Library

The Seven Emotions (Qī Qíng) are originally formless, yet they arise from the physical body, representing the functional activity of the Shen (Spirit) of the Five Zang Organs, and reside within the fluctuations of Qi and Blood. They are present at all times. If regulated with constancy, what disease could there be? If their action is excessive, leading to mutual over-restriction and multiplication (Shèng Kè Xiāng Chéng), they become internal injuries. The pathogenic factors affecting Yuan Qi (Original Qi) originate from the deficiency and stagnation of the Five Zang Organs; if not expelled, they transform into excess conditions. Disaster arises from within ("Huò Qǐ Xiāo Qiáng"), stealing essence and nourishment, and harming temperament and nature. This differs from external pathogens that first enter gradually through the skin and hair, merely damaging the body's Qi and Blood. For example, excessive joy injures the Heart, causing the Shen to float and Lung Qi to scatter. The *Classic* states: "Sudden joy injures Yang." The *Ling Shu* states: "Unrestrained joy injures the Po." Excessive anger injures the Liver, causing the Hun to fly and essence to scatter. The *Classic* states: "Sudden anger injures Yin." Excessive worry injures the Yi (Intellect/Thought), causing Qi stagnation and spiritual decline. The *Classic* states: "Even without invasion by evil pathogens, diseases arise from within, named 'Tuo Ying' (Depletion of Camp)." The *Ling Shu* states: "Unresolved worry injures the Yi." Excessive thinking injures the Spleen, causing depression of thought and fatigue; excessive daytime thinking injures Yang, and excessive nighttime thinking injures Yin. The *Classic* states: "Thinking causes the mind to retain focus and the Shen to return, so Zheng Qi (Upright Qi) remains stagnant and does not move, thus Qi becomes knotted." The *Ling Shu* states: "Fear and apprehension injure the Shen." Excessive grief causes rapid breathing and chaotic Shen, extreme hyperactivity of Fire, which may manifest with Water characteristics, causing all five fluids to discharge. The *Ling Shu* states: "Grief moving internally injures the Hun." Fear similarly injures the Kidney, causing essence to retreat and Qi to sink. The *Ling Shu* states: "Unresolved fear injures Essence." Shock causes Qi to become chaotic. The *Classic* states: "Shock leaves the Heart without support, the Shen without a home, and thoughts without certainty, thus Qi becomes chaotic." However, people only know that shock injures the Heart, not realizing that all Five Zang Organs can be injured. Since all Five Zang Organs store the Shen, and Shen refers to vacuous, spiritual transformation, it is not rigid and ignorant. Moreover, human Qi and Blood circulate ceaselessly day and night. Wherever Qi and Blood reach, if touched by shock, True Qi will dissipate, resulting in deficiency diseases. If Qi and Blood become disordered, leading to rebellion and stagnation, excess syndromes result. Excess pertains to the mechanism of disease; deficiency pertains to Zheng Qi. For instance, if shock occurs during sexual intercourse, the injury is in the Kidney; if shock occurs during eating, the injury is in the Stomach, and so on. The reason shock Qi enters the Heart first is because the Heart governs the Shen. The reason it involves other organs alongside other symptoms is because formless shock Qi disperses easily, while tangible diseases are difficult to eliminate. Understanding this clarifies that diseases arising internally from the Seven Emotions differ from evils invading externally from the Six Evils (Liú Yín). Although the naming of hundred diseases is complex, it does not exceed the interactions and transmission variations involving Yin-Yang, Five Elements, generation and restriction, Six Evils, Seven Emotions, Five Fires, and dietary irregularities and fatigue. As stated in the *Classic*: "He who knows the essentials concludes in one word; he who does not know the essentials wanders infinitely." This is what is meant.