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Yellow Emperor asked: I once ascended the Terrace of Qingxiao. While on the middle steps, I felt dizzy. I closed my eyes and gazed alone, calmed my mind, and regulated my qi, but the dizziness persisted for a long time without resolving. I sat kneeling with my hair loose, lowered my head to look again, and it continued for a long time before suddenly stopping on its own. What qi causes this?

Qibo replied: The essence of the five zang organs and six fu organs flows upward into the eyes to form the essence of vision. The container of this essence is the eyelid (referred to as "ke" in *Ling Shu*, same below). The essence of bone forms the pupil; the essence of sinews forms the black part of the eye (referred to as "hei yan" in *Ling Shu*); the essence of blood forms the collateral vessels of the eye; the essence of qi forms the white part of the eye (also referred to as "bai yan" in *Ling Shu*); and the essence of muscles forms the restraining tissues of the eyelids. These tissues wrap around the essences of sinews, bones, blood, and qi, merging with the meridians to form the optic nerve system (mu xi), which connects upward to the brain and emerges posteriorly at the middle of the neck. Therefore, when pathogenic factors attack the head and eyes, if they encounter deficiency in the body's healthy qi, they penetrate deeply, following the optic nerve system into the brain. Once inside, they cause vertigo (brain turning), which pulls the optic nerve system tight. Tightness of the optic nerve system leads to dizziness and spinning sensations. When pathogenic factors invade the essence, the invaded essence becomes disorganized relative to the uninvaded parts. This disorganization causes the essence to scatter, leading to diplopia (seeing double), thus seeing two objects. The eyes are the gathering place of the essence of the five zang and six fu organs, the regular pathway of Ying-Qi, Wei-Qi, Hun, and Po, and the source of Shen-Qi. Thus, mental overexertion scatters Hun and Po and confuses Yi-Zhi. Therefore, the pupil and black part of the eye correspond to Yin, while the white part and red vessels correspond to Yang. When Yin and Yang harmonize and transmit each other, clear vision is achieved. The eyes are the messengers of the Heart, and the Heart is the residence of Shen. Thus, when Shen disperses and Jing becomes chaotic without harmonizing, and one suddenly sees unusual phenomena, the Jing, Hun, and Po scatter and fail to cooperate, which is called "Huo" (confusion/dizziness).

The Yellow Emperor said: Why do I have such confusion? Every time I go to Dongyuan, I invariably feel dizzy, but it resolves when I leave. Is it only Dongyuan that exhausts my spirit? Why is it so different?

Qibo said: No. If the heart has preferences and the spirit has aversions, sudden mutual interference causes chaos in Jing-Qi, leading to visual errors and thus confusion. When the spirit shifts back to normal, the confusion returns to normal. Hence, mild cases are called "Mi" (bewilderment), and severe cases are called "Huo" (confusion).

The outer canthus (Rui Zi) is located at the lateral aspect of the face; the inner canthus is near the nose, with the upper part being the outer canthus and the lower part the inner canthus. Redness of the eyes indicates disease in the chest. In diagnosing eye pain with red vessels: if the vessels run from top to bottom, it is Taiyang disease; if from bottom to top, it is Yangming disease; if from outside moving inward, it is Shaoyang disease. If Gallbladder heat transfers to the brain, it causes nasal congestion and Bi Yuan (nasal sinusitis/rhinorrhea). Bi Yuan is characterized by continuous flow of turbid nasal discharge, which may progress to Qiu Nu (epistaxis/nasal bleeding) and closed-eye dizziness, caused by Qi reversal.

The Foot-Yangming Meridian has branches entering the face alongside the nose, named Xuanlu, connecting from the mouth area to the root of the eye. For headache radiating to the jaw, needle this point; observe for pathological signs and treat accordingly. Use reducing methods for excess and tonifying methods for deficiency; reversing these will worsen the condition. The Foot-Taiyang Meridian has a branch passing through the neck into the brain, directly connecting to the root of the eye, named Yan Xi (optic nerve system). For severe headache and eye pain, needle the point between the two tendons in the neck, where the meridian enters the brain and diverges. The Yin Qiao Mai and Yang Qiao Mai intersect; Yang enters Yin and exits, intersecting at the Rui Zi. If Yang Qi is exhausted, one closes the eyes; if Yin Qi is exhausted, one suffers insomnia. For redness and pain in the eyes starting from the inner canthus, needle the Yin Qiao Mai points.

For eye pain preventing vision, Shangxing (GV20) is the main point. First needle Yixi (BL48), then Tianyou (TE16) and Fengchi (GB20). For Qing Mang (blindness) with unclear distance vision, Chengguang (ST8) is the main point. For blurred distant vision, Mucuang (GB15) is the main point. For red and painful eyes, Tianzhu (BL10) is the main point. For dizziness and blindness, accompanied by lateral headache pulling the outer canthus tightly, Hanyan (GB16) is the main point. For unclear vision, aversion to wind and sun, tearing, cold intolerance, eye pain, dizziness, redness and pain in the inner canthus, blurred vision, itching and pain of the eyelids, and white nebula on the skin, Jingming (BL1) is the main point. For Qing Mang with no vision, blurred distance vision, foreign body sensation in the eye, and white membrane covering the pupil, Mucuang (GB15) is the main point. For unclear vision, tearing, dizziness, itchy pupils, blurred distance vision, inability to see at dusk or night, eyelid twitching,牵引 (pulling) of the neck and mouth causing deviation and inability to speak, pierce Chengqi (ST1). For eye pain and facial deviation, unclear vision, Sibai (ST1) is the main point. For red and yellow eyes, Quanliao (SI18) is the main point. For tearing, Shuigou (GV26) is the main point. For eye pain and unclear vision, Yinjiao (DU28) is the main point. For dizziness and sweating, Chengjiang (CV24) is the main point. For Qing Mang with aversion to wind and cold, Shangguan (ST7) is the main point. For Qing Mang, Shangyang (LI1) is the main point. For ptosis and blurred vision, Pianli (TE5) is the main point. For eye pain, Xia Lian (ST34) is the main point. For ptosis, blurred vision, and shortness of qi, moxa Shou Wuli (ST37), treating left for right and right for left. For white nebula in the eye, eye pain, and tearing, with severe sensation of eyeball protrusion, Qian Gu (SI15) is the main point. For white membrane covering the globe and inability to see through the pupil, Jie Xi (ST41) is the main point.