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Huangdi asked Shaosi: When a person suddenly becomes mute due to extreme grief or anger, what pathway is blocked? What qi fails to circulate, causing the voice to be inaudible? I wish to hear the explanation.

Shaosi replied: The pharynx (Yanhou) is the passage for food and drink; the larynx (Houtong) is the organ through which qi ascends and descends. The epiglottis (Huiyan) is the gate of sound; the lips are the fan of sound; the tongue is the mechanism of sound; the uvula (Xuanyongchui) is the barrier of sound; the nasopharynx (Hangshang) is where dispersed qi exits. The transverse bone (Henggu) is directed by divine spirit (Shenqi) and primarily controls the movement of the tongue. Therefore, when a person’s nostrils leak mucus uncontrollably, it is because the nasopharynx fails to open properly, resulting in the loss of its function in dispersing qi. Thus, if the epiglottis is small and thin, the emission of qi is rapid, its opening and closing are agile, and air escapes easily; if the epiglottis is large and thick, opening and closing are difficult, air escape is slow, and speech becomes hoarse. Sudden muteness occurs when cold pathogen invades the epiglottis, preventing it from moving up and down, leading to uncoordinated opening and closing, hence the loss of voice.

Huangdi asked: How should acupuncture be applied? Qibo answered: The Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian connects upward to the tongue, links to the transverse bone, and terminates at the epiglottis. By draining the blood vessels in these two areas, turbid qi will be expelled. The vessels of the epiglottis connect upward to the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel). Needling Tianchu (CV22) allows the epiglottis to function normally again.

Huangdi asked Bogao: I wish to understand how human limbs and joints correspond to Heaven and Earth.

Bogao replied: Heaven is round and Earth is square; the human head is round and feet are square to correspond with them. Heaven has the sun and moon; humans have two eyes. Earth has nine provinces; humans have nine orifices. Heaven has wind and rain; humans have joy and anger. Heaven has thunder and lightning; humans have voice and sound. Heaven has four seasons; humans have four limbs. Heaven has five musical tones; humans have five Zang organs. Heaven has six pitch-pipes (Lü); humans have six Fu organs. Heaven has winter and summer; humans experience cold and heat. Heaven has the Ten Heavenly Stems; humans have ten fingers on the hands. The Earthly Branches number twelve; humans have ten toes on the feet, plus the penis and scrotum to complete the correspondence; women lack these two segments, reflecting the form of bearing children. Heaven has Yin and Yang; humans have husband and wife. A year has 365 days; humans have 365 joints. Earth has high mountains; humans have shoulders and knees. Earth has deep valleys; humans have axillae (armpits). Earth has twelve major rivers; humans have twelve primary meridians. Earth has underground water veins; humans have Wei Qi (Defensive Qi). Earth has grass and trees; humans have fine body hair. Heaven has day and night; humans have sleeping and waking. Heaven has constellations; humans have teeth. Earth has small hills; humans have small joints. Earth has rocks; humans have prominent bones. Earth has forests; humans have tendons and fascia. Earth has gathered cities; humans have muscle masses. A year has twelve months; humans have twelve major joints. Earth has periods in the four seasons when grass does not grow; humans have conditions of infertility. This is how humanity corresponds with Heaven and Earth.