《素问·厥论》帝曰∶厥之寒热者，何也？岐伯曰∶阳气衰于下，则为寒厥；阴气衰于下，则为热厥。
阴阳之气根于肾，肾者足少阴也。其气由脏腑出于经脉，升降流行，仍归于脏，循环不休。如气有偏倾，
则升降不调，而经脉郁闭，阴阳相格，不得交通，乃为厥逆。以其根于足少阴经，故厥起于足，阳衰为寒厥，
阴衰为热厥也。
帝曰∶热厥之为热也，必起于足下者，何也？岐伯曰∶阳气起于足五趾之表，阴脉者集于足下，而聚于足
心，故阳气胜则足下热也。
阴脉集于足下而聚足心，足心肾经之涌泉穴也。足三阴经行于趾内，足三阳经行于趾外，而阴阳之气，
交接于指尖，互相通和而流行者，阳气胜则溢于阴位，故足下热也。
帝曰∶寒厥之为寒也，必从五指而上于膝者，何也？岐伯曰∶阴气起于五指之里，集于膝下而聚于膝上，
故阴气胜，则从五指至膝上寒，其寒也，不从外，皆从内也。
阳气行于指表者不热，而阴气行于指里者独寒，以阴气集膝下而聚膝上，故寒不从外，而从五指之内上
于膝，其阴盛阳衰可见矣。
帝曰∶寒厥何失而然也？岐伯曰∶前阴者，宗筋之所聚，太阴、阳明之所合也。春夏则阳气多而阴气少，
秋冬则阴气盛而阳气衰。此人者质壮，以秋冬夺于所
用，下气上争不能复，精气溢下，邪气因从之而上也。气因于中，阳气衰，不能渗营其经络，阳气日损，阴气
独在，故手足为之寒也。
太阴、阳明，统一身之阴阳，而阳明又主润宗筋者也。男女皆有宗筋，而聚于前阴，为太阴、阳明之所会
合者也，故一身阴阳之气，亦聚会于此，以为生育之本也。人身与天地协议气化者，故春夏则阳升而多，阴降
而少；秋冬则阴升而盛，阳降而衰。此人本质强壮，恃强妄作，秋冬阳气本衰而又伤之，夺其所用，迨冬至阳
将升，与阴上争而不能复其元。上争者，如剥卦，剥必转复，阴阳方和。阳气既夺，不能复则不能应时升旺，
其精气散溢而反下泄，阴邪之气，乘虚上僭，夫阴阳和平之元气，因中敷布而达外者也，阳气衰，则不能敷布
渗营其经络，而阳日损，阴气独在，故手足皆寒，而为厥逆也。
帝曰∶热厥何如而然也？岐伯曰∶酒入于胃，则络脉满而经脉虚，脾主为胃行其津液者也，阴气虚则阳气
入，阳气入则胃不和，胃不和则精气竭，精气竭则不营其四肢也。此人必数醉若饱以入房，气聚于脾中不得
散，酒气与谷气相薄，热盛于中，故热遍于身，内热而溺赤也。夫酒气盛而 悍，肾气日衰，阳气独胜，故手
足为之热也。
络脉属卫，卫为阳；经脉属营，营为阴。酒气 悍助卫，故络脉满而经脉虚也。营卫之气出于脾胃，脾主
为胃行其津液者也，阴气虚则阳侵入而胃不和，胃不和则水谷精气耗竭，而不营运于四肢也。此由醉饱欲火劫
烁阴精，阳气变成邪热，聚于脾中不散，脾主肌肉，故热遍于身，内热而溺赤也。肾阴之气因而日衰，邪阳之
气独胜，故手足之热尤甚于身，名为热厥也。
Huangdi asked: What is the reason for cold or heat manifestations in Jue syndrome (a condition characterized by coldness or heat in the extremities due to counterflow of Qi)? Qibo replied: When Yang Qi (the active, warming energy) is deficient in the lower part, Cold Jue occurs; when Yin Qi (the passive, cooling energy) is deficient in the lower part, Heat Jue occurs.
Yin and Yang Qi are rooted in the Kidney (Zang organ associated with water, essence, and reproduction), which corresponds to the Foot-Shaoyin Meridian. Qi from the Zang-Fu organs emerges into the meridians, ascending and descending, circulating continuously, and eventually returning to the Zang organs. If Qi becomes unbalanced, the ascending and descending mechanisms become disordered, leading to stagnation and closure of the meridians. Yin and Yang repel each other, failing to communicate, resulting in Ni-Jue (counterflow reversal). Since the root lies in the Foot-Shaoyin Meridian, Jue originates in the feet. Deficiency of Yang manifests as Cold Jue, while deficiency of Yin manifests as Heat Jue.
Huangdi asked: Why does Heat Jue, characterized by heat, necessarily begin at the sole of the foot? Qibo replied: Yang Qi arises from the exterior aspect of the five toes. The Yin meridians converge at the sole and gather at the Yongquan point (KI-1, located in the depression of the sole). Therefore, when Yang Qi is excessive, the sole becomes hot.
The Yin meridians converge at the sole and gather at the Yongquan point, which belongs to the Kidney Meridian. The Three-Yin Meridians of the Foot run along the medial side of the toes, while the Three-Yang Meridians of the Foot run along the lateral side. Yin and Yang Qi intersect at the fingertips, flowing smoothly and harmoniously. When Yang Qi is excessive, it overflows into the Yin regions, causing heat in the sole.
Huangdi asked: Why does Cold Jue, characterized by cold, necessarily start from the five toes and ascend to the knees? Qibo replied: Yin Qi arises from the interior aspect of the five toes, converges below the knee, and gathers above the knee. Therefore, when Yin Qi is excessive, coldness extends from the toes to above the knees. This coldness does not come from the exterior but arises entirely from within.
Yang Qi running on the exterior of the toes does not feel hot, whereas Yin Qi running in the interior of the toes feels distinctly cold. Because Yin Qi gathers below and above the knee, the coldness does not invade from the outside but ascends from the interior of the toes to the knee, indicating an excess of Yin and deficiency of Yang.
Huangdi asked: What error leads to Cold Jue? Qibo replied: The anterior yin (genital area) is where the Zongjin (tendons/membranes, specifically referring to the male external genitalia and surrounding fascia) gather, and it is the convergence point of the Taiyin and Yangming meridians. In spring and summer, Yang Qi is abundant and Yin Qi is scarce; in autumn and winter, Yin Qi is abundant and Yang Qi is scarce. A person with a robust constitution who overexerts themselves during autumn and winter causes the lower Qi to contend upward without recovering. Essence and Qi leak downward, and pathogenic Qi follows upward. Qi becomes stagnant in the middle jiao, Yang Qi declines, and fails to permeate and nourish the meridians. Yang Qi diminishes daily, leaving only Yin Qi, resulting in cold hands and feet.
The Taiyin and Yangming meridians govern the Yin and Yang of the whole body, and the Yangming meridian specifically moistens the Zongjin. Both men and women have Zongjin, which gather at the anterior yin, serving as the meeting point of the Taiyin and Yangming meridians. Thus, the Yin and Yang Qi of the entire body also converge here, forming the basis for reproduction. The human body coordinates with Heaven and Earth to adapt to Qi transformation. In spring and summer, Yang rises and increases, while Yin descends and decreases; in autumn and winter, Yin rises and becomes abundant, while Yang descends and declines. A person with a strong constitution relies on their strength and acts recklessly. In autumn and winter, when Yang Qi is naturally weak, they further damage it through overexertion. By the time of the Winter Solstice, when Yang Qi should rise, it contends with Yin upward but fails to restore its original state. This contention is like the Gua Bo (Hexagram Bo/Peeling); after peeling comes Fu (Hexagram Fu/Return), where Yin and Yang harmonize. However, since Yang Qi has been depleted and cannot recover, it fails to flourish according to the season. Essence and Qi scatter and leak downward, allowing Yin pathogenic Qi to usurp position vacuously. The originally balanced Yuan Qi (Original Qi) spreads from the center to the exterior. With Yang Qi deficient, it cannot spread and permeate the meridians. Yang Qi diminishes daily, leaving only Yin Qi, causing cold hands and feet and resulting in Ni-Jue.
Huangdi asked: How does Heat Jue occur? Qibo replied: When wine enters the stomach, the Luo-connecting vessels become full while the Jing-main meridians become empty. The Spleen’s function is to transport fluids for the Stomach. When Yin Qi is deficient, Yang Qi invades inward. When Yang Qi invades inward, the Stomach becomes disharmonious. When the Stomach is disharmonious, Essence and Qi are exhausted. When Essence and Qi are exhausted, the four limbs are not nourished. Such individuals often engage in sexual intercourse while drunk or after eating until full. Qi accumulates in the Spleen and cannot disperse. The Qi of wine and grain clash, creating intense heat in the middle jiao. Consequently, heat pervades the body, causing internal heat and dark urine. Wine Qi is potent and fierce, causing daily decline of Kidney Qi and excessive dominance of Yang Qi, resulting in hot hands and feet.
Luo vessels belong to Wei Qi (Defensive Qi, yang nature); Jing meridians belong to Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi, yin nature). The fierce nature of wine Qi assists Wei Qi, causing fullness in the Luo vessels and emptiness in the Jing meridians. Ying and Wei Qi originate from the Spleen and Stomach. The Spleen transports fluids for the Stomach. When Yin Qi is deficient, Yang Qi invades, leading to Stomach disharmony. Stomach disharmony causes exhaustion of Grain Essence, preventing circulation to the four limbs. This results from drunkenness and overeating combined with sexual desire, which scorches Yin Essence, transforming Yang Qi into Pathogenic Heat. This heat accumulates in the Spleen and does not disperse. Since the Spleen governs muscles, heat pervades the body, causing internal heat and dark urine. Kidney Yin Qi declines daily, while Pathogenic Yang Qi dominates excessively. Thus, heat in the hands and feet is more severe than in the rest of the body, a condition named Heat Jue.