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The Pericardium (Xinbao) is identical to the Gate of Life (Mingmen). Its meridian belongs to the Hand Jueyin (Hand Shaoyin), its fu-organ is the Sanjiao (Triple Burner), and its zang-organ is the Pericardium. Its anatomical location is above the horizontal diaphragm, beneath the heart. Below the vertical and oblique diaphragms, it adheres to the horizontal membrane. The organ enveloped by yellow adipose tissue in this area is the Heart. Outside this adipose layer, fine fibrous membranes like silk connect to the Heart and Lungs; these constitute the Pericardial Collaterals.

It cooperates with the Left Kidney to store True Essence (Zhenjing), thereby distinguishing Yin and Yang between males and females.
The Gate of Life serves as an organ of formation. The Left Kidney collects blood and transforms it into essence, transporting it to be stored in the Gate of Life. Males use this to store semen, while females use it to anchor the uterus. Males prioritize Qi; when Kan Water (Kidney Water) is dominant, vaporized essence becomes white semen. If fire pathogen is present, semen may turn red. Females prioritize Blood; when Li Fire (Heart Fire) is dominant, abundant blood becomes menstruation, which is red. If phlegm-qi is involved, menstruation may appear white. Women belong to Yin; when Yin reaches its extreme, it must surge upward from below, resulting in large breasts and contracted vulva. Men belong to Yang; when Yang reaches its extreme, it must descend downward from above, resulting in hanging genitals and retracted nipples. Generally, Yang is formless, while Yin has substance. Men are internally Yang and externally Yin, with the back belonging to Yang and the abdomen to Yin. Women are internally Yin and externally Yang, with the abdomen belonging to Yang and the back to Yin. Furthermore, the Du Meridian governs in men, running from the Weili point at the tailbone to the Yinjiao point at the upper gum, so those with abundant blood feel Yang Qi and grow facial hair. The Ren Meridian governs in women, running from the lower abdomen up to the throat, thus not combining with Yang above and remaining beardless. Eunuchs who undergo castration also lack beards, following the same principle.

It assists the Ministerial Fire (Xianghuo) to sustain Yuan Qi (Original Qi); life and death in disease depend on this.
The organs of Ministerial Fire are where Original Qi resides. In any critical illness, if the Mingmai (Vital Pulse) possesses Shen (Spirit/Vitality), the patient lives; if it lacks Shen, the patient dies.

Wind invasion causes spasmodic tightness in the elbows and arms, and swelling and redness in the axilla.
The collateral branches of the Pericardium circulate through the chest, emerge from the hypochondrium, descend three cun below the axilla, ascend to reach the axilla, and then run down the medial aspect of the arm, passing between the Taiyin and Shaoyin meridians, entering the elbow, descending the arm between two tendons.

Qi stagnation causes knotting and obstruction in the chest and diaphragm, with discomfort and distension in the hypochondrium.
The Pericardium meridian originates in the chest, descends through the diaphragm, and sequentially connects with the Sanjiao. Therefore, diseases include Chest Bi (Obstruction) and Xiben (Sudden Gasping).

Heat forcing causes five-palm heat (heat in palms, soles, and chest), red eyes, excessive laughter, and difficulty in urination and defecation.
This is due to flourishing Fire.

Deficiency and fatigue cause soft limbs, dizziness, ear pain, and lack of mental acuity.
When Fire declines, Earth (Spleen) fails to transport, making the limbs feel boneless. Dizziness occurs because the Dai Mai (Girdle Vessel) from the Mingmen penetrates upward to the Nawan Palace (Brain); Yang deficiency leads to dizziness. Ear pain occurs because the Kidney opens into the ears; stagnant Qi causes pain, and severe blockage leads to deafness. Lack of mental acuity results from slow arrival of Jing (Essence) during intercourse and general weakness insufficient for respiration.

Blood deficiency causes a sallow complexion, subcardiac bleeding, and irritability.
A purplish complexion indicates no suffering in the Kidneys; a yellow-black complexion indicates Kidney decline. The Classics state: Excessive grief causes subcardiac collapse and frequent hematuria. Grief makes the Xin Mai (Heart Ties) tense, causing lung lobes to rise, blocking the Upper Jiao, preventing Ying and Wei dispersion, and trapping heat in the middle. This severs the Pericardium, causing internal Yang agitation, leading to subcardiac collapse and frequent hematuria. "Subcardiac collapse" refers to the bleeding of the flesh of the Pericardium.

Extreme cold causes impotence, limb coldness, and numbness.
Extreme Cold in Kidney Qi causes flaccidity and inability to erect the anterior yin. Disease manifests as limbs cold as ice and bone pain known as Cold Bi.

To drain, use Youyao (Linderae Radix) and Zhike (Aurantii Fructus); to tonify, always use Rongrong (Cistanche Herba) and Hulusaba (Trigonellae Semen);
along with Chenxiang (Aquilariae Lignum), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), and Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex).
To cool, use Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) and Shanzhi (Gardeniae Fructus);
along with Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) and Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix).
To warm, always use Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) and Rougui.
Along with Tanawuqi (Otocola Manlii Placenta), Chuanxiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Buguzhi (Psoraleae Fructus), and Chenxiang.

I further doubt that diseases affecting left and right ultimately return to the Bladder.
Clear urine with a deep and slow pulse indicates Cold Qi returning to the Kidney; red, scanty urine with a deep and rapid pulse indicates Heat Qi returning to the Gate of Life. The reason Mingmen and Kidney pulses are considered similar is that their pathological manifestations converge in the single fu-organ of the Bladder.

Winter and Summer Si Tian (Heavenly Stems/Earthly Branches governing seasons) distinguish Water and Fire.
The left belongs to Water and the right to Fire because the Left Chi pulse corresponds to the Bladder storing Kidney Water, while the Right Chi pulse corresponds to the Sanjiao rotting and ripening food. Commonly, urine is called Water and stool is called Fire, making the distinction clear. Moreover, in the Six Qi Si Tian, the left is Cold Water governing Winter's Cold, and the right is Ministerial Fire governing Summer's Heat.
Their similarity lies in有形 (form/substance) belonging to Water; their difference lies in 无形 (formless) Fire not governing Cold. Since Si Tian has differences in Cold and Heat, humans must have distinctions between Water and Fire.
The Kidney combines with the Bladder, and the Left Chi pulse is purely Water; the Mingmen combines with the Sanjiao, and the Right Chi pulse is purely Fire.
What seems similar but is actually different is the subtlety of Yin and Yang; what should be still rather than active is the commonality between left and right.
All diseases are caused by Fire. Flourishing Fire leads to Heat, Timidity, Deficiency, and Consumption; declining Fire leads to Yang Deficiency and Qi Weakness. Both left and right pulses are deep; diagnosis values deep and slippery pulses. Only when Ministerial Fire commands do pulses become slippery and floating. Rapid and large pulses out of season indicate Fire Agitation.
Shuhe (Wang Shuhe) did not establish specific pulse positions, diagnosing based on symptoms; Danxi (Zhu Zhenheng)'s pulse diagrams did not fully express intent, leaving brilliance to the mind.
Danxi's pulse diagrams first supplemented the Mingmen and Pericardium.

The Sanjiao is like mist, like foam, and like a ditch; though named, it has no form. It governs Qi, food digestion, and excretion; though formless, it has function.
The Upper Jiao is located one cun six fen below Yutang, directly between the depressions of the two breasts. The Middle Jiao is at Zhongwan, above the umbilicus. The Lower Jiao is at the upper opening of the Bladder, below the umbilicus. The Upper Jiao governs the emission of Yang Qi, warming the skin and muscles like mist and dew, hence "Upper Jiao is like mist." The Middle Jiao governs the transformation of water and grain flavors, sending essences upward to the Lung to transform into blood, circulating through meridians to nourish the five Zang organs and the whole body, hence "Middle Jiao is like fermentation (foam)." The Lower Jiao governs the free flow of urine and stool, transmitting downward timely, exiting without receiving, and opening blockages, hence "Lower Jiao is like a ditch." It is also said: The Official of Drainage, the water pathway emerges here. The Upper Jiao governs intake; without the Upper Jiao, how can the Heart and Lung dominate Ying and Wei? The Middle Jiao governs neither ascending nor descending; without the Middle Jiao, how can the Spleen and Stomach rot and ripen water and grain? The Lower Jiao governs exit; the Moving Qi in the Kidneys responds to it. Without the Lower Jiao, how can the Liver and Kidney drain fluids? Thus, the Sanjiao guides Yin and Yang, separates clear and turbid, and hosts all Qi; it has a name but no form. It parasitically resides in the chest, responding to respiration and moving Qi and Blood. Qi ascends to the head but cannot descend; Blood descends to the feet but cannot ascend. These are functions of the Sanjiao, breaking obstructions to allow Qi and Blood to penetrate, hence "formless but functional."

Hair loss is a manifestation of Rootless Ministerial Fire, with abnormal cold and heat.
The Sanjiao is the Fu of Bing Fire; thus, its flare-up is Rootless Ministerial Fire. Wandering through various meridians, it causes abnormal aversion to cold and fever.

Its position resides in the Shanzhong (Chest Center) and Blood Sea, shared by both sexes.
Shanzhong is the Upper Jiao; Blood Sea is the Lower Jiao. Both men and women possess this Qi and Blood, and this Blood Sea. Also called Blood Chamber, it is where Ying and Wei stop and meridians converge. However, men transport and move it, having no accumulation or fullness; women stop and retain it, accumulating until overflow becomes menstruation.

Its Mu-Point is at Shimen, where True Yuan converges at beginning and end.
Shimen is two cun below the umbilicus, the Mu-Point of the Sanjiao, where all Qi gathers, then distributes to the twelve meridians. It forms interior-exterior pairs with the Hand Shaoyang and Jueyin, hence: "It is the beginning and end of Original Qi."

Its Fu is at Qichong, where water and grain rely on Stomach Qi for transmission.
Qichong is in the pubic hair region, two cun lateral to the midline, the path of Yin and Yang, where the Yangming Meridian originates. Foot Yangming governs the Qi of rotting and ripening food. The Sanjiao initiates function, penetrating the twelve meridians, moving up and down, rotting and ripening food, and circulating Qi and Blood, all under its control. Thus, Qichong is the Fu for Sanjiao Qi movement, as Qi and Blood must take Stomach Qi as their root.

Ascending Middle Clear Qi, Descending Lower Turbid Qi, creation's intake and output are endless.
Turbid Qi in the Stomach descends to become urine and stool; Clear Qi ascends to become Ying and Wei. Extremes of Up return to Down; extremes of Down return to Up. This is the natural wonder of creation, cycling endlessly.
As for ingested water and grain, they go from Top to Middle, Middle to Bottom. Residue is transported and conducted without stagnation, hence: "The pathway of water and grain."

Nourishes Spirit, softens sinews and bones,胸怀 (mind/chest) filled with joy like warmth.
Pure, clear, and harmonious Qi enters the Middle Jiao, assisting High Virtue, absorbing five grains, transforming into essences, internally nourishing Spirit, and externally softening sinews and bones. Once the Middle Jiao is regulated, its Qi rises, entering the Shanzhong, managing internal retention, opening the mind, and generating joy.

Deficiency draws Qi to the Lung, causing Middle Cold, Pi-Zhang (distension), and severely, urinary urgency and tinnitus.
The branch of the Hand Shaoyang enters the ear from behind. The Classics state: Sanjiao disease involves abdominal fullness, especially hardness in the lower abdomen, with urgent inability to urinate. Overflow leads to water flow, indicating distension. Tinnitus occurs because the Hand Shaoyang branch enters the ear from behind.

Heat knots upward in the Heart, causing chest irritability and fullness, and severely, thirst and swollen throat.
The Hand Shaoyang meridian emerges from Shanzhong to Quepen, ascends the neck to connect behind the ear, goes straight up to the top of the ear, curves down to the cheekbone.

If Wind lingers, the little finger and ring finger, elbow, arm, shoulder, and lateral ribs all hurt.
The Hand Shaoyang meridian originates at the tip of the ring finger, runs along the dorsal wrist, passes through the elbow and lateral arm, ascends the shoulder, intersects behind Foot Shaoyang, enters Quepen, crosses Shanzhong, disperses to connect the Pericardium, descends through the diaphragm along the ribs, and belongs to the Sanjiao. Thus, excess causes spasmodic pain, deficiency causes flaccidity.

Qi disturbance causes alternating constipation and diarrhea, and pain behind the ear, in the chest, and at the outer canthus.
Qi disorders involve either constipation or diarrhea. The divergent branch of Hand Shaoyang winds around the arm, injects into the chest, merges with Heart Master disease. Its branch travels from the ear to the front of the ear, crosses the cheek to the outer canthus, so Qi stagnation causes pain.

Blood coagulation causes Wei-Bi (flaccidity-numbness) and tearing.
Blood coagulating in the skin causes Bi; in the vessels, it causes Qi (stagnation/sluggishness); in the feet, it causes Wei. This is due to sweating during sleep followed by wind exposure. All hemorrhages such as vomiting blood, epistaxis, and hematuria are generated by the Sanjiao.

Cold destruction causes profuse sweating, shivering, and freezing.
Cold destruction causes continuous spontaneous sweating, developing into shivering, limbs cold as ice, and severely, retraction of the glans penis, named Tuoyang Syndrome.

Drain Heart Bi to remove Middle Jiao Heat; Lianbai (Huanglian, Huangbai), Zhuniu (Zhuling, Niuxi) are suitable.
Drain Heart formula: Huanglian, Huangbai, Shanzhi, Lianqiao, Bohe, Shengdi, Maidong, Chaihu, Jiegeng, Mutong, Longnao.
Drain Spleen formula: Zhuling, Qianniu, Zexie, Chifuling, Zhike, Mutong, Binglang, Mangxiao, Dahuang, Houpo.
Tonify Lung and Stomach to aid Middle Jiao Cold; Renshen, Huangqi, Ganjiang, Baizhu are available.
Renshen, Huangqi, Ganjiang, Baizhu, Gancao, Yizhiren, Liangjiang.
Lower Heat cools the Liver; Jingfang (Jingjie, Fangfeng), Dipi (Digupi) agents are light.
Jingjie, Fangfeng, Digupi, Yinchaihu, Juhua, Shigao.
Lower Cold warms the Kidney; Fuzi, Buguzhi are heavy in nature.
Danggui, Shudi, Muxiang, Diyu, Ejiao, Puhuang.

Alas! Observing the wonderful use of the Sanjiao, one then knows that Zang-Fu are different yet same, same yet different. Separated, they are twelve; combined, they are the Sanjiao. Briefly stated, the Sanjiao is also one Jiao.
Jiao means Yuan (Origin); it is merely One Yuan Qi.
The "Five Zang Penetrating Discussion" states: The Heart communicates with the Gallbladder (Heart palpitations should be treated primarily with Warming Gallbladder; Gallbladder tremors and mania should be treated primarily with Tonifying Heart). The Liver communicates with the Large Intestine (Liver disease should unblock the Large Intestine; Large Intestine disease should calm the Liver channel). The Spleen communicates with the Small Intestine (Spleen disease should drain Small Intestine Fire; Small Intestine disease should moisten Spleen Earth). The Lung communicates with the Bladder (Lung disease should clear and promote Bladder Water, followed by separating clear and turbid; Bladder disease should clear Lung Qi, using emetics). The Kidney communicates with the Sanjiao (Kidney disease should harmonize the Sanjiao; Sanjiao disease should tonify the Kidney). The Kidney communicates with the Gate of Life (Fluid and Stomach deficiency should heavily tonify the Right Kidney). This is the wonder of unity.