者免胀，去心者除烦，此制治各有所宜也。
药之为用，或地道不真，则美恶迥别；或市肆饰伪，则气味全乖；或收采非时，则良
异质；或头尾误用，则呼应不灵；或制治不精，则功力大减。用者不察，顾归咎于药之罔
功。譬之兵不精练，思以荡寇克敌，适以复众舆尸也。治疗之家，其可忽诸！
《千金》云∶凡药须治择熬泡毕，然后秤用。不得生秤，湿润药皆先增分两，燥乃秤
之。
凡是药物，酸味属木，入肝经；苦味属火，入心经；甘味属土，入脾经；辛味属金，入肺经；咸味属水，入肾经。这是五味的含义。
凡是药物，青色属木，入肝经；赤色属火，入心经；黄色属土，入脾经；白色属金，入肺经；黑色属水，入肾经。这是五色的含义。
凡是药物，酸味的能收敛固涩；苦味的能泻下、燥湿、坚阴；甘味的能补益、调和、缓急；辛味的能发散、润燥、横行周身；咸味的能下行、软坚散结；淡味的能通利窍道、渗湿泄浊。这是五味的作用。
凡是药物的寒、热、温、凉，属于气（药性）；酸、苦、甘、辛、咸，属于味。气属阳，味属阴。气浓厚的属于阳中之阳，气薄的属于阳中之阴；味浓厚的属于阴中之阴，味薄的属于阴中之阳。气薄的能发散，气浓的能发热（温燥）；味浓的能泄降，味薄的能通利（利窍渗湿）。辛味和甘味能发散，属于阳；酸味和苦味能涌吐或泄下，属于阴；咸味能涌吐或泄下，属于阴；淡味能渗湿泄浊，属于阳。质地轻清的上升浮越，属于阳；质地重浊的下降沉降，属于阴。阳气出于上窍，阴味出于下窍。清阳之气发于腠理，浊阴之气走注五脏。清阳之气充实四肢，浊阴之气归入六腑。这是阴阳的含义。
凡是药物，质地轻虚的浮而上升，质地重实的沉而下降。味薄的能升而生发（象春季），气薄的能降而收敛（象秋季），气浓的能浮而生长（象夏季），味浓的能沉而闭藏（象冬季），味平的能化育而成（象长夏/土）。气浓味薄的能浮而上升，味浓气薄的能沉而下降，气味都浓厚的能浮也能沉，气味都薄的可升也可降。酸味和咸味没有上升的作用，辛味和甘味没有下降的作用，寒性药没有浮升之性，热性药没有沉降之性。这是升降浮沉的含义。（李时珍说：上升的药引导以咸寒之品，则下沉而直达下焦；下沉的药引导以酒，则上浮而上至头顶。一味药之中，有根升梢降、生用升熟降的区别，这说明升降既在于药物本身，也在于人的运用。）
凡是药物的根在土中的，一半在上面的则主上升，一半在下面的则主下降（以长出地面的部分为根，以深入土中的部分为梢。上焦病用根，下焦病用梢，半身以上用药头，中焦病用药身，半身以下用药梢。虽然是一味药，但根、梢各有所别，使用如果有差错，服用也没有效果）。药物如果是枝，能通达四肢；如果是皮，能通达皮肤；如果是心材或主干，能内行脏腑。质地轻的入心、肺经，质地重的入肝、肾经。中空的能发表，内部坚实的能攻里。干枯的入气分，润泽的入血分。这是上下内外，各自以其同类相从的道理。
凡是药物颜色青、味道酸、气味臊、性质属木的，都入足厥阴肝经和足少阳胆经（肝与胆相表里，胆为甲木，肝为乙木）；颜色赤、味道苦、气味焦、性质属火的，都入手少阴心经和手太阳小肠经（心与小肠相表里，小肠为丙火，心为丁火）；颜色黄、味道甘、气味香、性质属土的，都入足太阴脾经和足阳明胃经（脾与胃相表里，胃为戊土，脾为己土）；颜色白、味道辛、气味腥、性质属金的，都入手太阴肺经和手阳明大肠经（肺与大肠相表里，大肠为庚金，肺为辛金）；颜色黑、味道咸、气味腐、性质属水的，都入足少阴肾经和足太阳膀胱经（肾与膀胱相表里，膀胱为壬水，肾为癸水。凡是一个脏配一个腑，腑皆属阳，所以用甲、丙、戊、庚、壬表示；脏皆属阴，所以用乙、丁、己、辛、癸表示）。十二经脉中，只有手厥阴心包经和手少阳三焦经没有单独的主管脏器，其经络通于足厥阴和足少阳。厥阴主血，各种入肝经血分的药，并入心包经；少阳主气，各种入胆经气分的药，并入三焦经。命门相火，散布运行于胆、三焦、心包络，所以入命门的药，并入三焦经。这是各种药物进入各经脉的部分归属。
药物有相须的，是同类而不可分离的（如黄柏、知母、破故纸、胡桃之类）；有相使的，是我的辅助药；有相恶的，是削弱我的功效的；有相畏的，是受彼药制约的；有相反的，是两者不可合用的；有相杀的，是能制约彼药的毒性的。这是异同的含义。
肝苦于拘急（血燥导致拘急），急需吃甘味药来缓和它；肝喜疏散（木性喜欢条达舒畅），急需吃辛味药来疏散它；用辛味来补肝，用酸味来泻肝（以疏散为补，以收敛为泻）。心苦于弛缓（弛缓则神气散逸），急需吃酸味药来收敛它；心欲软坚，急需吃咸味药来软坚；用咸味来补心（按：水能克火，但心向下交于肾称为补，取水火既济的含义），用甘味来泻心。脾苦于湿邪，急需吃苦味药来燥湿；脾欲舒缓（舒和），急需吃甘味药来缓急；用甘味来补脾，用苦味来泻脾。肺苦于气上逆（火旺克金），急需吃苦味药来泻肺；肺欲收敛，急需吃酸味药来收敛；用酸味来补肺，用辛味来宣泄肺气。肾苦于燥，急需吃辛味药来润燥；肾欲坚固（坚固则无狂荡之患），急需吃苦味药来坚阴；用苦味来补肾，用咸味来泻肾。这是五脏补泻的含义。
风邪淫溢于体内，用辛凉药治疗，辅以苦甘药，用甘味药来缓急，用辛味药来疏散（风属木，辛属金，金能胜木，所以用辛凉治疗。过用辛味恐怕损伤真气，所以辅以苦甘，苦能胜辛，甘能益气。木性急躁，所以用甘味来缓和。木喜条达，所以用辛味来疏散）。热邪淫溢于体内，用咸寒药治疗，辅以苦甘药，用酸味药来收敛，用苦味药来发散（水胜火，所以用咸寒治疗。甘能胜咸，辅助是为了防止过度，必须用甘苦，是为了防止咸味过度，而又以苦味泻热气、佐助实邪。热邪淫溢所以用酸味收敛，热邪结聚所以用苦味发散）。湿邪淫溢于体内，用苦热药治疗，辅以酸淡药，用苦味药来燥湿，用淡味药来泄浊（湿为土气，苦热都能燥湿，淡能利窍渗湿，用酸味是因为木能制土）。火邪淫溢于体内，用咸冷药治疗，辅以苦辛药，用酸味药来收敛，用苦味药来发散（相火畏惧火邪，所以用咸冷治疗。辛能滋润，酸能收敛，苦能泄热，或者顺从其性而升发它）。燥邪淫溢于体内，用苦温药治疗，辅以甘辛药，用苦味药来下行（燥属金，苦属火，火能胜金，所以用苦温。甘能缓，辛能润，苦能下，所以作为辅助）。寒邪淫溢于体内，用甘热药治疗，辅以苦辛药，用咸味药来泻下，用辛味药来润燥，用苦味药来坚阴（土能制水，热能胜寒，所以用甘热治疗。苦而辛，也是热性药。伤寒内有热者，用咸味来泻下。内燥者，用辛味来润燥。苦能泻热而坚肾，泻中有补）。这是六淫主治各有适宜之处，所以药性应当明确，施用贵在审慎。
人的五脏对应五行，金、木、水、火、土，子母相生。医经说：虚证则补其母，实证则泻其子。又说：子能令母实。如肾为肝之母，心为肝之子，所以入肝经的药，也并入肾与心经；肝为心之母，脾为心之子，所以入心经的药，也并入肝与脾经；心为脾之母，肺为脾之子，所以入脾经的药，也并入心与肺经；脾为肺之母，肾为肺之子，所以入肺经的药，也并入脾与肾经；肺为肾之母，肝为肾之子，所以入肾经的药，也并入肺与肝经。这是五行相生，子母相应的含义。
酸味伤筋（收敛则筋缩），辛味能胜酸味；苦味伤气（苦能泻气），咸味能胜苦味；甘味伤肉，酸味能胜甘味；辛味伤皮毛（疏散腠理），苦味能胜辛味；咸味伤血（咸能渗泄津液），甘味能胜咸味。这是五行相克的含义。
酸味走筋，筋病不要多吃酸味，筋得到酸味，则拘挛收引会更加严重。苦味走骨，骨病不要多吃苦味；骨得到苦味，则阴气更加沉重而难以举动。甘味走肉，肉病不要多吃甘味，肉得到甘味，则壅滞气机、肢体肿胀会更加严重。辛味走气，气病不要多吃辛味，气得到辛味，则发散而更加虚弱。咸味走血，血病不要多吃咸味，血得到咸味，则凝涩而口渴（咸能渗泄津液）。这是五种病症所禁忌的饮食。
多吃咸味，则血脉凝涩而变色（脉即血，心合脉，水克水）。多吃苦味，则皮肤枯槁而毛发脱落（肺合皮毛，火克金）。多吃辛味，则筋脉拘急而指甲枯败（肝合筋，爪为筋之余。因金克木，按肝喜散，所以辛能补肝，惟独过多则为害）。多吃酸味，则肌肉厚硬而嘴唇揭起（脾合肉，其华在唇，水克土，胝音支，指皮厚）。多吃甘味，则骨痛而头发脱落（肾合骨，其华在发，土克水）。这是五味所造成的伤害。
药物作为物品，各有形、性、气、质。它们进入各经脉，有的因为形状相似（如连翘似心而入心经，荔枝核似睾丸而入肾经之类）；有的因为性质相从（如属木的入肝，属水的入肾；润的走血分，燥的入气分；本乎天的亲上，本乎地的亲下之类）；有的因为气味相求（如气香的入脾，气焦的入心之类）；有的因为质地相同（如药头入头部，药干入身躯，药枝入四肢，药皮行于皮肤。又如红花、苏木，汁液像血而入血分之类），这是自然的道理，可以意会得知。
药物有以形状命名的，如人参、狗脊之类；有以颜色命名的，如黄连、黑参之类；有以气味命名的，如藿香、香薷之类；有以味道命名的，如甘草、苦参之类；有以质地命名的，如石膏、石脂、当归身、当归尾之类；有以时节命名的，如夏枯草、款冬花之类；有以功效命名的，如何首乌、骨碎补之类。
凡是药物用火炮制的有四类：炒、煨、炙、炒；用水炮制的有三类：浸、泡、洗；水火共同炮制的有两类：蒸、煮。用酒炮制能升提，用姜炮制能温散；用盐炮制能走肾而软坚，用醋炮制能注肝而收敛；用童便炮制，能去除劣性而降下；用米泔水炮制，能去除燥性而和中；用乳汁炮制能润枯生血，用蜂蜜炮制能甘缓益元；用陈壁土炮制，借土气以补中州；用面粉包裹曲制，能抑制酷性不伤上膈；用黑豆、甘草汤浸泡，能解毒使之平和；用羊酥、猪脂涂烧，能渗入骨中容易脆断；去掉瓤的避免胀气，去掉心的消除烦闷，这些炮制方法各有适宜之处。
药物的效用，如果地道不真（产地不正），则优劣迥然不同；如果市肆装饰伪造，则气味完全违背；如果采收不是时候，则良莠质地各异；如果头尾误用，则呼应不灵验；如果炮制不精细，则功力大减。使用者如果不加考察，反而归咎于药物无效。这就好比军队不精练，却想以此扫荡敌寇，结果只会导致全军覆没。从事医疗的人，怎么可以忽视呢！
《千金方》说：凡是药物必须经过整治、择选、熬煮、浸泡完毕，然后称量使用。不得生秤，湿润的药物都要先增加分量，干燥后再称量。
All medicines with a sour taste belong to Wood and enter the Liver Meridian; those with a bitter taste belong to Fire and enter the Heart Meridian; those with a sweet taste belong to Earth and enter the Spleen Meridian; those with a pungent taste belong to Metal and enter the Lung Meridian; those with a salty taste belong to Water and enter the Kidney Meridian. This is the meaning of the Five Flavors (Wu Wei).
All medicines with a green color belong to Wood and enter the Liver Meridian; those with a red color belong to Fire and enter the Heart Meridian; those with a yellow color belong to Earth and enter the Spleen Meridian; those with a white color belong to Metal and enter the Lung Meridian; those with a black color belong to Water and enter the Kidney Meridian. This is the meaning of the Five Colors (Wu Se).
Medicines with a sour taste have the functions of astringency and consolidation; those with a bitter taste have the functions of purgation, drying dampness, and solidifying Yin; those with a sweet taste have the functions of tonification, harmonization, and moderation; those with a pungent taste have the functions of dispersion, moistening, and horizontal movement; those with a salty taste have the functions of descending and softening hardness; those with a bland taste have the functions of opening orifices and leaching out dampness. This is the application of the Five Flavors.
The cold, hot, warm, and cool properties of medicines constitute their Qi (Thermal Nature); the sour, bitter, sweet, pungent, and salty tastes constitute their Wei (Flavor). Qi belongs to Yang, and Wei belongs to Yin. Strong Qi represents Yang within Yang, while weak Qi represents Yin within Yang; strong Wei represents Yin within Yin, while weak Wei represents Yang within Yin. Weak Qi leads to exfoliation (dispersal), while strong Qi generates heat (warming and drying); strong Wei leads to purgation (descending), while weak Wei leads to unblocking (opening orifices and leaching dampness). Pungent and sweet flavors disperse and belong to Yang; sour and bitter flavors induce vomiting or purgation and belong to Yin; salty flavor induces vomiting or purgation and belongs to Yin; bland flavor leaches and drains and belongs to Yang. Light and clear substances rise and float, belonging to Yang; heavy and turbid substances sink and descend, belonging to Yin. Yang Qi exits through the upper orifices, while Yin flavors exit through the lower orifices. Clear Yang disperses into the interstices (Cou Li), while turbid Yin travels to the Zang organs. Clear Yang fills the four limbs, while turbid Yin returns to the Fu organs. This is the meaning of Yin and Yang.
Medicines that are light and void tend to float and rise; those that are heavy and solid tend to sink and descend. Medicines with weak Wei rise and generate (resembling Spring); those with weak Qi descend and harvest (resembling Autumn); those with strong Qi float and grow (resembling Summer); those with strong Wei sink and store (resembling Winter); those with neutral Wei transform and mature (resembling Earth). Medicines with strong Qi and weak Wei float and rise; those with strong Wei and weak Qi sink and descend; those with both strong Qi and Wei can both float and sink; those with both weak Qi and Wei can both rise and descend. Sour and salty flavors do not rise; pungent and sweet flavors do not descend; cold-natured medicines do not float; hot-natured medicines do not sink. This is the meaning of ascending, descending, floating, and sinking. (Li Shizhen said: Ascending drugs guided by salty-cold substances sink and reach directly to the Lower Jiao; sinking drugs guided by wine float and reach the crown of the head. Within a single drug, there are roots that ascend and tips that descend, or raw forms that ascend and cooked forms that descend. Thus, ascending and descending depend on both the substance and human application.)
For the roots of medicines in the soil, the part above ground tends to ascend, and the part below ground tends to descend (the part sprouting above is called the root, and the part entering the soil is called the tip/shao. For disorders of the Upper Jiao, use the root; for the Lower Jiao, use the tip; for the upper half of the body, use the head/top; for the Middle Jiao, use the body/stem; for the lower half of the body, use the tip/shao. Although it is one drug, the root and tip are distinct; if used incorrectly, the administration will be ineffective). Medicines that are branches reach the four limbs; those that are bark reach the skin; those that are heartwood or trunk travel internally to the Zang-Fu organs. Substances that are light enter the Heart and Lung meridians; those that are heavy enter the Liver and Kidney meridians. Hollow substances release the exterior; solid internal substances attack the interior. Dry substances enter the Qi level; moist substances enter the Blood level. This illustrates how the upper, lower, interior, and exterior follow their respective categories.
Medicines that are green in color, sour in taste, fishy in odor, and Wood-natured all enter the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian and Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian (Liver and Gallbladder are interior-exteriorly related; Gallbladder is Jia Wood, Liver is Yi Wood); those that are red in color, bitter in taste, scorched in odor, and Fire-natured all enter the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian and Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian (Heart and Small Intestine are interior-exteriorly related; Small Intestine is Bing Fire, Heart is Ding Fire); those that are yellow in color, sweet in taste, fragrant in odor, and Earth-natured all enter the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian and Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian (Spleen and Stomach are interior-exteriorly related; Stomach is Wu Earth, Spleen is Ji Earth); those that are white in color, pungent in taste, fishy in odor, and Metal-natured all enter the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian (Lung and Large Intestine are interior-exteriorly related; Large Intestine is Geng Metal, Lung is Xin Metal); those that are black in color, salty in taste, putrid in odor, and Water-natured all enter the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian and Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian (Kidney and Bladder are interior-exteriorly related; Bladder is Ren Water, Kidney is Gui Water. Generally, one Zang pairs with one Fu; all Fu are Yang, hence Jia, Bing, Wu, Geng, Ren; all Zang are Yin, hence Yi, Ding, Ji, Xin, Gui). Among the Twelve Meridians, only the Hand-Jueyin Pericardium Meridian and Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian have no specific Zang organ they govern exclusively; their meridians connect to the Foot-Jueyin and Foot-Shaoyang. Jueyin governs Blood; thus, drugs entering the Liver Meridian's Blood level also enter the Pericardium. Shaoyang governs Qi; thus, drugs entering the Gallbladder Meridian's Qi level also enter the Sanjiao. Mingmen Ministerial Fire scatters and circulates in the Gallbladder, Sanjiao, and Pericardium Luo; therefore, drugs entering Mingmen also enter the Sanjiao. This describes the distribution of drugs into various meridians.
Drugs have mutual requirements (Xiang Xu), which are similar and inseparable (such as Huangbai [Phellodendron Bark], Zhimu [Anemarrhena Rhizome], Pogostemonis Herba [Huoxiang], and Juglans Semen [Walnut]); they have mutual assistance (Xiang Shi), which are my assistants; they have mutual aversion (Xiang E), which diminish my efficacy; they have mutual fear (Xiang Wei), which are controlled by other drugs; they have mutual incompatibility (Xiang Fan), which cannot be combined; they have mutual detoxification (Xiang Sha), which control the toxicity of other drugs. This is the meaning of similarities and differences.
The Liver suffers from tension (due to blood dryness causing tension); urgently eat sweet flavors to moderate it. The Liver desires dispersion (Wood likes free flow); urgently eat pungent flavors to disperse it. Use pungent to tonify, and sour to drain (dispersion is tonification, astringency is draining). The Heart suffers from flaccidity (flaccidity leads to scattering); urgently eat sour flavors to consolidate it. The Heart desires softening; urgently eat salty flavors to soften it. Use salty to tonify (Note: Water overcomes Fire, but when the Heart descends to interact with the Kidney, it is considered tonification, taking the meaning of Mutual Completion); use sweet to drain. The Spleen suffers from dampness; urgently eat bitter flavors to dry it. The Spleen desires relaxation (comfort and harmony); urgently eat sweet flavors to moderate it. Use sweet to tonify, and bitter to drain. The Lung suffers from rebellious Qi (Fire overwhelming Metal); urgently eat bitter flavors to drain it. The Lung desires consolidation; urgently eat sour flavors to consolidate it. Use sour to tonify, and pungent to vent. The Kidney suffers from dryness; urgently eat pungent flavors to moisten it. The Kidney desires firmness (firmness prevents mania); urgently eat bitter flavors to firm it. Use bitter to tonify, and salty to drain. This is the meaning of tonification and draining of the Five Zang organs.
When Wind pathogen overwhelms the interior, treat with pungent-cool herbs, assist with bitter-sweet herbs, use sweet to moderate, and pungent to disperse (Wind belongs to Wood, Pungent belongs to Metal, Metal overcomes Wood, hence treat with pungent-cool. Excessive pungency may damage True Qi, hence assist with bitter-sweet; Bitter overcomes Pungent, Sweet boosts Qi. Wood nature is urgent, hence use Sweet to moderate. Wood likes free flow, hence use Pungent to disperse). When Heat pathogen overwhelms the interior, treat with salty-cold herbs, assist with bitter-sweet herbs, use sour to consolidate, and bitter to disperse (Water overcomes Fire, hence treat with salty-cold. Sweet overcomes Salty; assisting prevents excess. Bitter and Sweet are necessary to prevent excessive Salty, and to drain heat qi. Heat overwhelm requires Sour consolidation; Heat knot requires Bitter dispersal). When Dampness pathogen overwhelms the interior, treat with bitter-hot herbs, assist with sour-bland herbs, use bitter to dry, and bland to drain (Dampness is Earth qi; Bitter-Hot both dry dampness; Bland opens orifices and leaches dampness. Sour is used because Wood controls Earth). When Fire pathogen overwhelms the interior, treat with salty-cold herbs, assist with bitter-pungent herbs, use sour to consolidate, and bitter to disperse (Ministerial Fire fears Fire, hence treat with salty-cold. Pungent moistens, Sour consolidates, Bitter drains heat, or follows its nature to ascend and disperse). When Dryness pathogen overwhelms the interior, treat with bitter-warm herbs, assist with sweet-pungent herbs, use bitter to descend (Dryness belongs to Metal, Bitter belongs to Fire, Fire overcomes Metal, hence treat with bitter-warm. Sweet moderates, Pungent moistens, Bitter descends, hence used as assistance). When Cold pathogen overwhelms the interior, treat with sweet-hot herbs, assist with bitter-pungent herbs, use salty to drain, pungent to moisten, and bitter to firm (Earth controls Water, Heat overcomes Cold, hence treat with sweet-hot. Bitter and Pungent are also hot substances. For Cold injury with internal heat, use salty to drain. For internal dryness, use pungent to moisten. Bitter drains heat and firms the Kidney; draining contains tonification). These six types of pathogenic factors each have appropriate treatments; thus, drug properties must be clear, and application must be prudent.
The Five Zang organs of humans correspond to the Five Elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, generating each other as Mother and Child. The Classics state: Deficiency should be treated by tonifying the Mother; Excess should be treated by draining the Child. It also states: The Child can make the Mother full. For example, Kidney is the Mother of Liver, Heart is the Child of Liver; thus, drugs entering the Liver Meridian also enter the Kidney and Heart. Liver is the Mother of Heart, Spleen is the Child of Heart; thus, drugs entering the Heart Meridian also enter the Liver and Spleen. Heart is the Mother of Spleen, Lung is the Child of Spleen; thus, drugs entering the Spleen Meridian also enter the Heart and Lung. Spleen is the Mother of Lung, Kidney is the Child of Lung; thus, drugs entering the Lung Meridian also enter the Spleen and Kidney. Lung is the Mother of Kidney, Liver is the Child of Kidney; thus, drugs entering the Kidney Meridian also enter the Lung and Liver. This is the meaning of the generation of the Five Elements and the correspondence of Mother and Child.
Sour damages sinews (astringency causes contraction), Pungent overcomes Sour; Bitter damages Qi (Bitter drains Qi), Salty overcomes Bitter; Sweet damages flesh, Sour overcomes Sweet; Pungent damages skin and hair (disperses Cou Li), Bitter overcomes Pungent; Salty damages Blood (Salty leaches fluids), Sweet overcomes Salty. This is the meaning of the overcoming of the Five Elements.
Sour travels to sinews; in sinew diseases, do not consume much sour. Sinews receiving Sour become more contracted and drawn in. Bitter travels to bones; in bone diseases, do not consume much bitter. Bones receiving Bitter become heavier with Yin and difficult to lift. Sweet travels to flesh; in flesh diseases, do not consume much sweet. Flesh receiving Sweet becomes congested with Qi and swollen. Pungent travels to Qi; in Qi diseases, do not consume much Pungent. Qi receiving Pungent becomes scattered and more deficient. Salty travels to Blood; in Blood diseases, do not consume much Salty. Blood receiving Salty becomes stagnant and causes thirst (Salty leaches body fluids). These are the prohibitions for the five diseases.
Excessive consumption of Salty causes vessels to stagnate and change color (Vessels are Blood; Heart governs Vessels; Water overcomes Water). Excessive consumption of Bitter causes skin to wither and hair to fall out (Lung governs skin and hair; Fire overcomes Metal). Excessive consumption of Pungent causes sinews to tighten and nails to wither (Liver governs sinews; nails are the surplus of sinews. Metal overcomes Wood; although Liver likes dispersion and Pungent can tonify Liver, excess is harmful). Excessive consumption of Sour causes flesh to thicken and lips to peel (Spleen governs flesh; its luster is in the lips; Water overcomes Earth). Excessive consumption of Sweet causes bone pain and hair loss (Kidney governs bones; its luster is in hair; Earth overcomes Water). These are the injuries caused by the Five Flavors.
Medicines, as substances, each have shape, nature, odor, and quality. Their entry into various meridians occurs due to similar shapes (e.g., Lonicerae Flos resembles the Heart and enters the Heart; Lychee seed resembles testicles and enters the Kidney); due to following natures (e.g., Wood-natured enter Liver, Water-natured enter Kidney; Moist ones go to Blood level, Dry ones enter Qi level; Those originating from Heaven亲近 the Upper, those originating from Earth亲近 the Lower); due to seeking odors (e.g., Fragrant ones enter Spleen, Scorched ones enter Heart); due to identical qualities (e.g., Drug heads enter the head, stems enter the body, branches enter limbs, barks act on skin. Also, Carthami Flos and Sappanwood have juice resembling Blood and enter the Blood level). This is natural logic, which can be understood intuitively.
Some drugs are named by shape, such as Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen) and Cibotii Rhizoma (Gouji); some by color, such as Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian) and Black Ginseng (Heishen); some by odor, such as Agastache Herba (Huoxiang) and Moslae Herba (Xiangru); some by taste, such as Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao) and Sophorae Flavescentis Radix (Kushen); some by quality, such as Gypsum Fibrosum (Shigao), Kaolin (Shizhi), Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Guishen), and Angelicae Sinensis Caulis (Guiwei); some by season, such as Prunella Spica (Xiakucao) and Heteropappus Herba (Kuandonghua); some by function, such as Polygoni Multiflori Radix (Heshouwu) and Drynariae Rhizoma (Gusuibu).
There are four fire-processing methods: frying, baking, roasting, and stir-frying; three water-processing methods: soaking, steeping, and washing; two water-fire processing methods: steaming and boiling. Wine processing promotes ascending and lifting; ginger processing promotes warming and dispersing; salt processing directs to the Kidney and softens hardness; vinegar processing directs to the Liver and astringes; child urine processing removes inferior properties and promotes descending; rice wash water processing removes dryness and harmonizes the middle; milk processing moistens dryness and generates Blood; honey processing adds sweetness, moderates, and benefits Yuan Qi; old wall earth processing borrows Earth Qi to tonify the Middle Jiao; flour wrapping and fermentation processing suppresses harsh properties to avoid injuring the Upper Jiao; soaking in black bean and Licorice decoction detoxifies and makes the drug mild; coating with sheep suet or pig fat and roasting allows penetration into bones for easy fragmentation; removing the pith avoids bloating; removing the heart eliminates irritability. These processing methods each have their appropriateness.
The efficacy of drugs depends on authenticity; if the origin is not genuine, good and bad differ greatly. If markets fake them, the odor and taste are completely wrong. If harvested at the wrong time, quality varies. If head and tail are used incorrectly, efficacy is poor. If processing is imprecise, power is greatly reduced. Users who fail to investigate blame the drugs for ineffectiveness. This is like an untrained army trying to defeat enemies, resulting in total defeat. Medical practitioners should not neglect this!
The *Qianjin Fang* states: All drugs must be processed, selected, boiled, and soaked before weighing. Do not weigh raw materials. Wet drugs must have their weight increased initially, and weighed only after drying.