Library

Disharmony of cold and heat, and irregular diet, cause the Qi of Yin-Yang, clear and turbid to interfere with each other, leading to disorder between the intestines and stomach, resulting in Huoluan (cholera-like syndrome). After severe vomiting and purging in Huoluan, the intestines and stomach become deficient, potentially leading to sweating, a pulse that is faint and nearly imperceptible, and coldness of the hands and feet; this condition is named "Sini" (Four Coldness/Reversal of Extremities). "Sini" refers to the sudden jue-ni (reversal) and interruption of Yin-Yang Qi.

If Huoluan is accompanied by muscle cramps (Zhuanjin), it is due to cold Qi entering the sinews. The sinews of the three Yin and three Yang meridians of the foot originate from the toes, and those of the hand originate from the fingers, all circulating through the body via the collaterals. After severe vomiting and purging in Huoluan, both Yin and Yang are deficient, and Blood and Qi are extremely depleted, causing coldness of the extremities and disordered Ying-Wei (Nutritive and Defensive) Qi. When cold attacks the sinews, they undergo cramping. If cold enters the sinews of the foot's three Yin and three Yang meridians, the leg sinews cramp; if it enters the hand's three Yin and three Yang meridians, the arm sinews cramp. Whichever sinew the cold enters becomes cramped. Cramping occurs because pathogenic cold Qi strikes and agitates the sinews, causing them to shift and spasm.

If Huoluan presents with "Zhong'e" (sudden attack by malevolent Qi), it refers to sudden invasion by ghostly Qi (pathogenic factors). The presentation involves sudden, severe colicky pain in the heart and abdomen, where external pathogenic Qi strikes internally, combing with retained food and cold, further disrupting Yin-Yang Qi. With deficient intestines and stomach, this leads to vomiting, diarrhea, irritability, and toxic heat, termed "Zhong'e Huoluan."

The disease of Huoluan arises from disharmony of cold and heat and irregular diet, causing disorder of Yin-Yang and interference of clear and turbid Qi within the intestines and stomach. Upon onset, there is severe colicky pain in the heart and abdomen, vomiting, and diarrhea. Due to deficiency of the fu and zang organs, symptoms may include irritability, thirst, retching or hiccups, coldness of the hands and feet, or the recurrence of chronic conditions triggered by current deficiency.

After Huoluan, if Ying-Wei Qi remains unharmonized and the fu and zang organs remain deficient and cold, one may experience persistent vomiting and diarrhea, unresolved nausea and vomiting, or the reactivation of chronic diseases due to deficiency, giving rise to various other ailments.