《刺志论》曰∶气实形实，气虚形虚，此其常也，反此者病。（形归气，故虚实同焉。形
气相反，故病生。气，脉气。形，身形。）谷盛气盛，谷虚气虚，此其常也，反此者病。（营气之道，
内谷为实，谷入于胃，气传于肺，精者上行经隧。故谷气虚实，占必同焉。候不相应，则为病也。）脉实血实，
脉虚血虚，此其常也，反此者病。（脉者血之府，故虚实同焉。反不相应，则为病也。）如何而反？气
虚身热，此谓反也。（气虚为阳气不足，阳气不足当身寒，反身热者，脉气当盛，脉不盛而身热，证不相符，
故谓反也。《甲乙经》云∶气盛身寒，气虚身热，此谓反
也。）谷入多而气少，此谓反也。（谷入于胃，脉道乃行，今谷入多而气少者，是胃气不散，故反也。）谷
不入而气多，此谓反也。（胃气外散，肺并之也。）脉盛血少，此谓反也。脉少血多，此谓反
也。（经脉行气，络脉受血，经气入络，络受经气，候不相合，故皆反常。）
气盛身寒，得之伤寒。气虚身热，得之伤暑。（伤，谓感冒也。寒伤形，故气盛身寒。热伤
气，故气虚身热。）
《皮部论》曰∶百病之始生也，必先于皮毛，邪中之则腠理开，开则入客于络脉，
留而不去，传入于经，留而不去，传入于腑，廪于肠胃。（廪，积也，聚也。）邪之始入于
皮也，沂然起毫毛，开腠理；（沂然，恶寒也。起，谓毛起竖也。腠理，谓皮空及文理也。）其入于络也，
则络脉盛色变，（盛，谓盛满。变，谓易其常也。）其入客于经也，则感虚乃陷下；（经虚邪入，故曰
感虚。脉虚气少，故陷下也。）其留于筋骨之间，寒多则筋挛骨痛，热多则筋弛骨消，肉烁
破，毛直而败。（挛，急也。弛，缓也。消，烁也。寒则筋急，热则筋缓。寒胜为痛，热胜为气消。 者肉之
标，故肉消则 破毛直而败也。）
The *Cishi Lun* (Treatise on Acupuncture and Vital Qi) states: When vital qi is excess, the physical form is full; when vital qi is deficient, the physical form is weak. This is the normal state. Deviation from this indicates disease. (The physical form belongs to vital qi, so their deficiency or excess corresponds. If form and qi are contrary, disease arises. Here, "qi" refers to pulse qi, and "form" refers to the physical body.) Abundant food intake leads to abundant qi; scanty food intake leads to scanty qi. This is the normal state. Deviation from this indicates disease. (The pathway of Ying-nutritive qi relies on internal food as its substance. Food enters the stomach, qi transmits to the lungs, and essence ascends through the meridians. Therefore, the deficiency or excess of grain qi must correspond with the pulse. If they do not correspond, it is disease.) Excess pulse indicates excess blood; deficient pulse indicates deficient blood. This is the normal state. Deviation from this indicates disease. (Vessels are the residence of blood, so their deficiency or excess corresponds. If they do not correspond, it is disease.) What constitutes deviation? Deficient qi accompanied by bodily heat is called "deviation." (Deficient qi implies insufficiency of Yang qi. Insufficiency of Yang qi should result in coldness of the body. If there is heat instead, the pulse should be surging. However, if the pulse is not surging yet the body is hot, the symptoms and pulse do not match, hence it is called "deviation." The *Jiayi Jing* states: Surging qi with cold body, or deficient qi with hot body, is called "deviation.") Abundant food intake but scanty qi is called "deviation." (Food entering the stomach allows the vessel pathways to function. Now, abundant food intake but scanty qi indicates that Stomach qi is not dispersing properly, hence it is called "deviation.") Scanty food intake but abundant qi is called "deviation." (This is due to the dispersion of Stomach qi externally, with Lung qi joining it.) Surging pulse with scanty blood is called "deviation." Weak pulse with abundant blood is called "deviation." (Meridians transport qi, while collaterals receive blood. Meridian qi enters collaterals, and collaterals accept meridian qi. If the diagnostic findings do not harmonize, all are considered abnormal.)
Surging qi with cold body results from contracting Cold pathogenic factors. Deficient qi with hot body results from contracting Summerheat pathogenic factors. ("Shang" [injury] refers to catching a chill. Cold damages the form, hence surging qi with cold body; Heat damages qi, hence deficient qi with hot body.)
The *Pibu Lun* (Treatise on Skin Segments) states: The onset of all diseases begins first in the skin and hair. When evil pathogens invade, the interstices (Couli) open. Once open, the pathogens enter the collaterals. If they remain and do not depart, they transmit into the meridians. If they remain and do not depart there, they transmit into the Fu organs, accumulating in the intestines and stomach. (Lin means accumulation or gathering.) When evil pathogens initially enter the skin, one feels aversion to cold, the lanugo stands erect, and the interstices open; (Yiran refers to aversion to cold. Standing erect refers to the erection of lanugo. Couli refers to the skin texture and pores.) When they enter the collaterals, the collateral vessels become full and their color changes; (Full refers to being distended and abundant. Change refers to alteration from the normal state.) When they lodge in the meridians, invasion occurs only when there is deficiency, leading to sinking/collapse; (When Meridian qi is deficient, evil invades, hence "sensing deficiency." Pulse deficiency and qi scarcity lead to sinking.) If they linger between the sinews and bones, excessive Cold causes sinew spasms and bone pain, while excessive Heat causes sinew flaccidity and bone emaciation, muscle wasting and rupture, and lanugo becoming straight and degenerated. (Spasm refers to tension. Flaccidity refers to laxity. Emaciation refers to wasting. Cold causes sinew tension; Heat causes sinew laxity. Cold dominance causes pain; Heat dominance causes qi consumption. Lanugo is the external marker of muscle; thus, when muscle wastes, lanugo ruptures and degenerates.)