难经曰经脉有是动有所生病一脉辄变为二病者何也然经言是动者气也所生病者血也邪在
气气
为是动邪在血血为所生病气主 之血主濡之气留而不行者为气先病也血滞而不濡者为血后病
也故先为是动后为所生病也
经脉为里支而横者为络络之别者为孙络盛而血者疾诛之盛者泻之虚者饮药以补之(灵枢)
○经
径也径直者为经经之支派旁出者为络(入门)○络穴俱在两经中间乃交经过络之处也(入门)○
刺脏腑经络四病皆不同十五络病至浅在表也十二经病次之六腑病又次之五脏病至深在里也故
治法有难易焉至于络又各不同十五络之络乃阴经别走阳经阳经别走阴经而横贯两经之间者所
为支而横者为络是也缪刺之络乃病邪流溢大络不得入贯经 而其痛与经脉缪处乃络病经不病
者也血络之络乃皮肤所见或赤或青或黑
之络而小者如针大者如筋也以浅深言之血络至浅缪刺者次之十五络近里而贯经 也(纲目)
夫人之常数太阳常多血少气少阳常多气少血阳明常多血多气厥阴常多血少气少阴常多气
少血
太阳常多气少血此天之常数也○故曰刺阳明出血气刺太阳出血恶气刺少阳出气恶血刺太阴出
气恶血刺厥阴出血恶气刺少阴出气恶血也(灵枢)○是阳明太阴为表里足少阴厥阴为表里足太
阳少阴为表里手阳明太阴为表里手少阳心主为表里手太阳少阴为表里也(灵枢)
The *Nan Jing* (Classic of Difficult Issues) states: The meridians have "Shi Dong" diseases and "Suo Sheng" diseases. Why does one meridian manifest as two types of diseases? The answer is: The text refers to "Shi Dong" as disorders of Qi, and "Suo Sheng" as disorders of Blood. When pathogenic factors are in the Qi level, Qi dysfunction leads to "Shi Dong"; when pathogenic factors are in the Blood level, Blood stasis leads to "Suo Sheng". Qi primarily governs propulsion (warming and driving the functions of Zang-Fu organs and meridians), while Blood primarily governs nourishment (moistening and nurturing tissues). When Qi stagnates and fails to circulate smoothly, it is a prior disorder of Qi; when Blood stagnates and fails to moisten, it is a subsequent disorder of Blood. Therefore, "Shi Dong" diseases appear first, followed by "Suo Sheng" diseases.
Meridians run deep within; branches that run horizontally are called Collaterals (Luo Mai); further subdivisions of collaterals are called Sun Collaterals (Sun Luo). If collaterals are full and blood is stagnant and excessive, they should be pricked rapidly to drain the blood. Excess conditions are treated with draining methods, while deficiency conditions are treated with herbal decoctions to tonify. (From *Ling Shu*) ○ Meridian (Jing) implies a direct path; straight-running channels are Meridians; branches diverging laterally from meridians are Collaterals. (From *Yi Xue Ru Men*) ○ Luo points are located between two meridians, which are the sites where meridians intersect and pass through collaterals. (From *Yi Xue Ru Men*) ○ Acupuncture treatment for diseases of Zang-Fu organs and meridians varies according to four categories. Diseases of the fifteen Luo vessels are the most superficial, located at the surface; diseases of the twelve regular meridians are next; diseases of the six Fu organs are next; diseases of the five Zang organs are the deepest, located internally. Thus, treatment methods vary in difficulty. Regarding collaterals, each type differs. The collaterals of the fifteen Luo vessels refer to Yin meridians connecting to Yang meridians, or Yang meridians connecting to Yin meridians, running transversely between two meridians—this is what is meant by "branches running horizontally are collaterals." The collaterals targeted by Miao Needling (Mu Ci) involve pathogenic factors overflowing into large collaterals, unable to enter and penetrate the main meridians; their pain locations are displaced relative to the meridians, indicating disease in the collateral but not in the meridian itself. Blood collaterals refer to visible vessels on the skin, appearing red, blue, or black; small ones are needle-sized, large ones are tendon-sized. In terms of depth, blood collaterals are the most superficial, Miao needling collaterals are next, and the fifteen Luo vessels are closer to the interior and penetrate the meridians. (From *Zhen Jiu Da Cheng · Gang Mu*)
The constant physiological norms of human beings are: Taiyang typically has abundant blood and scarce Qi; Shaoyang typically has abundant Qi and scarce blood; Yangming typically has abundant blood and abundant Qi; Jueyin typically has abundant blood and scarce Qi; Shaoyin typically has abundant Qi and scarce blood; Taiyang typically has abundant Qi and scarce blood. These are the natural constants determined by Heaven. ○ Therefore, it is said: Needling Yangming can release both blood and Qi; needling Taiyang can release blood but should avoid depleting Qi; needling Shaoyang can release Qi but should avoid depleting blood; needling Taiyin can release Qi but should avoid depleting blood; needling Jueyin can release blood but should avoid depleting Qi; needling Shaoyin can release Qi but should avoid depleting blood. (From *Ling Shu*) ○ Thus, Yangming and Taiyin form an exterior-interior relationship; Foot Shaoyin and Foot Jueyin form an exterior-interior relationship; Foot Taiyang and Foot Shaoyin form an exterior-interior relationship; Hand Yangming and Hand Taiyin form an exterior-interior relationship; Hand Shaoyang and Pericardium (Xin Bao) form an exterior-interior relationship; Hand Taiyang and Hand Shaoyin form an exterior-interior relationship. (From *Ling Shu*)