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The *Abdominal Discussion* states: How can one know that a pregnant woman is about to give birth? Qibo said: The body has symptoms (such as amenorrhea), but the pulse shows no signs of disease. (This means that for a pregnant woman near delivery, although the body exhibits amenorrhea, the pulse is normal. "Body having disease" refers to amenorrhea; "No pathological pulse" refers to the Chi position pulse being harmonious and even. Generally, when a woman is three months pregnant, the essence of Yin and Yang has not yet undergone significant transformation. By the third month, the essence and Qi undergo positive changes; this Qi steams upward and harasses the Stomach, causing morning sickness (emesis gravidarum). At three to four months, morning sickness subsides slightly, and the pulse becomes very slippery and rapid, as the male or female fetus is forming its physical structure, and its Qi is not yet stable. After five to six months, the physical structure is established, and the sex is determined. By eight, nine, or ten months, the pulse is peaceful and calm, resembling that of an unpregnant person. Unless the physician deeply understands pulse diagnosis and the patient is willing to speak clearly, it is difficult to diagnose through palpation alone. The *Pulse Classic* says: A slippery and rapid pulse that does not scatter indicates three months of pregnancy. If the pulse is rapid and scattered, it indicates five to six months. Afterward, this rapid quality disappears. However, there are cases where the pulse remains full, large, and rapid throughout, indicating vigorous fetal Qi; such cases cannot be judged by a single rule.)

The *Bi Syndrome Discussion* states: In Bi syndrome, some patients die, some suffer from prolonged pain, and some recover easily. What is the reason? Qibo said: If the pathogen enters the Zang organs, death ensues; if it lingers between the sinews and bones, the pain persists; if it stays in the skin, it is easy to cure. (Entering the Zang organs leads to death because the Shen [Spirit] departs. Pain in the sinews and bones persists because the location is fixed. Ease of cure in the skin is due to its superficiality. Due to these differences in depth, the outcomes differ.) Ying [Nutritive] Qi is the refined essence of food and water. It harmonizes within the Five Zang organs and distributes to the Six Fu organs, thereby entering the vessels. (The *Zheng Li Lun* states: When grain enters the Stomach, the vessel pathways begin to flow; when water enters the meridians, blood is formed.) Thus, Ying Qi circulates up and down along the vessels, penetrating the Five Zang organs and connecting with the Six Fu organs. (Ying Qi travels within the vessels, so it reaches everywhere.) Wei [Defensive] Qi is the fierce and robust Qi derived from food and water. Its nature is swift and slippery, and it cannot enter the vessels. (Fierce Qi refers to floating and abundant Qi. Because it is floating and abundant, it is swift and slippery, unable to enter the vessels.) Therefore, it circulates among the skin and between the muscles, steaming the Huang membrane [a specific anatomical region], and dispersing in the chest and abdomen. (Among the skin and between the muscles refers to outside the vessels. The Huang membrane refers to the membranes between the Zang organs and the diaphragm. Because it is floating and abundant, it can disperse into the empty spaces of the chest and abdomen, steaming the Huang membrane to promote the free flow of Qi.) If the flow of Ying and Wei Qi is reversed, illness occurs; if it follows the natural flow, recovery ensues. If it does not combine with Wind, Cold, or Dampness, Bi syndrome does not form. (As Ying and Wei Qi function thus, reversing their flow causes illness, while following their flow leads to health. Thus, Ying and Wei refer to Qi, not to tangible structures like sinews, bones, muscles, skin, vessels, Zang, or Fu organs. They do not combine with the three pathogens of Wind, Cold, and Dampness. Therefore, Ying and Wei within the human body do not constitute Bi syndrome.) Bi syndrome may present with pain, without pain, numbness, cold, heat, dryness, or dampness. What is the reason? Pain is caused by excessive Cold; presence of Cold leads to pain. Cases of no pain and numbness occur because the disease has been long-standing and deep-seated; Ying and Wei Qi flow becomes sluggish, and the meridians are sometimes sparse and deficient, leading to blockage. The skin lacks nourishment, resulting in numbness. (Numbness refers to skin insensitivity, unawareness of touch or pain.) Cold sensations arise from deficiency of Yang Qi and excess of Yin Qi, which exacerbate the pathological condition, leading to cold. (The disease originates from Wind, Cold, and Dampness, so Yin Qi aids the pathology.) Heat sensations arise from excess Yang Qi and deficiency of Yin Qi. The pathogenic factor overcomes Yang, encountering Yin, resulting in Bi-Heat. (Yin Qi fails to overcome Yang, hence heat.) Profuse sweating and dampness occur when Dampness is severe. Yang Qi is deficient, Yin Qi is abundant, and the two energies interact, causing sweating and dampness. (To explain why Bi causes pain: it is due to excess Cold; presence of Cold causes pain. Hence, it is said: Excess Cold constitutes Pain-Bi. Why Bi may not cause pain: because prolonged disease drives pathogens deeper, Ying and Wei flow becomes sluggish, and meridian Qi is sometimes sparse, so pain does not occur. Why Bi causes numbness: lack of Qi and Blood circulation in the skin makes it insensible and immobile. Why Bi causes cold body sensation: Wei Qi is deficient, Ying Qi is abundant; excess Ying Qi interacts with the pathogen, causing cold. Why Bi causes heat body sensation: Wei Qi is abundant, Ying Qi is deficient; thus, the pathogen prevails. Wind belongs to Yang; Yang encounters Ying Qi, and Yin cannot overcome it, resulting in Bi-Heat. Why Bi causes dampness: due to severe exposure to Dampness; Wei Qi is deficient, Ying Qi is abundant, two Yins interact, causing sweat and dampness. Why Bi causes dryness: although not explicitly stated, observing the reverse of dampness: if Wei Qi is abundant, Ying Qi is deficient, and heat is extreme, two Yangs interact, indicating dryness.) Why does Bi syndrome sometimes not cause pain? If Bi is in the bone, there is heaviness; if in the vessels, blood coagulates and stagnates; if in the sinews, flexion and extension are impaired; if in the flesh, there is numbness; if in the skin, there is cold. Possessing any of these five conditions results in absence of pain. Generally, Bi syndromes contract or feel like insects crawling upon exposure to Cold, and become flaccid or relaxed upon exposure to Heat. (Crawling sensation refers to the feeling of insects moving under the skin. Flaccidity refers to relaxation and loss of tension.)