Library

The excessive movement of wind is Wood; the Spleen Earth is affected, suffering from borborygmus (intestinal rumbling), xiangxie (undigested food diarrhea), reduced appetite, abdominal distension and fullness, heaviness of the body, vexation and oppression, and rising of stagnant Qi. In nature, clouds and objects fly upward, and grasses and trees move. When Wood is excessive and overcomes others, it is subsequently overcome by Metal. In severe cases, there is irritability, epilepsy, dizziness, vertigo, and fainting, hypochondriac pain, and severe vomiting leading to the exhaustion of Stomach Qi and peril to life.

[Note] The above generally discusses diseases caused by the Main Yùn (Primary Movement) and Main Qi. This section details the specific diseases governed by the Five Yùn and Ke Yun (Guest Movements). Excessive Wood corresponds to the Ren years (Six Ren). Alternatively, insufficient Earth corresponds to the Ji years (Six Ji). When Wood is excessive, it relies on its strength to overcome Earth. When Earth is insufficient, its mother (Fire) is weak, causing Metal to decline; lacking the ability to control Wood, Wood then comes to overcome Earth. Thus, when Wood Qi is prosperous, wind moves excessively, representing the transformation of excessive Wood. In humans, Spleen Earth is affected, suffering from borborygmus, xiangxie, reduced food intake, abdominal fullness, body heaviness, and vexation. "Vexation" refers to the depression and failure of middle Qi to extend freely. In heaven, there are changes of flying clouds and objects; in earth, there are transformations of swaying grasses and trees. If Wood's dominance continues without end, it must decline; upon declining, it is counter-attacked by Metal, resulting in a reaction of withering and falling. Thus, one further sees Liver and Spleen diseases such as irritability, epilepsy, dizziness, vertigo, hypochondriac pain, and severe vomiting. "Exhaustion of Stomach Qi leading to peril" means the Chongyang pulse of Stomach Earth ceases and does not arrive; this is considered exhaustion of the Spleen, thus indicating peril to life.

Excessive heat is Fire; the Lung Metal is affected, suffering from wheezing and coughing, shortness of breath, loss of blood, and malaria. There is profuse diarrhea, dry throat, and internal heat. In nature, things burn and scorch, springs and streams dry up. When Water reacts excessively, there is ice rain, cold frost, and water returning. In severe cases, there is delirium, mania, chest and back pain, and if the Taiyuan pulse ceases, life is difficult to save.

[Note] Excessive Fire corresponds to the Wu years (Six Wu). Alternatively, insufficient Metal corresponds to the Yi years (Six Yi). When Fire is excessive, it relies on its strength to overcome Metal. When Metal is insufficient, its mother (Earth) is weak, causing Water to decline; lacking the ability to control Fire, Fire then overcomes Metal. Thus, when Fire Qi is prosperous, summer heat moves excessively, representing the transformation of excessive Fire. In humans, Lung Metal is affected, suffering from wheezing and coughing, insufficiency of Qi and difficulty breathing, loss of blood and sallow complexion, as well as malaria, profuse diarrhea, fire-diarrhea, dry throat, and internal heat. In heaven, there are changes of blazing, fierce, and boiling heat; in earth, there are transformations of scorched and withered objects and dried-up springs. If Fire's dominance continues without end, it must decline; upon declining, it is counter-attacked by Water, resulting in a reaction of rain, hail, early frost, and cold. Thus, one further sees Heart and Lung diseases such as delirious speech, madness, chest and back pain. Taiyuan is the Lung pulse; if the Lung Metal pulse ceases and does not arrive, this is considered exhaustion of the Lung, thus indicating that the disease is difficult to cure.

Excessive dampness is Earth; the Kidney Water is affected, suffering from abdominal pain, body heaviness, vexation, and unhappiness. In nature, rain and dampness cause rivers to overflow and dry ponds to produce fish. Wind and rain cause soil collapse, and scales appear on land. There is abdominal fullness, loose stools, and borborygmus. There is flaccidity of the legs, pain, and fluid retention. If the Taixi pulse ceases, life is difficult to preserve.

[Note] Excessive Earth corresponds to the Jia years (Six Jia). Insufficient Water corresponds to the Xin years (Six Xin). When Earth is excessive, it relies on its strength to overcome Water. When Water is insufficient, its mother (Metal) is weak, causing Wood to decline; lacking the ability to control Earth, Earth then overcomes Water. Thus, when Earth Qi is prosperous, rain and dampness move excessively, representing the transformation of excessive Earth. In humans, Kidney Water is affected, suffering from cold limbs and cold extremities, abdominal pain, body heaviness, vexation, and unhappiness. In heaven, there are changes of frequent rain and dampness; in earth, there are transformations of overflowing rivers and fish born in drying marshes. If Dampness's dominance continues without end, it must decline; upon declining, it is counter-attacked by Wood, resulting in a reaction of heavy wind and rain, soil collapse, and scales appearing on land. Thus, one further sees Spleen and Stomach diseases such as abdominal fullness, loose stools, borborygmus, leg flaccidity and pain, and fluid retention. Taixi is the Kidney pulse; if the Kidney Water pulse ceases and does not arrive, this is considered exhaustion of the Kidney, thus indicating that life is difficult to preserve.

Excessive dryness is Metal; the Liver Wood is affected, suffering from deafness and inability to hear. There is pain under the hypochondrium and in the lower abdomen, redness and pain of the eyes. Grasses and trees wither and scorch. In severe cases, there is pain radiating from the chest to the back, inability to turn the body due to hypochondriac pain, wheezing, coughing, rebellious Qi, and bleeding. If the Taichong pulse ceases, life is difficult to sustain.

[Note] Excessive Metal corresponds to the Geng years (Six Geng). Insufficient Wood corresponds to the Ding years (Six Ding). When Metal is excessive, it relies on its strength to overcome Wood; when Wood is insufficient, its mother (Water) is weak, causing Fire to decline; lacking the ability to control Metal, Metal then overcomes Wood. Thus, when Metal Qi is prosperous, clear and dry air moves excessively, representing the transformation of excessive Metal. In humans, Liver Wood is affected, suffering from deafness and inability to hear, pain under the hypochondrium, lower abdominal pain, and redness and pain of the eyes. In heaven, there are changes of clear, dry, and austere killing energy; in earth, there are transformations of withering and falling grasses and trees. If Dryness's dominance continues without end, it must decline; upon declining, it is counter-attacked by Fire, resulting in a reaction of desiccation and scorching. Thus, one further sees Liver and Lung diseases such as pain radiating from the chest to the back, hypochondriac pain, inability to turn sideways, wheezing, coughing, rebellious Qi, and hemorrhage. Taichong is the Liver pulse; if the Liver Wood pulse ceases and does not arrive, this is considered exhaustion of the Liver, thus indicating that life is difficult to sustain.

Excessive cold is Water; evil harms the Heart Fire, causing heart vexation, restlessness, palpitations, delirium,妄言 (wild talk), and pain in the center of the heart. In nature, there is ice, frost, snow, and cracked hard ground. Dust and fog obscure, and cold rain arrives. In severe cases, there is edema, coughing, interior-cold, abdominal fullness, loose stools with rumbling, and undigested food. If the Shenmen pulse ceases, death occurs, what can be said?

[Note] Excessive Water corresponds to the Bing years (Six Bing). Insufficient Fire corresponds to the Gui years (Six Gui). When Water is excessive, it relies on its strength to overcome Fire; when Fire is insufficient, its mother (Wood) is weak, causing Earth to decline; lacking the ability to control Water, Water then overcomes Fire. Thus, when Water Qi is prosperous, cold moves excessively, representing the transformation of excessive Water. In humans, Heart Fire is affected, suffering from heart vexation, restlessness, palpitations, delirious speech, wild talk, and heat-pain in the center of the heart. In heaven, there are changes of rain, ice, frost, and snow; in earth, there are transformations of frozen cracks and hardened rigidity. If Cold's dominance continues without end, it must decline; upon declining, it is counter-attacked by Earth, resulting in a reaction of obscuring dust and fog that does not disperse, and heavy cold rain. Thus, one further sees Kidney and Spleen diseases such as edema, wheezing, interior-cold, abdominal fullness, loose stools, borborygmus, and undigested food. Shenmen is the Heart pulse; if the Heart Fire pulse ceases and does not arrive, this is considered exhaustion of the Heart, thus indicating death.