夫百病皆生于气,故怒则气上,喜则气缓,悲则气消,恐则气下,寒则气收聚,热则腠
理开而气泄,忧则气乱,劳则气耗,思则气结,九气不同。
怒则气逆,甚则呕血,及食而气逆上也。喜则气和,荣卫行通利,故气缓焉。悲则心系
急,肺布叶举,使上焦不通,荣卫不散,热气在内,故气消也。恐则精却,精却则上焦闭,
闭则气还,还则下焦胀,故气不行。寒则经络凝涩,故气收聚也。热则腠理开,荣卫通,故
汗大泄也。忧则心无所寄,神无所归,虑无所定,故气乱矣。劳则喘且汗,外内皆越,故气
耗矣。思则身心有所止,气留不行,故气结矣。
诊寸口脉伏,胸中逆气,是诸气上冲朐中。故上气、面 肿、膊息,其脉浮大
,不治。上气,脉躁而喘者,属肺;肺胀欲作风水,发汗愈。脉洪则为气。其脉虚宁伏匿者
生,牢强者死。喘息低仰,其脉滑,手足温者,生也;涩而四末寒者,死也。上气脉数者死
,谓其形损故也。其汤烫针石,别有正方,补养宣导,今附于后。
《养生方》云∶饮水勿急咽,久成气病。
《养生方·导引法》云∶两手向后,合手拓腰向上,急势,振摇臂肘,来去七。始得手
不移,直向上向下,尽势,来去二七,去脊、心、肺气,壅闷消散。
又云∶凡学将息人,先须正坐,并膝头、足;初坐,先足指相对,足跟外扒。坐上,少
欲安稳,须两足跟向内相对。坐上,足指外扒,觉闷痛,渐渐举身似款便,坐上。待共两坐
相似,不痛,始双竖脚跟向上,坐上,足指并反向外。每坐常学。去膀胱内冷、膝风冷,足
疼、上气、腰痛,尽自消适也。
又云∶两足两指相向,五息止。引心肺,去咳逆,上气。极用力,令两足相向,意止引
肺中气出,病患行肺内外,展转屈伸,随适,无有违逆。
All diseases arise from Qi (vital energy) dysfunction. Therefore, anger causes Qi to rise upward; joy causes Qi to relax and slow down; grief causes Qi to dissipate; fear causes Qi to sink downward; cold causes Qi to contract and gather; heat causes the Cou Li (pores and interstices of the skin) to open and Qi to leak out; worry causes Qi to become disordered; fatigue causes Qi to be consumed; and contemplation causes Qi to knot and stagnate. These nine types of Qi changes are distinct.
Anger leads to rebellious Qi; in severe cases, it may cause vomiting of blood or upward reversal of Qi during eating. Joy harmonizes Qi, allowing Ying and Wei (nutritive and defensive Qi) to circulate freely and smoothly, thus causing Qi to relax. Grief tightens the Heart vessels and elevates the Lung lobes, obstructing the Upper Jiao (Upper Burner), preventing the dispersion of Ying and Wei, leading to internal accumulation of heat, thereby consuming Qi. Fear causes Essence (Jing) to retreat; when Essence retreats, the Upper Jiao becomes closed; closure causes Qi to return; returning Qi causes distension in the Lower Jiao (Lower Burner), resulting in impaired Qi movement. Cold causes meridians to coagulate and become stagnant, causing Qi to contract and gather. Heat opens the Cou Li and unblocks Ying and Wei, leading to profuse sweating. Worry leaves the Heart Spirit (Shen) without support, the Spirit without a refuge, and thoughts without direction, causing Qi to become disordered. Fatigue induces panting and sweating, with both internal Qi and external Wei Qi escaping outward, leading to Qi consumption. Contemplation fixes the body and mind, causing Qi to remain stationary and not flow, leading to Qi stagnation.
Palpation of the Cun Kou (radial artery at the wrist) reveals a deep/floating pulse accompanied by rebellious Qi in the chest, indicating that various forms of Qi are rushing upward into the chest. Thus, for Shang Qi (asthma/dyspnea with upward rushing Qi) presenting with facial edema and orthopnea (breathing with raised shoulders), if the pulse is floating and large, it is difficult to treat. For Shang Qi with a rapid/restless pulse and wheezing, the pathology belongs to the Lung; if Lung distension is about to develop into Feng Shui (wind-water edema), treatment via diaphoresis (sweating method) will cure it. A洪 (surging) pulse indicates Qi disorders. A Xu (deficient) or hidden/deep pulse suggests survival, whereas a Lao (firm) and Qiang (strong) pulse indicates death. In cases of dyspnea with difficulty in lying flat or sitting up, a Hua (slippery) pulse and warm hands and feet indicate survival; a Se (choppy) pulse and cold extremities indicate death. Shang Qi with a Shu (rapid) pulse indicates death, due to the depletion of physical form. Regarding treatments using decoctions, moxibustion/heat therapy, and acupuncture stones, there are separate specific formulas. Methods for tonification, nourishment, and Daoyin (guiding and pulling exercises) are attached below.
The *Yangsheng Fang* (Prescriptions for Nourishing Life) states: Do not swallow water hastily; doing so over time can lead to Qi diseases.
The *Yangsheng Fang · Daoyin Fa* (Guiding and Pulling Methods) states: Extend both hands backward, join palms to push against the lower back upwards, moving vigorously, and shake the arms and elbows, repeating this motion seven times. Initially, keep the hands stationary, moving straight up and down with full effort, repeating fourteen times. This expels pathogenic factors from the spine, heart, and lungs, dissipating stagnation and oppression.
It also states: Anyone learning self-care must first sit upright, keeping knees and feet together. When initially sitting, place toes opposite each other and heels turned outward. To feel stable and comfortable while seated, bring the two heels inward to face each other. After sitting, turn toes outward; if feeling stuffy or painful, gradually relax the whole body as if at ease. Continue until the sensation matches previous sessions and pain subsides. Then, raise both heels upward while sitting, with toes joined and facing outward. Practice this every time you sit. This practice eliminates cold in the Bladder, wind-cold in the knees, foot pain, Shang Qi, and lower back pain, bringing natural relief.
It further states: Face the big toes of both feet toward each other, holding for five breaths. This guides Qi in the Heart and Lungs, eliminating cough with rebellious Qi and Shang Qi. Exert maximum effort to keep the feet facing each other, focusing the mind on guiding Qi out of the Lungs. The patient moves within and outside the Lungs, twisting and stretching, following comfort, without resistance.