Library

(See illustrations in Volume 3, authored below by Li Xiancha)

Gongsun (PC4) connects to the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel), acting as the "Father"; Neiguan (PC6) connects with the Yin Wei Mai (Yin Linking Vessel), acting as the "Mother". These four meridians converge in the stomach, heart, and chest. When there is disease in the Heart or Spleen, treating these two acupoints is appropriate.

For wind pathogenic factors affecting the head, face, neck, and limbs, Houxi (SI3) and Shenmai (BL62) should be carefully examined. These two acupoints connect to the Du Mai (Governor Vessel) and Yang Qiao Mai (Yang Heel Vessel), respectively. Their combination is harmonious like husband and wife, ensuring efficacy.

Linqi (GB41) belongs to the male aspect and connects to the Dai Mai (Girdle Vessel); Waiguan (TE5) belongs to the female aspect and connects to the Yang Wei Mai (Yang Linking Vessel). Qi penetrates the ears, cheeks, shoulders, neck, and eyes. Wind-pain diseases of the limbs can be cured instantly upon needling.

In cases of severe throat wind or other ominous internal diseases, the guest meridian point Zhaohai (KI6) and the master meridian point Lieque (LU7) are selected. Lieque originally connects to the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel), and Zhaohai of the Yin Qiao Mai shares the same pathway.

Nine types of heart pain extending to chest tightness, Jie Xiong (Chest Binding), Fan Wei (Reversal of Stomach Qi) that are difficult to stop. For retained placenta and blood confusing the mind, draining Gongsun yields immediate results. For hard masses obstructing the hypochondrium, chest and epigastric fullness/distension, and borborygmus. When Shang Han (Cold Damage) is unresolved and the disease is deep, Naoyi (Malaria) can be stabilized by selecting Neiguan.

Pain in the dorsum of hands and feet, back, aphasia due to Zhong Feng (Stroke), epilepsy, dizziness, swollen eyes, and neck/jaw traction backward; needling Houxi brings cure. For carbuncles, limb numbness, deafness, persistent body swelling, headache, epistaxis, and excessive tearing, needling Shenmai brings recovery.

Zhong Feng causing inability to raise hands and feet, leg pain, hypochondriac distension, and spasm. Head wind, sore throat, and neck/jaw involvement require urgent needling of Linqi. Swelling and pain in joints, cold knees, and tendon traction inside and outside the back and hips. For Shang Han with night sweats and unrelenting heat, the master-guest pair Waiguan is effective.

Hemorrhoids, malaria, swollen bowels, dysentery, hematemesis, hematuria, and coughing up phlegm. For retained dead fetus and cold in the diaphragm, Lieque also treats Yie (Dysphagia), throat obstruction, strangury, alcohol accumulation with coma, difficult labor, diaphragmatic qi nodules, and irritability; needling Zhaohai dissipates these.

The pulse at Cun Kou (Radial Artery) is floating and slow. Floating indicates Wind; slow indicates Deficiency. A slow Ying (Nutrient) pulse indicates loss of blood; a slow Wei (Defensive) pulse indicates Zhong Feng (Stroke). Pathogenic factors invade the collaterals and meridians, resulting in an empty pulse. The thief pathogen remains lodged, either on the left or right. The side affected by the pathogen becomes flaccid, while the healthy side becomes tense; the healthy side pulls toward the diseased side, causing deviation of the mouth and eye and inability to move the limbs. If the pathogen is in the collaterals, there is numbness of the skin and muscles. If in the meridians, there is heaviness and inability to lift the limbs. If entering the Fu organs, there is unconsciousness and inability to recognize people. If entering the Zang organs, there is stiff tongue and difficulty speaking, with foaming at the mouth.

The pulse at Cun Kou is floating and tight. Tight indicates Cold; floating indicates Wind. Wind and Cold struggle together; the pathogen is in the skin, causing itching and urticaria. If Heart Qi is deficient and the pathogen enters the interior, there is chest fullness and shortness of breath. (Original text from *Jin Gui Yao Lue*, referenced from *Yi Zong Jin Jian*)

Yu Jiayan stated: In Shang Han syndromes, the "Zhong Feng" of the Tai Yang Meridian refers to wind from wind-cold, wind-heat, wind-dampness, etc., entering from the exterior. The "Wind" of true Zhong Feng is the wind inherent within the human body, accumulated internally over time and suddenly erupting inward. As stated in *Su Wen*: "Qi/Yang energy is named after the swift winds of heaven and earth." Thus, true Zhong Feng is caused by repeatedly disturbing Yang Qi. Among all activities, sexual intercourse most severely disturbs Yang. Excessive sexual activity may not deplete Yin essence immediately, but it agitates Yang Qi. Unrestrained agitation accumulates in void spaces, leading to slight hand numbness, slight foot heat, and slight tongue stiffness. Once the signs of wind appear, if the disturbance of Yang continues, a sudden eruption occurs when deficiency allows it, akin to the earth exhaling, trees shaking, yellow sand obscuring the sky, and white waves overturning the sea. How could the person not collapse suddenly? Yet, physicians often treat this by addressing external wind-cold-wind-heat-wind-dampness, making repeated errors. External wind joins with internal wind, and despite a robust physique, the condition persists for years, rendering the patient disabled, or even fatal within ten days. How tragic! The fundamental principle is: since wind arises from within, it must be extinguished from within. What medicine extinguishes wind? Nourishing Blood nourishes the wind along with it; tonifying Qi supplements the wind along with it; consolidating the Cou Li (skin pores) consolidates the wind along with it. So what method should be adopted? While nourishing Blood and tonifying Qi are indispensable, medicines that consolidate the Cou Li must absolutely be avoided. By seeking the correct method, one will not lack remedies. Generally, wind in the world is extinguished by rain. Thus, *Su Wen* states: "Sweat of Yang is named after the rain of heaven and earth." Using rain to treat wind implies treatment without explicitly stating it. Therefore, in internal wind, the Cou Li must never be consolidated, as consolidation prevents sweating. Qi and Blood must be supplemented; deficiency fails to provide the material for sweat. The goal is to ensure Yuan Qi (Primal Qi) is sufficient to resist wind at the Cou Li, similar to how a person recovering from severe illness sweats after drinking soup or eating porridge. After such practice for ten days, allowing the wind to extinguish itself is the profound妙 (wonder). The essence lies in assisting Yang and unblocking blood vessels, not in expelling wind and dispersing pathogens. This differs completely from light herbs like Jing Jie (Schizonepeta), Fang Feng (Saposhnikovia), Chai Hu (Bupleurum), and Ge Gen (Kudzu). Folklore claims that dispersing agents like Qiang Huo (Notopterygium) and Fang Feng work within a meal's time; this only treats occasional external wind exposure. It removes less than one percent of internal wind accumulated over years. Can a single drug resolve wind accumulated over years, attacking only the skin texture? Zhong Feng is more common among the wealthy and rare among the poor. The poor do engage in sex, but their labor keeps their Qi steaming and moving; any slight wind is released through sweat. The wealthy, however, live in comfort, allowing internal wind to blaze. They seek cool breezes, springs, and drinks to relieve heat, further suppressing Yang Qi. Combined with rich foods and alcohol generating heat, this traps Yang into Phlegm, blocking the meridians, leading to sudden stroke with unknown origin. Although ancient prescriptions abound, syndrome differentiation is often imprecise. Consider ordinary people consuming large amounts of fine wine and spicy food without fever; this is because Yang Qi has power to silently transport it out. When Yang Qi is suppressed and powerless, it inevitably steams food into Phlegm. Phlegm binds with wind. Upon eruption, those with robust constitutions suffer worse symptoms because robustness implies more Yang, which means more wind and phlegm. Who realizes that Wind is the Root and Phlegm is the Branch? Who realizes that Yang Qi is the Root and Wind-Phlegm is the Branch? Since Wind-Phlegm is the branch, it can be treated by sweating or vomiting. However, seeing coma and stiff tongue, some assume pathogen invasion of the Heart and use Niuhuang Qingxin Wan (Calculus Bovis Clearing Heart Pill) to disperse wind and phlegm, further suppressing Yang Qi, leading to many incurable cases. Those with suppressed Yang have burning internal organs; they prefer raw/cold foods normally, yet receive mineral drugs during illness, repeating mistakes. Wise people fail to realize this. Yang Qi is the Root; one must abstain from desires to stop disturbing Yang, thereby uprooting the disease. However, since Yang Qi is habitually active, people rarely enjoy rest. Once wind-phlegm subsides slightly, thoughts of desire arise, slight movement triggers recurrence from root to branch, becoming difficult to manage. No one in history has deeply discussed this. Only those skilled in preserving life, seeing abundant phlegm and blazing wind before onset, should proactively abstain from desires.

Note: Zhong Feng is a syndrome of sudden collapse and unconsciousness caused by wind pathogen invasion. It occurs in the cold northwest but not in the southeast. Here, "Zhong Feng" refers to deficiency of Middle Qi leading to internal stirring of Liver Wind. Li Dongyuan emphasized deficiency, which is correct. Deficiency causes rootless fire to flare and rebellious phlegm to rise. Liu Wanju emphasized fire, and Zhu Danxi emphasized phlegm, both being correct. The sudden collapse and phlegm obstruction resemble true Zhong Feng, hence called Lei Zhong (Simulated Stroke). The difference lies in the absence of Six Meridian manifestations. Jaw clenching and clenched fists indicate pathogen blockage externally with intact Yuan Qi; treat with opening apertures methods. Mouth open indicates Heart exhaustion; eyes closed indicate Liver exhaustion; limp hands indicate Spleen exhaustion; urinary incontinence indicates Kidney exhaustion; snoring indicates Lung exhaustion. These are exhaustion of the Five Zang Qi. Heart exhaustion leads to death shortly. Hair standing straight, head shaking, foaming, red face, and pearl-like sweat are all untreatable. Occasionally, Qi Jue (Qi Collapse) caused by Seven Emotions occurs without phlegm; treat with Su He Xiang Wan (Styrax Pill).