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When pathogenic factors invade the human body, they sometimes cause insomnia (inability to close the eyes and lie down). What qi causes this? Bo Gao said: "When grains enter the stomach, their dregs, fluids, and Zong Qi (Gathering Qi) are divided into three pathways. Thus, Zong Qi accumulates in the chest, emerges from the throat, penetrates the heart vessels, and governs respiration; Ying Qi (Nutrient Qi) secretes its fluids, injects them into the vessels, transforms them into blood, nourishes the four extremities, and internally irrigates the five zang and six fu organs, corresponding to the time of the clepsydra; Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) consists of the fierce and rapid qi derived from food essence, which moves swiftly among the muscles and skin of the four extremities without rest. During the day, it travels through the Yang aspects; at night, it travels through the Yin aspects. It usually proceeds from the interspaces of the Foot Shaoyin (Kidney) meridian, circulating through the five zang and six fu organs. Now, if Jue Qi (Rebellious Qi) lodges in the five zang and six fu organs, Wei Qi can only guard the exterior, traveling in the Yang aspect and unable to enter the Yin aspect. Traveling in the Yang aspect leads to an excess of Yang qi; an excess of Yang qi causes the Yang Qiao vessel to become deficient/stagnant, preventing entry into the Yin aspect. Due to Yin deficiency, one suffers from insomnia."

Asked: "How should it be treated?" Answered: "Tonify what is deficient, drain what is excessive, regulate deficiency and excess, unblock the pathways, and eliminate the pathogen."

The Yellow Emperor said: "When the ascending and descending motions do not proceed as expected, and the interaction of qi undergoes changes, violent stagnation (Bao Yu) results. I understand this. How can we preemptively protect living beings and prevent such disasters?" Qibo said: "Your question is remarkably insightful. I have heard my master say that having understood the natural truth, one must thoroughly master acupuncture methods. This can break stagnation and support the movement of qi, tonify weakness and preserve true qi, drain excess and remove surplus, thereby eliminating these sufferings."

The Yellow Emperor said: "I wish to hear this in detail." Qibo said: "If the qi of Ren does not advance, there will be severe misfortune. If Wood qi desires to ascend but is obstructed by Tian Zhu, and Wood qi desires to release its stagnation, one must wait for the appropriate time. At this point, one should puncture the Jing-Well point of the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian. If Fire qi desires to ascend but is obstructed by Tian Peng, and Earth qi desires to release its stagnation, one must wait for the appropriate time. The situation for Ministerial Fire and Sovereign Fire is the same; one should puncture the Ying-Spring point of the Pericardium (Hand Jueyin). If Earth qi desires to ascend but is obstructed by Tian Wei, and Earth qi desires to release its stagnation, one must wait for the appropriate time. One should puncture the Shu-Stream point of the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian. If Metal qi desires to ascend but is obstructed by Tian Ying, and Metal qi desires to release its stagnation, one must wait for the appropriate time. One should puncture the Jing-River point of the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian. If Water qi desires to ascend but is obstructed by Tian Rui, and Water qi desires to release its stagnation, one must wait for the appropriate time. One should puncture the He-Sea point of the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian.

The Yellow Emperor said: "Ascending obstruction can be prepared for in advance. I wish to hear about descending obstruction and whether it can be prevented beforehand." Qibo said: "Having understood ascending, one must also comprehend descending. The principles of ascending and descending can both be treated preemptively. If Wood qi desires to descend but is obstructed by Di Jing, and cannot enter, suppression leads to stagnation and eruption. Only after dispersal can it take its position. If descent fails and stagnation erupts violently, it is like waiting in the space between heaven and earth. If it descends but does not go down, stagnation forms quickly. To break the stagnation, one may attack what it overcomes (Metal overcomes Wood). One should puncture the Jing-Well (Exit) point of the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian and the He-Sea (Enter) point of the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. If Fire qi desires to descend but is obstructed by Di Xuan, and cannot enter, suppression leads to stagnation and eruption. After dispersal, it is resolved. One should attack what it overcomes (Water overcomes Fire) to disperse the stagnation. One should puncture the Jing-Well (Exit) point of the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian and the He-Sea (Enter) point of the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian. If Earth qi desires to descend but is obstructed by Di Cang, and cannot go down, suppression leads to stagnation and eruption. After dispersal, it can enter. One should attack what it overcomes (Wood overcomes Earth) to disperse the stagnation. One should puncture the Jing-Well (Exit) point of the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian and the He-Sea (Enter) point of the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian. If Metal qi desires to descend but is obstructed by Di Tong, and cannot go down, suppression leads to stagnation and eruption. After dispersal, it can enter. One should attack what it overcomes (Fire overcomes Metal) to disperse the stagnation. One should puncture the Jing-Well (Exit) point of the Pericardium and the He-Sea (Enter) point of the Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian. If Water qi desires to descend but is obstructed by Di Fu, and cannot go down, suppression leads to stagnation and eruption. After dispersal, it can enter. One should attack Earth (Earth overcomes Water) to disperse the stagnation. One should puncture the Jing-Well (Exit) point of the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian and the He-Sea (Enter) point of the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian.

The Yellow Emperor said: "The arrival of the Five Movements has early and late timings, with ascending and descending movements, subject to bearing and obstruction. May I ask about the acupuncture methods?" Qibo said: "One should target the source of transformation. Therefore, for Excess conditions, treat the root; for Deficiency conditions, supplement the root. For Excess, first suppress the stagnation, target the source of the movement's transformation, to break the stagnant qi. For Deficiency, supplement and support to aid the movement of qi, thereby avoiding empty pathogens. The methods for supplementation and targeting are detailed in the secret teachings."