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Human beings are born by inheriting the Yin and Yang of Heaven and Earth. Heaven has the Six Qi (Six atmospheric influences), which humans receive upwards through the Three Yin and Three Yang meridians; Earth has the Five Elements, to which humans correspond downwards through the Zang and Fu organs. Thus, skin, flesh, sinews, bones, marrow, essence, blood vessels, limbs, nine orifices, lips, and tongue are nourished and combined to form the human body. Externally, Qi and Blood circulate and flow into the meridians, making one susceptible to injury by the Six Pathogenic Factors (Wind, Cold, Summer-heat, Dampness, Dryness, Fire). Internally, Spirit, Soul, Will, and Intent are susceptible to influence by the Seven Emotions (Joy, Anger, Worry, Thought, Sorrow, Fear, Fright). If care is taken appropriately, one remains peaceful and tranquil, and life is sustained. Once a disease pattern is established, its origin must be traced. Therefore, ancient sages taught that this is called the "Source of Disease." Does not the Classic say: "The extremity of treatment lies in sealing doors and windows [preventing external invasion]; connect with the patient, frequently inquire about their meridians, and follow their intent." This is to know the root cause of the disease.

However, the Six Pathogenic Factors enter from Heaven via the meridians into the interior, combining with the Zang and Fu organs, constituting the "External Etiology"; the Seven Emotions are human nature; when stirred, they first stagnate and erupt from the Zang and Fu organs, constituting the "Internal Etiology"; there are also fractures, possession by evil spirits, attachments, fear of pressure or drowning, etc., which go against normal principles, constituting the "Neither Internal nor External Etiology." The *Jin Gui Yao Lue* states: "A thousand kinds of ailments do not exceed three categories." Based on this detailed analysis, the sources of disease are exhausted. To seek cure, one must find the categories within them and distinguish the Three Etiologies. Whether internal and external combine, or pathogenic factors and emotions intermingle, one must deduce the depth and treat according to the accompanying cause. Medicines, minerals, acupuncture, and moxibustion can all be applied without restriction.

Differentiating Pulse: Ancient people differentiated internal and external injuries in humans by the pulse at the Renying (ST9) and Qikou (LU9) points. If the Renying pulse is larger than the Qikou pulse, it indicates an external injury; if the Qikou pulse is larger than the Renying pulse, it indicates an internal injury. The left hand... is the pulse of Foot-Taiyang Bladder Water. Pressing it reveals a surging and forceful quality, with intermediate manifestations... If externally affected by Wind Evil, the Renying pulse becomes slow and large, or large... The Qikou pulse is larger than the Renying pulse by one fold; for severe injuries, it exceeds this proportion. Shaoyin then... This is the pulse of internal injury due to diet. If diet is irregular or labor/exertion is excessive, these three pulses appear throughout the Qikou area. This indicates Heart Fire punishing Lung Metal. Liver Wood carries Heart Fire... Choppy pulse... Carries Heart... As in one generation.

Differentiating Cold and Heat: Patterns of external Cold Evil injury, as well as diseases of dietary irregularity and physical exhaustion from labor, and internal injury from diet, all present with cold and heat. The world generally regards... Heat aversion... At the exterior... Invading, stagnating... Unable to... Cold. One... Irregular diet... Internal injury... Cold evil... Ordinary... Nothing... Yang day... Aversion... Downward. Cool place... Differentiate... Unblocked... Stagnation... Throat... Weakness of exterior deficiency, attacked by Yin Fire, dryness/heat arises briefly and passes; the exterior lacks Yang, unable to withstand Wind-Cold, which reappears. Exterior lack of Yang occurs frequently. Dryness/heat occurs intermittently. These two do not occur simultaneously; when dryness/heat appears, cold subsides, and when cold appears, dryness/heat subsides. Unlike external injuries where cold and heat occur together without interruption, making them difficult to differentiate.

Differentiating Wind Aversion in External vs. Internal Injury: External contraction of the Eight Winds is a syndrome of excess. Internal injury from dietary irregularity and labor/exertion are syndromes of deficiency. Subdivide... Entering the interior... Common. Dwelling... Nose... Not... Initially contracting illness from labor, food intake is low, urine is dark yellow, stool is often difficult, either constipated, bound, or feeling the urge to defecate but passing only small amounts of white pus, accompanied by occasional flatulence, or diarrhea yellow like millet gruel, or loose pale stool, or binding without passage. If there is epigastric fullness/stuffiness, or chest obstruction, pain like knife cutting. These two may appear mutually exclusively, not simultaneously. Sometimes pain occurs in the stomach region below the heart, radiating to both hypochondriac regions. The momentum of Ministerial Fire below the heart and umbilicus rises uncontrollably like a great river. Make... And... None of these symptoms... Hence easy to distinguish. Additionally, there are cases occurring during times of extreme weather heat, while traveling... Contracted... Severe... Syndrome... Reduced. Not... Deficient... Yes... Have... Cold/Cool... Avoid... Day... External thief... Must have shortness of breath.