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The *Ling Shu: Bing Neng Lun* (Chapter on Disease Capabilities) states: Some people feel uneasy when lying down. Why is this? Qibo replied: If the internal organs are injured and the essence (*Jing*) is dissipated, one will sleep restlessly. Therefore, one cannot arbitrarily guess the cause of the disease. (Explanation: Those who sleep restlessly suffer from injury to organ qi and depletion of essence. The five zang organs belong to Yin and store their respective essences. If organ injury leads to essence depletion, sleep becomes restless. Essence must be securely stored within its respective zang organ without loss for sleep to be peaceful. "Ji" (to entrust/store) implies "cang" (to store). For example, the Liver stores the Hun (Ethereal Soul), and the Lung stores the Po (Corporeal Soul). In cases of restless sleep, blood fails to return to the Liver, and the Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) fails to enter the Yin aspect. This is why one cannot arbitrarily deduce the pathology. "Xuan" means severed or disconnected.)

Some people cannot lie on their backs. Why is this? (Referring to the inability to assume a supine position.) The Lung is the canopy of the zang organs. (Positioned high and spreading like leaves, covering the other four zang organs below, thus the Lung is called the canopy of the zang organs.) When Lung Qi is excessive, the pulse becomes large; when the pulse is large, one cannot lie on the back. (When pathogenic Qi in the Lung is excessive and flows vigorously, causing rapid breathing and panting, one cannot lie on the back.)

Some people exhibit anger and mania. How does this disease arise? It arises from Yang. (Anger disregarding consequences is termed mania.) Yang Qi, due to sudden frustration and difficulty in resolution, tends toward anger. This disease is named Yang Jue (Yang Reversal). (Meaning that Yang Qi is suppressed and stagnant, unable to disperse, or due to sudden emotional blockage, all resulting from extreme Yang reversal and agitation, hence named Yang Jue.) How should it be treated? By restricting their food intake. Food enters to nourish Yin but generates Yang Qi; therefore, restricting food intake will cure the disease. (Less food leads to less Qi generation; thus, dietary restriction allows the disease to resolve itself.) Have them drink a preparation made of Sheng Tie Luo (Iron Filings). Sheng Tie Luo acts rapidly to direct Qi downward. (Symbolizing the use of Metal to subdue Wood/Liver.)

The *Ling Shu: Qi Bing Lun* (Chapter on Rare Diseases) states: A pregnant woman loses her voice in the ninth month. What is the reason? (Chong Shen refers to being pregnant, literally "body within a body." Yin refers to aphonia or inability to speak. In the ninth month of pregnancy, the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian nourishes the fetus.) The collateral vessels of the Bao (Uterus) are obstructed. (Jue here means obstruction of the vessel flow preventing speech, not the severance of congenital True Qi.) The Bao collaterals connect to the Kidney and the Foot-Shaoyin Meridian, penetrate the Kidney, and attach to the root of the tongue; hence, the inability to speak. (Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. Qi fails to nourish the tongue, resulting in aphonia.) No treatment is required. Speech will recover after the tenth month. (After delivery at ten months, the Bao collaterals reopen, and the Kidney Meridian ascends to nourish the tongue root. Thus, normal function returns.) Do not damage the deficient Zheng Qi (Upright Qi), nor tonify the excess pathogenic factors, lest you create a chronic condition. (Zhen here refers to a chronic, entrenched disease resulting from improper treatment contrary to standard principles, potentially leading to retained fetal death.)

Someone suffers from headache that persists for years. How did they acquire it? What is the name of this disease? (Headache should not persist for months or years without resolution, prompting this inquiry.) It stems from severe Cold contracted in that month, which penetrated inward to the Marrow. Marrow is governed by the Brain. Reverse flow from the Brain causes headache, and the teeth also hurt. (The Brain governs Marrow; teeth are the surplus of bone. Brain reverse flow invading Cold affects the bones, causing both headache and toothache.) This disease is named Jue Ni (Reversal Counterflow). (Humans develop the Brain first; where there is Brain, there is Marrow. Teeth are the root of bone.)

Someone complains of a sweet taste in the mouth. What is this disease called? How is it acquired? This is an overflow of the Five Qi, named Pi Dan (Spleen Heat/Dysentery). (Dan refers to Heat. Spleen Heat transmits to the other four zang organs, causing an overflow of Qi from all five zang. The sweet taste arises from Spleen Heat, hence Pi Dan.) The five flavors enter the mouth and are stored in the Stomach; the Spleen transforms and transports them. Their essence, Qi, and fluids remain in the Spleen, causing the sensation of sweetness in the mouth. (Spleen Heat infiltrates internally; fluids stagnate in the Spleen. Residual Qi from grain digestion in the Stomach overflows with the essence. The mouth connects to Spleen Qi, hence the sweet taste. Fluids stagnating in the Spleen constitute Spleen dampness/fluids.) This results from consuming rich and fatty foods. Such individuals likely consume frequent amounts of sweet, delicious, and fatty foods. Fatty foods generate internal heat; sweet foods cause fullness in the middle jiao. Consequently, Qi overflows upward, transforming into Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst). (Consuming fat closes the pores tightly, preventing Yang Qi from dispersing outward, thus causing internal heat. Sweet foods have a mild nature but can disrupt dispersion, causing middle jiao fullness. Internal heat causes Yang Qi to flare upward, leading to thirst and dry throat; middle jiao fullness indicates excess stale Qi. Excess Qi causes Spleen Qi to overflow upward, hence transforming into Wasting-Thirst.) Treat with Lan Cao (Orchid Grass) to eliminate stale Qi. (Lan refers to Orchid Grass. It eliminates the stale Qi generated by indigestible sweet and fatty foods, as pungent flavors promote dispersion.)

Someone has a bitter taste in the mouth; treat with Yanglingquan (GB34). What is the disease causing bitterness in the mouth? How is it acquired? This disease is named Dan Dan (Gallbladder Heat). (Also referring to Heat. Bile tastes bitter, hence the bitter mouth.) The Liver is the General of the interior. Decisions depend on the Gallbladder. The pharynx serves as the envoy. (The Liver is the organ of the General, where planning originates. The Gallbladder is the organ of Justice, where decision-making originates. The Liver and Gallbladder are interior-exterior paired with connected Qi properties; thus, plans depend on Gallbladder decisions. The pharynx corresponds to the Gallbladder, serving as its pathway.) Such individuals often deliberate without deciding, leading to Gallbladder deficiency and Qi reflux, causing bitterness. Treatment involves the Mu (Alarm) and Shu (Transport) points of the Gallbladder. (Mu points are located on the abdomen; Shu points are on the back. The Gallbladder Mu point, Jimen (LR14), is two ribs lateral to the nipple, below Qimen (LR14), 5 cun from the midline. The Gallbladder Shu point, Danshu (BL19), is below the spinous process of the 10th thoracic vertebra, 1.5 cun lateral to the spine.)

Someone suffers from Long (difficulty urinating) and urinates dozens of times a day; this indicates deficiency. The body feels hot like charcoal, the neck and chest feel obstructed or rejected, the Renying (ST9) pulse is agitated and vigorous, accompanied by wheezing and counterflow Qi; this indicates excess. (This is excessive Yang Qi on the exterior and insufficient Yin Qi, manifesting as excess.) The Taiyin (Lung) pulse is fine and thread-like like hair; this indicates deficiency. Where is the disease located? What is its name? (Long refers to urinary retention. Sou refers to urination. Neck and chest feeling like rejection implies discomfort and lack of compliance between the neck and chest. Renying agitation refers to the pulsation at the sides of the larynx being full, rapid, and very agitated; this is the Stomach Meridian pulse. The Taiyin pulse fine as hair refers to the pulse at the bony prominence one cun posterior to the thumb, representing the Lung Meridian. This is the flow of Hand-Taiyin Qi and can reflect the state of the five zang organs.) The disease is in Taiyin, its excess is in the Stomach, and it significantly involves the Lung. The disease is named Jue (Reversal), which is a fatal and untreatable condition. (Symptoms of frequent urination, body heat like charcoal, neck/chest obstruction, and wheezing/counterflow Qi should present with a洪大 (surging-large) and rapid Taiyin pulse. However, the Taiyin pulse is instead micro-fine like hair, indicating a contradiction between syndrome and pulse. Why? Lung Qi reverses and overwhelms the Stomach, causing upper Renying agitation; thus, disease in Taiyin manifests as excess in Stomach. Due to wheezing and counterflow Qi, it also involves the Lung. The etiology is Qi reversal, and the syndrome contradicts the pulse; hence named Jue, a fatal untreatable case.) This is referred to as "Five Excesses and Two Deficiencies." The Five Excesses refer to excess in five pathological aspects. The Two Deficiencies refer to insufficiency in pathological Qi. Currently, there are five excesses externally and two deficiencies internally. This condition is neither purely exterior nor interior, making death evident. (The five external excesses are: 1. Body heat like charcoal, 2. Neck/chest obstruction, 3. Agitated Renying pulse, 4. Wheezing, 5. Counterflow Qi. The two internal deficiencies are: 1. Long/urinary frequency, 2. Micro-fine Taiyin pulse. If viewed as exterior, there are two internal deficiencies; if viewed as interior, there are five external excesses. Since neither exterior nor interior approaches allow for appropriate tonification or sedation, treatment is difficult. Hence, the condition is neither exterior nor interior, and death is certain.)

Some are born with Dian Ji (Epilepsy/Mental Disorder). What is this disease called? How is it acquired? (All diseases arise from wind, rain, cold, heat, yin-yang, and emotions. However, if Dian Ji exists before exposure to pathogens, it is not due to external invasion. Dian refers to the vertex of the head.) This disease is named Tai Bing (Fetal Disease), acquired while in the womb. At that time, the mother experienced severe fright. Qi rushed upward and failed to descend; Jing and Qi accumulated above, causing the child to develop Dian Ji. (Jing Qi here refers to Yang Jing Qi. Infants born with vertex disorders have fetal diseases. During gestation, maternal severe fright caused Qi to rise and not descend, with Jing Qi accumulating superiorly, inducing epilepsy in the fetus.)