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The pulse at the Cun Kou (Inch Port) is faint and choppy. "Faint" indicates that the Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) is not circulating; "choppy" indicates that the Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi) is insufficient. When Ying Qi and Wei Qi cannot accompany each other, the San Jiao (Triple Burner) loses its reliance, resulting in physical numbness and bi-syndrome (obstruction). Insufficiency of Ying Qi leads to internal restlessness and pain, and difficulty in speech; deficiency of Wei Qi leads to aversion to cold and frequent yawning.

When the Qi of the San Jiao fails to return to its proper sector: if the Upper Jiao does not return, belching and acid regurgitation occur; if the Middle Jiao does not return, the ability to digest grains and guide food intake is lost; if the Lower Jiao does not return, urinary incontinence occurs.

The pulse at the Cun Kou is faint and choppy. "Faint" signifies the failure of Wei Qi to circulate properly; "choppy" signifies insufficiency of Ying Qi. Ying Qi and Wei Qi function by circulating up and down to warm and moisten the San Jiao. If both Ying and Wei are deficient and cannot move together, the San Jiao has no support, leading to physical obstruction, stagnation, and numbness.

Insufficiency of Ying Qi fails to nourish the sinews and bones, causing vexing pain and difficulty speaking; deficiency and decline of Wei Qi prevent it from assuming the command of Yang, causing aversion to cold and frequent stretching/yawning ("Yawn" refers to opening the mouth to exhale, a mutual attraction of Yin and Yang. In the evening, Yin is abundant and attracts the Yang of the Upper Jiao. Although the Yang is weak, it has not sunk; it rises as it is attracted, causing yawning. When one is about to sleep, Yang is attracted by Yin and wishes to descend but cannot, hence frequent yawning. This principle is found in *Ling Shu: Kou Wen*).

Consequently, the San Jiao loses nourishment and fails to remain in its sector: if the Yang of the Upper Jiao does not return, belching and acid regurgitation occur; if the Yang of the Middle Jiao does not return, digestion of grains and guidance of food are impaired; if the Yang of the Lower Jiao does not return, the Bladder loses its constraint, leading to enuresis. This presentation occurs because the Minister Fire of the Hand-Shaoyang San Jiao is declining.

The pulse at the Fu Yang (Foot-Yang) is floating and hollow. "Floating" indicates deficiency of Wei Qi; "hollow" indicates injury to Ying Qi. The body becomes emaciated, and the muscles appear rough and scaly (jiacuo). The combination of floating and hollow pulses indicates the decline of Zong Qi (Pectoral Qi), leading to the severance of connection among the four limbs.

The pulse at the Fu Yang is floating and hollow. "Floating" indicates deficiency of Wei Qi; "hollow" indicates injury to Ying Qi. Ying Qi and Wei Qi function to fumigate the skin, fill the body, and moisten the hair. Due to Wei Qi deficiency and Ying Qi injury, the body becomes emaciated and muscles become rough and scaly, because the decline and damage of Qi and Blood fail to nourish the tissues.

Ying and Wei are transformed from water and grain. Among the Qi and Blood produced from this transformation, the portion that gathers and does not circulate accumulates in the chest, named Zong Qi (Pectoral Qi), which penetrates the Heart and Lung to govern respiration (This principle is found in *Ling Shu*). The Heart governs Ying, and the Lung governs Wei; Zong Qi is the root of Ying and Wei. Now, the combination of floating and hollow pulses indicates that both Ying and Wei are deficient, signifying the decline of Zong Qi. In such a case, there is no capacity to nourish the four peripheries, leading to the severance of the four attachments and the loss of their foundational support. ("Hollow" refers to a pulse that is empty in the center, a diagnostic sign of blood loss.)