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*Yi Neng Lun* (Treatise on Disease Manifestations) states: Why do some people feel uneasy when sleeping? Qibo replied: When the internal organs are injured and the essence (*Jing*) is dissipated, one cannot sleep peacefully. (This means that those who sleep uneasily do so because their organ qi is damaged and their essence is depleted. The five zang organs belong to Yin and each stores its own essence; if the zang organs are injured and the essence is depleted, sleep will be restless. Only when the essence has a place to reside—stored in its respective zang organ without loss—can one sleep peacefully. "Reside" here means "to store." For example, the Liver stores the Hun [ethereal soul], and the Lung stores the Po [corporeal soul]. In all cases of restless sleep, blood does not return to the Liver, and the Wei [defensive] Qi fails to enter the Yin. This is why people suffer from such disturbances. "Xuan" implies severance or isolation.)

Why can some people not lie supine? (This refers to the inability to lie on one's back.) The Lung is the canopy of the five zang organs; it occupies the highest position and spreads out like leaves, covering the other four zang organs below it. Therefore, the Lung is called the canopy of the zang organs. When Lung Qi is excessive, the pulse becomes large; when the pulse is large, one cannot lie supine. (When pathogenic Qi in the Lung is full and excessive, it causes shortness of breath and panting, thus preventing supine positioning.)

Some people suffer from anger and mania. How does this disease arise? It arises from Yang. (Anger disregards disaster, hence it is called mania.) The Yang Qi, having suffered sudden frustration and difficult resolution, leads to frequent anger. This disease is named Yang Jue [Yang Reversal]. (This means that Yang Qi is constrained and stagnant, unable to disperse, or previously caused by sudden frustration leading to emotional stagnation. These are all generated by extreme rebellion and agitation of Yang Qi, and the disease is named Yang Jue.)

How should it be treated? Restricting their food intake will cure it. Food enters and transforms into Yin, thereby nourishing Yang; therefore, restricting food intake cures the condition. (Eating less reduces Qi generation; thus, dietary restriction allows the disease to resolve itself.) Administer them a decoction made from *Sheng Tie Luo* (Fallen Pig Iron). *Sheng Tie Luo* has a rapid descending effect on Qi. (This utilizes the Metal element to subdue Wood/Liver.)

*Qi Bing Lun* (Treatise on Strange Diseases) states: A pregnant woman loses her voice in the ninth month. What is the reason for this? ("Chong Shen" [Double Body] refers to being pregnant. "Yin" refers to aphonia. In the ninth month of pregnancy, the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian nourishes the fetus.) The collateral vessels of the uterus are obstructed. ("Jue" here means obstruction of the vessels, preventing speech, not the severance of innate vital Qi.) The uterine collaterals connect to the Kidney. The Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian passes through the Kidney and connects to the root of the tongue; therefore, the patient cannot speak. (Shaoyin refers to the Kidney meridian. If Qi fails to nourish the tongue, speech is impaired.) No treatment is needed; speech will recover after the tenth month. (After delivery in the tenth month, the uterine collaterals reopen, the Kidney meridian ascends to nourish, and normal function returns.) Do not treat deficiency with draining methods, nor treat excess with tonifying methods, lest you create a chronic, entrenched disease. ("Zhen" here refers to chronic illness. Using contrary treatment methods may cause fetal death and retention, leading to stubborn, long-standing pathology.)

Some people suffer from headache for several years without relief. How did they acquire this? What is the disease name? (Headache should not persist beyond a month; since it lasts for years, we inquire curiously about it.) It must be due to exposure to severe Cold, which penetrated inward to the bone marrow. Marrow is governed by the Brain. When Brain Qi rebels upward, it causes headache, and the teeth also hurt. (The Brain is the master of Marrow; teeth are the surplus of Bone. When Brain Qi rebels against Cold, the bones also become cold, causing both headache and toothache.) This disease is named Jue Ni [Reversal Counterflow]. (Humans form the Brain first; where there is Brain, there is bone marrow. Teeth are the root of Bone.)

Some people have a sweet taste in their mouths. What is this disease called? How is it acquired? This is an overflow of the Five Qi, named Pi Dan [Spleen Heat/Dysentery]. ("Dan" means heat. Spleen heat affects the other four zang organs, causing an overflow of Qi from all five zang organs. Sweetness arises from Spleen heat, hence it is called Pi Dan.) The five flavors enter the mouth and are stored in the Stomach. The Spleen transports their essence and qi. When fluid-dampness remains in the Spleen, it causes a sweet sensation in the mouth. (Spleen heat seeps inward, fluid-dampness stays in the Spleen, and the residual essence from grain digestion overflows. Since the mouth communicates with Spleen Qi, a sweet taste results. Fluid-dampness remaining in the Spleen indicates Spleen dampness.)

This arises from rich and fatty foods. Such individuals must frequently consume sweet and fatty foods. Fatty foods generate internal heat, and sweet foods cause middle-jiao fullness. Consequently, Qi overflows upward, transforming into Xiao Ke [Wasting-Thirst Syndrome]. (Consuming fat makes the pores tight, preventing Yang Qi from dissipating outward, thus causing internal heat. Sweet flavors are mild but can obstruct Qi dispersion, causing middle-jiao fullness. Internal heat causes Yang Qi to flare upward, leading to thirst and dry throat. Middle-jiao fullness implies an excess of stale Qi; this excess causes Spleen Qi to overflow upward. Thus, Qi overflow transforms into Wasting-Thirst.) Treat it with Lan Cao [Coix Seed/Orchid Grass] to remove stale Qi. (Lan refers to Orchid Grass. It eliminates the stale Qi accumulated from long-term consumption of sweet and fatty foods, as pungent flavors promote dispersion.)

Some people have a bitter taste in their mouths. Acquire Yanglingquan (GB34) for treatment. What is the disease name for bitter taste? How is it acquired? The disease is named Dan Dan [Gallbladder Heat]. (Also referring to heat. Bile tastes bitter, hence the bitter taste.) The Liver is the general of the interior, relying on the Gallbladder for decision-making. The pharynx serves as its conduit. (The Liver is the official of the General, originating strategic planning. The Gallbladder is the official of Equilibrium, originating decisiveness. The Liver and Gallbladder are internally-externally related and share similar natures; thus, all planning depends on the Gallbladder. The pharynx corresponds to the Gallbladder, serving as the passage.) Such individuals often deliberate without deciding, causing Gallbladder deficiency and Qi reflux, resulting in a bitter taste. Treatment involves the Front-Mu and Back-Shu points of the Gallbladder. (Mu points are located on the chest and abdomen; Shu points are on the back. The Gallbladder Mu point is at Qimen (LR14), 0.5 cun below the nipple in the second intercostal space. The Gallbladder Shu point is at Dajiao (BL19), 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the 10th thoracic vertebra.)

Some patients experience Lin [Dysuria/Obstruction], urinating dozens of times a day. This indicates deficiency. Their body feels hot like a charcoal brazier, the neck and chest feel obstructed or rejected, the Renying (ST9) pulse is agitated and vigorous, accompanied by panting and rebellious Qi. This indicates excess. (This signifies excessive Yang Qi on the exterior and insufficient Yin Qi internally, presenting as excess.) The Taiyin (Lung) pulse is fine and thread-like, resembling hair. This indicates deficiency. Where is the disease located? What is the disease name? (Lin refers to urinary difficulty. Sou refers to urine. "Neck and chest like rejection" means the neck and chest feel stiff and unyielding. "Renying agitated and vigorous" refers to the pulsation at the sides of the larynx being full, rapid, and unusually agitated, indicating the Stomach meridian. "Taiyin pulse fine as hair" refers to the pulse at the radial artery near the thumb, indicating the Lung meridian. This is where Hand-Taiyin Qi flows and can be used to observe the five zang organs.)

The disease is in Taiyin, but the excess is in the Stomach, and it significantly involves the Lung. The disease is named Jue [Reversal], and it is a fatal, untreatable condition. (Symptoms of Lin with frequent urination, body heat like charcoal, neck/chest obstruction, and rebellious Qi should present with a洪大 (surging-large) and rapid Taiyin pulse. However, the Taiyin pulse is instead fine and thread-like. This contradiction arises because Lung Qi rebels and invades the Stomach, causing the Renying pulse to become agitated. Hence, the disease is in Taiyin, with excess in the Stomach. Due to panting and rebellious Qi, it also involves the Lung. Because the etiology is Qi rebellion and the symptoms contradict the pulse, it is named Jue and is considered fatal.) This is referred to as "Five Excesses and Two Deficiencies." The "Five Excesses" refer to excess in five pathological aspects. The "Two Deficiencies" refer to insufficiency in two pathological aspects. Currently, there are five excesses externally and two deficiencies internally. This indicates a collapse of both exterior and interior, confirming a fatal prognosis. (The external five excesses are: 1. Body heat like charcoal, 2. Neck/chest obstruction, 3. Agitated Renying pulse, 4. Panting, 5. Rebellious Qi. The internal two deficiencies are: 1. Lin syndrome with frequent urination, 2. Fine/thread-like Taiyin pulse. If viewed from the exterior, there are internal deficiencies; if viewed from the interior, there are external excesses. With both exterior and interior compromised, tonification and drainage methods are ineffective, confirming this as a clear case of death.)

Some people are born with Dian Ji [Epilepsy/Convulsive Disorder]. What is this disease called? How is it acquired? (All diseases arise from wind, rain, cold, heat, yin-yang imbalances, and emotions. However, if Dian Ji exists before any pathogenic invasion, it suggests prenatal factors. "Dian" refers to the vertex of the head.) This disease is named Tai Bing [Prenatal Disease]. It is acquired while in the mother's womb. At that time, the mother experienced severe fright. The Qi rushed upward and failed to descend, causing essence and Qi to congregate above, leading the child to develop Dian Ji. (Essence and Qi here refer to Yang essence. Individuals born with vertex disorders have prenatal conditions. During gestation, maternal severe fright causes Qi to rebel upward, congregating essence and Qi in the upper body, inducing Dian Ji in the fetus.)