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The treatise states: The Lung governs the Po (Hun and Po, the corporeal soul). The organ of Po is the essence that receives external stimuli. It acts like a high general operating in the upper body; therefore, the Lung is called the "Canopy" (covering and protecting the five zang organs) of the five zang organs. The movement of essence in and out is called Po; Po is what the Lung stores. The nose is the orifice of the Lung. Lung Qi connects to the nose; when the nose functions harmoniously, one can distinguish odors. The meridians circulate through the Zi Gong acupoint, emerge above the cheekbones, are observed below the nose, return to the Lung, and flourish in the hair. Externally, it governs Qi; internally, it governs the chest, corresponding in position to the breasts. The left corresponds to Geng Metal, and the right to Xin Metal. The Lung weighs three jin and three liang, with six lobes and two ear-like structures. In total, there are eight lobes, guarded by seven boys and seven girls, whose divine name is Niao Hong. The Lung primarily stores Po and is known as the Organ of Po, responding to seasonal changes. Thus it is said: The Lung stores Qi, and Qi houses Po. In pathology, Qi disorders manifest as cough, and fluid disorders manifest as nasal discharge. When Lung Qi is deficient, respiration is weak and breath is short; when excessive, there is wheezing with sound, chest fullness, and orthopnea. When Lung Qi is deficient, one dreams of white objects, sees people cutting flesh with blood dripping, and if the timing is right, dreams of battles. When Lung Qi is excessive, one dreams of fear and crying. When Jue Qi invades the Lung, one dreams of flying and floating, seeing gold, iron, and strange objects.
Generally, the Lung corresponds to Metal, combines with the Large Intestine to form a Fu organ, and its meridian, the Hand Taiyin, is exterior-interior related to the Hand Yangming. Its pulse is floating. It is associated with the late summer, and prospers in autumn. Autumn is the time when all things conclude; leaves fall from branches, and twigs wither. The pulse is slightly floating; Wei Qi moves slowly, while Ying Qi moves quickly. Fast movement manifests above, slow movement below, hence it is named the "Mao" (Hair) pulse. If Yang Qi should descend but does not, and Yin Qi should ascend but does not, they are attacked by pathogenic factors. (The agitation of the two qi leads to invasion by wind-cold.) When the Yang channel is invaded, the pulse curls; when the Yin channel is invaded, the pulse is tight. Curling indicates aversion to cold; tightness indicates malaria. The struggle between cold and heat is named malaria. Weakness indicates fever; the floating pulse emerges, occurring in the morning and evening. Zang organs have distances, pulses have speeds, the cycle has degrees, and time has clepsydra marks. A slow pulse above damages the luster of the skin and hair; a rapid pulse below damages the Lower Jiao. Evil signs in the Middle Jiao appear, while good signs hide. If Yang Qi sinks, Yin Qi becomes warm; if Yang reverses to the lower part and Yin to the vertex...
An autumn pulse resembling floating belongs to the Lung, the West, and Metal, representing the harvest of all things. Thus, the Qi comes lightly, voidly, and floats; it arrives urgently and scatters upon departure, hence called "Floating." The opposite of this is disease. How does it reverse? If the Qi comes like hair but is firm in the center and empty on the sides, this is termed "Excess," with disease outside. If the Qi comes like hair but is faint, this is termed "Deficiency," with disease inside. Excess causes Qi rebellion and back pain, with a feeling of oppression. Deficiency causes wheezing, shortness of breath, cough, upward rushing of Qi with blood, and pathological sounds heard below.
When the Lung pulse comes, gentle and rippling like falling elm seeds, it is the Normal Lung Pulse. It is based on Stomach Qi. When the Lung pulse comes, neither rising nor falling, like touching a chicken feather, it is Lung Disease. (The *Chubing Yuanhou Lun* lacks the character "no".)
When the Lung pulse comes, floating like an object or like wind blowing feathers, it is the Dying Lung Pulse.
The True Lung pulse is large and void, like feathers hitting a person; the skin color is white and red without luster; death occurs when hair breaks. An autumn pulse with slight Hair quality and Stomach Qi is normal; much Hair and little Stomach Qi indicates Lung Disease; only Hair without Stomach Qi indicates death. Hair with String quality indicates spring illness; severe String quality indicates current illness.
The Lung stores Qi, and Qi houses Po. Extreme joy injures Po; injury to Po leads to mania, where the mind is disordered. The skin dries up, hair becomes brittle and lifeless, and death occurs in summer.
When the Qi of the Hand Taiyin meridian perishes, the skin and hair become dry and brittle. The Taiyin meridian circulates Qi to nourish the skin and hair. Without Qi nourishment, the skin and hair dry up; when they dry up, body fluids are lost.
A dying Lung organ presents with a floating, void pulse; pressing reveals weakness like a green onion leaf, lacking roots at the bottom indicates death. In autumn, Metal is prosperous and the Lung is strong; a slightly choppy and short pulse is normal. Conversely, a large and slow pulse indicates Spleen overacting on Lung. Mother acting on Son is Empty Evil; although diseased, it is easy to treat. Conversely, a deep, soggy, and slippery pulse indicates Kidney overacting on Lung. Son acting on Mother is Solid Evil; although diseased, it will heal itself. Conversely, a floating, large, and surging pulse indicates Heart overacting on Lung. Fire overcoming Metal is Robber Evil; this is a great reversal, ten deaths, untreatable. Conversely, a stringy, thin, and long pulse indicates Liver overacting on Lung. Wood suppressing Metal is Minor Evil; although diseased, it will recover quickly, but Liver overacting on Lung must result in deficiency.
If the Yin at the Cun Kou point before the middle of the right wrist is absent, there is no Lung pulse. The patient suffers from shortness of breath, coughing, and reversing Qi, with blockage and belching in the throat. Puncture the Hand Yangming meridian to treat the Yang aspect.
If the Yin at the Cun Kou point before the middle of the right wrist is excess, it is Lung Excess. The patient suffers from shortness of breath, chest fullness and distension, and traction pain to the shoulder. Puncture the Hand Taiyin meridian to treat the Yin aspect.
When the Lung pulse comes, floating and light like a breeze blowing the feathers on a bird's back, two beats per respiration indicate normalcy; three beats indicate deviation from the classic pattern; four beats indicate depletion of essence; five beats indicate death; six beats indicate the end of life. This is the Hand Taiyin pulse.
A Lung pulse that is very tense indicates epilepsy; slightly tense indicates Lung Cold. Heat causes lethargy, coughing, and spitting blood, pulling pain to the waist, back, and chest. If nasal polyps cause obstruction, very relaxed indicates excessive sweating; slightly relaxed indicates Wei syndrome with leaking wind (or hemiplegia), with unstoppable sweating below the head. Very large indicates shin swelling; slightly large indicates Lung Bi, pulling pain from the chest and back to the inner waist. Very small indicates undigested diarrhea; slightly small indicates Xiao Dao (wasting-thirst). Very slippery indicates Xi Ben (accumulation of Qi) and upward rushing Qi; slightly slippery indicates bleeding from above and below. Very choppy indicates vomiting blood; slightly choppy indicates Shu Lu (scrofula) between the neck, limbs, and armpits. The lower body cannot support the upper; the patient prefers sour flavors.
When the Lung pulse beats firmly and long, it indicates spitting blood; when soft and scattered, it indicates leaking sweat, which does not stop even after treatment.
When the White pulse arrives, it is panting and floating, with emptiness above and solidity below, indicating fright and accumulated Qi in the chest. Panting and void is named Lung Bi with cold and heat, caused by intercourse while drunk.
Yellow Emperor asked: There are twelve meridians, yet why does only the Hand Taiyin pulse move continuously? (The Hand Taiyin originates at the Cun Kou.)
Qibo replied: The Foot Yangming is the Stomach pulse. The Stomach is the sea of the five zang and six fu organs. Its clear essence ascends to the Lung. Lung Qi travels via the Taiyin meridian. Its movement relies on respiration. Therefore, with one exhalation, the pulse moves twice; with one inhalation, it also moves twice. As respiration never ceases, pulse movement never stops.
Yellow Emperor asked: Why can the Qi Kou alone serve as the master of the five zang organs? Qibo replied: The Stomach is the sea of water and grain. Among the six fu organs, the Stomach is the largest. Flavors enter the mouth, store in the Stomach, and nourish the five zang organs. The Qi Kou is the Taiyin. The Qi and flavor of the zang and fu organs all originate from the Stomach and manifest at the Qi Kou. The Qi Kou belongs to the master pulse of the zang and fu, also known as the Cun Kou.
Bian Que said: When the Lung is diseased, the nose and mouth open. Excess-heat causes panting, chest fullness, and orthopnea; strong Yang Qi leads to dreams of fear, etc. Deficiency-cold causes cough, shortness of breath, and lower diarrhea; strong Yin Qi leads to dreams of wading in water. The Lung's sound is weeping; its change is cough; its emotion is sorrow. Sorrow injures the Lung; when essence and Qi congregate in the Lung, there is grief.
Flavors governing autumn accumulation and blood diseases in the chest, and diseases caused by irregular diet, are treated by selecting He-Sea points, hence it is said that flavors govern He-Sea points.
Disease starting in the Lung with panting and cough spreads to the Liver in three days, causing hypochondriac pain and fullness; spreads to the Spleen in one day, causing blockage, body pain, and heaviness; spreads to the Stomach in five days, causing abdominal distension; if not cured in ten days, death occurs. Death occurs at sunset in winter and sunrise in summer.
In Lung disease, symptoms improve in the afternoon, worsen at noon, and are quiet at midnight.
If Lung disease moves southward, it may be caused by eating horse meat or muntjac meat. Otherwise, it should manifest in summer, contracting disease on Bing or Ding days, and should be treated with red-colored medicines.
Generally, Lung disease symptoms include panting, coughing, and rebellious Qi, shoulder breathing, back pain, sweating, contracture of the buttocks, genitals, thighs, knees, thighs, calves, and feet. Deficiency causes shortness of breath and inability to complete inhalation, deafness, and dry throat. Select the Hand Taiyin, the exterior of the Foot Taiyang, the interior of the Jueyin, and the blood of the Shaoyin.
Lung pulse: deep and rapid, floating and panting. Suffering from chilly chills and fever, abdominal fullness, intestinal heat, dark urine, shoulder and back pain, and sweating above the waist, caused by sweating in bed and exposing to wind.
Lung disease presents with white complexion, body cold without fever, and frequent coughing. A slightly slow pulse is treatable; administer Wuweizi Da Bu Fei Tang (Five-Flavor Berry Great Lung Tonifying Decoction) or Xie Fei San (Draining Lung Powder). In spring, puncture Shaoshang; in summer, Yujì; both using draining methods. In late summer, Taiyuan; in autumn, Jingqu; in winter, Chize; all using tonifying methods. Also, moxa Danzhong for 100 cones, and 25 cones on the third thoracic vertebra on the back.
Pathogen in the Lung causes skin pain, chills, fever, upward rushing Qi, panting, sweating, and cough moving the shoulders and back. Select the acupoints in the chest and back, specifically beside the third thoracic vertebra. Press heavily until comfortable, then puncture. Select Quepen to vent the pathogen.
Cold exposure and cold drinks injure the Lung because the two colds interact, injuring both interior and exterior, causing Qi to rebel and ascend. Lung Qi injury causes coughing and spitting blood when fatigued. Pulses that are fine, tight, floating, or rapid all indicate hematemesis, caused by agitation and anger, leading to Lung injury and Qi stagnation.
Wind-stroke in the Lung causes dry mouth and panting, dizziness and heaviness, dizziness, and swelling.
Cold in the Lung causes expectoration of turbid mucus.
Water in the Lung causes body swelling, difficulty urinating, and frequent loose stools resembling duck feces.
Lung distension causes deficiency with fullness, panting, and coughing, eyes protruding like popping out, and a floating-large pulse.
Duyang pulse is floating and slow; Shaoyang pulse is slightly tight. Slight indicates blood deficiency; tight indicates mild cold; this is Shu Ru (scrofula).
Diagnosing Lung accumulation: pulse is floating, but feels elusive upon pressing. Periodic pain under the ribs radiating to the back, shortness of breath, forgetfulness, closed eyes, abscesses, cold skin. Improves in autumn, worsens in summer. Main symptom is intermittent pain in the skin, like lice crawling; severely, like needle pricks, sometimes itching, with white color.
The accumulation of the Lung is named Xi Ben, located under the right hypochondrium, covering an area the size of a cup, persisting for a long time. Symptoms include chills, fever, rebellious Qi, panting, coughing, and developing Lung Abscess. It is contracted on Jia or Yi days in spring. Why? Heart disease transmits to the Lung; the Lung should transmit to the Liver. However, the Liver is prosperous in spring, and prosperity rejects pathogens. The Lung tries to return the pathogen to the Heart, but the Heart refuses. Thus, it stays and forms an accumulation. Hence, Xi Ben is contracted in spring.
In Lung disease, the body should have fever, cough, shortness of breath, and expectoration of pus and blood. The pulse should be short and choppy. Now, if it is contrary and floating-large, and the color should be white but is actually red, this is Fire overcoming Metal, a great reversal, ten deaths, untreatable.
Shang tone, human, governs Lung sound. Lung sound is weeping; its instrument is the Qing (chime); its emotion is joy; its meridian is Hand Taiyin. Reversal in Yangming causes Ying and Wei circulation to block, and Yin-Yang to reverse. Yang Qi strikes internally, Yin Qi is injured externally. Injury causes cold; cold causes deficiency; deficiency leads to severe wind. Invasion causes trembling during breathing, hoarse and scattered voice. Lower Qi is short and exhausted, limbs are weak and paralyzed, complexion is blue-spotted, enuresis and incontinence occur. Severe cases are untreatable. Ma Huang Xu Ming Tang (Ephedra Continuation Life Decoction) governs this (formula in Volume 8, Chapter on Thief Wind).
Again, speaking of hoarse voice, urgent panting, shortness of breath, and preference for spitting, this is Fire overcoming Metal. Yang strikes Yin, Yin Qi sinks, Yang Qi rises. Rising leads to excess; excess leads to heat; heat leads to mania. Mania causes closing eyes, palpitations, and abnormal speech. Red mouth opening, drinking without measure, this heat injures the Lung, transforming Lung into blood, untreatable. If the face is red but the nose is not deviated, it is treatable.
Lung disease manifesting as malaria causes heart chills; severe chills lead to fever; between fevers, there is fright and hallucinations. Hengshan Tang (Swallowwort Decoction) governs this (formula in Volume 10, Chapter on Warm Malaria). If the person originally had a loud voice but suddenly loses it, struggling to speak, unlike others, staring straight ahead without responding when called, although said to be not sick, death is imminent. This is the sign of Lung disease affecting the voice. Observing diseases, interior and exterior correspond; treating according to the source ensures no error.
White corresponds to the Lung; the Lung combines with the skin. White like pork fat is auspicious. The Lung governs the nose; the nose is the remainder of the Lung. People with Metal constitution resemble Shang tone, have white complexion, small head, square face, small shoulders and back, small abdomen, small hands and feet, move lightly. They are lean and quick, calm and brave, prefer administrative work. Endure autumn and winter, not spring and summer. Spring and summer infections cause disease. Governed by Ren and Taiyin, modest. Thick and upright shoulders and chest indicate correct Lung response. Fine white skin texture indicates small Lung; small Lung drinks less and does not suffer from panting. Coarse texture indicates large Lung; large Lung is deficient, deficient Lung suffers from cold, wheezing, drinks more, prone to disease, massive chest and throat obstruction. Retracted shoulders and sunken chest/throat indicate high Lung; high Lung is excess, excess Lung has heat, upward Qi, shoulder tension, cough. Adducted axillae and spread ribs indicate low Lung; low Lung presses on Gan, causing hypochondriac pain, nasal congestion, polyps. Good thick shoulders and back indicate firm Lung; firm Lung does not suffer from cough or upward Qi. Thin shoulders and back indicate fragile Lung; fragile Lung easily injured by heat, panting, epistaxis. Good shoulders and chest indicate upright Lung; upright Lung is harmonious and hard to injure. Slanted chest indicates tilted Lung; tilted Lung causes unilateral chest pain and nasal disease. Any depression or elevation in these areas indicates disease. Large Intestine and Yangming are the domains of the Lung, connecting internally and reflecting externally. Deep and turbid is internal; floating and clear is external. If external disease enters internally, the domain elevates; if internal disease exits externally, the domain sinks. External entry treats Yang first, Yin second; internal exit treats Yin first, Yang second. Excess drains, deficiency tonifies. Yang governs exterior, Yin governs interior. In life and death, organ spirits transform externally. Before Lung death, the nose opens and dries. If Lung spirit dies, the nasal bridge breaks, nostrils close, turning blue-black. If the forehead color matches the grave color, death is certain and untreatable. Observe color depth to judge duration; far not exceeding one year, near not delaying months. If Lung disease slightly recovers then sudden death occurs, how to know? Red-black spots like thumbprint on cheeks indicate sudden death. Lung exhaustion leads to death in three days. How to know? Mouth open, air exits but does not return, white face, green eyes, this is chaotic meridians. Drinking in wind allows wind to enter Lung meridian, Gallbladder Qi leaks wildly, eyes turn green. Even with heavenly rescue, recovery is impossible. Yellow face, white eyes like dead bones indicate death. Auspicious and inauspicious colors depend on domain order. Smooth face with red/white entering nose indicates disease within the year. If not corresponding to the year, disaster will occur within three years.
Autumn Metal Lung, pulse and color white, governs Hand Taiyin meridian. In autumn, select Jing-River and Shu points. Autumn is when Metal begins to govern; Lung prepares to harvest and kill; Metal overcomes Fire, Yang Qi is in He-Sea points. Yin Qi initially prevails, dampness reaches the body. Yin is not yet strong, cannot penetrate deeply, so select Shu to drain Yin evil, select He to empty Yang evil. Yang Qi begins to decline, so select He points. The pulse originates in the Cun Kou, two cun behind the palm between the two tendons, corresponding to the axillary artery. The pulse root is in Tai Cang, three cun above the umbilicus.
The sinews originate above the thumb, run up the finger, knot behind the thenar eminence, travel along the lateral side of the Cun Kou, up the arm, knot at the elbow and medial upper arm, enter the axilla, emerge above the clavicle, knot at the shoulder front, ascend to knot at the clavicle, descend to knot in the chest interior, scatter through the diaphragm to the costal margin.
The meridian originates in the Middle Jiao, descends to connect with the Large Intestine, returns along the stomach opening, ascends through the diaphragm to belong to the Lung. From the Lung system, it emerges horizontally into the axilla, runs down the medial arm, anterior to the Shaoyin and Pericardium meridians, down to the elbow, then along the medial arm, inferior to the bone, enters the Cun Kou, ascends to the thenar eminence, follows the Yu Ji, exits at the tip of the thumb. The branch from the wrist goes directly to the radial side of the index finger, exiting at its tip. Combines with Hand Yangming as exterior-interior. The root of Yangming is in the elbow bone, meeting together with Hand Taiyin.
The Luo-connecting vessel of Taiyin is named Lieque, originating between the axillary divisions, running parallel to the Taiyin meridian directly into the palm, scattering into the thenar eminence, diverging to the Hand Yangming, governing Lung diseases. Excess disease indicates Large Intestine heat; heat causes hand contractions and palm elevation, leading to Yang disease. Yang pulse reverses and is three times larger than the Cun Kou pulse. Symptoms include cough, upward panting, vexation, chest fullness, pain along the anterior medial arm, and hot palms. Excess Qi causes shoulder and back wind-pain and sweating. Stroke deficiency indicates Large Intestine cold; cold causes yawning and cough, urinary incontinence and frequency. Frequency indicates Yin disease. Yin pulse is smaller than the Cun Kou pulse by half. Symptoms include cold pain in shoulder and back, shortness of breath, and insufficient respiration.
The three months of autumn govern the Lung and Large Intestine, White Qi, and Li disease. Its source strikes Hand Taiyin from Taiyang. Taiyin receives excessive pathogenic Qi, causing meridian blockage, tight standing of hair and skin, releasing evil generation, injuring the Zang and warming the Fu, following autumn to receive plague. The disease is contrary. If the Fu is deficient, it is injured by Yin evil, alternating cold and heat, damaging Lung and Qi, acute cough and vomiting. If the Zang is excess, it is damaged by Yang toxin, body heat with macules, panting and thirst, hence named White Qi Li disease.
Bian Que said: Moxibustion on the Back-Shu points of Heart and Lung treats Erysipelas and Bai Li disease. Treat according to the source, regulate Yang, manage Yin, and diseases of the zang and fu will not arise.