三阴三阳者,天之六气也。五脏六腑者,有形之五行也。胃属土,而阳明主秋令之燥。阳明者,胃之
悍气,别走阳明,犹膀胱乃津液之府,而太阳之气为巨阳,五行六气之有别也。夫两阳合明,故曰阳明,
阳盛之气也,故胃土之气柔和,(土主柔顺。)而阳明之气燥热,是以阳明得中见少阴之湿化,则阴阳相和矣。
胃土得戊癸之合,则火土之气盛矣。故阳明之气宜于和柔,胃土之气宜于强盛,如火土之气弱,而又秉太阴
之湿,则水谷不消而为虚泄矣。此宜人参、橘皮、甘草、半夏之类以助胃,白术、苍术、浓朴、茯苓、姜、
枣之类以益脾,甚者加附子以助癸中之火。若阳明悍热之气盛,而不得太阴之化,则阳与阴绝,渐能食而
瘦矣。此又宜黄连、枳实之类以抑胃, 、术、姜、枣之类以扶脾。易老、东垣以枳术丸为半补半消之法,
皆不得五行六气之理、先圣立方之意。
余于南轩临窗注书,十有余岁矣。自晨至暮,未尝离此。窗前阶砌虽小,而甚清洁,每于夏月大风雨
后,即有蜒蚰如拇指大者,蜗牛如田螺者,生长极易,此感天地之风湿而生,所谓四生中之湿生也。人
秉天地之五行六气而生,身中亦具此六气。如伤寒病在厥阴,感厥阴之风气,而蛔生于中土。盖亦因风湿
所生,一时即能长大,亦如蚰、蜗之易生易大者也。又常闻人之脏腑,与猪相似。余因见剖猪处,稍住足
观之,偶见一猪小肠内,有蛔虫长尺许,盘旋于内,与人之蛔虫无异。要知人病蛔厥作痛,或常吐蛔、便
蛔,多因脾胃湿热而生,无病之人,未常有蛔也。俗人相沿云∶胃中有蛔,故能消食。谬矣!
The Three Yin and Three Yang correspond to the Six Qi of Heaven. The Five Zang and Six Fu organs are the有形 (tangible) basis of the Five Elements. The Stomach belongs to Earth, while the Yangming channel governs the Dryness of Autumn. Yangming is the vigorous Qi of the Stomach, which branches off to the Yangming channel; this is analogous to the Bladder being the mansion of fluids, while the Qi of the Taiyang channel is called Ju Yang (Great Yang). This illustrates the distinction between the Five Elements and the Six Qi. Because two Yangs combine to illuminate, it is called Yangming, representing the Qi of extreme Yang abundance. Therefore, the Qi of Stomach Earth should be gentle and soft (Earth governs gentleness), whereas the Qi of Yangming tends toward dryness and heat. Thus, when Yangming receives the damp transformation from its interior counterpart Shaoyin, Yin and Yang achieve harmony. When Stomach Earth combines with Wu and Gui (transforming into Fire), the Qi of Fire and Earth becomes prosperous. Consequently, the Qi of Yangming should be harmonious and gentle, and the Qi of Stomach Earth should be strong and robust. If the Qi of Fire and Earth is weak and additionally influenced by the Dampness of Taiyin, water and grain will fail to digest, leading to deficiency-type diarrhea. In such cases, it is appropriate to use herbs such as Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Jupi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), and Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) to assist the Stomach, and Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex), Fuling (Poria), Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens), and Dazao (Jujubae Fructus) to benefit the Spleen. For severe cases, Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) may be added to assist the Fire within Gui. Conversely, if the vigorous and hot Qi of Yangming is excessive and cannot be transformed by Taiyin, Yang and Yin become severed, resulting in increased appetite but emaciation. In such instances, it is appropriate to use herbs such as Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) and Zhishi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus) to suppress Stomach Heat, and Baizhu, Shengjiang, and Dazao to support the Spleen. Li Dongyuan and others regarded Zhizhu Wan (Bitter Orange and Atractylodes Macrocephala Pill) as a method of half-tonifying and half-resolving, failing to grasp the principles of the Five Elements and Six Qi, and missing the intent of the ancient sages in formulating prescriptions.
I have been studying by the window at Nanxuan for over ten years. From morning till night, I have never left this spot. Although the steps before the window are small, they are kept very clean. Every summer after heavy rainstorms, creatures like thumb-sized slugs (Yanyou) and snails resembling field snails grow easily. These arise from sensing the Wind-Dampness of Heaven and Earth, known as "damp-born" among the four types of generation. Humans are born inheriting the Five Elements and Six Qi of Heaven and Earth, and our bodies also possess these Six Qi. For instance, when a Shanghan (Cold Damage) disease affects the Jueyin channel, and one contracts the Wind Qi of Jueyin, roundworms (Hui Chong) may develop in the central Earth (Spleen/Stomach). This is likely due to Wind-Dampness generating them, allowing them to grow large quickly, similar to how slugs and snails grow easily. I have often heard that human internal organs resemble those of pigs. Once, while pausing briefly at a pig-slaughtering site, I happened to observe a pig's small intestine containing a roundworm about one chi long, coiling inside, indistinguishable from human roundworms. It must be understood that when humans suffer from Hui Jue (roundworm colic) with pain, or frequently vomit or pass roundworms, it is mostly due to Damp-Heat in the Spleen and Stomach. Healthy individuals typically do not harbor roundworms. The common folk erroneously persist in the belief that having roundworms in the stomach aids digestion. This is false!