The thought of "reinforcing earth to generate metal"derived from "five elements theory"and is the specific application of the content of generation of five elements. As time goes on

the thought has been not only discussed theoretically in Chinese medical community

but also transferred in clinical gradually. There had formed treatment rules which were relevantly mature in the Ming and Qing dynasty. Several points as follows can be concluded from many ancient doctors’ statements. The meaning of "reinforcing earth to generate metal"does not only refer to treating lung deficiency diseases using tonifying spleen therapy

but also includes some large intestine deficiency diseases. "Tonifying spleen to benefit lung"is just a part of "reinforcing earth to generate metal". "Reinforcing earth"means "regulating"and should not only mean "tonifying". The method of tonifying spleen is not limited in tonifying spleen Qi

but includes many treatments

such as warming the middle-jiao and strengthening the spleen

regulating spleen and stomach

tonifying spleen and stomach

nourishing the Yin of spleen and stomach

etc. The connotation of"reinforcing earth to generate metal"is actually to make source of Qi-blood and to make functions of organs come to normal by regulating functions of spleen and stomach

the foundation of acquired constitution. Tonifying spleen and stomach is the narrow sense of "reinforcing earth to generate metal"

while the broad sense of "reinforcing earth to generate metal"is a method using therapy of regulating spleen and stomach to improve the function of lung and intestines.