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The *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) states: The essence of the five zang organs and six fu organs all ascend and pour into the eyes. The eye system (meridians connecting the eyeballs to the brain) then ascends into the brain. The brain is the sea of marrow. The essence of the marrow manifests as the pupil.

Whenever a disease reaches a critical stage, one must examine both eyes. By observing the color of the eyes, one can ascertain the survival or demise of the disease. Therefore, observing the eyes is the primary method of diagnosis. Those who keep their eyes open and wish to see people have Yang syndromes; those who keep their eyes closed and do not wish to see people have Yin syndromes. Eyes that are closed indicate impending epistaxis (nosebleed); dim eyes indicate that kidney essence is about to be exhausted; red whites of the eyes indicate blood heat; yellow whites of the eyes indicate damp-heat; excessive and clumped eye discharge indicates hyperactive liver fire; incoordination of eye movements indicates heat steaming the eye system; bright and piercing gaze indicates dryness disease; severe dryness results in eyes without tears, feeling dry and rough; frequent visual blurring indicates dampness disease; severe dampness results in yellowing and ulceration of the eyeballs; eyelids swollen like a sleeping silkworm indicate water qi retention; blackness above and below the eyelids indicates phlegm qi obstruction; staring with wide-open eyes indicates hyperactive liver qi; horizontal strabismus or oblique gaze indicates stirring of liver wind; depletion of yang qi results in unclear vision; depletion of yin qi results in frequent visual confusion and distortion. Clear spirit capable of recognizing people indicates a mild condition; dull pupils unable to recognize people indicate a severe condition. Yangming fu excess syndromes are treatable; Shaoyin deficiency cold syndromes are difficult to treat. "Muluoliao" (blurred vision) is still a treatable sign; fixed upward gaze of both eyes indicates an untreatable disease. Heat binding in the stomach fu causes delirium and coma even at noon, with hallucinations seen in the eyes; heat entering the blood chamber causes whispering to oneself only at night, with visions of ghosts in the eyes. Dilated pupils indicate dispersion of primordial spirit; constricted pupils indicate drying and knotting of the eye system. Red threads appearing in the eyes with a ruddy and delicate complexion indicate yin deficiency with hyperactive fire; loss of eye movement coordination with tongue stiffness and inability to speak indicates imminent collapse of primordial spirit. Eyes with discharge and tears, with spirit contained within, possess divine spirit (shen qi), indicating generally auspicious outcomes for diseases. Absence of discharge and tears, blue hue in the whites of the eyes, dullness in the irises, loss of internal spirit, and exposure of floating light indicate absence of divine spirit, suggesting generally ominous outcomes. Eyes that are perfectly round, or deviated upwards/obliquely, staring, or sunken, indicate that divine spirit has departed, and the disease is incurable. However, if the eyes are slightly fixed but move temporarily, it is a phlegm syndrome; even if the eyes are fixed, oblique, or upward-gazing, but return to normal after a while, it is also often due to phlegm closure, and should not be immediately deemed incurable.

[Commentary by Liankan] The liver meridian intersects at the vertex and enters the brain, communicating with the eyes via the eye system; thus, the liver opens into the eyes. The eyes receive spiritual mechanism (ling ji, mental activity) from the brain. The brain is the mansion of the primordial spirit. Therefore, the *Huangdi Neijing* states: "Head drooping and deep-set orbits indicate that spirit is about to be seized." Mr. Yu considers observing the eyes as the primary diagnostic method, truly grasping the core of diagnostics. This is because spirit resides in the heart and uses the fontanelle as its gate, and among the orifices through which it exits and becomes visible externally, only the eyes are prominent. Since the heart meridian connects upward to the eye system, and the eye system connects upward to the brain, dilated pupils indicate dispersion of heart spirit; blurred vision indicates the brain being disturbed by fire and dryness; sunken eye sockets indicate depletion of brain qi; staring and fixed gaze indicates lack of qi in the brain marrow. If accompanied by tongue stiffness and inability to speak, it indicates simultaneous collapse of brain and heart spirit, resulting in coma resembling a corpse. Wang Qingren stated in *Yi Lin Gai Cuo* (Correction of Errors in Medical Works): "If there is no qi in the brain marrow for a moment, not only is there no spiritual mechanism, but death is inevitable instantly." This sufficiently elucidates the profound meaning of fixed eyes, coma, and aphasia. The Song Dynasty *Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang* formulated two formulas: Zhibao Wan (Treasure of Ultimate Efficacy Pill) and Zixue San (Purple Snow Powder). One uses rhinoceros horn, tortoise plastron, and musk as sovereign drugs; the other uses rhinoceros horn, antelope horn, and musk as sovereign drugs. These indeed capture the essential principles for treating brain disorders. Although rhinoceros horn, antelope horn, and tortoise plastron are all products from exotic creatures possessing spiritual properties, they actually have the function of clearing the brain and reducing inflammation. Musk is particularly effective in stimulating nerves and is a crucial drug for strengthening the brain and boosting spirit. Those who disparage Traditional Chinese Medicine for lacking methods to treat brain diseases are truly laymen outside the gate.