Library

Swelling of the head, Bi syndrome (obstruction) of the throat, yellow discoloration and macules on the skin, mania and confusion, delirium, tidal fever. Climbing high to shout, discarding clothes and running about, cursing without distinguishing between relatives and strangers. Whether the pathogen is in the meridians, collaterals, or the fu organs, all manifest with symptoms of excess Qi and heat in the blood. This is what Zhang Zhongjing referred to as "Shi (Excess) of the Stomach Family" (Wei Jia Shi). However, there are also cases of deficiency and cold. These must be due to the deficiency of Ministerial Fire (Xiang Huo), causing the Stomach to be timid and unable to support itself, resulting in symptoms such as shivering aversion to cold, frequent stretching and yawning, darkening of the face. Upon onset of the disease, the patient dislikes people and fire; hearing the sound of wood causes palpitations and fright; they prefer to stay alone with doors and windows closed; the anterior part of the body feels cold and trembling; there is abdominal distension due to cold in the Stomach. This is a deficiency pattern of the Yangming channel, which must not be overlooked.

In essence, the Stomach is the great master of Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) Qi, and the patriarch of the five Zang organs. When its Qi ascends and becomes abundant, the Renying (Human Welcome) pulse at the neck becomes particularly visible; when its Essence fills and descends to nourish the lower parts, the Duyang (Foot-Yang) pulse on the dorsum of the foot becomes surging and vigorous. Zhang Zhongjing, when examining diseases, always first palpates the Renying artery located on both sides of the larynx, and the Chongyang (Surging Yang) point on the dorsum of the feet, to discern the severity and prognosis of life and death. This is because the Foot-Yangming Stomach Channel and the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Channel are the foundations of Post-Heaven and Pre-Heaven, respectively. Therefore, although the Stomach belongs to the Yangming Fu organs and corresponds to Earth, it resides in the location where Ministerial Fire dwells. This location is called "Liang Yang He Ming" (The Brightness of Two Yangs). "He Ming" refers to the convergence of the Taiyang (Greater Yang) and Shaoyang (Lesser Yang) regions, combining here to create brightness. All areas traversed by the Sanjiao (Triple Burner), Shaoyang Gallbladder, and those governed by the Pericardium (Hand-Jueyin) serve the function of rotting and ripening food and water together with the Yangming Stomach. Thus, the Classic states: "Yangming corresponds to Wu (noon)." Wu is the central Qi of summer, the proper duty of Ministerial Fire, and also the combined Qi of the three Yang channels. The Fu organ's Qi is prosperous, with abundant blood and intense heat, thus responding to summer and governing Ministerial Fire. Whatever functions the Pericardium performs on behalf of the Heart to govern Ministerial Fire, its efficacy relies entirely on the Yangming Stomach. Zhang Zhongjing stated: "The manifestation of Yangming disease is Shi (Excess) of the Stomach Family." The "Shi" of the Stomach Family does not merely refer to hard stool or dryness in the Middle and Lower Jiao, nor simply to solid Yang. Rather, it signifies that the Fu organ is in a state of abundance due to the convergence of two Yangs, so that upon contracting disease, it inevitably presents as a condition of dual excess in both Qi and Blood. Therefore, whenever Stomach disease arises, its pathogenic Qi is invariably excessive. If the heat is severe, it leads to mania, malaria, dampness overflowing, sweating, epistaxis (nosebleed), and herpes labialis (lip lesions). The pulse can become significantly enlarged at the Cunkou (Inch Position), establishing a configuration where one Yang is hidden among five Yin pulses. All these phenomena occur for the reasons described above.