Library

The *Suwen* (Basic Questions) states: "If the taste is excessively bitter, the Spleen Qi will become dry and unmoistened, and the Stomach Qi will become stagnant and dense; if the taste is excessively pungent, the meridians will become flaccid and relaxed, and the spirit will be impaired." Wang Bing's commentary says: "Bitterness has a hard and dry nature, yet it nourishes the Spleen and Stomach; therefore, the Spleen Qi is not unmoistened, and the Stomach Qi becomes strong and dense. Pungency has a moistening nature and disperses to nourish the sinews; thus, it makes the sinews relaxed and the vessels moist, allowing the spirit to last long."

According to the classic text: "The generation of Yin originates from the Five Flavors; the injury to the Five Palaces of Yin [the Zang organs] also results from the Five Flavors." Therefore, the Five Zang organs rely on flavors for nourishment, but excessive flavors反而 (conversely) injure the Five Zang organs. What is meant here by "Spleen Qi becoming unmoistened and Stomach Qi becoming dense" is that the Spleen fails to transport fluids for the Stomach, and the Stomach fails to transmit essence to the Spleen. Since the Stomach does not transmit and the Spleen does not circulate, fluids stagnate exclusively in the Stomach, causing the Stomach Qi to become stagnant. "Dense" implies stagnation; how can this be described as the Stomach Qi being strong? "Ju" (沮) means decay or depletion; "Chi" (弛) means laxity or relaxation. Due to excessive dispersion by pungency, blood and Qi are depleted, sinews and vessels become lax, and essence declines to half its strength. How can this be interpreted as moistening and lasting long? To mistake excess for normalcy and injury for benefit is erroneous! Erroneous!

Palpate the pulse for movement and stillness, and observe the "Jingming" (Bright Spirit). "Jingming" refers to the luster of the two eyes. Wang Bing's commentary states: "It refers to the acupoints near the eyes on the sides of Mingtang," which is incorrect. The following text says: "Jingming is what allows one to see all things, distinguish black from white, and judge length and shortness." In that case, could it be anything other than the luster within the eyes?

If the Lung pulse is soft and scattered, the patient should suffer from "Guan Han" (Flood Sweat), which will not disperse again until now. "Guan Han" refers to profuse sweating, dripping like water poured over the body. This is because Lung Qi is weak and scattered, failing to consolidate. When Autumn arrives and Lung Metal governs, its Qi naturally consolidates, and sweat naturally stops, so it does not disperse again. This does not refer to washing with cold water to make the skin tight and sweatless.

If the Stomach pulse is deep, forceful, and choppy, or superficially forceful and large, and the Heart pulse is small, firm, and urgent, these indicate Ge syndrome (diaphragmatic obstruction) or Pian Ku (hemiplegia). In men, it manifests on the left; in women, on the right. If there is no aphasia and the tongue moves freely, it is treatable, and recovery begins after thirty days. If accompanied by aphasia ("Cong"), death occurs after three years. Wang Bing comments: "'Cong' refers to men manifesting on the left and women on the right." However, if this were the case, why would the text add the phrase "those who follow" (Qi Cong Zhe)? According to the *Yuban Lunyao*, for men, the left is "Ni" (adverse) and the right is "Cong" (following); for women, the right is "Ni" and the left is "Cong". The text likely means that when men manifest on the left and women on the right, it is "Ni" (adverse) according to the method. However, if there is no aphasia and the tongue moves, the pathogenic factor is light; thus, although the syndrome is adverse, it is still treatable. If men manifest on the right and women on the left, it is "Cong" (following) according to the method, but if aphasia occurs, the pathogenic factor is heavy; thus, although the syndrome follows the norm, it requires three years to recover (or die, depending on interpretation of severity). If it is adverse and the pathogen is heavy, death is inevitable. If it follows and the pathogen is slight, why wait three years to recover?

In the Northwest, where the climate is cold, external cold binds the exterior while Yang gathers inside; therefore, treatment should involve dispersing the exterior and clearing internal heat. In the Southeast, where the climate is warm, Yang leaks outward while Yin hides inside; therefore, treatment should involve consolidating and warming. This does not refer to eating cold or hot foods.