水火之道,宜交而不宜分。水上火下,名曰交。交为既济,不交为未济。由是观之,水
火之
切于人身者大矣。据脉与证,处由肾元下亏,水火失济,以致魄汗淋漓,玉关滑泄。腰为肾
腑,肾虚则腰膂多疼。心为神舍,心虚则夜卧欠逸,面赤颈热,虚阳上炎;体倦头倾,髓海
不足,且金乃生水之源,肺肾为子母之脏,子虚盗窍母气,此喘咳之所由。肾开窍于二阴,
心与小肠相表里,心热移于小肠,此血淋之所自。昔肥今瘦,虚里跳动,种种见证,虚象奚
疑。不知持满御神,日啖草木无益,积精自刚,积气自卫,积神自旺。酸以收之,介以潜之
,浓味以填之,水火交,精神治矣。
安波按∶广成子云,无劳尔形,无摇尔精之言,诚为养身吃紧良方。而世人一至有疾
,徒以草木从事,其先天不自摄,恣意斫伐,忍心克剥,可欢可悲。
经云∶任脉为病,男子内结七疝,督脉为病,不得前后为冲疝。是疝病虽属于肝,而实
冲任
督三脉所生。据证睾肿,少腹形坚痛甚,攻冲腰俞,病根深远,愈发愈剧。考任脉起于中极
之下,上毛际循腹里,冲脉起于气街,督脉统督诸脉,而为奇经之长。叶氏云∶大凡冲气从
背而上者,系督脉主病,治在少阴,从腹而上者,系冲任主病,治在厥阴。揣诸病情,确为
奇经受病无疑。医不中肯,是以药治无功。
The principle of Water and Fire (Water and Fire) is that they should interact rather than separate. When Water is above and Fire is below, it is called "interaction" (Jiao). Interaction constitutes Ji Ji (Hexagram: After Completion), while non-interaction constitutes Wei Ji (Hexagram: Before Completion). From this perspective, the significance of Water and Fire to the human body is profound. Based on the pulse and symptoms, the condition is attributed to a deficiency in the Kidney Yuan Qi (Kidney Primordial Qi) at the lower level, leading to a failure of Water and Fire interaction (Heart-Kidney Non-Interaction), resulting in profuse sweating (Po Han) and seminal emission or sliding discharge (Yu Guan Hua Xie). The waist is the mansion of the Kidney; when the Kidney is deficient, there is often pain in the lumbar region and spine. The Heart is the residence of the Spirit; when the Heart is deficient, sleep at night is restless, with facial redness and neck heat due to Deficient Yang flaming upward; fatigue and drooping head indicate insufficiency of the Marrow Sea (brain). Furthermore, Metal generates Water; the Lung and Kidney are mother and child organs. When the child organ (Lung) is deficient, it steals Qi from the mother organ (Kidney), which is the cause of wheezing and coughing. The Kidney opens into the two yin orifices (urethra and anus); the Heart and Small Intestine are exteriorly-interiorly related. Heat from the Heart transferring to the Small Intestine is the origin of blood strangury (Xue Lin). Past obesity now turning to emaciation, palpitations at Xu Li (the area over the heart apex), and various manifestations leave no doubt about the deficiency pattern. Not knowing how to maintain fullness and govern the spirit, one gains no benefit from merely consuming herbal medicines daily. Accumulating essence leads to strength; accumulating Qi leads to self-defense; accumulating Shen leads to vitality. Use sour substances to astringe, shellfish/mineral substances to subdue and anchor, and rich/heavy flavors to tonify and fill. When Water and Fire interact, Jing and Shen will be regulated.
An Bo notes: Guang Cheng Zi said, "Do not labor your form, do not shake your essence," which is indeed an urgent and excellent prescription for health preservation. Yet, when people fall ill, they rely solely on herbal remedies, failing to care for their Congenital Foundation, wantonly depleting themselves, ruthlessly stripping away their vitality—this is truly both lamentable and pitiable.
The Classic states: Disease of the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) involves seven types of hernia forming internally in men; disease of the Du Mai (Governing Vessel) involves inability to pass urine or stool, known as Chong Hernia. Thus, although hernia diseases are associated with the Liver, they are actually generated by the Chong, Ren, and Du vessels. According to the symptoms—swollen testicles, hardness and severe pain in the lower abdomen, radiating pain attacking the Yao Shu point—the root of the disease is deep and profound, worsening with each recurrence. Examining the pathways: the Ren Mai originates below Zhong Ji (CV4), ascends along the pubic hair line through the interior of the abdomen; the Chong Mai originates at Qi Jie (ST30); the Du Mai commands all meridians and is the chief of the Extraordinary Vessels. Ye Tianshi stated: Generally, if Chong Qi moves upward from the back, it is a disease of the Du Mai, treated via the Shaoyin channel; if it moves upward from the abdomen, it is a disease of the Chong and Ren channels, treated via the Jueyin channel. Assessing the clinical presentation, it is undoubtedly a disease of the Extraordinary Vessels. The physician missed the key aspect, hence medicinal treatment was ineffective.