八动者。阴也。指下寻之似有。举之还无。再再寻之。不离其处。不往不来曰
动。主四体虚劳。崩中血痢。
八动者。阴也。艮之象也。艮为山止之象也。经云。阴者藏精而起亟也。所
谓藏精而起亟者。何也。言人身之阴血。每从阳气以行。数数而起应。故
能随阳行于十二隧之中流。注冲任之内。故女子月事以时下。而无疾
病矣。倘阴血不能随阳气以行。则蓄于内。积止如山。积久而忽下。如山
之崩也。今云指下寻之似有。举之还无。谓阴血不能随阳气而行也。不
离其处者。谓血蓄于内。止而不动也。不往不来者。谓血不随阳气以行。
而脉道不往来也。夫气。血之帅也。血之不行。由于阳气之不能帅血。以
行四肢。诸阳之本也。气既不能帅血以行。故四体虚劳。阴血积久。有时
而忽溢。在女子则为崩中。在男子则为血痢耳。
按脉经云。动脉见于关上无头尾。大如豆。厥厥然动摇。伤寒论云。阴阳
相搏。名曰动阳。动则汗出。阴动则发热。形冷恶寒。数脉见于关上。上下
无头尾。如豆大。厥厥动摇者。名曰动。又经云。动为痛为惊。
动脉根源气主阴。
夫人身有阴阳二气。非止于气为阳。血为阴也。要知气血者。有形之阴
阳。阴阳者。无形之气血。阴阳和。则气血相守而不相离。常营行于经隧
之中。循环无已。今脉而见动。则为阴阳不相维。阳动而阴静。静则易以
止。故血伤不行。止久而忽下也。究其根源。乃因阴气不能随阳气。以行
耳。
三关指下碍沉沉。血山一倒经年月。
池氏曰。动在指下。隐隐按之。沉沉如水中一石。轻举之。脉不动。重按之。
微有力而碍指。乃阴虚内损。女人经血来如山崩不止。治之宜八珍汤。
智士名医只可寻。
此非利语也。庸医但见崩中之疾。以为血热妄行。徒用凉血之剂。或用
药以劫之。殊失治崩之旨矣。不知崩中之疾。由阳气不能帅血而行。阴
血不能起亟而应之。以至冲脉停留。月事不能以时下。久之而溢出。故
如山之崩漏而下耳。法当大补其气。使阳生而阴长。阳气壮。得以帅血
而行。不至有停积之患。则崩漏自止矣。若非智士名医。安能达其元奥
也哉。
The Ba Dong (Eight Movements) pulse is Yin in nature. Upon gentle searching with the fingers, it seems present; upon lifting the fingers for superficial palpation, it seems absent. Repeated searching reveals that it remains fixed in its location without moving forward or backward. This immobility is termed "Dong" (Movement). It indicates deficiency and consumptive diseases of the four limbs, Beng Zhong (metrorrhagia/heavy uterine bleeding), and bloody dysentery.
The Ba Dong pulse is Yin, corresponding to the image of the Gen trigram (☶). Gen symbolizes the mountain, representing stillness. The classics state: "Yin stores essence and responds urgently to Yang." What does "storing essence and responding urgently" mean? It refers to the fact that Yin blood in the human body usually travels along with Yang Qi, frequently rising to respond. Thus, it flows with Yang Qi through the twelve meridians and pours into the Chong and Ren vessels. Consequently, women's menstruation occurs on time, free from disease. If Yin blood cannot travel with Yang Qi, it accumulates internally, stagnating like a mountain. After long accumulation, it suddenly discharges, resembling a landslide. The description "seems present upon gentle searching, absent upon lifting" indicates that Yin blood fails to follow Yang Qi. "Remaining fixed in its location" means blood is stored internally, stagnant and immobile. "Not moving forward or backward" means blood does not flow with Yang Qi, resulting in impaired circulation within the pulse channels. Qi is the commander of Blood. Blood fails to circulate because Yang Qi fails to command Blood to flow to the four limbs, which are the root of all Yang. Since Qi cannot command Blood, deficiency and consumptive conditions of the four limbs arise. Yin blood, after accumulating for a long time, may suddenly overflow. In women, this manifests as Beng Zhong; in men, as bloody dysentery.
According to the *Mai Jing* (Pulse Classic): The Dong pulse appears at the Guan position, lacking distinct proximal or distal ends, large as a bean, trembling violently. The *Shang Han Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders) states: When Yin and Yang contend with each other, it is named Dong Yang. Dong Yang causes sweating; Yin Dong causes fever, cold form, and aversion to cold. A rapid pulse appearing at the Guan position, lacking distinct ends, large as a bean, and trembling violently is named Dong. Furthermore, the classics state: Dong indicates pain and fright.
The root of the Dong pulse lies in Qi governing Yin.
The human body possesses Yin and Yang Qi. It is not merely that Qi is Yang and Blood is Yin. One must understand that Qi and Blood are tangible Yin and Yang, while Yin and Yang are intangible Qi and Blood. When Yin and Yang are harmonious, Qi and Blood abide together without separation, circulating endlessly within the meridians and collaterals. Now, if the pulse exhibits Dong, it signifies that Yin and Yang fail to maintain their relationship. Yang moves, while Yin is still; stillness tends to stagnate. Therefore, Blood is injured and fails to circulate, and after prolonged stagnation, it suddenly discharges. Investigating the root cause, it is due to Yin Qi failing to follow Yang Qi in its movement.
At the Three Passes (Cun, Guan, Chi), the pulse feels heavy and obstructive, akin to a mountain of blood collapsing over years.
Master Chi stated: The Dong pulse is faint under the fingers; pressing deeply feels heavy, like a stone submerged in water. Lightly lifting the fingers, the pulse does not move; pressing heavily, it feels slightly forceful yet obstructive to the finger. This indicates Yin deficiency and internal damage. In women, menstruation may flow incessantly like a landslide. Treatment should employ Bazhen Tang (Eight Treasures Decoction).
Only wise scholars and renowned physicians can explore its profound mysteries.
This is not alarmist talk. Quack physicians, seeing only metrorrhagia, assume it is caused by reckless bleeding due to blood heat, and merely use cooling-blood agents or harsh purgatives. This completely misses the principle of treating metrorrhagia. They do not know that metrorrhagia arises because Yang Qi fails to command Blood to flow, and Yin blood fails to rise and respond, causing stagnation in the Chong vessel. Menstruation fails to occur on time, and eventually, it overflows and leaks like a landslide. The method should be to greatly tonify Qi, allowing Yang to generate and Yin to grow. When Yang Qi is robust, it can command Blood to flow, preventing stagnation, and thus metrorrhagia will cease naturally. Unless one is a wise scholar or renowned physician, how can one comprehend such profound principles?