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In the "Da Huo Lun" (Treatise on Great Confusion) of the *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot), the Yellow Emperor asked: "What qi causes a person to be ill and unable to lie down (sleep)?" Qibo replied: "When Wei Qi (Defensive Qi, qi circulating outside the vessels providing defense and warming) fails to enter the Yin aspect, it remains constantly in the Yang aspect. Remaining in the Yang aspect leads to an excess of Yang Qi; an excess of Yang Qi results in hyperactivity of the Yang Qiao Mai (One of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels, originating from the inner heel, governing eyelid opening). Failure to enter the Yin aspect leads to deficiency of Yin Qi; thus, the eyes cannot close (insomnia)."

This passage discusses insomnia caused by illness, which is also due to the failure of Wei Qi to enter Yin. The pathogenesis is identical to that of the Banxia Tang (Pinellia Decoction) syndrome mentioned earlier; however, the underlying disease may stem from external contraction or internal injury, requiring careful differentiation first.

The Yellow Emperor asked: "What qi causes a person to be ill and unable to open their eyes to see?" Qibo replied: "When Wei Qi remains in the Yin aspect and fails to circulate to the Yang aspect, remaining in Yin leads to an excess of Yin Qi; an excess of Yin Qi results in fullness of the Yin Qiao Mai (One of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels, originating from the inner heel, governing eyelid closing). Failure to circulate to the Yang aspect leads to deficiency of Yang Qi; thus, the eyes remain closed."

This condition is the counterpart to the previous clause. When Wei Qi emerges from Yang, the eyes open; if it remains in Yang without circulating, the eyes cannot close (insomnia). When Wei Qi enters Yin, the eyes close (sleep); if it remains in Yin without circulating, the eyes stay closed and cannot open. When Wei Qi remains in Yang, the Yang Qiao Mai becomes full; when it remains in Yin, the Yin Qiao Mai becomes full. Therefore, the Yin and Yang Qiao Mai are the gateways and pathways for Wei Qi to exit Yang and enter Yin, and vice versa.

The Yellow Emperor asked: "What qi causes a person to sleep excessively?" Qibo replied: "This person has large intestines and stomach, dry/stagnant skin, and unresolved intermuscular spaces. Large intestines and stomach cause Wei Qi to remain inside for a long time; dry/stagnant skin causes unresolved intermuscular spaces, making its movement slow. Wei Qi normally circulates in Yang during the day and in Yin at night; thus, when Yang Qi is exhausted, one sleeps, and when Yin Qi is exhausted, one wakes. Because the intestines and stomach are large, Wei Qi remains inside for a long time; because the skin is dry/stagnant and intermuscular spaces are unresolved, its movement is slow. Remaining in Yin for a long time makes the Qi impure and unvigorous, leading to drowsiness; thus, excessive sleeping occurs."

This passage discusses how large intestines and stomach combined with dry/stagnant skin prevent smooth circulation, causing the emergence of Wei Qi to the exterior to be sluggish; simultaneously, large intestines and stomach cause Wei Qi to remain inside for a long time. The exterior is Yang, the interior is Yin. Since Wei Qi remains in Yin for a long time, Yang Qi is not pure and vigorous, leading to mental dullness and fatigue, resulting in excessive sleeping.

If a person has small intestines and stomach, smooth and relaxed skin, and resolved intermuscular spaces, Wei Qi remains in Yang for a long time; thus, they sleep less (less somnolence).

This stands in contrast to the previous clause to elucidate the principle.