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Human diseases are categorized merely as favorable (Shun) or unfavorable (Ni). Favorable conditions may sometimes require no medication, whereas unfavorable conditions demand urgent treatment. The *Treatise on Reversal and Regulation* discusses the methods for regulating reversal. It consists of six sections. However, the unfavorable conditions in humans actually extend beyond what is described here.

Huangdi asked: "The human body is not constantly warm, nor constantly hot, yet there are cases where heat arises accompanied by vexation and fullness. What is the cause?" Qibo replied: "This occurs because Yin Qi is deficient while Yang Qi is excessive, resulting in heat, vexation, and fullness." [Note: Internal Yin deficiency leads to external floating of Yang, causing heat and vexation/fullness due to Yang excess, which stems from insufficient Yin.]

Huangdi said: "The body is not cold due to lack of clothing, nor is there internal cold invasion, yet cold arises from within. Why?" Qibo said: "Such individuals often have Bi Qi (obstructive pathogenic factors) stagnation, with little Yang Qi and much Yin Qi, causing the body to feel cold as if emerging from water." [Note: The *Treatise on Meridians* states: 'Yang deficiency generates external cold.' The *Treatise on Acupuncture Techniques* states: 'Qi deficiency results in cold.' Yang corresponds to Fire; Yang deficiency means lack of Fire, allowing Water to dominate exclusively, leading to cold throughout the interior and exterior. 'Bi' refers to numbness and insensitivity. Qi originates from Fire; without Fire, Qi coagulates and stagnates, forming Bi. Although Bi and cold seem indicative of excess Yin, they are actually caused by Yang deficiency.]

Huangdi asked: "Some people experience heat in their four limbs that feels like being roasted by fire when exposed to wind and cold. What is the cause?" [Note: Wang Bing's commentary reads 'like roasting and like fire,' while *Tai Su* reads 'like being roasted by fire,' which is more coherent; this version is adopted.] Qibo said: "In such individuals, Yin Qi is deficient and Yang Qi is abundant. The four limbs belong to Yang; thus, two Yangs combine while Yin Qi becomes scarce. A small amount of water cannot extinguish a raging fire, leading to exclusive dominance of Yang. This exclusive dominance cannot sustain growth and life, representing only unchecked excess. When encountering wind, feeling like being roasted indicates that the muscles will eventually waste away." [Note: Internal Yang is already strong, and encountering external heat creates a combination of two Yangs. Combining fire with fire implies pure Yang without Yin, which cannot sustain growth. As Fire intensifies, Water dries up further, limbs become dry and shriveled, and muscles must emaciate.]

Huangdi asked: "Some people feel cold in their bodies; hot drinks and fires cannot warm them, and thick clothes cannot provide warmth, yet they do not shiver or tremble. What disease is this?" Qibo said: "Such individuals typically have an inherent excess of Kidney Qi and engage excessively in sexual activity ('water affairs'), leading to decline of Taiyang Qi and desiccation of Kidney essence/jelly, preventing nourishment of the bones... The Kidney belongs to Water and generates bone; if the Kidney does not generate, Marrow cannot fill the bones, so cold penetrates to the bone. The reason they do not shiver is that the Liver represents one Yang, the Heart represents two Yangs, while the Kidney is a solitary Zang organ (Water). One unit of Water cannot overcome two units of Fire, hence no shivering. This disease is called Bone Bi, and such individuals will likely suffer from joint contracture." [Note: Inherent Kidney excess leads to indulgence due to perceived strength, termed 'engaging in water affairs.' Unchecked indulgence causes Kidney Marrow to deplete, leading to bone-chilling cold. Although the Liver belongs to Yin, it governs Wood and generates Fire, and is externally-interiorly related to the Gallbladder, thus also referred to as one Yang. The Liver and Heart, governing Wood and Fire respectively, support each other among the Five Zang organs, allowing Heat to overcome Cold. Contracture of joints is explained as: 'If Kidney does not generate, Marrow is insufficient; insufficient Marrow leads to dry tendons, causing joint contracture.']

Huangdi asked: "Some people have heavy, numb flesh; even near cotton wadding, they still feel heavy and numb. What disease is this?" [Ke means heavy.] Qibo said: "This is due to deficient Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi) and solid/excess Wei Qi (Defensive Qi)." [Note: Muscle heaviness results from insufficient Ying Blood, leading to loss of pain/temperature sensation. Ying Qi becomes deficient due to Wei Qi excess; Yang excess and Yin deficiency lead to blood scarcity. Deficient Ying Qi causes numbness (Bu Ren); deficient Wei Qi causes immobility (Bu Yong). If both Ying and Wei are deficient, there is both numbness and immobility, muscles remain unchanged, the body disconnects from consciousness, indicating death.] [Note: This extends the discussion of Ying deficiency to include Wei deficiency to explain the pathology of immobility and numbness.]

Huangdi asked: "Some people have rebellious Qi, cannot lie down, and breathe with sound; some cannot lie down but breathe silently; some function normally but breathe with sound; some can lie down but wheeze when walking; some cannot lie down, cannot walk, and wheeze; some cannot lie down and wheeze immediately upon lying down. Which Zang organs cause these? I wish to hear the explanation." Qibo said: "Those who cannot lie down and breathe with sound have rebellious Yangming Qi. The Foot Three Yang meridians should descend; now they rebel and ascend, causing noisy breathing. Yangming is the Stomach meridian; the Stomach is the sea of the Six Fu organs, and its Qi should also descend. Yangming rebellion prevents following the proper pathway, causing inability to lie down. The *Classic of Lower Methods* says: 'When the Stomach is disharmonious, sleep is restless.' This refers to that case. Those who function normally but breathe with sound have rebellious collateral vessels of the Lung. Collaterals cannot follow the main meridians up and down, so they stagnate in the meridians. Disease in collaterals is minor, hence normal function despite noisy breathing. Those who cannot lie down and wheeze upon lying down are affected by Water Qi invasion. Water flows along fluids; the Kidney is the Water organ, governing fluids, and controls sleep and wheezing." Huangdi said: "Excellent!" [Investigating the intent of the classic explanations, the three cases of 'cannot lie down but silent breathing,' 'can lie down and wheeze when walking,' and 'cannot lie down, cannot walk, and wheeze' are missing answers, suggesting lost bamboo slips. Note: Collaterals are inside the skin/hair and outside the main meridians, relatively superficial, not deep/heavy like Zang-Fu. Thus, even if invaded by pathogens, the disease is mild. Noisy breathing, such as nasal congestion, coarse breathing, coughing, or expectoration, are merely mild lung colds.]