肺象金。旺于秋。其脉如毛而浮。其候鼻。其声哭。其臭腥。其味辛。其液涕。其养皮
毛
其藏气。其色白。其神魄。手太阴其经也。与大肠合。大肠为腑主表。肺为脏主里。肺气
盛
为气有余。则病喘咳上气。肩背痛。汗出尻阴股膝 胫足皆痛。是为肺气之实也。则
宜泻之。肺气不足。则少气不能报息。耳聋嗌干。是为肺气之虚也。则宜补之。于四时病在
肺愈在冬。冬不愈。甚在夏。夏不死。持于长夏。起于秋。于日愈在壬癸。壬癸不愈。加于
丙丁。丙丁不死。持于戊己。起于庚辛。禁寒衣寒饮食。于时下晡慧。夜半静。日中甚。肺
欲收。急食酸以收之。以辛泄之。
肺部在右手关前寸口是也。平肺脉微短涩而如毛。秋以胃气为本。病肺脉来。上下如循
鸡羽
曰病肺病。其色白。身体但寒无热。时时欲咳。其脉微迟。为可治。秋金肺旺。其脉浮涩
而短。是曰平脉也。反得浮大而洪者。是心之乘肺。火之克金。为大逆不治。反得沉濡而滑
者。是肾之乘肺。子之乘母也。不治自愈。反得缓大而长阿阿者。是脾之乘肺。母之归子。
虽
病当愈。反得弦而长者。是肝之乘肺。木之凌金。为微邪。虽病当愈。肺脉来泛泛而轻。如
微风吹鸟背上毛。再至曰平。三至曰离经。四至曰夺精。五至曰死。六至曰命尽。肺脉来。
如
物之浮。如风吹毛。曰肺死。秋胃微毛曰平。胃气少毛多曰肺病。但如毛无胃气曰死。毛
有弦曰春病。弦甚曰今病。真肺脉至。大而虚。如毛羽中人肤然。其色青白不泽。毛折乃死。
The Lung corresponds to Metal in the Five Elements. It is prosperous in Autumn. Its pulse is light and floating like a feather. Its external manifestation reflects on the nose. Its sound is crying. Its odor is fishy. Its taste is pungent. Its fluid is nasal discharge. It nourishes the skin and hair. It stores Qi. Its complexion is white. Its spirit is Po (Corporeal Soul). The Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian is its meridian. It is interiorly-exteriorly related with the Large Intestine. The Large Intestine, as a Fu organ, governs the exterior; the Lung, as a Zang organ, governs the interior. Excess Lung Qi is called "excess of Qi," leading to symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, rebellious Qi ascending, shoulder and back pain, sweating, and pain in the sacrum, yin region, thighs, knees, shins, and feet. This is excess syndrome of Lung Qi, and it should be treated with draining methods. Deficiency of Lung Qi leads to shortness of breath, inability to take deep breaths, deafness, and dry throat. This is deficiency syndrome of Lung Qi, and it should be treated with tonifying methods. If the disease is in the Lung during the four seasons, recovery occurs in Winter. If not recovered in Winter, exacerbation occurs in Summer. If death does not occur in Summer, the condition persists in Late Summer. Recovery begins in Autumn. Regarding Heavenly Stems, recovery occurs on Ren and Gui days (Water). If not recovered on Ren/Gui, exacerbation occurs on Bing and Ding days (Fire). If death does not occur on Bing/Ding, the condition persists on Wu and Ji days (Earth). Recovery begins on Geng and Xin days (Metal). Cold clothing and cold food/drink are contraindicated. In a day, symptoms alleviate at dusk, are quiet at midnight, and worsen at noon. The Lung desires consolidation; quickly consume sour foods to consolidate it, and pungent foods to disperse it.
The Lung pulse can be palpated at the Cun Kou position before the Guan position on the right hand. A normal Lung pulse is slightly short, choppy, and light/floating like a feather. In Autumn, the pulse must have Stomach Qi as its foundation. When the Lung is diseased, the pulse feels like touching a chicken feather from top to bottom; this is called Lung disease. With a white complexion, body feeling only cold without fever, frequent desire to cough, and a slightly slow pulse, it is treatable. In Autumn, when Metal is prosperous and the Lung is strong, a floating, choppy, and short pulse is considered a normal pulse (Ping Mai). Conversely, obtaining a large, floating, and surging pulse indicates Heart Fire overacting on Lung Metal (Fire overcoming Metal), which is a major reversal and difficult to treat. Conversely, obtaining a deep, soft, and slippery pulse indicates Kidney Water overacting on Lung Metal (Child overacting on Mother); although ill, it will heal spontaneously. Conversely, obtaining a moderate, large, and long pulse indicates Spleen Earth overacting on Lung Metal (Mother returning to Child); although ill, it should recover. Conversely, obtaining a wiry and long pulse indicates Liver Wood overacting on Lung Metal (Wood suppressing Metal), which is a minor pathogenic factor; although ill, it should recover. The Lung pulse comes lightly and gently, like a breeze blowing feathers on a bird's back. Two beats per respiration cycle indicate normality. Three beats indicate deviation from the standard (Li Jing). Four beats indicate depletion of essence (Duo Jing). Five beats indicate death. Six beats indicate end of life. When the Lung pulse comes like a floating object or wind-blown feathers, it is a dying Lung pulse. In Autumn, a pulse slightly showing the "feather" quality with Stomach Qi is normal. Less Stomach Qi and more "feather" quality indicates Lung disease. Only "feather" quality without Stomach Qi indicates death. "Feather" quality with "wiry" quality indicates Spring disease. Strong "wiry" quality indicates current disease. When the true dying Lung pulse arrives, it is large and empty, sharp like feathers piercing human skin, with a cyan-white lusterless complexion, and brittle hair, indicating impending death.