Library

Xia Yuzhu stated: The Heart is the master of the entire body, governing all parts. It specifically governs Blood (the fluid nourishing the body) and specifically controls Shen (Spirit/Mind). (For instance, palpitations and restlessness belong to Heart Deficiency.) Tears (tearing without an obvious cause indicate Heart Heat). The penis (swelling of the genital organ indicates Heart Heat). Sweat (sweating while emaciated and at rest indicates Heart Qi Deficiency). For any of the above conditions, treatment should focus on the Heart.

Tu Weisheng stated: Sweat is a transformed state of Yang Qi in the human body. When water is ingested and enters the Stomach, it undergoes transformation by Fire. The portion that transforms into Qi spreads upward and outward through the microscopic vessels throughout the Stomach wall, dispersing among the muscles of the whole body; this is Wei Qi (Defensive Qi). The portion that does not fully transform undergoes another evaporation process in the Bladder, moving upward and reaching the exterior; only the remaining dregs are discharged downward as urine. Essentially, the Bladder is like a pot containing water, and the Dantian (Lower Abdomen/Energy Center) is like the firewood added to the stove bottom. The Qi emerging from the Bladder and Kidneys moves upward to form Jin-Ye (Body Fluids) at the mouth and nose, and reaches the skin externally to form Wei Qi. The occurrence of sweat is akin to air moisture turning into rain upon encountering cold, or breath condensing into water when touching lacquered stone. If Wei Yang (Defensive Yang) is already deficient and cannot maintain control, subsequent Qi will drip and leak out continuously. This spontaneous sweating flowing from the interior to the exterior is defined as spontaneous sweating due to Yang Deficiency. However, sweat belongs to Yang, while Blood belongs to Yin. Blood cannot grow without Qi, and Qi cannot be retained without Blood. Therefore, the theory that resting sweat should be treated via the Heart has its rationale.

The Spleen specifically governs Yuan Qi (Primary Qi). (Weakness of Qi indicates Spleen Deficiency.) Qi (also separately governs sweat; Qi Deficiency leads to night sweats). Muscles (emaciation indicates Spleen Deficiency). Phlegm (active excess phlegm is due to Spleen Dampness; active deficiency phlegm is due to Spleen Deficiency.). Overthinking (excessive worry injures the Spleen). For any of the above conditions, treatment should focus on the Spleen.

Tu Weisheng stated: Observing this, it appears Xia Yuzhu did not fully grasp the general principles regarding the generation of Qi and the origins of sweat. Regarding the generation of Qi, I briefly mentioned it in the previous section. However, the reason the Stomach and Bladder can generate Qi relies entirely on the innate True Yang Qi located between the two Kidneys. With this spark of True Yang Qi, the acquired Qi of the Spleen and Stomach can subsequently be generated. Between the two Kidneys lies the Mingmen (Gate of Life) True Fire. Fire hidden within Water generates the Qi of the Kidney system and the Sanjiao (Triple Burner) fatty membranes, which then enables the generation of Zang-Fu organs and their Qi and Blood. Thus, this type of Qi is called Yuan Qi (Primary Qi), which cannot be compared merely to the Spleen's role in transportation and transformation assisting Qi and Blood. Night sweats are clearly due to Yin Deficiency, differing from spontaneous sweating due to Yang Deficiency. The reason Yin Deficiency causes night sweats is that since Yin Blood is deficient, Fire lacks nourishment. Consequently, during sleep when Qi returns to Yin Blood, Fire invades the Qi level, forcing it out as sweat. The distinction between deficiency and excess phlegm is indeed ambiguous and will become clear after reading further. As for his statement that overthinking injures the Spleen, this mostly applies to adults, with few cases in children. Because the Yang of Heart Fire can generate the Yang Earth of the Spleen, and the Yin of Heart Blood can generate the Yin Earth of the Spleen. Now, if Heart Fire persists due to overthinking, Yin Blood is scorched and injured, and the soft fluids relied upon by the Spleen to digest solid food substances are thereby damaged; hence, it is said to injure the Spleen.

The Lung specifically governs Voice. (Weak voice indicates Lung Deficiency; inability to produce sound despite having voice indicates obstruction by Phlegm; scattered voice indicates failure of Lung Qi to consolidate; absence of voice indicates Lung Exhaustion.) Heat (Heat emanates from the Lung). Hair/Skin (fragmentary itching indicates Lung Dryness; lack of lubrication indicates Lung Deficiency). Cou-Li (Skin pores and interstices; if internal and external flesh/skin are not tight, sweat occurs). For any of the above conditions, treatment should focus on the Lung.

Tu Weisheng stated: Human skin possesses pores, commonly known as hair follicles, unlike copper or iron which are solid plates impermeable to air. If we examine the human body under a microscope, we see that upon exhalation, the pores open to exhale air; upon inhalation, the pores close to inhale air. Furthermore, observing sweating in hot weather reveals that although Heat exits via the Lung, it is not generated by the Lung. Generally, when food and drink enter the Stomach, their essence must undergo Fire transformation to become Jin-Ye (Body Fluids) and Qi/Blood, filling the Zang-Fu organs and circulating through the skin to warm the entire body. Regarding his claim that the Lung governs Cou-Li, he fails to recognize that Cou-Li refers to the white membrane between fat and muscle, connected to the internal Sanjiao fatty membranes, and governed by Shao Yang (Lesser Yang). The Shao Yang system originates from the kidney's subcutaneous fat and omental membranes, extending upward to form the diaphragm, liver capsules, pericardium, and connecting with the body's Cou-Li. Although Shao Yang has Hand and Foot meridians, the fatty membranes above and below, inside and outside, are identical. If Shao Yang Qi is robust, it can retain sweat and prevent overflow. Otherwise, if its Qi is deficient and decadent, or attacked by Wind Pathogens, sweat will inevitably leak out.

The Liver specifically governs Blood. (Weak Blood indicates Liver Deficiency.) Blood (also separately governs sweat; Blood Deficiency leads to spontaneous sweating). Tendons (twitching and pulling indicate Liver Wind). For any of the above conditions, treatment should focus on the Liver.

Tu Weisheng stated: Spontaneous sweating due to Yang Deficiency was explained earlier. Xia Yuzhu's annotation attributing it to Blood Deficiency spontaneous sweating is somewhat erroneous. As for why Liver Wind causes twitching, it is mostly due to Blood Deficiency failing to nourish the tendons.

The Kidney specifically governs Bones, Teeth, and Ears. For any of the above conditions, treatment should focus on the Kidney.

Tu Weisheng stated: The reason the Kidney governs bones, and why treating bone diseases requires treating the Kidney, is a subtle yet understandable principle. Western medicine discusses bones with extreme precision and fine classification but lacks effective treatments for bone diseases because they do not know that bones are governed by the Kidney. The reason bones are governed by the Kidney is that between the two Kidneys lies a strip of white membrane, the Kidney system, penetrating through the spinal column. The marrow within the spinal bones is the fat generated by the Kidneys. With this fat and marrow, large and small bones are subsequently formed throughout the body. Therefore, treating bone atrophy and degeneration should involve nourishing Kidney Yin.

Xia Yuzhu stated: Injuries to the interior of the Spleen and Lung enter from the exterior. For example, excessive parental indulgence leads to dietary injury of the Spleen; negligent care leads to injury of the Lung by the Six Exogenous Pathogens (Wind, Cold, Summer-heat, Dampness, Dryness, Fire). As for the Heart, Liver, and Kidney, there are no injuries from the exterior. Upon reaching adulthood, excessive sexual desire and intercourse injure the Kidney; greed for money and grain injures the Heart; acting against routine and becoming angry injures the Liver. Such conditions are common everywhere. Although Zhuoxi [referring to the author or a specific physician] has good prescriptions, alas, the whip is too short to reach [idiom meaning unable to help due to distance or limitation].