《脉要精微论》曰∶诊法常以平旦，阴气末动，阳气末散，饮食未迸，经脉未盛，络脉调匀，气血
未乱，乃可诊有过之脉。（营卫之气，昼则行阳，夜则行阴，至平旦皆会于寸口，故诊脉以平旦为常。
阴气正平而未动，阳气将盛而未散，饮食未进，虚实易明，经脉未盛，络脉调匀，血气未因动而作
扰乱，乃可诊有过之脉。过者，病也。）夫脉者，血之府也。（府，聚也。言血之多少皆聚见于经脉
之中，故曰∶脉实血实，脉虚血虚。）长则气治，短则气病；数则烦心，大则病进；（夫脉长为气
和，故治。短为不足，故病。数急为热，故烦心。大为邪盛，故病进。长脉者，往来长，短脉者，往
来短，数脉者，往来急速，大脉者，往来满大。）上盛则气高，下盛则气胀；代则气衰，细则气少，涩
则心痛。（上谓寸口，下谓尺中，盛谓盛满。代脉者，动而中止，不能自还。细脉者，动如莠蓬。涩
脉者，往来时不利，而蹇涩也。）浑浑革至如泉涌，病进而色弊；绵绵其去如弦绝，死。（浑浑，言脉
气浊乱也。革至者，言脉来弦而大而长也。如涌泉者，脉 但出而不返也。绵绵，言微微似有而不甚
应手也。如弦绝者，言卒断如弦之绝去也，如此之脉皆必死矣。）
夫五脏者，身之强也。（脏安则神守，神守则身强，故曰身之强也。）头者，精明之府，
头倾视深，精神将夺矣。背者，胸中之府，背曲肩随，府将坏矣。腰者，肾之府，转摇不能，
肾将惫也。膝者，筋之府，屈伸不能，行将偻俯，筋将惫矣。骨者，髓之府，不能久立，行则振掉，
骨将惫矣。（皆以所居所出而为之府也。）得强则生，失强则死。（强为中气强，固以镇守也。此言五脏
为身之强，而失强则死矣。）
是知阴盛则梦涉大水恐惧，（阴为水，故梦涉水而恐惧。）阳盛则梦大火燔灼，（阳为火，故梦大
火燔灼。）阴阳俱盛，则梦相杀毁伤，（亦类交争之象。）上盛则梦飞，下盛则梦坠，（气上则梦上，故
飞。气下则梦下，故坠。）甚炮则梦子，（内有余故。）甚饥则梦取，（内不足故。）肝气盛则梦
怒，（肝在志为怒。）肺气盛则梦哭，（肺声哀则梦哭。）短虫多则梦聚众，（内多短虫，神梦应象。）
长虫多则梦相击毁伤。（长虫多则内不安。神躁扰故梦是矣。）
According to the "Treatise on the Essential and Subtle Aspects of Pulse Diagnosis" (Mai Yao Jing Wei Lun): Pulse diagnosis is typically performed at dawn (Pingdan). At this time, Yin Qi (Yin Energy) has not yet stirred, Yang Qi (Yang Energy) has not yet dispersed, food and drink have not been ingested, the Jing Mai (Primary Meridians) are not yet full, the Luo Mai (Collateral Vessels) are harmonious and uniform, and the Blood and Qi are not yet disturbed. Only then can one diagnose abnormal pulses. (The Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi) and Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) circulate in the Yang aspects during the day and in the Yin aspects at night. By dawn, they both converge at the Cun Kou (Radial Artery). Therefore, pulse diagnosis is conventionally done at dawn. The Yin Qi is peaceful and unstirred; the Yang Qi is about to become abundant but has not yet dissipated; no food has been taken, making it easy to distinguish deficiency and excess; the Jing Mai are not yet full, and the Luo Mai are harmonious; the Blood and Qi are not yet disturbed by activity. Thus, pathological pulses can be diagnosed. "Guo" refers to disease.) The Mai (Vessel/Pulse) is the residence where Blood gathers. (Fu means gathering. This means that the quantity of Blood is manifested within the vessels; hence, a full pulse indicates fullness of Blood, and a deficient pulse indicates deficiency of Blood.) A long pulse indicates regulated Qi; a short pulse indicates diseased Qi; a rapid pulse indicates vexation of the heart; a large pulse indicates the progression of disease. (A long pulse reflects harmonious Qi, thus indicating health. A short pulse reflects insufficiency, thus indicating disease. A rapid and urgent pulse reflects Heat, thus causing heart vexation. A large pulse reflects an abundance of pathogenic factors, thus indicating disease progression. A long pulse moves extensively beyond its normal position; a short pulse does not reach its full length; a rapid pulse moves quickly; a large pulse is full and forceful.) Fullness in the upper part (Cun position) indicates rising Qi; fullness in the lower part (Chi position) indicates abdominal distension. A Dai pulse (Intermittent Pulse) indicates Qi depletion; a thin pulse indicates Qi scarcity; a choppy pulse indicates Heart pain. (Upper refers to the Cun Kou, lower refers to the Chi position; "full" means excessive pulse strength. The Dai pulse stops beating intermittently and cannot recover spontaneously. The thin pulse beats faintly like a weed stalk. The choppy pulse is unsmooth and hesitant in its movement.) If the pulse is turbid, chaotic, rapid, and strong like a gushing spring, the disease will progress and the complexion will deteriorate. If the pulse is faint and continuous, departing like a severed string, death ensues. ("Hunhun" describes turbid and chaotic pulse Qi. "Ge zhi" describes a pulse coming in a wiry, large, and long manner. "Like a gushing spring" means the pulse Qi flows out but does not return. "Mian mian" describes a pulse that is faint, barely perceptible. "Like a severed string" means the pulse suddenly cuts off as if a string breaks. Such pulses invariably indicate death.)
The Zang Organs (Five Viscera) are the foundation of the body's strength. (If the Zang organs are tranquil, the Shen (Spirit) remains guarded; if the Shen is guarded, the body is strong. Hence, the Zang organs are the source of bodily strength.) The head is the mansion of clarity and spirit. If the head droops and the eyes are sunken, the Spirit is about to be exhausted. The back is the mansion of the chest. If the back is curved and the shoulders sag, the mansion is about to collapse. The waist is the mansion of the Kidneys. If turning and shaking the waist is difficult, the Kidneys are about to fail. The knees are the mansion of the sinews. If flexion and extension are impossible, and walking involves stooping, the sinews are about to fail. The bones are the mansion of the marrow. If one cannot stand for long, and trembles while walking, the bones are about to fail. (These are called "mansions" based on their locations or origins.) Retaining strength leads to life; losing strength leads to death. (Strength refers to the robustness of Middle Qi, which stabilizes and guards. This states that the Zang organs provide the body's strength, and losing this strength results in death.)
From this, we know: Excess Yin leads to dreams of wading through water and feeling fear. (Yin corresponds to Water, hence dreaming of wading and fearing.) Excess Yang leads to dreams of great fire burning and scorching. (Yang corresponds to Fire, hence dreaming of burning fire.) When both Yin and Yang are in excess, one dreams of killing and injuring each other. (This is also a manifestation of conflicting interactions.) Excess Qi in the upper part leads to dreams of flying; excess Qi in the lower part leads to dreams of falling. (Qi moving upward leads to dreams of ascending, hence flying. Qi moving downward leads to dreams of descending, hence falling.) Extreme satiety leads to dreams of giving. (Internal abundance leads to this.) Extreme hunger leads to dreams of taking. (Internal deficiency leads to this.) Excess Liver Qi leads to dreams of anger. (The emotion associated with the Liver is Anger.) Excess Lung Qi leads to dreams of crying. (The sound associated with the Lung is mournful, hence dreaming of crying.) An abundance of short parasites in the body leads to dreams of gathering crowds. (Many short parasites internally cause the Spirit's dreams to reflect this image.) An abundance of long parasites in the body leads to dreams of fighting and injuring each other. (Many long parasites cause internal unrest. The agitated Spirit dreams of such scenes.)