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"Zhu" (Transmission/Note) means to stay or remain. It refers to a disease that lingers and stays, and after death, transmits to those nearby. After childbirth, the meridians are empty, and blood and qi are exhausted. The body is attacked by wind pathogens, leading to an inability to recover. The patient becomes extremely weak and emaciated, with reduced blood and qi, a withered and thin physique, and chronic, intractable illness persisting for a long time. Since it occurs postpartum, it is called "Chan Zhu" (Postpartum Transmission).

"Zhu" means to stay. It refers to a disease that lingers and stays, and after death, transmits to those nearby. The Five Elements—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—and the days of the Six Jia cycle have specific taboos. Humans are born from Yin and Yang and grow through blood and qi. The five internal organs correspond to the Five Elements. Earth governs the Spleen Qi internally and is the master of the Five Elements and organs. Its taboos are particularly difficult not to violate. If people dwell in or excavate the earth without choosing auspicious times, violating these taboos, the Earth Qi interacts with human blood and qi, causing disease. The symptoms include Earth Qi flowing into the skin and entering the fu and zang organs, heavy joints, generalized edema that eventually ruptures spontaneously. Thus, it is called "Tu Zhu" (Earth Transmission).

"Zhu" means to stay. It refers to a disease that lingers and stays, and after death, transmits to those nearby. When a person drinks excessive fluids, the water qi fails to dissipate and stagnates as "Yin" (fluid retention). Combined with a deficient constitution exposed to wind-cold, the wind-cold binds with the fluid retention, forming a solid mass. Wind and fluid invade the fu and zang organs, obstructing the free flow of Yin and Yang, resulting in alternating chills and fever. This stagnation persists for months or years, hence named "Yin Zhu" (Fluid Retention Transmission).

Generally, there are several types of Gu poison, all arising from transformative and bewitching energies. Some intentionally create them by placing various insects and snakes in vessels, allowing them to devour each other until only one remains; this survivor is called "Gu." It can transform and bewitch, entering the body through food and drink, bringing disaster. When others suffer, the Gu keeper benefits, which is why unrestrained individuals keep and serve them. There is also "Fei Gu" (Flying Gu), which comes and goes unpredictably, gradually manifesting like ghostly energy, causing sudden severe illness. Most who contract Gu poisoning die, due to its intense toxicity, hence the term "Gu Du" (Gu Poison).

For those suffering from Gu poison: if the complexion is greenish-yellow, it is "She Gu" (Snake Gu), with a surging and forceful pulse. Upon onset, there is internal heat and oppression, fullness and distension in the stomach and hypochondrium, swelling and stiffness of the tongue root, reluctance to speak, constant body pain, a sensation of insects crawling in the heart and abdomen, reddish complexion, and dry lips and mouth. If untreated for a year, the liver and diaphragm rot, leading to death.

If the complexion is red and yellow, it is "Xi Yi Gu" (Lizard Gu), with a floating, slippery, and short pulse. Upon onset, there is slight fullness in the lower back and back, and a tingling sensation in the hands, feet, lips, and mouth. The throat pulse is tense, and sores appear on the tongue. If untreated for 200 days, the heart and liver are consumed and rotted, pus and blood are discharged, the body becomes emaciated, the complexion turns withered and black, leading to death.

If the complexion is greenish-white, or if the pulse is deep and soft: upon onset, there is a sensation of blockage in the throat, aversion to hearing voices, borborygmus in the abdomen, gas moving up or down, worsening on cloudy and rainy days, a sensation of insects crawling under the skin, vexatious heat in the hands and feet, craving for vinegar, coughing up pus and blood, complexion alternating between white and blue, abdominal distension resembling a toad. If it transforms into a虫 (worm), expelled tadpole-like, it is "Xia Wa Gu" (Toad Gu). If untreated for a year, the spleen and stomach are consumed, the lips and mouth crack, leading to death.

If the pulse is slow and scattered: upon onset, the body alternates between cold and hot, vexatious pain in the hands and feet, irregular vomiting and regurgitation, dark yellow urine, abdominal oppression, chest pain, predominantly bluish complexion. Sometimes toxic matter is vomited, resembling a dung beetle with legs and wings; this is "Qiang Lang Gu" (Dung Beetle Gu). If untreated for a year, the blood vessels are consumed and dried up, leading to death.

To determine if it is Gu, ask the patient to spit into water. If the saliva sinks, it is Gu; if it floats, it is not.

It is also said: In the morning, draw well water before eating. Ask the patient to spit into the water. If the saliva falls straight down like a pillar, it is Gu poison. If it disperses and does not reach the bottom, it is Grass poison.

It is also said: Have the patient hold a soybean in the mouth. If it is Gu, the bean will swell and peel; if not, it will not rot or peel.

It is also said: Place swan skin under the patient's bedding without their knowledge. If the condition worsens, it is Gu.

It is also said: Take a fresh egg, boil it, peel it, keeping the yolk and white intact. Hold it in the mouth at night, chewing gently with teeth without breaking it. After the time equivalent to two meals, spit it onto two tiles overnight in the dew. Check the next day; if it turns dark green, it is Gu poison.

Once, someone ate a newly transformed carp and was poisoned, suffering from heart and abdominal pain, hardness below the heart, fever, vexation, a desire to wash with water, and body tremors resembling a fish in water. A physician diagnosed it as Gu. The family claimed there was no such poison in the wild and refused Gu treatment. The patient died. The therapies of decoctions, moxibustion, acupuncture, and stone therapy have separate standard formulas. Nourishing and guiding exercises are attached below.

The *Yang Sheng Fang · Dao Yin Fa* states: Cross both hands behind the head, inhale deeply, then exhale. Sit on the ground, slowly extend the legs, embrace the knees from the outside with both hands, and quickly bow the head between the knees. Cross hands above the head twelve times. This cures Gu poison, San Shi poison, and large Qi stagnation in the waist.

It also says: Walk along major paths, observe the sun, moon, and stars, maintain purity, lie down at cockcrow, rinse the mouth three times and swallow. This harmonizes the five zang organs, kills Gu worms, treats heart and abdominal pain, and promotes longevity.

It also says: The *Wu Sheng Jing* states: To treat hundred diseases and evil Gu, lie flat on your back, close eyes and breath, visualize the Dantian, inhale slowly through the nose until the abdomen is fully distended, then exhale slowly through the mouth without sound, ensuring less intake and more output, aiming for slight perspiration. Visualize the five zang organs in their natural colors; visualize the stomach as bright and white like unbleached silk. Stop when exhausted and sweating. Apply powder to the body and massage. If no sweat but exhaustion occurs, stop. Repeat the next day.

Also visualize great thunder and lightning rumbling into the abdomen. Continue this practice, and the illness will naturally disappear.