Library

Huangdi asked: What causes yawning in humans? Qibo replied: Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) circulates in the Yang aspects during the day and in the Yin aspects at night; Yin governs the night, and the night governs sleep; Yang governs ascent, and Yin governs descent. Therefore, when Yin Qi accumulates below and Yang Qi has not yet exhausted, Yang pulls upward while Yin pulls downward. The mutual pulling of Yin and Yang results in frequent yawning. When Yang Qi is exhausted and Yin Qi is abundant, the eyes close (sleep); when Yin Qi is exhausted and Yang Qi is abundant, one awakens. The Kidney governs yawning; therefore, treatment involves reducing the Foot Shaoyin (Kidney) channel and supplementing the Foot Taiyang (Bladder) channel.

Huangdi asked: What causes hiccups? Qibo said: Food enters the Stomach, and Stomach Qi flows upward to the Lung. If old Cold pathogen remains and mixes with the new food Qi returning to the Stomach, the new and old Qi become chaotic, and True Qi conflicts with Pathogenic Qi, reversing and rushing out from the Stomach, thus causing hiccups. The Lung governs hiccups; therefore, treatment involves supplementing the Hand Taiyin (Lung) channel and reducing the Foot Taiyin (Spleen) channel. Alternatively, stimulating the nose with grass to induce sneezing can stop hiccups. Holding the breath and rapidly guiding the Qi will also immediately resolve it, or startling the patient may also stop it.

Huangdi asked: What causes sighing? Qibo said: This occurs when Yin Qi is excessive and Yang Qi is deficient, with Yin Qi moving swiftly and Yang Qi moving slowly. When Yin is excessive and Yang is depleted, sighing occurs. Due to Yin excess and Yang depletion, treatment involves supplementing the Foot Taiyang (Bladder) channel and reducing the Foot Shaoyin (Kidney) channel.

Huangdi asked: What causes shivering and coldness? Qibo said: Cold pathogen lodges in the skin. With Yin Qi excessive and Yang Qi deficient, shivering and cold chills occur. Treatment involves supplementing all Yang channels.

Huangdi asked: What causes belching? Qibo said: Cold pathogen lodges in the Stomach. Jue Ni (Rebellious Qi) rises from below and scatters, then rushes out from the Stomach, causing belching. Treatment involves supplementing the Foot Taiyin (Spleen) and Foot Yangming (Stomach) channels (another version suggests supplementing Meiben).

Huangdi asked: What causes sneezing? Qibo said: When Yang Qi is harmonious and smooth, filling the Heart and emerging from the Nose, sneezing occurs. Treatment involves supplementing the Ying (Spring) point of the Foot Taiyang (Bladder) channel and Meiben (another version suggests points above the eyebrows).

Huangdi asked: What causes stretching? Qibo said: When Stomach Qi is not solid, the meridians become empty. Empty meridians lead to laxity and slackness of sinews and vessels. When sinews and vessels are lax, exerting effort in Yin activities prevents Qi from recovering, resulting in stretching. Treatment involves supplementing the space between the muscles according to the location of the pathology.

Huangdi asked: What causes crying and weeping tears due to sorrow? Qibo said: The Heart is the master of the Zang-Fu organs; the Eyes are the gathering place of the Zong Mai (Major Vessels) and the pathway for fluids from above; the Mouth and Nose are the portals of Qi. Sorrow and worry cause the Heart to move; when the Heart moves, all Zang-Fu organs tremble. Trembling stimulates the Zong Mai, which opens the fluid pathways, causing tears and mucus to flow. Fluids nourish essence and moisten orifices. When the upper fluid pathway opens, tears flow. If tearing continues without stopping, fluids are depleted; if fluids are depleted, essence is not nourished; if essence is not nourished, vision is lost. This is called "Loss of Essence." Treatment involves supplementing Tianzhu, located on the meridians flanking the neck, specifically where the neck meets the head's midline.

Huangdi asked: Why do some people cry without tears, or produce few tears and little mucus, not knowing where the water comes from or where the mucus originates? Qibo said: The Heart is the specialized accumulation of the essence of the five Zang organs, and the Eyes are its orifice, with facial luster being its manifestation. Virtue brings harmony to the eyes; worry manifests in color. Thus, sorrow causes tears to flow. The source of tear fluid is derived from here. "Zhong Jing" (Many Essences, referred to as Shui Zong/Water Ancestor in *Suwen*) refers to accumulated water; accumulated water comes from Zhi Yin (Extreme Yin); Zhi Yin is the essence of the Kidney. The water of Zong Jing does not flow because essence holds it, assisted and wrapped by other structures, preventing flow. Regarding Qi transmission: the essence of Water is Zhi (Will), and the essence of Fire is Shen (Spirit). When Water and Fire interact, both Shen and Zhi feel sorrow, causing water to appear in the eyes. Hence the proverb: Heart sorrow is also called Will sorrow. Zhi and Heart essence gather at the eyes. When both are sorrowful, Shen Qi transmits to Heart essence, circulating up and down to Zhi, making Zhi alone sorrowful, thus causing tears. Mucus and tears originate from the Brain; the Brain is Yang (Yin in *Suwen*); Marrow fills the bones; thus, brain seepage becomes mucus. Zhi is the master of bones; thus, flowing water and mucus follow this category. Tears and mucus are like brothers: in urgency, they die together; in life, they live together (*Taisu* says: appearing together they vanish). Since Zhi grieves early, mucus and tears emerge together following each other, belonging to the same category.

Huangdi asked: Why do some people cry without tears, or with few tears that are not accompanied by mucus? Qibo said: Absence of tears indicates lack of deep sorrow. Lack of tears means Shen is not compassionate. If Shen is not compassionate, Zhi is not sorrowful. Yin and Yang hold each other in balance, so how can tears come alone? If Zhi is sorrowful, there is internal depression; depression attacks Yin; attacking Yin causes Zhi to leave the eyes; when Zhi leaves, Shen cannot guard essence; when Spirit and Essence leave the eyes, mucus and tears flow. The classics state: Jue Ni leads to blindness. (The section from "regarding mucus and tears" to "blindness" was originally missing, now supplemented from *Suwen* and *Lingshu*). In Jue Ni, Yang Qi merges upward and Yin Qi merges downward. Yang merging upward means Fire shines alone; Yin merging downward causes cold feet, leading to distension. One water cannot overcome five fires, hence blindness. Thus, Qi surges with wind, causing endless tears, because Wind pathogen invades the eyes. If Yang Qi is internally retained in essence, Fire Qi burns the eyes, causing tearing upon exposure to wind. This is analogous to strong winds generating rain. (*Jiujuan* describes the form, *Suwen* describes the essence, mutually illuminating each other).

Huangdi asked: What causes long sighs? Qibo said: Worry and thought cause the Xin Mai (Heart Vessel) to contract. Contraction restricts the Qi pathway, causing obstruction. Long sighs serve to extend and relieve this. Treatment involves supplementing the Hand Shaoyin (Heart) and Hand Jueyin (Pericardium) channels, and retaining needle insertion in the Foot Shaoyang (Gallbladder) channel.

Huangdi asked: What causes drooling? Qibo said: Food enters the Stomach. Heat in the Stomach causes worms to move. Worm movement relaxes the Stomach. Stomach relaxation opens Lianquan, causing drooling. Treatment involves supplementing the Foot Shaoyin (Kidney) channel.

Huangdi asked: What causes tinnitus? Qibo said: The Ear is the gathering place of Zong Mai. Emptiness in the Stomach leads to deficiency in Zong Mai. Deficiency causes downward flow, and exhaustion in Liú Mai (Sliding Meridians) results in tinnitus. Treatment involves supplementing Kerenzhuren and the point at the junction of flesh and nail on the thumb.

Huangdi asked: What causes self-biting of the tongue? Qibo said: This is due to Jue Ni rising, with pulse Qi reaching the head. Arrival of Shaoyin Qi causes biting of the tongue; arrival of Shaoyang Qi causes biting of the cheeks; arrival of Yangming Qi causes biting of the lips. Treat by supplementing the primary diseased channel.

Huangdi asked: What causes forgetfulness? Qibo said: Upper Qi is insufficient, Lower Qi is excessive. The Intestines and Stomach are full, while the Heart and Lungs are deficient. Deficiency causes Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) Qi to remain below, failing to ascend in time, leading to forgetfulness.

Huangdi asked: What causes hunger without desire to eat? Qibo said: Essence and Qi merge into the Spleen, leaving heat in the Stomach. Stomach heat accelerates digestion, causing hunger. Rebellious Stomach Qi causes epigastric blockage, leading to loss of appetite. For forgetfulness and hunger, first examine the Fu organs, correct minor errors, then regulate Qi. Excess conditions are reduced, deficiency conditions are supplemented.

These fourteen pathologies are all odd pathogens affecting the orifices. Wherever the pathogen resides, there is a deficiency. Upper Qi deficiency leads to an unfilled brain, tinnitus, tilting head, and dim vision. Middle Qi deficiency leads to abnormal urination/defecation and borborygmus; treat by supplementing the point below the lateral malleolus and retaining. Lower Qi deficiency leads to Wei Jue (flaccidity/cold limbs) and chest oppression. Acupuncture urgently at two cun above the big toe and retain; alternatively, supplement the point below the lateral malleolus and retain.