凡病脾者,上下不宁,盖脾上有心之母,下有肺之子。心者血也,属阴。肺者气也,属
阳。脾病则上母不宁,母不宁则阴不足,阴不足则发热。又脾病则下子不宁,子不宁则阳不
足,阳不足则发寒。故脾病则血气俱不宁,血气不宁则寒热往来,无有休息,故病如疟也。
盖脾者土也,心者火也,肺者金也;火生土,土生金,故曰上有心母,下有肺子,脾居其中,
病则如斯耳。他脏上下,皆法于此。
脉为气血之先,气血盛则脉盛,气血衰则脉衰,气血热则脉数,气血寒则脉迟,气血微
则脉弱,气血平则脉缓。又长人脉长,短人脉短,性急则脉急,性缓则脉缓,反此者逆,顺
此者从。又诸数为热,诸迟为寒,诸紧为痛,诸浮为风,诸滑为虚,诸伏为聚,诸长为实,
诸短为虚。又短涩沉迟伏皆属阴;数滑长浮紧皆属阳。阴得阴者从,阳得阳者顺,违之者逆。
阴
面青无右关脉,脾绝木克土;面赤无右寸脉,肺绝火克金;面白无左关脉,肝绝金克木;
面黄无左尺脉,肾绝土克水;面黑无左寸脉,心绝水克火,五绝者死。凡五绝当时即死,非
其时则半岁死耳。五色虽见,而五脉不见,即非死者矣。
病疯人脉紧数浮沉,有汗出不止,呼吸有声者死,不然则生;病气人一身悉肿,四肢不
收,喘无时,厥逆不温,脉候沉小者死,浮大者生。病劳人脱肛,骨肉相失,声散呕血,阳
事不禁,梦寐交侵,呼吸不相从,昼凉夜热者死,吐脓血者亦死;其脉不数,有根蒂者,及
颊不赤者生。病肠 者,下脓血,病患脉急皮热,食不入腹,目瞪者死;或一身厥冷,脉沉
细而不生者,亦死;食如故,脉沉浮有力而不绝者生。病热人四肢厥,脉弱不欲见人,食不
入,利下不止者死。食人四肢温,脉大语狂无睡者生。病寒人狂言不寐,身冷脉数,喘息目
直者死;脉有力而不喘者生。阳病患精神颠倒,寐而不惺,言语失次,脉候浮沉有力者生;
及食不入胃,不定者死。久病患脉大身瘦,食不充肠,言如不病,坐卧困顿者死;若饮食进
退,脉小而有力,言语轻嘶,额无黑气,大便结涩者生。凡阳病阴证,阴病阳证,身热大,
肥人脉衰,上下交变,阴阳颠倒,冷暖相乘,皆属不吉。从者生,逆者死。治药之法,宜为
详悉耳。
In cases of Spleen disease, the Qi in the upper and lower parts is unsettled. This is because above the Spleen lies the Heart, its "Mother" organ (Fire generates Earth), and below it lies the Lung, its "Child" organ (Earth generates Metal). The Heart governs Blood and belongs to Yin; the Lung governs Qi and belongs to Yang. When the Spleen is diseased, the upper Mother organ becomes unsettled; when the Mother is unsettled, Yin is insufficient, leading to fever. Furthermore, when the Spleen is diseased, the lower Child organ becomes unsettled; when the Child is unsettled, Yang is insufficient, leading to chills. Therefore, Spleen disease causes both Blood and Qi to be unsettled. When Blood and Qi are unsettled, there will be alternating chills and fever without rest, so the illness resembles Malaria (Nue Ji).
Generally, the Spleen belongs to Earth, the Heart to Fire, and the Lung to Metal; Fire generates Earth, and Earth generates Metal. Thus, it is said that there is a Heart Mother above and a Lung Child below, with the Spleen residing in the middle. When diseased, the condition manifests as described. The relationships of other Zang organs above and below follow this same principle.
The Pulse is the precursor of Blood and Qi. When Blood and Qi are abundant, the pulse is full; when deficient, the pulse is weak. When Blood and Qi are hot, the pulse is Rapid (Shu); when cold, the pulse is Slow (Chi). When Blood and Qi are minute, the pulse is Weak; when balanced, the pulse is Moderate (Huan). Additionally, tall people have long pulses, and short people have short pulses. Those with an irritable temperament have urgent pulses, while those with a calm temperament have relaxed pulses. Deviating from these norms indicates a Rebellious pattern (Ni), while conforming to them indicates a Compliant pattern (Cong). Moreover, all Rapid pulses indicate Heat, all Slow pulses indicate Cold, all Tight pulses indicate Pain, all Floating pulses indicate Wind, all Slippery pulses indicate Deficiency (Note: Classical texts often associate Slippery with Phlegm or Excess, but here it denotes Deficiency in specific contexts), all Hidden pulses indicate Accumulation, all Long pulses indicate Excess, and all Short pulses indicate Deficiency. Furthermore, Short, Choppy, Deep, Slow, and Hidden pulses belong to Yin; Rapid, Slippery, Long, Floating, and Tight pulses belong to Yang. If a Yin pulse matches a Yin syndrome, it is compliant; if a Yang pulse matches a Yang syndrome, it is compliant. Violating this indicates rebellion.
A green complexion without the Right Guan pulse (Spleen pulse) indicates Spleen Extinction, due to Wood overcoming Earth. A red complexion without the Right Cun pulse (Lung pulse) indicates Lung Extinction, due to Fire overcoming Metal. A white complexion without the Left Guan pulse (Liver pulse) indicates Liver Extinction, due to Metal overcoming Wood. A yellow complexion without the Left Chi pulse (Kidney pulse) indicates Kidney Extinction, due to Earth overcoming Water. A black complexion without the Left Cun pulse (Heart pulse) indicates Heart Extinction, due to Water overcoming Fire. These five "Extinctions" result in death. If the Five Extinctions occur, death happens immediately; if not at the critical time, death occurs within half a year. However, if the five colors appear but the corresponding five pulses are absent, it is not a fatal case.
For patients with Feng disease (epilepsy or spasmodic disorders), if the pulse is Tight and Rapid, whether Floating or Deep, accompanied by incessant sweating and audible respiration, it is a death sign; otherwise, survival is possible. For patients with Qi distension disease, if the whole body is swollen, limbs cannot be controlled, breathing is irregular, limbs are cold and unwarmed, and the pulse is Deep and Small, it is a death sign; if the pulse is Floating and Large, it is a survival sign. For patients with Lao disease (consumption/chronic deficiency), presenting with rectal prolapse, emaciation, hoarse voice, hematemesis, sexual dysfunction, frequent nocturnal emissions, disordered respiration, daytime coolness and nighttime heat, it is a death sign; expectoration of pus and blood is also a death sign. If the pulse is not Rapid, has a root, and the cheeks are not red, it is a survival sign. For patients with Chang Pi (dysentery or intestinal suppuration), presenting with bloody purulent stool, urgent pulse, hot skin, inability to digest food, and fixed staring eyes, it is a death sign; or if the whole body is cold, the pulse is Deep and Fine with no vitality, it is also a death sign. If diet remains normal, and the pulse is Forceful in both Floating and Deep positions without ceasing, it is a survival sign. For patients with Heat disease, presenting with cold limbs, weak pulse, aversion to people, inability to eat, and incessant diarrhea, it is a death sign. If they can eat, limbs are warm, pulse is Large, with delirium and insomnia, it is a survival sign. For patients with Cold disease, presenting with delirium, insomnia, cold body, Rapid pulse, panting, and fixed eyes, it is a death sign; if the pulse is Forceful without panting, it is a survival sign. For Yang disease patients with mental confusion, unclear sleep, and disordered speech, if the pulse is Forceful in Floating and Deep positions, it is a survival sign; if food cannot enter the stomach and the condition is unstable, it is a death sign. For chronic patients with a Large pulse but thin body, food failing to fill the intestines, speech resembling health but sitting/lying with exhaustion, it is a death sign; if diet is regular, pulse is Small but Forceful, speech is slightly hoarse, forehead lacks black qi, and stool is dry and difficult, it is a survival sign. Generally, Yang diseases presenting Yin syndromes, or Yin diseases presenting Yang syndromes, severe body heat, weak pulse in obese individuals, chaotic upper and lower Qi, inverted Yin and Yang, and mutual aggression of cold and warmth, are all inauspicious signs. Compliance leads to life, rebellion leads to death. The methods of treatment and medication should be detailed and comprehensive.