《内经》所谓噫,即今所谓嗳气也。宣明五气论,以心为噫。痹论,以心痹者,
脉不通,烦则心下鼓,暴上气而喘,嗌干善噫。至真大要论,以太阳司天,少阴之
复,皆为哕噫。四时刺逆从论,刺中心一日死,其动为噫。阴阳别论,二阳一阴发
病,主惊骇背痛,善噫善欠,名曰风厥。脉解,太阴所谓上走心为噫者,阴盛而上
走于阳明,阳明络属心,故曰上走心为噫也。此乃噫从心出者也。厥阴在泉,腹胀
善噫,得后与气,则快然如衰。玉版论,太阴终者,善噫。《灵枢》云∶足太阴是动
病,腹胀善噫。又云∶寒气客于胃,厥逆从下上散,复出于胃,故为噫。仲景谓上
焦受中焦气未和不能消,是故能噫。(卫出上焦。)又云∶上焦不归者,噫而酢酸。(不
归,不至也。上焦之气不至其部,则物不能传化,故噫而吞酸。)由是观之,噫者是火土
之气郁而不得发,故噫而出。王注解心为噫之义,象火炎上,烟随焰出。如痰闭膈间,中气不得
伸而嗳者,亦土气内郁也。仲景云∶痞而噫,旋复代赭汤主之。《本事方》心下蓄积,痞
闷或作痛,多噫败卵气,枳壳散主之。丹溪云∶胃中有实火,膈上有稠痰,故成嗳气。用
二陈汤加香附、栀子仁、黄连、苏子、前胡、青黛、栝蒌,或丸或汤服之。
【诊】寸口脉弱而缓,弱者阳气不足,缓者胃气有余,噫而吞酸,食卒不下,
气填于膈上。寸脉紧,寒之实也。寒在上焦,胸中必满而噫。趺阳脉微而涩,微无
胃气,涩即伤脾,寒在膈而反下之,寒积不消,胃微脾伤,谷气不行,食已自噫。
寒在胸膈,上虚下实,谷气不通,为闭塞之病。趺阳脉微涩,及寸脉紧而噫者,皆
属寒。太阴终者,腹胀闭,噫气呕逆。
The "yi" (belching) mentioned in the *Neijing* (*Inner Canon*) is what is now called eructation. The *Suwen: Xuanming Wuqi Lun* states that the Heart governs belching. The *Suwen: Bi Lun* indicates that in cases of Heart Bi (obstruction syndrome), the vessels are unpatent; when vexation occurs, there is a sensation of palpitation like drumbeats in the epigastrium, sudden upward rushing of Qi leading to panting, dryness of the throat, and frequent belching. The *Suwen: Zhihen Dayao Lun* mentions that when Taiyang governs the year and Shaoyin Qi retaliates, both conditions manifest as hiccups and belching. The *Suwen: Sishi Cini Cong Lun* states that if the heart is accidentally punctured during acupuncture, death ensues within one day, with the symptom being belching. The *Suwen: Yin Yang Bie Lun* records that when the Two Yang (Stomach and Large Intestine) and One Yin (Liver) diseases occur simultaneously, the main symptoms include fright, back pain, frequent belching, and yawning; this condition is named Feng Jue (Wind Jue). The *Suwen: Maijie* explains that what the Taiyin meridian refers to as "Qi moving upward to the heart causing belching" occurs because Yin Qi is excessive and moves upward to invade the Yangming meridian; since the Yangming meridian connects to and belongs to the Heart, it is said that Qi moves upward to the heart causing belching. This indicates that belching originates from the Heart. The *Suwen: Jueyin Zaiquan* notes that in years when Jueyin Wind Wood governs below, abdominal distension and frequent belching occur; after defecation or passage of flatus, the patient feels relieved and symptoms subside. The *Suwen: Yuban Lunyao* states that when Taiyin Qi reaches its end, there is frequent belching. The *Lingshu* says: When the Foot-Taiyin Spleen meridian is affected, abdominal distension and frequent belching occur. It also states: When cold pathogens lodge in the Stomach, rebellious Qi scatters upward from below and re-emerges from the Stomach, thus forming belching. Zhang Zhongjing posits that when the Upper Jiao receives Qi from the Middle Jiao but fails to harmonize it, digestion is impaired, resulting in belching. (Wei Qi emerges from the Upper Jiao.) He further states: If the Qi of the Upper Jiao does not return to its proper position, belching accompanied by acid regurgitation occurs. ("Not returning" means failing to arrive. When the Qi of the Upper Jiao fails to reach its region, food cannot be transmitted and transformed, hence belching and acid regurgitation.) From this, we can see that belching results from the stagnation and failure to disperse of Fire and Earth Qi, which is expelled through belching. Wang Bing’s annotation on the meaning of "Heart governs belching" uses the metaphor of fire flaming upward, with smoke following the flames. For instance, when phlegm turbidity obstructs the chest and diaphragm, preventing Middle Jiao Qi from extending freely, resulting in belching, this is also due to the internal stagnation of Earth Qi. Zhang Zhongjing stated: In cases of Pi (fullness obstruction) syndrome accompanied by belching, Xu Fu Dai Zhe Tang (Inula and Hematite Decoction) should be administered. The *Benshi Fang* describes accumulation in the epigastrium, fullness and oppression or pain, often with belching smelling of rotten eggs; this is treated with Zhi Qiao San (Immature Bitter Orange Powder). Zhu Danxi stated: Excess Fire in the Stomach and thick phlegm above the diaphragm lead to eructation. Er Chen Tang (Two-Cured Decoction) is used with added Xiang Fu (Cyperus Rhizome), Zhi Zi Ren (Gardenia Seed), Huang Lian (Coptis Rhizome), Su Zi (Perilla Fruit), Qian Hu (Peucedani Radix), Qing Dai (Indigo Naturalis), and Gua Lou (Trichosanthes Fruit), administered as either pills or decoction.
[Diagnosis] If the Cun Kou pulse is weak and slow, weakness indicates insufficiency of Yang Qi, while slowness indicates excess Stomach Qi; symptoms include belching with acid regurgitation, sudden inability to swallow food, and Qi blocking above the diaphragm. A tight pulse at the Cun position indicates an excess Cold pathogen. If Cold is located in the Upper Jiao, the chest will certainly be full and accompanied by belching. A faint and choppy pulse at the Zu Yang position indicates absence of Stomach Qi (faint) and injury to the Spleen (choppy); if purgatives are incorrectly used for Cold in the diaphragm, Cold accumulation persists, Stomach Qi becomes weak, Spleen function is damaged, Grain Qi fails to circulate, and spontaneous belching occurs after eating. Cold in the chest and diaphragm, characterized by deficiency above and excess below, with blocked Grain Qi, constitutes an obstruction syndrome. Both a faint and choppy Zu Yang pulse and a tight Cun pulse with belching belong to Cold syndromes. When Taiyin Qi reaches its end, abdominal distension and closure occur, along with belching and vomiting/rebellious Qi.