帝曰∶何以别之?岐伯曰∶肺热者,色白而毛败;心热者,色赤而络脉溢;肝热者,色苍而爪枯;脾热
者,色黄而肉蠕动;肾热者,色黑而齿槁。
肺色白而主皮毛,故热灼则毛败;心色赤而主血脉,血藏于络,热动其血,故络脉浮溢,甚或如上文之溲
血也;肝色苍而主筋,爪为筋之余,热盛液干,故爪枯也;脾色黄而主肉,热极生风,风动则肉蠕动,俗所
云肉跳也;肾色黑而主骨,齿为骨之
余,热灼精耗,则骨枯而齿亦槁矣。
帝曰∶论言治痿者独取阳明,何也?岐伯曰∶阳明者,五脏六腑之海,主润宗筋,宗筋主束骨而利机关也。
冲脉者,经脉之海也,主渗灌溪谷,与阳明合于宗筋。阴阳总宗筋之会,会于气街,而阳明为之长,皆属于带
脉,而络于督脉,故阳明虚则宗筋纵,带脉不引,故足痿不用也。
阳明胃中水谷精气,充养一身,故为脏腑之海,而濡润宗筋。冲脉为经脉之海,而血盛以渗灌溪谷者。凡
经脉骨节交会罅隙,皆如溪谷,而血液由之渗灌以濡润也。冲脉与阳明之气合于宗筋,阳明为阳,冲脉为阴,
以其为海,故总一身阴阳之气,会合于宗筋,又统宗筋之气,会于气街,气街在脐下阳明经穴,故阳明为经脉
之长也。宗筋者,总一身之筋,所以主束骨而利机关,以此阴阳经气总会之处,皆属于带脉,而络于督脉,故
二脉又约束一身之经脉,皆由阳明所滋养,故阳明虚则一身经脉失养,而宗筋弛缓,带脉不能维引,故足痿不
用,所以治痿者,独取于阳明也。
帝曰∶治之奈何?岐伯曰∶各补其荥而通其俞,调其虚实,和其逆顺。筋脉骨肉,各以其时受月,则病已
矣。
荥俞为经气流行出入之穴,阴阳各经皆有者。补荥通俞,言针法也,而用药当参究上文取阳明之理,调其
虚实,和其逆顺,为善法也。筋、脉、骨、肉乃肝、心、肾、脾四脏所主,而四脏各随其时以受旺气,如春则
肝受旺气,夏则心受旺气,冬则肾受旺气,长夏未月则脾受旺气,遇受旺气之月,则病可已矣。如筋痿愈于春,
脉痿愈于夏,肉痿愈于季夏,骨痿愈于冬也。然此独不及
皮毛者,以肺热叶焦,必伤筋脉,方成痿 ,若未伤筋脉骨肉,而止伤皮毛,则不成痿也。
The Yellow Emperor asked, "How can they be distinguished?" Qibo replied, "When the Lung is hot, the complexion is white and the hair becomes brittle; when the Heart is hot, the complexion is red and the collateral vessels (Luo Mai) are full and overflowing; when the Liver is hot, the complexion is bluish-green and the nails become withered; when the Spleen is hot, the complexion is yellow and the muscles twitch; when the Kidney is hot, the complexion is black and the teeth become dry and brittle.
The Lung's color is white and it governs the skin and hair, so heat scorching causes the hair to deteriorate; the Heart's color is red and it governs the blood vessels, with blood stored in the collaterals; heat agitates the blood, causing the collateral vessels to float and overflow, and in severe cases, even hematuria (blood in urine) as mentioned earlier; the Liver's color is bluish-green and it governs the sinews, while the nails are the surplus of the sinews; excessive heat dries up body fluids, causing the nails to wither; the Spleen's color is yellow and it governs the flesh; extreme heat generates wind, and wind movement causes muscle twitching, commonly known as 'muscle jumping'; the Kidney's color is black and it governs the bones, while the teeth are the surplus of the bones; heat scorching and essence consumption lead to bone withering and consequently dry, brittle teeth.
The Yellow Emperor asked, "Treatises state that for treating Wei syndrome (flaccidity syndrome), one should exclusively select the Yangming channel. Why is this?" Qibo replied, "Yangming is the sea of the five zang and six fu organs, primarily moistening the Zong Jin (major tendons). The Zong Jin binds the bones and facilitates joint movement. The Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) is the sea of the twelve regular channels, primarily seeping and irrigating the muscle valleys (Xigu), and it converges with Yangming at the Zong Jin. Yin and Yang all converge at the Zong Jin, meeting at the Qijie (groin area where arteries pulse), with Yangming taking the lead. They all belong to the Dai Mai (Girdle Vessel) and connect to the Du Mai (Governor Vessel). Therefore, if Yangming is deficient, the Zong Jin becomes lax, and the Dai Mai fails to draw, resulting in flaccidity and inability to use the legs.
The water and grain essence from the Stomach of Yangming nourish the whole body, thus serving as the sea of the zang and fu organs, thereby moistening the Zong Jin. The Chong Mai is the sea of the regular channels, with abundant blood seeping and irrigating the muscle valleys. All intersections between regular channels and bone joints are like valleys, through which blood seeps to moisten tissues. The Qi of the Chong Mai and Yangming combine at the Zong Jin. Yangming is Yang, and Chong Mai is Yin; because both are 'seas,' they collectively command the qi of yin and yang throughout the body, converging at the Zong Jin. Furthermore, they govern the qi of the Zong Jin, converging at the Qijie point, which is located below the navel on the Yangming channel. Thus, Yangming is the leader of the regular channels. The Zong Jin summarizes all sinews in the body, binding bones and facilitating joint movement. Since this is the convergence point of yin and yang channel qi, it belongs to the Dai Mai and connects to the Du Mai. These two vessels constrain the regular channels of the body, all of which are nourished by Yangming. Therefore, Yangming deficiency leads to a loss of nourishment for the entire body's channels, laxity of the Zong Jin, and failure of the Dai Mai to support and draw, resulting in leg flaccidity and inability to move. This is why treating Wei syndrome involves exclusively selecting Yangming.
The Yellow Emperor asked, "How should it be treated?" Qibo replied, "Tonify the Ying-Spring points and unblock the Shu-Stream points of each respective channel, regulate excess and deficiency, and harmonize reversal and normal flow. Treating the sinews, vessels, bones, and flesh according to their respective months of dominance will result in recovery.
Ying-Spring and Shu-Stream points are acupoints where channel qi flows in and out, present in all yin and yang channels. Tonifying Ying and unblocking Shu refers to acupuncture techniques; however, herbal treatment should also refer to the principle of selecting Yangming mentioned above, regulating excess and deficiency, and harmonizing reversal and normal flow, which constitutes a good method. Sinews, vessels, bones, and flesh are governed by the Liver, Heart, Kidney, and Spleen respectively. Each organ receives vigorous qi according to its season: the Liver receives vigorous qi in Spring, the Heart in Summer, the Kidney in Winter, and the Spleen in Late Summer (the sixth month). When encountering the month of vigorous qi reception, the disease can be cured. For instance, Sinew Wei recovers in Spring, Vessel Wei in Summer, Flesh Wei in Late Summer, and Bone Wei in Winter. However, the skin and hair are not mentioned here because Lung Heat with scorched leaves inevitably damages sinews and vessels, forming Wei syndrome. If only the skin and hair are damaged without affecting sinews, vessels, bones, or flesh, Wei syndrome does not form."