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The *Classic of Difficult Issues* (Jing Yue Quan Shu cites *Huangdi Neijing*) states: The three months of winter are called "closing and storing" (Bi Zang). At this time, water freezes and the earth cracks; one should not disturb Yang Qi. Sleep early and rise late, waiting until sunlight appears. Let your will be like something hidden or concealed, as if harboring a private secret, or as if already satisfied. Avoid cold and seek warmth; do not allow the skin to sweat, which would cause frequent depletion of Qi. This is responding to the Qi of winter and the way to nourish the Kidney organs. Violating this will damage the Kidneys, leading to Wei Jue syndrome (flaccidity and cold extremities) in spring, because there is less to support the generation of life.

It also states: When Yang deficiency generates external cold, it is because Yang Qi receives its influence from the Upper Jiao (Upper Burner) to warm the skin and intermuscular spaces. Now, when cold pathogen is outside, the Upper Jiao becomes obstructed. If the Upper Jiao is obstructed, cold pathogen remains alone on the exterior, thus causing chills and shivering.

When Yin excess generates internal cold, it is due to Jue Qi (rebellious Qi) moving upward, causing cold pathogen to accumulate in the chest without dispersing. If it does not disperse, warming Qi departs, leaving only cold. Where cold remains, blood coagulates; where blood coagulates, the vessels become obstructed. The pulse becomes large and rough, hence internal cold arises.

It also states: When cold pathogen enters the meridians, its movement slows down, and blood flows sluggishly or stagnates. If it lodges outside the vessels, blood volume decreases; if it lodges inside the vessels, Qi circulation is blocked, resulting in sudden pain. If repeatedly struck by cold, the pain persists for a long time.

When cold pathogen lodges outside the vessels, the vessels become cold; when vessels are cold, they contract and curl; when they contract and curl, they become taut and tight; when taut and tight, they pull on the small collateral vessels, causing sudden pain. Upon receiving heat, the pain stops immediately.

If cold pathogen ascends to the lower abdomen, blood stagnation below draws upon each other, causing abdominal pain that radiates to the inner thighs. If cold pathogen lodges between the mesenteric membranes and within the collateral blood vessels of the Small Intestine, blood stagnates and cannot flow into the major meridians. Blood and Qi accumulate and fail to circulate, thus forming masses over time.

If cold pathogen lodges in the five Zang organs, rebellious Qi rushes upward, Yin Qi is exhausted, and Yang Qi fails to enter, causing sudden severe pain, death-like state, and unconsciousness. If Qi returns, life is preserved. If cold pathogen lodges in the stomach and intestines, rebellious Qi rushes upward, causing pain and vomiting. If cold pathogen lodges in the Small Intestine, the Small Intestine fails to complete its function of gathering and transforming, resulting in diarrhea and abdominal pain.

The *Yuan Bing Shi* (Treatise on the Original Causes of Disease) states: All diseases involving fluids excreted from above and below, whether clear and cold, or presenting as clear-white diarrhea, or foul-smelling vomit and diarrhea, loss of appetite after eating, hard epigastric fullness, acute abdominal distension and pain, Jian Hernia (abdominal masses or hernias), difficulty in flexion and extension, and cold limbs with rigidity, all belong to Cold.