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The Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian is where the two Yang energies combine and manifest in the anterior aspect of the body. The Stomach Fu-organ resides in the Central Earth (Spleen and Stomach belong to Earth, situated in the center), serving as the gathering place for all things. Its vessel originates from beside the nose, ascends to the forehead, connects with the eye, follows the face, travels along the anterior aspect of the body, and terminates at the medial malleolus of the left foot. The classics state: when both the Cun (inch) and Chi (cubit) pulses are long, it indicates disease in the Yangming channel. If there is pain in the forehead and temples, eye pain, dryness of the nose, and insomnia, this constitutes the *biao* disease (manifestation/exterior symptoms) of the Yangming channel. Regardless of the number of days since onset, one should employ the method of resolving the muscle layer (*jie ji*), using Ge Gen Tang (Pueraria Decoction). If there is fever, irritability, thirst, sweating, and aversion to heat, this constitutes the *ben* disease (root/interior symptoms) of the Yangming channel, and one should clear the pathogenic heat. If there is tidal fever, spontaneous sweating, delirium, thirst, aversion to cold being absent but aversion to heat present, waving hands and kicking feet, appearance of macules and jaundice, and hard stool, these are signs of excess syndrome in the Yangming Stomach Fu-organ; urgent purgation is required. Thus it is said: when the disease is in the channel, resolve the muscle layer; when in the Fu-organ, pacify the heat; when the Fu-organ is full/excess, purgation is appropriate.

The Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian lies between the Yangming anteriorly and the Taiyang posteriorly, thus governing disorders of the half-exterior half-interior level. Since the Gallbladder is a pure and clear Fu-organ without direct pathways of entry or exit, the treatment principles are similar whether the disease is in the channel or the Fu-organ. Its vessel originates from the lateral canthus of the eye, ascends to the temporal angle, connects with the interior of the ear, follows the chest and hypochondrium along the lateral aspect of the body, and terminates at the lateral malleolus of the right foot. The classics state: when both the Cun and Chi pulses are wiry (*xian*), it indicates disease in the Shaoyang channel. Symptoms include pain in the temporal region and vertigo, chest and hypochondriac pain and deafness, alternating chills and fever, vomiting, and bitter taste in the mouth; these are all Shaoyang syndromes. This channel has three prohibitions: sweating is contraindicated, purgation is contraindicated, and promoting urination is contraindicated. One should only use Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) with modifications to harmonize. Whenever there is pain in the temporal region, roaring tinnitus, and swelling and pain above and below the ear, these are caused by pathogenic fire affecting the areas governed by the Shaoyang channel.

The Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian is the head of the Three Yin channels. Its vessel begins at the medial malleolus and big toe of the left foot, travels to the abdomen, connects with the pharynx, links to the root of the tongue, and travels along the anterior aspect of the body. If cold pathogenic factors strike suddenly and directly invade this channel, symptoms appear immediately, such as abdominal pain, vomiting, or diarrhea; warming methods are appropriate. If symptoms appear after four or five days, with abdominal fullness and dryness of the pharynx, this is pathogenic qi transmitted via the channels, and harmonizing methods are appropriate. If there is no thirst accompanied by diarrhea, it is a cold syndrome, treated with Li Zhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction) to warm the middle. If there is thirst accompanied by diarrhea, it is a heat syndrome, treated with Zhu Ling Tang (Polyporus Decoction) to clear heat and promote diuresis. Both cold and heat syndromes present with abdominal fullness. In heat syndromes, heat sinks inward, and pathogenic qi becomes excessive and obstructive. In cold syndromes, cold is excessive internally, and the Stomach Qi is deficient and stagnant.