(膂也,上自大 ,下至尾 端,共二十一节)属足少阴肾经、督脉之合(《灵枢》曰∶
足少阴之脉,贯脊属肾。又曰∶心痛引腰脊,欲呕,取足少阴。又曰∶督脉之别,当肩胛左右,别走太阳入贯
膂。实则脊强,虚则头重高摇之,挟脊之有过者,取之所别也。《素问》曰∶足少阴令人腰痛,痛引脊内廉。
又曰∶冬脉太过,则令人解 ,脊脉痛而少气不欲言;其不及,则令人心悬如饮, 中清,脊中痛,少腹满,
小便变。冬脉者,肾脉也。注∶太过者,来如弹石也。解 ,不可名状。肾太过,则强不强、弱不弱、寒不寒、
热不热,解解 然,不可名也。不及者,其去如数,清冷也。又曰∶肾风之状,多汗恶风,面庞然浮肿,脊
病不能正立。又曰∶肾疟者,令人洒洒然,腰脊痛宛转。《中藏》曰∶肾之精微,脊与腰相引而痛。饥见饱减)。
又属手太阳小肠经(《灵枢》曰∶小腹控睾,引腰脊上冲心,在小肠,取之育原以散之。李东垣曰∶凡脊痛
项强,不可回顾,腰似折,项似拔者,乃手足太阳症也,当用防风。沈承之曰∶脊有三行,中行自大 下至尾
端,属督脉,又属足少阴肾经;膂二行,去中行左右,各开一寸五分,属足太阳膀胱经、少阳胆经之会;
膂三行,去中行左右各开三寸,属手足太阳小肠、膀胱之会)。兼属足太阴脾经(《灵枢》曰∶足太阴之筋,
其内者着于脊,其病脊内痛)。
(The spine, also known as Lü, extends from the Dazhui point (GV14) above to the end of the coccyx below, consisting of twenty-one vertebrae in total). It belongs to the convergence of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian and the Du Mai (Governing Vessel) (The *Ling Shu* states: The meridian of the Foot-Shaoyin penetrates the spine and connects with the Kidney. It also states: When heart pain radiates to the waist and spine, accompanied by a desire to vomit, points on the Foot-Shaoyin should be selected. It further states: The collateral branch of the Du Mai is located on the left and right of the scapula, branches off to enter the Taiyang meridian and penetrates into the Lü. In excess conditions, there is stiffness of the spine; in deficiency conditions, there is heaviness of the head and unsteady swaying. For lesions along the spine, select the points of its collateral branch. The *Su Wen* states: The Foot-Shaoyin causes lumbar pain, with pain radiating to the inner aspect of the spine. It also states: If the Winter pulse is excessive, it causes lethargy and inability to move freely, pain in the spinal vessels, shortness of breath, and reluctance to speak; if deficient, it causes a sensation of hunger-like emptiness in the heart, coldness in the epigastrium, pain in the middle of the spine, fullness in the lower abdomen, and changes in urination. The Winter pulse corresponds to the Kidney pulse. Note: Excess is characterized by a pulse coming hard like a stone. Jie Xie (limpness/weakness) cannot be described in words. When Kidney Qi is excessive, the body is neither strong nor weak, neither cold nor hot, feeling limp and indescribable. Deficiency is characterized by a departing pulse that is rapid, accompanied by coldness. It also states: The manifestations of Kidney Wind include profuse sweating and aversion to wind, puffy swelling of the face, and spinal disease preventing upright standing. It also states: Kidney Malaria causes shivering, pain in the waist and spine, and tossing and turning. The *Zhong Zang Jing* states: The essence of the Kidney causes mutual pulling pain between the spine and waist, which worsens when hungry and improves when full). It also belongs to the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian (The *Ling Shu* states: Pain in the lower abdomen radiating to the testis, rushing upward to the heart, located in the Small Intestine, should be treated by dispersing via the Yuyuan point (KI13). Li Dongyuan stated: Whenever there is pain in the spine and stiffness in the neck, inability to look back, a sensation of the waist being broken, and a sensation of the neck being pulled out, these are syndromes of the Hand and Foot Taiyang meridians, and Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix) should be used. Shen Chengzhi stated: There are three rows of the spine. The middle row, from Dazhui down to the coccyx, belongs to the Du Mai and also to the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian; the second row of Lü, one and a half cun to the left and right of the middle row, belongs to the convergence of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian and Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian; the third row of Lü, three cun to the left and right of the middle row, belongs to the convergence of the Hand and Foot Taiyang Small Intestine and Bladder meridians). It concurrently belongs to the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian (The *Ling Shu* states: The sinews of the Foot-Taiyin attach internally to the spine; when diseased, there is pain inside the spine).