Library

Wang Bing stated: "Jue" refers to the pathological condition where Qi rebels and rushes upward. The world erroneously transmits this as "Hong Kong Foot" (a term historically referring to gout or lower limb swelling/pain syndromes). Reading this text reveals the true nature of this disease, which was called "Hong Kong Foot" in ancient times. The Classics state: Cold Jue is characterized by cold hands and feet. Heat Jue is characterized by hot hands and feet. Wei Jue (Atrophy-Jue) is a combination of Atrophy syndrome and Jue syndrome, manifesting as weak, sore, and powerless legs. Bi Jue (Obstruction-Jue) is a combination of Bi syndrome and Jue syndrome, manifesting as stubborn numbness, swelling, and pain in the lower limbs. Jue Ni (Rebellious Jue) refers to the upward rebellion of Qi seen in Cold Jue, Heat Jue, Wei Jue, Bi Jue, Feng Jue (Wind Jue), etc., accompanied by vomiting, mental confusion or stupor, abdominal distension, shortness of breath, insensitivity or anesthesia of the lower abdomen, or sudden loss of consciousness. This is what the world calls "Hong Kong Foot Rushing to the Heart" (referring to pathogenic factors attacking the heart/chest region).

[Danxi] For Jue caused by Phlegm, use Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) and Zhuli (Bambusae Caulis in Taenia). For Jue caused by Qi deficiency or Blood deficiency, use Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) and Sijunzi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction). For Heat Jue, use Chengqi Tang (Chengqi Decoction). For Jue due to external contraction, use Shuangjie San (Double Release Powder) added with Jiangzhuli (Ginger-infused Bamboo Sap).

[Suwen] The Yellow Emperor asked: What causes the cold and heat manifestations in Jue? Qibo replied: When Yang Qi declines at the lower part, it becomes Cold Jue; when Yin Qi declines at the lower part, it becomes Heat Jue. The Emperor asked: Why does the heat sensation in Heat Jue always start from the soles of the feet? Qibo said: Yang Qi originates from the dorsal aspect of the five toes of the foot, while Yin meridians gather at the sole and converge at the center of the foot. Therefore, when Yang Qi prevails, the soles become hot. The Emperor asked: Why does the cold sensation in Cold Jue always spread from the five toes upward to the knees? Qibo said: Yin Qi originates from the plantar aspect of the five toes, gathers below the knee, and converges above the knee. Thus, when Yin Qi prevails, cold spreads from the toes to above the knee. This cold does not come from outside but arises from within.

The Emperor asked: What mistake leads to Cold Jue? Qibo said: The anterior yin region is the gathering place of Zongjin (Major Sinews/Tendons). [The Jiayi Jing records "anterior yin" as "Jueyin" and "Zongjin" as "Zhongjin"]. It is the confluence of the Taiyin and Yangming meridians. In spring and summer, Yang Qi is abundant and Yin Qi is scarce; in autumn and winter, Yin Qi is flourishing and Yang Qi is declining. A person of robust constitution who overexerts themselves during autumn and winter causes the Qi below to contend upward without recovery, leading to the leakage of Essence downward. Pathogenic factors then follow upward. Qi stagnates in the middle, Yang Qi declines and cannot permeate and nourish the collaterals and meridians. As Yang Qi diminishes day by day, only Yin Qi remains, causing coldness in the hands and feet.

The Emperor asked: How is Heat Jue formed? Qibo said: When wine enters the stomach, the Luo vessels become full while the Jing meridians become empty. The Spleen governs transporting fluids for the Stomach. When Yin Qi is deficient, Yang Qi enters inward. When Yang Qi enters inward, the Stomach becomes disharmonious. When the Stomach is disharmonious, Essence and Qi are exhausted. When Essence and Qi are exhausted, they cannot nourish the four limbs. Such individuals likely engage in sexual intercourse after frequent drunkenness or heavy meals, causing Qi to accumulate in the Spleen and fail to disperse. [When Essence and Qi are strong, they can digest food and transport nutrients to the limbs. Now, after drunkenness and fullness followed by intercourse, Essence is depleted, unable to digest pathogenic factors, which instead accumulate in the Spleen and fail to disperse to the limbs.] The Qi of wine and the Qi of grain struggle against each other, generating intense heat in the middle jiao. Thus, heat pervades the body, resulting in internal heat and dark urine. Wine Qi is vigorous and fierce, causing daily decline of Kidney Qi and solitary predominance of Yang Qi, leading to hot hands and feet. ([The Jue Lun states that Cold and Heat Jue result from the internal exhaustion of Kidney Essence and Qi].)

[Zihe] Li Zhengzhi of Xihua suffered from Cold Jue, and his wife suffered from Heat Jue, for over ten years. His wife had taken more than ten doses of Xiaoyao San (Free and Easy Wanderer Powder) with no effect. One day, she requested my diagnosis. Both patients' pulses were floating, large, and forceless. Li Zhengzhi said: "My hands and feet are cold; I frequently soak them in hot water, yet the cold does not cease. My wife's hands and feet are hot; she pours cold water on them all day, yet the heat does not stop. What is the reason?" I said: "This is Cold and Heat Jue. Both conditions arise from gluttony and indulgence in desires." I then cited the *Neijing·Jue Lun* to verify the symptoms. Li Zhengzhi rejoiced, saying: "The *Neijing* is truly a sage's book. Ten years of doubt are now resolved. Even without taking medicine, the illness would have healed by half." I said: "Heat Jue involves Cold in the Upper Jiao; Cold Jue involves Heat in the Upper Jiao. For Cold in the Upper Jiao, use warm formulas to tonify Lung Metal. For Heat in the Upper Jiao, use cool formulas to clear Heart Fire." They took these respective medicines. Not long after, within ten days, Li Zhengzhi came to thank me, saying: "Both Cold and Heat Jue have been cured."

[Lingshu] The symptoms of Jue Ni include sudden coldness of the feet, a chest feeling as if tearing apart, intestines feeling as if cut by a knife, irritability, and inability to eat. The pulse is choppy regardless of size. For warmth patterns, select points on the Foot Shaoyin meridian; for coolness patterns, select points on the Foot Yangming meridian. Apply tonification for cold patterns and sedation for heat patterns. (From the Piankuang Chapter)